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Updated 4.30pm
THE LABOUR PARTY has paid tribute to Environment Minister Alan Kelly at its conference in Killarney this morning.
The party’s deputy leader has also announced plans to tackle the problem of landlords increasing rents excessively over the next three to four years.
Speaking to Labour delegates during a televised session this afternoon, Kelly said that he would introduce regulations and legislation if needed to tackle high rents, citing Dublin as particularly problematic.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterKelly: This is now the number one priority. We cannot continue with situation where landlords can increase rents at level they are. #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
The Minister earlier indicated support for a motion to freeze rents in the private rental sector for the next two years, saying he will do “everything I can to bring about rent certainty”.
Speaking to the media later in the day, Kelly said that the new proposals would involve “a framework” and insisted he was not introducing rent controls. He said he hoped to be able to introduce changes before the end of the year.
“I am not talking about rent controls. It’s a different model, this is rent certainty… What we’re looking at is a process whereby people can have some certainty as regards rent into the future while [housing] supply is being dealt with.”
TheJournal Politics / TwitterPoliticians and children. What could go wrong? #lp15 pic.twitter.com/2uNnsMu3c4
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
It’s understood the proposals would involve landlords not being able to increase rent beyond the rise in the consumer price index unless they can show that upgrades have been carried out on a rental property that would justify an above inflation rent increase.
Labour is holding its annual gathering at the INEC on the outskirts of the Kerry town with dozens of motions before the conference.
Speaking to delegates the morning, Kelly criticised the water protesters, pointing out that they charge for water on communist-run Cuba.
He again rejected calls for a referendum on ownership of Irish Water, saying there was “triple-lock” that would prevent it being privatised.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterAlan Kelly’s message to water protesters: What about our children’s right to water? They have no policy to deliver water to them. #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
Several delegates had warm words for the party’s deputy leader during a morning session on environment and housing.
Kelly’s own Labour branch in Tipperary even put forward a motion – which was passed – recognising the positive difference Labour and the minister in particular has made on the issues of water and housing.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterLabour councillor Dermot Lacey says it’s great to have “for the first time in 20 years a real Minister for Environment again” #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
TheJournal Politics / TwitterAlan Kelly has taken the homelessness issue "by the short and curlies and put it on the agenda” says a delegate at #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
CIARA CONWAY TD / Twitter@oconnellhugh it's in his DNA isn't that right @alankellylabour :-) #lp15
— CIARA CONWAY she /her (@ciaramconway) February 28, 2015
Addressing delegates, Kelly joked that his brief “believe it or not, it’s not just about water”. He launched a scathing attack on the Green Party and Eamon Ryan’s recent criticism of him:
TheJournal Politics / TwitterAlan Kelly: I’ve heard enough about Greens, they were in power for 4 years and what did they do about climate change? Zero. Nothing #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
The conference heard criticism of the local government reforms introduced by Kelly’s predecessor Phil Hogan.
Kilkenny councillor Seán Ó hArgáin saying the abolition of town and borough councils was a “fundamentally stupid” decision.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterDelegate says there should be a commitment from the Labour conference to restore town councils. Warm applause for that #lp15
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
Kelly said that he was always “very nervous about the programme of reforms that took place” under Hogan and said he would support a motion calling for a comprehensive review of the changes.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterLabour rocking the smart casual look for their televised session #lp15 pic.twitter.com/OlVHtshuzF
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 28, 2015
Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin later told the conference that he hoped to introduce two weeks paid paternity leave for fathers before the end of the year.
This could be extended to same-sex families, the Labour conference heard.
Follow @TJ_ Politics and @oconnellhugh for updates from the Labour conference in Killarney.
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No praise like self praise
Do Labour actually have any supporters left? Honest question….
I think its down to around 6% in the last poll.
If you get below 5% in German elections, you are not allowed to take your seats ….. it is to avoid extremist parties entering parliament!
“Whatever happened to the Burton Bounce?
It’s likened to Hitler and his underlings in the underground bunker in Berlin , while the devastation goes on around him and he is proposing that his Generals launch an offensive , while everyone secretly realises that the game is up and that they are all for the high road !
It’s going to be quite entertaining there this afternoon when The Pink Ladies arrive .
They are going to realise once more , how the ordinary Citizens of Ireland truly hate this Party – what’s left of it – of Conservative FG lookalikes .
When are they debating LYING.
