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THE DEPARTMENT OF Industry and Energy was worried it had not done enough to deal with Britain’s nuclear power plans in the early 1980s.
In an internal memo released under the 30 Year Rule, an official recalled how the Industry and Energy department was “beginning to feel nervous about not having taken sufficient action vis-a-vis the British authorities on Windscale”.
“And want to cover themselves in the event of anything going wrong,” wrote an official.
First Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Joanna Betson, was writing an informal report of an interdepartmental meeting held on 17 November 1983 after media reports about the effects of levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea.
She said there was a “general lack of knowledge on what level of radio activity we should agree to find acceptable at Windscale”.
The group, which included representatives from the Fisheries, Finance, Environment, Transport and Health departments and the Nuclear Energy Board (NEB), decided it was necessary to proceed with a bi-lateral agreement with the UK on the matter “as swiftly as possible”.
Earlier in the year, media reports suggested there were unacceptable levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea.
One documentary linked the 1957 fire at Windscale (now Sellafield) to illnesses.
A junior minister in Ireland noted that these findings were limited to areas closer to the site than Ireland is.
According to the NEB’s independent tests, radioactivity levels reached their highest during 1974.
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50% only? Just ban foreign purchase of Irish homes.
Taxpayers paid 225 million to help build maynooth estate, that was allowed to be bulk-bought by a foreign company.
They now charge rents higher than a mortgage. Such is Capitalism.
I’d rather taxpayers money go to building social housing for workers or for home ownership for residents.
Get rid of FG/FF. They haven’t a clue.
@Dean: Would a turkey vote for Christmas?
@Dean: Get rid off FG/FF and capitalism? Who makes up the government then. FG/FF are useless but the alternatives are just as bad
@Hugh: sinn fein majority.
@Ross: Good man Ross. Let the populists take over. They’ll solve it all
@Dean: up to 50% so could be 10% ??? 2% ??? Joke
@Dean: the 50% (and it’s actually a max of 50% so some mad council could say 0%) is only on new planning permissions. These houses won’t be built for 2or 3 years. Rule is a handy, useless, farce
@Dean: it’s not even 50% it’s “up to”. That means anywhere between 0% and 50% at the discretion of ten local authority.
Absolute hörsesßhite.
This government is enabling vulture funds to steal the future from Irish families.
It’s all about the Dàil pension and the cost job with the bank after politics.
We,my friends, are being taken for a royal ride.
@Dean: it’s not even 50% it’s “up to”. That means anywhere between 0% and 50% at the discretion of the local authority.
Absolute hörsesßhite.
This government is enabling vulture funds to steal the future from Irish families.
It’s all about the Dàil pension and the cost job with the bank after politics.
We,my friends, are being taken for a royal ride.
@Philip Cooper: cosy FFS
@Dean: Mickey mouse stuff from the gov. Nothing for apartments, which leaves a lot of people screwed, not everyone can afford a house or needs the extra space
@Hugh: FF/FG are steering people that way. They only have themselves to blame
@Hugh: That’s how democracy works, and why would you keep voting for the same failing parties time and time again? Time to try something new for a change.
@Dean: it actually says “up to 50%”! With a predetermined range of 0-50% being set aside for owner occupiers. Can’t believe I’m reading that. So they could decide to set aside 0%?
@Dean: 50% is amazing! So cuckoo fund in Mullen park maynooth is fine . If 260 house be build in that estate. Remember most are new estate are around 200 home . So cuckoo fund can have half . Government are still now taking issue in serious. Very disappointed
@Hugh: get over your whinging, Hugh. Nobody cares.
@Dean: Every grandparent, parent and young person “Locked Out”, or on “Rack Rents” or under threat of eviction with no security of tenure should sign this …
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/stop-investors-buying-our-homes
- Don’t say you could do nothing about it … its your country!
https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status
@Hugh: well ffg are doing nothing to help the situation quite the opposite in fact….
These funds have more money than anyone , 10 percent will just add on to the rent they’ll be charging surely
That’s the best the government has come up with????Someone better tell them money is no object to these companies.
@tottkingham: 10% is a disgrace with the funds they have
Why 10 houses as a limit? I would have thought that anyone buying 9 houses (or anything more than 1, to be fair) is pretty unlikely to be anything other than an investor seeking profit.
Get Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil out.
I can’t believe this
Help first time buyers buy second hand homes,
@Nan: this is it.
@Nan: Exactly!
