Dáil must get back to work and fix this housing crisis

THE homelessness crisis and the unfolding debacle over the public services card are among the many reasons the Dáil should be recalled this week instead of waiting until the end of September. Why is it that our closest parliament in London, which was in session until July 20 – a week after our Dáil rose – returns in 48 hours’ time, while the Dáil will not be session again until September 20?

The first thing a recalled Dáil should do is have a reasoned cross-party debate on the housing and homelessness crisis. This crisis calls for great maturity, yet it seems at times that the Opposition has a problem for every solution offered. The situation is now too serious for petty point-scoring. As the Chinese proverb goes, the best time to plant a tree is 100 years ago, the second best time is now.

Then look at the debacle over the public services card. Such is the disconnect with politics that many are deeply suspicious of what, on the face of it, seems a perfectly logical development in the digital age. Citizens need to be reassured – and this can only be done by evidence that the PSC has crossparty support. Why people who already reveal their most intimate details to social media providers are deeply sceptical of a State plan to eliminate fraud and let Government departments talk to each other is a hard question to answer.

The confusion is not helped by the belated intervention of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner – remember this is the same office that recently warned householders who had posted CCTV images of their homes being burgled that they would face prosecution if they did not remove the images as they were violating the privacy rights of the criminals!

Another reason the Dáil should be recalled is the ongoing crane dispute which is crippling muchneeded building projects, especially in Dublin. The Construction Industry Federation has made it clear that once the Dáil ratifies a recent registered employment agreement, the dispute will be over.

Meanwhile, a bitter internecine union dispute – the ICTU has told the Unite union that it should encourage crane drivers to rejoin Siptu – is hampering a resolution to the problem. A country that is feverishly trying to get some good news out of the Brexit debacle by encouraging companies to relocate here should not sit idly by as all office block developments in the capital come to a standstill.

Of course, Brexit is another reason why our parliament should be in session – it’s clear this week that the rift between the UK and EU teams is widening. Among other things, we should be insisting that there is an Irish representative on the EU negotiating team, as more so than any other country, our future is being negotiated away.

This Dáil is fast becoming infamous for distractions about what T-shirt certain TDs wear and the lack of legislation being passed. This reputation can change quickly.

Instead of point-scoring in the Dáil chamber, let’s have ideas – big, small, short-term, long-term, novel and boring, that can be acted upon.

The Dáil is our legislature – let’s get back to work, immediately.