Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 May 1988

Vol. 380 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Emigrants Eligibility for Housing.

11.

Mr. Quinn

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish people who were tenants of a local authority in this State and who have been obliged to emigrate to the United Kingdom are being regarded in the London area by the housing authorities as being ineligible for consideration to be included on the housing lists on the grounds that they were intentionally homeless; if he will request the Labour Attaché in London to raise this matter with the relevant authorities at Government level; if in addition he will request DÍON to investigate the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

24.

Mr. Quinn

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish emigrants who had previously been tenants of local authority dwellings in Ireland have encountered considerable difficulties on emigrating to Great Britain because they are regarded by some housing authorities as having made themselves intentionally homeless; if he will investigate this matter within the context of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 24 together.

The operation of housing policy in Great Britain is a matter for the local authorities. The Embassy in London on the Tánaiste's instructions met with a representative of Camden Borough Council at the end of November to discuss allegations that the council are operating a housing policy discriminatory to Irish people.

The council insisted that their policy towards Irish people in relation to emergency accommodation for the homeless is no different from that applied to people elsewhere in Great Britain. The Tánaiste reported to the House on this meeting with Camden Council in his reply to Deputy Gregory on 8 December.

Subsequently, the London Housing Aid Centre applied to the High Court for an order that the Camden housing policy was not fulfilling its legal obligation to homeless people. The court decided that a prima facie case existed. A full High Court hearing on the situation is pending. A similar situation exists in relation to Islington where a judicial review of that council's decision to repartriate an Irish family is also about to begin.

The housing entitlements of Irish emigrants in Britain will become clearer after the courts have reached their decisions in these cases.

I can assure the House that the Government will monitor the situation closely and maintain close contacts on this issue through the Embassy and the DÍON Committee with the Irish community in Britain.

Mr. Quinn

Does the Taoiseach regard this matter as a subject proper for consideration within the Anglo-Irish Agreement and, if it is, could the Taoiseach indicate what kind of regular process or review would be envisaged so as to ensure that this problem if it surfaces in the future in other local authorities in Britain will be properly addressed?

The Taoiseach

On reflection the Deputy will agree that this is something that should be pursued through the normal diplomatic channels and machinery and, if necessary, through the courts.

Mr. Griffin

Will the Taoiseach indicate to the House what steps the Department of Foreign Affairs are taking to inform potential emigrants, especially young families, of the changed circumstances in England? Possibly the Taoiseach has to await the result of the court case but in the meantime what steps are the Department taking to acquaint young families of the changed circumstances?

The Taoiseach

We have a continuing programme through the Department and various agencies including voluntary bodies, but my understanding is that the British Government have undertaken a fairly major campaign in Britain to inform everybody of the changed circumstances. The Deputy might perhaps come back to this when we know the result of the court cases.