Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will promote the right to housing as part of the economic, social and cultural rights approach to the long-term solution of homelessness and to the overall housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10305/16]
View answerThe Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution: Economic, Social and Cultural (ESC) Rights, available at the link below, recommended that the State progressively realise economic, social and cultural rights subject to maximum available resources, that this duty be recognisable by the courts and that specific additional rights, including the right to housing, be inserted into the Constitution. https://www.constitution.ie/AttachmentDownload.ashx?mid=5333bbe7-a9b8-e311-a7ce-005056a32ee4
The recommendation for a right to housing raises substantial questions on, for example, the balance of rights, proper governance and resource implications for the State. Therefore, as set out in The Programme for a Partnership Government, available at the link below, the recommendation regarding the right to housing contained in the Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution: Economic, Social and Cultural (ESC) Rights will be referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Housing for in-depth consideration.
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/Programme_for_PartnershipGovernment.pdf.
