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Peter McVerry Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Alan Kelly thinks Peter McVerry has nothing positive to say about anything

Ouch.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ALAN Kelly has criticised the homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry saying he hasn’t heard him “say one thing positive yet in relation to anything”.

Kelly criticised McVerry, who has been outspoken on the homeless crisis, after the social justice campaigner said that the coalition’s plan to end homelessness by 2016 was “Alice in Wonderland politics”.

McVerry has also previously described the target as a “hopeless fantasy”.

Responding today, Kelly told reporters: “I’m used to those comments from him. I haven’t heard him say one thing positive yet in relation to anything, which is unfortunate because many members of his staff work with us and would have contrary views, or express contrary views. I’d rather if people were more constructive.”

The Labour deputy leader was speaking on a visit to Fr Scully House, a newly-constructed senior citizens’ complex in the north inner city, which had been empty because of a now-resolved dispute over rent.

20150127_144349 Alan Kelly Órla Ryan / TheJournal.ie Órla Ryan / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Kelly claimed that McVerry has cancelled a recently-planned meeting between the pair but said he was “happy to talk to him any time”. The minister said McVerry needed to fairer in his appraisal of the work being done.

“I take criticism all the time and I always take what he says and use it and try and channel it. But, to be frank, you’re talking to the person who has put more money into housing than anyone on this island in the history of this State.”

Responding on RTÉ’s News at One, McVerry acknowledged that while Kelly had put more money into homelessness and was doing better than previous ministers there remained “huge gaps” in the government’s homelessness strategy.

He said that the 271 emergency beds opened before Christmas had got 271 people off the streets but “five weeks later we’re back to square one” because of people being evicted from their homes due to unaffordable rents.

“Unfortunately, I am surrounded by homeless people all the time and I am hearing the problems they are experiencing,” McVerry said.

Read TheJournal.ie‘s Homeless Ireland series > 

‘Hopeless fantasy’: McVerry warns that homelessness will increase by 2016, not be eliminated

Watch this video of Eamon Ryan getting REALLY angry about Alan Kelly

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129 Comments
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    Mute Ross UAE
    Favourite Ross UAE
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:30 AM

    Poor countries such as Liberia cannot afford the standard of health care provided to and paid for by rich western countries including Ireland, and so long as they are led by corrupt politicians they never will. Any aid given is mostly stolen or wasted and what remains just keeps people alive to face the next crisis which is never too far away. Without complete reform these African countries will remain at the bottom of every human development index, and that reform must come from within as many billions in foreign aid over the past 150 years has changed little except facilitate the replacement of the spear with the AK47. And yes, I have been there.

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    Mute Plantation Watch
    Favourite Plantation Watch
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:20 AM

    What is actually being suggested in this article?

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    Mute Anne Gyna
    Favourite Anne Gyna
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    Dec 1st 2014, 1:17 PM

    Our own Irish healthcare is hardly 1st World, gold-medal standard either, is it? With all due respect, let’s get our own very ill people off trollies & hard plastic chairs in Ireland’s A&E’s first, before we fret about over-populated countries & their problems.

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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
    Favourite Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Dec 1st 2014, 10:16 PM

    “Healthcare medical apartheid is as unacceptable in 2014 as apartheid was ‘back in the day’ in South Africa. There can be no ‘them and us’.”
    Welcome to Ireland 2014.!

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    Mute Phil West
    Favourite Phil West
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    Dec 1st 2014, 10:54 AM

    Healthcare apartheid – welcome to Ireland

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    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
    Favourite Tim Stephen Hendy
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 2:55 PM

    I’m not seeing where “apartheid” comes into it, except as an odd attempt to draw attention to something by using the word.

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