Self praise is no recomandation…
They are all in the one room,
Jacinta…..would be great if we had that here as well, would keep Labour out of the Dail next time round
Saying everything but doing nothing, full of pure crap
Alan Kelly campaigned against water charges in GE 2011, now he is the minister responsible for enforcing water charges.FG really shafted Labour.
Let them rant away all they desire, they will all but a bad memory after the upcoming election just like the Green Party.
I think they are so out of touch that they believe in themselves. That says quite a lot.
Apples in an orchard my ar*e.
4 comments in and the Hitler comparisons start. Hyperbole game be on point, yo
If you listen really carefully you can almost hear them all climax at once…
Delusional – A belief held with strong conviction Despite superior evidence to the contrary.
Untruths and more untruths, how many more untruths will we hear from these untruthful Labour people before the next election?
Kelly the man who stands by Irish water and can’t look the Irish electorate in the eye.
What a deluded bunch of
Moran ‘s. There like flys around a pile of horse dung. It would make you sick in the gut.
Ah now that a bit weak these idiots in Labour have no intellect to see where Noonan has led them. Would they not be better tackling the banks who sell mortgages and get the money at 0.5% then charge the mortgage customer 4.75% APR a month . Would that not sort out the and help the hard pressed home owners by giving them back €5500 a year on an average mortgage of €200,00O per year. Why attack landlords who are of course being fleeced by the bank and why not support renters who are being fleeced by landlords.
Solution if you reduce the banks ability and Capp interest rates at 1% above the lending rate landlords have no excuse and the percentage of renters lessens because homes become more affordable to buy. People will start to move up the property ladder.
Mr Noonan told Clare Daly this was a non runner unlike when Clare Daly told Noonan paying bond holders should be a non runner he still went ahead and done it.
Labour to thick and stupid to see they were used to sell a pig in a poke Kelly is just another puppet for Fine Gael who have been pulling the strings.
It’s Labour’s Way or Landlord’s way !
Now where have we heard something like that before – get up the yard , I’m Going tackling child poverty and evictions , I am more worthy of a vote , love me until after the election please – thanks meeja for the space in Eire’s psyche
A vote for labour fg ff is a vote for cheap labour.
Some times you have to look at the good that politicians do.
There next conference !!! That’ll be funny probably in Joan’s house ….
Up his own ass, is Kelly,big time.
Sublime bullshitter.
will the people of Tipperary re-elect their Messiah.?
Will Michael Lowry get an overwhelming majority to re-represent the people of Tipperary.?
Everyone slapping each other on eh. ” well done ” jolly good show ” meanwhile back at a normal household kids are going hungry and mum and dad are arguing over money , bills bills bills…
I hope all the mams and dads turn out to vote when their turn comes.
50% of the population don’t bother.
So how do you get rid of Kelly and his ilk.?
The same Kelly who terrorised his elderly neighbour in a land grab attempt?
Exactly Oscar, he’s a despicable little toad.
“The same Kelly who terrorised his elderly neighbour in a land grab attempt?”
Oscar, in the nation’s hinterland of Tipperary,such endeavours are heroic..the stuff of legend.
Mr Kelly is a man who seems determined in going places.
Only an election will tell.
He has brought home the bacon in a pork barrel to Tipp for sure.
all politics are local.
You can spend your last cent on it Sean.
Like a lot of people I never imagined I would want the labour party obliterated from Irish politics.
I can’t wait now.
Agreed. I’ve voted for them all my life. I’ll never, ever make that mistake again. What a disgrace they’ve become.
Everybody loving Kelly?
Well lets face it, he doesn’t have much competition, does he?
Yawn! They won’t see government for a long long time again, if ever.
This gang are really away with the fairys .They have told lie after lie and betrayed the Irish people. And yet they think there doing a good job representing the wishes of the people who voted for them.
They should be charged with teason.Bunch of corrupt con-men.
Self congratulations is worth about as much as the Labour sellouts in government. Kelly’s only Hogan in disguise. Definitely nothing left about him.
Arrogant ass-hole
Yeah, I heard Kelly boasting this is one of the best Labour governments in history!!
Too much time spent in the Dawl Bar, me thinks!
Yeah Jacinta, isn’t it funny how he says that in a building that’s surrounded by barricades, to keep the people who are bearing the brunt of his policies away…
Hit the nail on the head there Fergus!
Watched the rte news coverage last night, the audience was very sparse indeed, at one point I swear I saw tumbleweeds rolling through the room….
Should have held it in a phone booth.
As for Kelly, I won’t waste my breath.
Sadly, the Irish Labour Party, An Lucht Oibre, ceased a few years ago.
