Kilkenny couple's struggle with eviction raised in the Dáil
"I've worked so hard and have ended up back at square one... no one seems to care"
The plight of a Kilkenny couple set to be evicted from their home was one of the many personal stories raised in the Dáil yesterday as the eviction ban was debated.
Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan stated that he had asked the Taoiseach earlier in the day if he had read the comments on 'uplift.ie' from renters all across Ireland 'who are absolutely sick with worry as to how this decision will affect them'.
He stated that he did not receive an answer from the Taoiseach and took a portion of his allotted time to read some of comments to elected members, including one from Lucy in Kilkenny.
"My boyfriend and I are being evicted after renting for a year and a half," Lucy said.
"Working from home is not available for me so my boyfriend will have to go back to his hometown while I crash in a friend's house.
"I'm angry someone can upend my life like this. I've worked so hard and have ended up back at square one. No one seems to care beyond a shrug and 'well it's their property to sell'."
After the debate, the government defeated Sinn Féin’s motion calling for the eviction ban to be extended, securing a majority of 83 votes to 68.