Dublin: Ministers Offices occupied in housing protest

In Dublin housing activists have escalated their protests over the housing crisis. Homelessness and affordable housing. The move comes as a dramatic increase in rents in all areas of the country especially the Dublin conurbation are revealed.

Despite being evicted following a court order from properties occupied for a week protesters have gone on to occupy the Offices of the Housing Minister. The Housing ministry is sited in the Custom House and imposing building that any visitors to Dublin using the IOM Ferry will be aware of.

Here’s a video from alternative media source Rebel Telly in which activists explain their actions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=TrnWg7NSB6E

Of course we have a housing problem in Mann as well and certainly private rentals in some instances are on a par with Dublin a major urban centre but we are not ones sadly to adopt strident protest. In any case any direct action here would have ‘Gary’s Grenadiers’ round with the Pava spray before you could say ‘community policing’.

The housing crisis in the 26 Counties is exacerbated because low wage increases and high mortgage and living costs are forcing more people to lose their homes. How long I muse before that scenario becomes a reality here with government determined to gerrymander inflation so low wage increases are the norm.

A poster to these pages averred some days ago that returning to their work after a few years away (presumably for domestic reasons) wages had stagnated and were still the same. It seems ‘poverty in a time of plenty’ is the mantra throughout the British Isles. Uncaring politicians are also a common feature of life in Britain. Ireland and the Dependencies.

Note: Protesters found when they occupied the Offices the Minister was on his hols it looks like politicians everywhere like a long break not just ours!

Image: Housing crisis - anger boils over in Dublin

Bernard Moffatt