Video: Apollo House group agree to meet with Housing Minister
The occupiers of Apollo House have agreed to attend a meeting with the Housing Minister tomorrow.
The Home Sweet Home group will send a delegation of seven members to meet with Simon Coveney, after receiving an invitation from the Minister.
To see this post on Facebook, click here.
The group has published a list of demands - including 24-hour private rooms for all homeless people for a minimum of six months - and a referendum on the right to housing.
Trade union organiser Brendan Ogle said that the campaign wants meaningful action from the Minister before it agrees to leave Apollo House.
“What can happen is that the Minister and the Government can signal very easily a change in direction where they can respond to the huge groundswell of public opinion that will say and is saying through this campaign – enough is enough, we’re going to do something different,” he said.
The High Court want them to leave by January 11 - but Mr Ogle said that only Minister Coveney can end their occupation, calling on him to reclassify Nama properties for “social use”.
Home Sweet Home also used today's press conference to hit out at criticism of its use of celebrity endorsements - describing anyone who believes artists are simply promoting themselves as “morons”.
More than 40 homeless people per night have been sleeping at Apollo House since it was occupied last month.
Dublin City Council says there is accommodation for anyone who needs it in the capital.