@Nan:
That’s right it’s only first time buyers who are affected by this housing crisis.
@Just Some Guy: it’s not. Separated and divorced people who need a home are often classified as NOT being first-time buyers, even though they actually no longer have a place to call home.
@Nan: it’ll just lead to increased demand for a finite pool of second hand homes which will only serve to drive up prices. New homes are needed not increased demand !
Headline should be: funds to be allowed buy at least 50% of future houses and 100% of apartments and to increase future rents by 10%
How is imposing an extra stamp duty levy combat people purchasing multiple homes . It’s just another cost that will be passed on to the eventual individual purchasers ! . This will crease the cost of homes to the individual end purchasers making houses less affordable than now and of course the government wins by gaining another 10% in stamp duty tax .
Great Government well done, more lost votes bye bye FFG and Greens R.I.P.
10% is nothing for the vulture funds that buy the houses. Yet another crock of manure from FF, FG and the Greens.
@Ed: and the government knows it. The gravy train will not be derailed while they are in power.
@Ed: Every grandparent, parent and young person “Locked Out”, or on “Rack Rents” or under threat of eviction with no security of tenure should sign this …
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/stop-investors-buying-our-homes
- Don’t say you could do nothing about it … its your country!
https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status
Can’t see why apartments can’t be included and surely the 10 house limit should be reduced to 5 or less
@billy bound: whats the definition of a development? Not being smart but coukd a developer apply for multiple “developments” on a single site? the trick will be to have max of 9 units per development.
@billy bound: because that would stop apartments being built
@Adrian™: rubbish. There is huge demand for all types of homes from potential owner-occupiers. It’s also far more sustainable, and it’s cheaper for the State if people live in cities where the facilities already exist locally, rather than in commuter towns where new facilities, including public ones like schools, libraries, sports centres have to be built.
@Kevin Farrell: where do you think developers get the money to build properties? It is investment funds. No money no building
It says “up to 50%” so it could be 5, 10 , or 15% ?! Hmmm sounds like a snakey tactic
@Ríain HenC: Yes, the language used is important – “measures”, “seek to…”, “to mitigate” etc. Loopholes everywhere and nothing concrete.
No no no ! This is not what we wanted ! This is disgraceful, once again the normal people of this country get screw ed.
This shall be the rock on which this government perish.
@Pádraigín O’Sirideáin: : People are not angry – they are furious. Out Out Out.
Every grandparent, parent and young person “Locked Out”, or on “Rack Rents” or under threat of eviction with no security of tenure should sign this …
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/stop-investors-buying-our-homes
- Don’t say you could do nothing about it … its your country!
https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status
So only the 50% for the lads.
@Ger Buckley: not even 50%. It’s “up To 50%” for owner-occupiers. So it could be only 10%, leaving 90% for the vultures/cuckoos/hyenas!
@Kevin Farrell: Exactly Kevin, the devil is in the detail, the ONLY acceptable solution is to push the cuckoo out of the nest permanently, the government are reluctant to deal effectively with these vultures who will continue with bulk buying property at the expense of our people. The next street protests will focus on housing, such a shame that none of our politicians have grasped how unfair, cruel and exploitative the introduction of vulture funds in to the Irish property market is and how angry people are to watch government not only allow but offer incentives to this manipulative breed of greed.
If they were serious at stopping these investors , then it should be much more than 10% stamp duty.
That’s not enough.
They are cheating the people again
Out with this government.
@billy bound: 50% tax on rental income for a start
As expected folks, a nothing gesture that has no net effect on the sky rocketing cost of housing which is what people want addressed. They just dont care. Looking after their investor mates as usual but better throw a few crumbs to the plebs as usual. We don’t need these funds in Ireland to build anything. Its a lie to say we do. We’re a tiny country with a relatively small housing demand. We can manage on our own thanks. The government just need to act and build affordable housing. But they simply don’t want to
I love how Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil create policy as if the common man has 9 properties.
Should be 100 % for owner occupiers not 50 % but then what would the TD land lords do, any more than 1 house is bulk buying.
Apartments exempt… they will stop building houses and only build apartments… this will more or less turn Dublin into a cuckoo funds wet dream
So apartments can’t be homes now? Let investment funds buy them all in urban areas? This is such a terrible idea. Why can’t the government build homes themselves? How much land do we own in Nama that could be used?
Stop the bulk buying. Not slap 10% duty on it. Ffs that won’t bother anyone with the finances to purchase 10 plus houses in the first place!!!
