Hundreds Protest Housing Crisis Outside Dáil, Opposition Seeks Emergency Action

A major 'Raise the Roof' protest took place outside the Dáil in Ireland, coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and supported by most opposition parties, to demand urgent government action on the worsening housing crisis. The protest coincided with a Dáil debate and a private members' motion from Sinn Féin, calling for emergency measures including increased public housing investment, better tenant protections, and a ban on no-fault evictions. Opposition TDs criticized the government for recent rental regulation changes, arguing these will worsen the crisis by allowing rent hikes and reducing homeownership opportunities, especially impacting young renters who face high costs or emigration. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has proposed increasing housing supply significantly, but opposition parties accuse the government of failing to implement effective solutions, describing the crisis as a major political failure. The protest included speeches from opposition leaders and artists, highlighting the human cost of the crisis and the need for a radical reset to deliver affordable, secure housing. Calls were also made for the government to fulfill promises on emergency legislation to extend Rent Pressure Zones, with critics deeming current measures insufficient to protect tenants.