Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Housing Damien English
“First of all, I want to say I wouldn’t excuse their [Take Back The City] behaviour to do with frustrations. I’m not sure what other proactive options those people involved in these protests have actually engaged in the system.
“There’s numerous ways, if they want to engage with local authorities to help us tackle vacancies but I’m afraid blaming frustrations on it, is not a good enough excuse in my view.
“Because I think their behaviour is disgraceful. I’ve no problem, if they want to highlight the issue. But what they’re doing is wrong, in my view, and it’s criminal activity and it’s wrong.”
Comments made by Fine Gael TD Damien English speaking this morning on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Seán O’Rourke.
During the interview, Mr O’Rourke asked Mr English about his view of the Take Back The City action group and vacant housing in Dublin.
Fr Peter McVerry, of the Peter McVerry Trust, was also interviewed.
Fr McVerry said he can see the vacant housing occupation movement growing whereby up to 100 properties across the country may be occupied at once.
Listen to the interview in full here.
Previously: A Modest Vacant Housing Proposal