Michael Martin must have thought up this plan while sitting on the jacks the other night …. Then he pitched it to all the nodding-dogs in the Dail …. They are embarrassing at this stage ….
Simple, so “cuckoo fund” creates new legal entity for every nine purchases.
By by FG and FF at the next election!
If I was a FF or FG member I would be really concerned. They are gonna get hammered in the next election. What the cabinet doesn’t realise is that the housing market is broken. I would confidently say we all have family members who are affected and who we want to see move on in life but can’t because our govt priority is for investment funds not its citizens.
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: FG won’t. They’re oddly bulletproof unfortunately. Nothing seems to stick to them so I’d expect they’ll do well next election, as horrible as that is. FF are probably completely fecked though.
@Keith O’Reilly: That’s because there will always be a proportion of wealthy individuals who are vested in keeping their policies going….that wealthy class is both shrinking and in the minority though. It’s up to everyone who’s mummy and daddy can’t buy them a home to ensure FFG are squeezed out
Horse gate bolted and all that sh11t
@Paul Carew: how is it Paul ? If one of the very many developments awaiting planning approval is approved tomorrow then 50% of that will be available for people to buy. Previously that would not have been the case.
As someone looking to buy a home it’s brilliant news. The government have acted here and people will find fault in it, but at least we have a good chance now. Previously it was probate houses only that were available. At very high prices and requiring rewires replumbs etc.
We are in a hell of a lot better position than before in my humble opinion.
@Philip Dunne: Up to 50%… It specifically states 0 to 50%
@Philip Dunne: I hope you’re not as gullible when it comes to purchasing your new home Philip. Best of luck with it though. Hope it all goes well for you.
@The Bolt: thank you. It’s horrendous out there. Average houses on the lower end of the prices going for 80k more than they are worth, with 60k or more of work needed. Any bit of light is a positive sadly
@Philip Dunne: you’re a sad apologist for a failing government
Owner occupiers makes much more sense than restrictions to first time buyers. People trading up or down would have been completely left out with that suggestion.
@Longlin: Very difficult to police that though.
Well that’s not much help. Institutional investors who have been able to outbid both owner-occupiers and local authorities won’t baulk at an increased stamp duty charge especially given that they already would have economies of scale when it comes to legal fees and letting charges and the like. Political will isn’t really there to prevent the on-going land-grab!
Wrote this two days ago.
.
THE IRELAND HOUSING CRISES.
.
ONE
.
Over the next few weeks you are going to be tried PR sold that increasing stamp duty on property vultures (otherwise know as cookcoo funds/investors) is going to have a dramatic effect on cutting down on the property grabbers from their activities. Nothing could be further from the truth. There will be no overall ban on them (like in Germany for example) and the government will continue to not mass build the yearly, minimum, social housing numbers needed – which if they did, would also help to drive down the prices of private housing for sale. No, the government won’t help in that direction either. Too many landlords or property investors elected, maybe? A conflict of interest, anyone?
.
The vultures are prepared to accept an initial higher price for their mass bulk buying – and then pass those stamp duties further on to renters or third handed buyers through a possible further increased rent cost or purchase price.
.
The PR crap that will be spun, will if you look under its FG/FF covers, be exposed for what it is by anyone with a working brain. As far as the vultures are concerned, their property grabbing activities will still be seen as mass profitable. So it will continue…
.
.
TWO
.
The next dose of PR spin will be around allowing 30% to 50% of all private property built, to be allowed go to FIRST-time buyers.
A. On the flipside of this, it means 50% to 70% will STILL be up for total grabs by the greedy exploiting vultures.
B. Those not a first time buyer but looking to upgrade, like those living together, starting a family, will be totally forgotten about, abandoned, and not part of the minority 30% to 50% previous figure. They are still on their own to battle against the vultures. Bugger all help there from FG/FF.
.
.
THREE
.
The awake will note that bugger all is being said about how one further serious issue is going to be tackled. The issue of those trapped in paying so much high rents that there is little or nothing left over every week or month, to go towards further savings that might make up a sniff of a home deposit. These current generations of fiscal trapped are not – deliberately – being (a) talked about or (b) subsequently helped.
.
.
FOUR
.
You will note that the FG/FF government is centering its soon to be announced ‘great measures’ on “homes”. Very little – delibertly – is being said about what they are going to do regarding “apartments” that the vultures are still grabbing up as much as possible en mass. The truth is that the FG/FF government is going to do bugger all about this issue. They are deliberately silent on it like they are on many things they don’t want to talk about (expose) and be then questioned on – further exposing them as incompetent and self law breaking on a national and international scale.
