Minister rattled by Homeless sleep out

national | housing | news report Thursday September 29, 2005 19:11 by observer2

Wheres our houses protest catches ministers attention

An official inquiry is set to be launched within one of Dublins homeless organisations today as a result of the direct involvement of the Dept of Environment.

One of Dublins homeless agencies was set to launch an official investigation tody into claims that one of their workers spoke on their behalf at the recent homeless sleep out. Officials at the Dept. of Environment are said to have contacted The Homeless Agencies Parkgate Street headquarters seeking an explanation after media reports attributed statements made at the Homeless sleep out to a worker for one of Dublins homeless shelters. The organisation which run the shelter were contacted by The Homeless Agency and an immediate inquiry was launched.

It has emerged during the inquiry that the comments were in fact made by a resident of the homeless shelter who was there in solidarity with those sleeping out. It has also emerged that none of the workers from the shelter in question were in fact at the sleep out.

The whole incident highlights the governments insistence on silencing all opposition to it's policies, and are willing to attempt to have trades union activists harrassed in order to silence opposition. The issue of homelessness and the need for an increase in services in the Homeless/addiction sectors are issues that the government would prefer not to discuss.

The sight of the homeless camping out at Leinster house is too much for the government. Believing that the homeless are incapable of organising and blaming sector workers for putting the homeless up to it the government have decided to attempt to harass those workers.

It is time that whatever trades unions represent these workers spoke out and took action on behalf of their members. Maybe they could get an opinion on the homeless issue while they are at it.