Irish newspapers have remained silent on manipulative practices in the auctioneering business because of an "unhealthy relationship" between them and the industry's "big five", Labour leader Pat Rabbitte argued last night.
Speaking at a public debate on homelessness at Trinity College Dublin, Mr Rabbitte said it was an "absolute disgrace" that the Government had permitted a "runaway housing market".
"We saw how the market . . . is being further manipulated by sheer greed on a Prime Time programme recently," he said.
"You haven't read very much about that in the newspapers, and I believe that the reason for that is that there is an unhealthy relationship between the big five in the auctioneering business and the main newspapers in this country.
"They've made a fortune from it in the last decade or more, and they keep quiet, and it's not something to be proud of."
While he acknowledged that some progress had been made on homelessness, Mr Rabbitte said it was unconscionable that the State was providing less social housing now than it did in the 1970s.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was "intolerable" that after a decade of prosperity, homelessness remained a daily fact of life. Referring to the 48,000 households on the waiting list for social housing, he blamed the Government for "a failure of attitude".
He proposed a number of areas, including drug and alcohol addiction services, and appropriate sheltered accommodation, that his party would prioritise in government.
"My party does not have all the answers to this problem, but I believe that in 2006 this is a problem that should be nothing like it is."
Minister of State for housing Noel Ahern said "very significant progress" had been made in recent years in reducing homelessness.
"Government commitment to tackling homelessness can be seen in the increased funding provided in recent years. Since 2000, when Homelessness: An Integrated Strategy was published, the Government has provided €450 million for accommodation and care-related services for homeless persons," he said.
The number of homeless people had fallen in the past five years, he added. "Let's be fair, let's be honest, let's look at the figures, but there's no point adding noughts to it to make it sound worse."
