I am pleased to be here this afternoon to welcome the publication of the Annual Report of the Mercy Law Centre and to express my support for its work and its mission. I am also pleased that the Archdiocese of Dublin is in a position to give practical financial support to this important work and service.
Poverty is complex. Its roots, its implications, its effects, its cost, not only in the lives of the poor, but within society as a whole, are deep and far reaching. Like all dimensions of real life, truly addressing poverty demands work, and work that is thorough, committed, and ongoing. It is work that demands skill, strength, and endurance.
One particular expression of poverty in our land, and more broadly across this continent is the problem of homelessness in our society and in our city. No one can be in any doubt about its scale or toxicity. The regular reporting of record-breaking statistics has become a staple of the news cycle, so much so that we are at risk of becoming immune to its impact. Yet a moment’s reflection will tell us how devastating the experience of homelessness is on the lives and well-being of those who cannot call any place home, cannot have the sense of security of having their own place, which most of us take for granted as the basis of our daily lives. Without a home, without the security of a front door of one’s own, life becomes a daily grind of which the physical limitations of temporary and inadequate accommodation are the most obvious, but by no means the most corrosive, effect.
This Report, in putting before us the casework of the Centre, provides a glimpse of the reality of the pain, both physical and psychological, of those who lack this basic foundation for daily life: we see the mental anguish of parents who cannot provide a secure base for nurturing their children, as well as the confusion of those fleeing domestic violence whose pain is compounded by the risk of being penalised for leaving a violent partner. Becoming homeless is traumatic; the last thing people need is to be confronted by an official system can create barriers to accessing services and supports to which they are legally entitled, as the Centre’s Report demonstrates.
The work of the Centre is invaluable in advocating and protecting the rights of many individuals and families trapped in homelessness. This report brings out that the value of this work is enhanced dramatically when that casework informs the Centre’s critique of policy and practice. Through its public advocacy and training programmes within the legal profession and beyond, the Centre shares its expert knowledge and insights with a wider network. In this way, the operation of the legal system and the legislative process are connected to the realities of life of parents and especially their children presenting as homeless in our country.
There are other dimensions—one might call them structural or systemic—which the work of the Mercy Law Centre keeps before our eyes, and for which it deserves recognition and support. Disadvantage and exclusion are not primarily legal issues, nor can they be resolved by legal means alone. I’m aware of the ongoing debate about whether adopting a constitutional right to housing would significantly or sustainably alleviate the problem of homelessness; that is not for me to say. But a democratic society is fundamentally a society that depends upon the rule of law and on an equitable legal system. Every system, depends on the values and integrity of those who operate it. Your ethos ensures “that all people are treated with respect and compassion and are enabled to achieve their full potential as human beings.” Your staff and volunteers who deliver the service uphold the principles of human rights, social justice and equality (2023 Annual Report of the Mercy Law Support Centre, p.4).
I commend the members of the board and the staff of the Centre for their commitment and expertise. On behalf of Crosscare, the diocesan agency which provides accommodation for homeless families, I thank the Centre for its continuing advice and assistance. I commend the legal firms and the members of the Bar who volunteer their time and expertise to collaborate with the Centre. I believe that this is not just a matter of charitable service—vital though that is; it is rather, a public witness to a key social challenge and a reminder that behind the statistics that are all too familiar to us are the lives of individuals and families whose needs are at the heart of the commendable work we are gathered to celebrate this afternoon.
The God who brings us all into life does so, not because we are good and somehow merit existence. No, the God who brings us into life, does so because God is good. This goodness and graciousness of God is a fundamental tenet of our Christian faith. “Why do you call me good?” said Jesus to the Rich Man in last Sunday’s Gospel, “No one is good but God alone.” (Mark 10:18) In the end, the work of justice, the ongoing work to which this report witness is part of the ongoing sharing of God’s life with us. May the One who began this good work in you, give you the gift of endurance, and bring it—in his time—to fulfilment.
ENDS
- Archbishop Dermot Farrell is Archbishop of Dublin
