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Sinn Fin is 'bordering on communism' with its approach to housing, Mattie McGrath has said.

The Independent TD for Tipperary said he cannot vote with the Government to end the eviction ban, but he 'can't stomach' Sinn Fin's motion either.

A vote will take place in the Dil on Wednesday.

Deputy McGrath told The Hard Shoulder Government plans to offer more supports in the budget is not soon enough.

"They've had 11/12 years now to build houses and provide homes," he said.

"We have more housing reports than we have had hot dinners; and here [are being told] we're going to have measures that will help renters, first-time buyers and will help small renters.

"The budget is in October: they've seen the figures that tens of thousands of small tenants, landlords have left the market.

"They're being priced out of it, taxed out of it, no supports".

Deputy McGrath said the Government is making 'empty promises'.

"The eviction ban isn't something I like as a tool, it's probably unconstitutional," he said.

"We have nine amendments - obviously none of our amendments will be voted on if the Government's counter-motion is taken first.

"The Government are gung-ho about this; they want business as usual and they want to make empty promises, look after the big...companies who have multiple thousands of units".

However hesaid Sinn Fin is using 'political opportunism' with its motion.

"So what it is [is] grandstanding by Sinn Fin, political opportunism of the worst type using these vulnerable people," he said.

"I hate abstaining, because I like to be present at votes one way or another, but I'm minded to abstain.

"I don't want a slippery slope here".

Deputy McGrath said some people living abroad, who brought a property to come home to, "can't get people out of their houses."

"Are we going to give any rights to people who own property?

"I know what Sinn Fin are at: this is bordering on communism, that people haven't the rights over their own property.

"It's opening the gates for their next plan from [Housing Spokesperson] Eoin Broin... ideas that people's property would be seized and be given out to free to people.

"This is the kind of policies that are abhorrent to me".

Deputy McGrath said he cannot vote with the Government as they "did nothing, sat on their hands" in the last six months.

"Now they're promising 'X, Y and Z' - but I know it's like the snow off a ditch: it'll melt and be gone by the end of the week.

"The Taoiseach today told the Dil that if the [Sinn Fin] motion was to succeed, that it wasn't binding on the Government to accept it and he wouldn't accept it.

"The eviction ban is going to go anyway".

Asked how he will vote on Wednesday, Deputy McGrath said: "One is bad and the other is worse.

"I definitely won't be supporting the Government, but will I even support the Sinn Fin motion: I have no stomach for it.

"It's going down the road of their policies; we know the little red book they operate from, we know where they're going.

"They've no interest in ordinary people getting [and] building people houses, they've an interest in fear politics and hysteria," he added.

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Sinn Fin 'bordering on communism' with approach to housing ... - Newstalk