The Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the Dáil on Thursday afternoon following a furious row between Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty about the eviction ban.
It was the third day in a row that the Government’s decision to lift the eviction moratorium on March 31 dominated Leaders' Questions in the Dáil.
Mr Doherty told Mr Martin that the coalition had made a “cold and cruel decision to make people homeless”.
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He suggested that one family had received correspondence from South Dublin Council advising them to present at a garda station if they needed somewhere to stay.
Mr Doherty said: “I have a letter here, Tánaiste, from South Dublin Council, sent to my colleague Mark Ward. It is one family who find themselves homeless.
“This family is made up of one adult and two children. The council told the family that they have no emergency accommodations for them. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has told the family that there is no available accommodation for them. This is before the ban is even lifted.
“The family were told by the council to present at a garda station for ‘a safe place to stay’. Now, this is what's happening on your watch Tánaiste. This is what's happening under your Government.
“You come in here week after week saying that Fianna Fáil is the party of home ownership.
“It is complete and utter nonsense.”
In response, Mr Martin said that Sinn Féin “talks out of both sides of its mouth” and has “opposed” housing schemes and Government policies.
He said: “The corner was turned last year. We went from 20,000 [new homes] to 30,000 in one year.
“When it comes to the eviction ban, what does Eoin Ó Broin say? You said at the end of the year we should end it. In December.
“Where is the honesty in that? Are you seriously suggesting that you guys in December would have allowed the rent ban to be ended days after Christmas Day?
“That’s the sort of dishonesty that I find reprehensible.”
As the Tánaiste continued to criticise Sinn Féin, both their TDs and Government reps started shouting at each other from opposite benches.
As Mr Doherty attempted to interrupt Mr Martin, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl told him to stop shouting.
He asked: “Would you like me to suspend the house if you’re going to keep this intuition? That is what I will do if you persist
“Do not provoke me, please.”
Mr Martin also criticised the Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns when she asked him if the decision to end the ban was in line with Fianna Fáil’s values.
He said: “You have done zero planning for this. You’re making it up as you go along.”
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