Ailbhe O'Neill BL

Hosted by the Housing Commission, established by the government to bring forward proposals on the wording for a referendum on housing, the conference will feature a range of Irish and international experts who will share their views on housing experiences nationally and internationally.

The conference is set to hear contributions on topics such as the right to housing and property rights, international perspectives on housing and the level of impact that can be made by constitutionalising social rights.

John O’Connor, chair of the Housing Commission, said: “I am delighted to be at UCD today to open this conference on a referendum on housing.

“It is an important part of a process that will help us to listen and evaluate the different proposed options for a referendum on housing and the conference forms part of a wider programme of activity throughout the year that will inform our thinking.

“This is very much a listening exercise. We have invited people with a broad range of views and we encourage everyone to listen, as we will, with an open mind to the challenges, opportunities and experiences of all who will contribute to this conference both from Ireland and from further afield.”

Ailbhe O’Neill BL, chair of the Commission’s referendum subcommittee, added: “The Commission has been tasked with proposing appropriate wording for an amendment to the Constitution in relation to housing. This is a complex area and other legal systems have addressed this in a variety of ways.

“This conference affords us an important opportunity to hear from voices and experts from Ireland and internationally. We will listen carefully to the views expressed and it will inform our work as it progresses.”