.
*** In a previous lengthy, detailed post, I summary described what really needs to be done, why, and the many advantages to individuals, companies and state, of doing so. In the comment section I will put links to that post – and related others I extensively wrote – if you missed them.
.
This present time is perhaps the most crucial time in the history of our state, to try resolve a mega problem that FG/FF/LABOUR helped create over the previous 5/10 years. If we don’t NOW resolve this issue right, with proper measures and full effort, not half arsed PR window-dressing jobs, many future generations are going to be left up shit creek for decades to come. That’s yours and my children. …And that’s the biggest truth of all.
.
.
Note: I leave out referral to the Green Party, as regards part of the present government. They are there just to make up a majority Dail number in my (and others) opinion. Bought off by being given occassional policy crumbs to keep them onside. Otherwise, the other two coalition parties continue to do whatever the hell they like! The Green Party is certainly not keeping them in check. They are too busy on their own betraying the people of Ireland with the likes of #CETA STILL to be rammed down our throats, without a public vote allowed to take place. Something that will also affect our growing generations.
.
However, it too is largely #RTEcensored. What’s new!
@UnitedPeople #StopCETA:
Every grandparent, parent and young person “Locked Out”, or on “Rack Rents” or under threat of eviction with no security of tenure should sign this …
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/stop-investors-buying-our-homes
- Don’t say you could do nothing about it … its your country!
People are not angry – they are furious.
A nice brown envelope to the right minister and I’m sure they’ll find a loophole
That’s it?! Facepalm!
If you want to keep “cuckoo funds” out, you need both serious financial disincentive, like 100% stamp duty for off shore buyers, or better yet, outlaw it altogether. That said , there is a reason to grow responsible homegrown professional residential real estate. To do that, we need both an effective stamp duty, plus rent limits that are based on median income of the local area, with another protected rent limit for lower income earners.
@Lindsey Madden: Finally, because lots of Irish citizens bought housing stock during the good years, but the income of citizenry then bottomed out, those individual owners of potential rental homes can’t make a profit with current mortgages, capital investment requirements, and taxation on rental income. So they turn to Air BnB to cover their investments. If in fact the taxation scheme for these individual owners of investment properties were changed so that they were taxed modestly on net profit not gross rental income, rental stock might increase. Doing these things to keep rents more commensurate with median/lower income earners should allow people to rent and save towards a down payment for their a mortgage, should that be a long term goal.
@Lindsey Madden: Finally, because lots of Irish citizens bought housing stock during the good years, but the income of citizenry then bottomed out, those individual owners of potential rental homes can’t make a profit with current mortgages, capital investment requirements, and taxation on rental income. So they turn to Air BnB to cover their investments. If in fact the taxation scheme for these individual owners of investment properties were changed so that they were taxed modestly on net profit not gross rental income, rental stock might increase. Doing these things to keep rents more commensurate with median/lower income earners should allow people to rent and save towards a down payment for their a mortgage, should that be a long term goal.
Absolutely disgraceful
Horse gate bolted and all that s by hite
They had a chance to do right here. Game over for them.
Can someone explain why we can’t build apartments for sale like they do in pretty much every other country?
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t get built if they were to be bought by first time buyers.
Isn’t there something to do with lending rules making it harder to get a mortgage on an apartment?
I just don’t get why we’re not focusing on building apartments suitable for family living like every other city in Europe.
Aren’t we so lucky…
Looks like FFG have just thrown away any chance they had of being reelected. If you can’t listen to the people you won’t be listened to by the people.
Will developers not just look to build apartments then? Or does the % put aside apply to them as well.
@Whelcon: who else is going to pay for them to be built?
Fffg green out and for good this time .they’re absolutely destroying our country we’ve had enough
Making sure that FF, FG and the Greens lose the Dublin Bay South by-election is essential.
Hitting this hated coalition in its Tory heartland might focus its mind.
So the 50% limit is on future planning permissions. Will only matter in 2ir 3 years when they’re built
Houses and duplexes…..
Pretty sure the vast majority bought by funds are apartments.
Seems like some sensible solutions
@Elaine Phelan: well they’re not unfortunately. They’ve been receiving taxpayer money off Gov. to buy these estates in the first place, so 10% isn’t a deterrent. Also, they’re only ringfencing 50%. Also also, it’s only on housing estates. They’re free to act as they please on apartments and second hand homes. This is just to appear as though government are taking action.
