Two weeks ago, the Minister voted against a Sinn Féin Bill to provide for a referendum to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution, as was recommended by the Constitutional Convention.

As per the programme for Government, that recommendation was referred to the Oireachtas committee on housing, which also recommended that the right to housing be enshrined in the Constitution. The Minister and the Government, however, have consistently faced down and voted against doing anything about that recommendation. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, stated this morning that the Government should reopen this conversation and I agree with him. Does the Minister agree and where stands the Government on this issue? Has the Constitutional Convention's recommendation effectively been binned?

I call Deputy Joan Collins, who has a similar question.

It was horrifying to see four members of a young family in the council offices in Tallaght yesterday because they had been removed from a hotel on Friday night and could not get accommodation. Accommodation was provided after a sit-in in the council offices. That is an outrage, as is the fact that the family was given hotel accommodation in a location which meant that the children had to take three buses to get to school. This has to stop. Some sort of protection in the Constitution on the right to housing at least would force the Government, and future Governments, to protect people in such situations. When will the Minister bring that in?

I met the ombudsman recently regarding his report and we went through his recommendations. The Government is open on the question of a right to housing being enshrined in the Constitution. We want to ensure, however, that we follow the same type of process that led to the successful repeal of the eighth amendment and to marriage equality. As a result, this Oireachtas decided to refer that question to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, which is chaired by a Deputy from the Fianna Fáil party and not a Government Deputy. That process needs to come to a successful conclusion before the Oireachtas decides where we go from there.

It is worth noting, however, that a constitutional or legal right to housing in other countries has not ended the problem of homelessness. The real way to do that is through supply. That is why the Government is committed to increasing supply while also remaining open regarding the question of a right to housing being enshrined in the Constitution. A process is under way with the Oireachtas committee at the moment, however, and that has to be followed.

What does this have to do with-----

What does this have to do with the committee? I have never heard-----

I ask for order. I call Deputy Howlin.