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The four newest TDs in D\u00e1il Eireann have started work after their byelection wins at the weekend.<\/p>\nThe four newest TDs in D\u00e1il Eireann have started work after their byelection wins at the weekend.<\/p>\n
The four men from Fianna F\u00e1il, Sinn F\u00e9in and the Green Party were presented to the media on the morning of a vote of no-confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, tabled by the Social Democrats last week in response to a homeless crisis they say shows no signs of abating.<\/p>\n
Mr Murphy\u2019s fate dominated the press events as each candidate was asked about a motion which could trigger a general election, and see them fight for their seat before they had even spent a month in the chamber.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il and the Government claim a no-confidence vote on Mr Murphy will cause a general election, but the opposition says the Taoiseach can simply replace his minister to avoid any snap polls over the festive period.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il, which labelled the Social Democrats\u2019 motion as a \u201cstunt\u201d, made it clear its TDs would be abstaining.<\/p>\n
Padraig O\u2019Sullivan, representing Cork North-Central, and Malcolm Byrne, who claimed a seat in Wexford, said they were happy to abstain despite their feelings about Mr Murphy\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the challenge of a November election, and being on three ballot papers already this year, I don\u2019t really want to be on a fourth around Christmas,\u201d Mr Byrne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clear from knocking on doors the last few months, on issues like housing and health in rural Ireland, this Government is seen to have failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Party leader Miche\u00e1l Martin said: \u201cTo be fair to the Social Democrats, to table a motion during a byelection, that\u2019s their prerogative, but I don\u2019t think anyone is serious about there being a by-election in and around Christmas Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rest of the weekend\u2019s winners backed the motion to remove Mr Murphy.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s Mark Ward, who represents Dublin Mid-West, said he would be happy to hit the doors again in a few weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the mandate that I was asked to come here with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people on the doors are just not happy with Eoghan Murphy and his failed polices, and it\u2019s not just people homeless in hubs and hotels \u2013 it\u2019s people who can\u2019t afford houses or rent. I had to move back in with my parents because of the rents out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m quite happy to vote no confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if she wanted an election, Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald said: \u201cSure, we\u2019re out anyway, our people are out canvassing, and whenever the election comes we\u2019ll be fighting for a big win for the Irish people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Green Party candidate Joe O\u2019Brien, for Dublin Fingal, said the Housing Minister\u2019s time was up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re supportive of the motion. I can\u2019t think of a better reason to force an election than 3,873 homeless children. He\u2019s had his time, the numbers are going up. Do I have confidence in him? Not at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Government figures, 10,397 people, including 3,873 children, are homeless.<\/p>\n
The average rent in the country is 8% higher than last year and homelessness has gone up 354% since 2014.<\/p>\n