Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for Dublin Denise Mitchell has slammed Fianna Fáil for their inaction, their “sheer brass neck”, in abstaining on the vote of confidence in Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy in the Dáil last night.

The Dublin Bay North TD said:

“This morning’s newspapers are equally filled with horror stories of the impact of the Government’s housing policy on children across the State and then that same Government’s narrow victory in saving Minister Eoghan Murphy in a confidence vote.

“Only hours before the vote yesterday, the Department of Housing released the October homeless figures and, to no one’s surprise, the numbers have gone up again. 3,826 homeless children and 6,688 homeless adults. That is the measure of how well Minister Murphy has done since taking up his role.

“The government’s housing policy is now in its fourth year and is simply not delivering. More and more people are being moved on to HAP. Rents and house prices continue to soar. Rebuilding Ireland has failed and real change in housing policy is needed.

“It is only because Fianna Fáil sat on their hands last night and refused to vote that Minister Murphy has a job today. The sheer brass neck of Fianna Fáil to say that they are an opposition party when they protect a man who stands over his record of 10,000 homeless men, women, and children on our streets.

“I would challenge any Fianna Fáil representative to knock on any door in Dublin Bay North, look that person in the eye, and say that they believe Minister Eoghan Murphy is doing his job.”