Sir, – Eoin Ó Broin makes a very good case for a “constitutional right to housing” and claims that this doesn’t mean a house for everyone, or words to that effect (“A constitutional right to housing could restore faith in our political system”, Opinion & Analysis, August 10th).
He is not the first, nor will he be the last, to make this claim.
My problem, and I suspect it’s not just me, is finding out exactly what it does mean!
Can somebody, anybody, please describe, in unambiguous language, what “a constitutional right to housing” looks like.
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Take, for instance, a couple who currently live in a tent, in a field, not 50 yards from my house. Please outline how and by what means their circumstances will be changed by a successful referendum.
Please note that I have not asked if their circumstances will improve. I’m not that naive. – Yours, etc,
PAT QUINN,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – I’m in favour of the principle of housing for all but I don’t believe enshrining it in the Constitution is the way to go. I would have thought we had learned our lesson on what is appropriate to put in the Constitution.
Before we do anything on this, we need to define what we mean by “housing”. Is it simply a roof over one’s head – a dormitories for bedrooms with common kitchen and bathroom? At the other end of the spectrum, is it a large, detached house with individual bedroom and en-suite bathroom for each family member and with a large garden? There are many other permutations and combinations in between. We need to be very clear on what we define as “housing”. Let’s make haste very slowly on this.
Also, who will pay for this? If housing is guaranteed, does the Government carry the cost? If not, and somebody can’t afford to rent or purchase, who covers it? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN MURPHY,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.