A proposal has been rejected in the Dáil to allow people to vote on enshrining the Right to housing in the Constitution.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael refused to support the plan.

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin called the vote "disappointing but not surprising" and criticised both parties.

"In the Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights over 80% of the participants agreed that such a right should be enshrined in the Constitution," Deputy Ó Broin said.

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"The Mercy Law Centre has three separate reports calling for it and recently the Ombudsman for Children’s Office called for the right to be progressed as a matter of priority.

"This was not a radical idea. The Right to Housing is included in eighty-one Constitutions across the world.

"A legal right to a home is not a silver bullet, but it would provide a basic floor of protection and governments would have to take this right into account when putting forward policies."

The Raise the Roof campaign is also set to take place this Saturday, 18 May, which will see people rally in the capital for the creation of a legal right to housing in Ireland.

(CM/MH)