Gavin Mendel-Gleason
The Workers’ Party has strongly criticised the comments of the director of Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, Ms. Eileen Gleeson saying that they showed a distinct lack of empathy with homeless people.
Workers’ Party Dublin North West representative Gavin Mendel-Gleason said Ms. Gleeson’s comments were callous and ignorant and suggested that homelessness was not only the fault of the homeless person but that the homeless were in some way lazy or repellent.
Mr. Mendel-Gleason said; “The comments of this public official, coming fast on the heels of similarly dismissive comments from the Taoiseach, show that there is not only a deep disconnect between government and those affected by the housing crisis but there is a deep contempt at official level towards anyone who falls through the cracks caused by its right wing policies”.
“It is obvious” that Ms. Gleeson has no empathy whatsoever for homeless people or indeed those on the housing list. She seems to regard the people she is supposed to be providing services for as undeserving pariahs who have created their own homelessness and who deserve neither sympathy nor support. In this respect Ms. Gleeson’s position is untenable and the Workers’ Party calls for her to apologise or resign. We also require at a minimum a clear statement from the government and Dublin City Council to repudiate those comments and making clear that they do not represent official policy”