SOCIAL DEMOCRATS TD Rory Hearne was chastised in the Dáil today for holding up a piece of art highlighting the record number of children in homelessness this Christmas.

According to latest figures from the Department of Housing, 5274 children will be spending Christmas in emergency accommodation.

During Members’ Questions today, Hearne held up a flag made by Irish artist Asbestos emblazoned with the number 5274 – breaking Dáil house rules against using props.

He said the lettering on the flag is from the 1916 Proclamation, adding that in the Proclamation, the State promised to care for its children.

Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness TD attempted to stop the TD from using the prop.

Hearne said: “We committed, as this State, to cherish all children equally. We are not doing that, and I’m calling on you Tánaiste to take priority action on this”.

“Deputy Hearne, you’re out of order”, McGuinness said, after repeatedly saying his name aloud.

Rory Hearne unveils piece of art in the Dáil with the number of homeless children in this state.

A national scandal which should be a national emergency.

Evictions from private rented accommodation is the cause of one third of homelessness. We need an immediate eviction ban pic.twitter.com/YdohaDBqIG

— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) December 18, 2025

Hearne was calling on the government to implement a temporary eviction ban.

“Do you really consider what life is like for the 5274 children living in emergency accommodation? How damaging and traumatising it is to them?” he asked.

He said: “These children will spend Christmas and homelessness without a Christmas tree, without a dinner table that they can sit around with their families on Christmas Day, they will wonder will Santa even find them each week”.

Tánaiste Simon Harris told Hearne, “rules of the house maybe one thing, you’re rightly highlighting a very important issue”.

“I think everybody in this house considers what more we can and must do in relation to child and family homelessness,” he said, adding that different parties have different policy perspectives.