@Elaine Phelan: eh? Ring fencing a pathetic 50% ….!!
So as suspected the government did essential nothi under the guise of trying to look like they had any interest/intention of fixing our housing crisis (they’ve largely caused through deliberate policy)…. remember this in the voting booths people..
@SJF:
Let’s get those cowboys out
“Up to 50%”
The Ireland Group.
Strikes again !
X. I haven’t bothered reading the article.
I I did read a few of the comments, which, I’m glad to see were dismissive of government proposals
If the voters are stupid enough to continue with the present formula, of government, where radical thinking is minor tinkering of a system of serfdom , then so be it .
You get the government you deserve, but I have hopes
So according to people on here by voting out Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will fix everything are in for a shock.
@Just Some Guy: I don’t think anyone is saying that. What people are saying is by voting in FFG it WON’T get fixed.
@Just Some Guy: as though ffg+g are making any effort to fix anything?
..?
Let’s be very clear here … the wording says ‘Up to 50%’ not ‘A minimum of 50%’. So long as a number between 1 and 50 is the percentage that doesn’t go to the Vultures then the Government will pat themselves on the back with a job well done. If they wanted to do anything the wording would have been stronger. This is almost worse than the proposal that was in the news last week. Watch the future ‘non stories’ happen of a fund buying up 95% of a development and paying the extra 10% and the lunatics in charge of running the country turning around and saying ‘Yes our legislation protected that 5% aren’t we great!”
i bought an apartment in australia 20 years ago, u have to get approval as foreigner, thru FIRB foreign investment review board, its a case by case basis. maybe the same would work here. https://firb.gov.au/
Always the same half hearted policies with this government.
Grow a pair and do something about it.
Ooo with this fifty percent, Father Ted you really are spoiling us
“Up to 50%” means 50% is a cap so it could be zero! Why not make it a cap of 10% that can be sold to non owner occupiers? Then to stop any buying through a third party stop any resale being to a landlord or fund for a specified number of years
@Sara Davis: If u want to change POLICY it TD. Not govt.,
@Mary Ward: That what we elected TD to do but not holding them to account at all. Certainly petition to GO VT to hike Tax such bad liuse timing when not even tax of 100 per cnet cahnge Bill TD passed.
10% stamp duty on a house worth 200,000 is 20,000. Were does this end? That means a single person would have to save near 50,000 before they can think of buying some run down ramshackle 2 bed house in the middle of no where. Enjoy trying to save that. Why bother playing the capitalist game at all?
@Charlene Cronin: the 10% is only for the bulk buying
All taxing cukoo funds does is tax them.
On the other hand this affordable housing bill allows min for housing to give housing budget to housing agency to lend to housing bodies to pay for ‘costed rented dwelling ‘ from the owner and no cap on amount of any amount a housing agency can pay or reference to valuation of owner land or commercial premises
but
minister for housing is not getting one cent for one purchaser to buying one dwelling without consent of min for pub expenditure and ther is a cap on how much will be give by ref to valuation of the house.
Cos Maj of TD said Aye and Not No.
There are management companies and residents associations all over country representing thousand of voters THAT CAN SEND MESSAGE to TD ?
Not even 80 per cent stamp duty on house purchased by cukoo fund give min for housing one cent to give to that purchaser in that bill.
.
And all eyes of the Affordable Housing Bill NOW at senate .
Did any get on to a TD ( 20 independent ) to vote NO to bill that is now in senate.
SO Min for housing can give grants to local authorities to provide dwelling for this purpose of affordable purchase agreement (leg on to proper ladder but ONLY WITH CONSENT OF MIN FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
2 He can give whole housing budget no need for consent to housing agency to give loan to housing bodies to give to owner of dwellings designated as cost rental dwellings AND THEY don’t have to bother about valuation before they give the money out either of land upon which owner builds the apt block or the block as a commercial premises.
But the residential dwelling subject of a purchase agreement oh there mn can make regulation on valuations. .
No need at all to raised cukoo funds to rule this bill down.
But TD gave it a thumbs up for what ?
IS nt that what all want .. afford housing.
Did any one get on to TD 20 independent ) to VOTE NO.
Cos if u want leg up on property market it not comeing under this bill and so true what them investor saying but TD who voted it thru. Not GOVT . Govt can onl lay a bill . .
)
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