What you now see is a facade masquerading as Labour, but right of centre.
We’ve heard enough about Labour. They’re in power for four years. What have they done for the people that put their hopes in them? Zero!
#DaveDoyle Labour gave us Utopia. They took us to the top of the hill and abandoned us there with their election promises. Right back at you Kelly
A lawless Utopia (senator Lorraine Higgins) LMAO…How delusional can you get….just shows how out of touch they really are.
March 21st Will you be there???
What must it be like to be in a room cheered on by people who didn’t have the courage to represent the people who put them there.
What a load of crap.
Wow, elections in the horizon and suddenly Alan Kelly cares about rents and homelessness.
Say’s alot about this government when both parties had to have a ring of steel to hide behind from the people who elected them,
because of the out right lies they both told to get elected a government of the people for the people lying f**kers
Labour Party has turned to a cult.
Sod them,the more they come out with tripe like this the more infuriated the electorate are against them.
They will emerge after their ego massage and spout tripe but nothing will change.
They will be destroyed.
I still thing he’s a t$t !!!!!
At least shit has some use ……. as fertiliser!
Labour has no functions except to p*ss people off!
#Jacinta how true!!
I’m sick of the bitchfest. General Secretary’s speech last night was a disgrace. How unprofessional to continue slagging off the other parties, it’s school yard hair-pulling. Act like adults please.
Politicians in general would want to catch themselves on to some new new realities, in their marketplace.
With better education, IT literacy, social media outlets, voters won’t be fooled as easily as in your halcyon days of the 70s and 80s, when wool was cheap and plentiful for the three-card trick merchants in your flock.
Voters are sick, sore and tired listening to same old guff; bitching about opponents; blaming the last crowd in office; and of course those mutual admiration society annual shindigs in exotic places like Castlebar and Killarney.
When does promised reform kick on?
#labourlovein
Labour living in there own little bubble.They make me sick listening to there crap.Come election time they will be gone
They are already gone but refuse to accept that we will destroy them next election
Ill never vote labour again!
Did someone slip LSD into the Killarney water supply?
They seem to inhabit a parallel universe!
This see you next Tuesday is introducing a minimum price per kg for household waste later this year to stop below cost selling of waste, and says that customer service of some waste companies are atrocious and it needs to stop (how charging per kg fixes this is still a mystery)
Citybin are clearly the target and this fiasco is supported by greyhound who ironically have the worst customer service by far and who also have a vested interest in this with several government tenders awarded to them by DCC (which they’re doing a really poor job on btw)
Greyhound support this bullshit and claim it’s nothing but good for the consumer yet very soon your flat fee for waste will be gone and everyone will be paying by weight (i.e more)
Alan Kelly you are nothing but a disgrace
If only these people had an inkling of how much the Irish Nation in general despise them. They have done untold damage bending over kissing up to Enda & co & have completely abandoned the voters that gave them the chance to make a positive difference in govt. They are now just a collective of twits tweeting and oblivious it would seem to reality. Reality as they say – bites.
The idiot need to learn how to read the clock , time is running out and they cannot see anything beyond the pension ,Tick,Tock . the election will be here very soon and then we will see the back of the traitors .
@the journal.ie .
Still another month till April fools day.. Nice practice run tho..
Did he really compare our water infrastructure to that of a developing country to make a point about why we should pay water charges?… He should really look into the statistics of the Cuban water system before holding them up as an example.
Bacoxy, if I lived in Cuba, and had access to an efficient, state of the art public health service like theirs,and if I was not paying 3000 Euros yearly for private health insurance in Ireland; I would throw Irish Water and Michael Tierney and his Quango every penny they were originally looking for .! (1000 Euros per annum per average family)
Wants to freeze rents, how about you get the banks to cut their variable rates, highest in Europe. Labour my a$$!
Anal Kelly is like the pinball wizard, deaf dumb and blind, or ocould be Walter Mitty living in cloud cuckoo land
‘Anal’ Kelly – HAHAHAHAHAHA, brilliant!
Putting Party before Country.
They should never be trusted again.
I blame Alan Kelly’s parents for his drivel. His mother wants a thump for having that useless lump of shxte.
You know it’s bad when you don’t even have a single troll coming on here to defend you. Please let the door smack you hard on the way out
Was just thinking the same thing!
Every annual convention is a love in, with hyperbole and emotion substituting for real policies. It’s an opportunity to rev up the troops and get the party hacks. It has noting to do with real policies.
Austerity rules.
Tackling the homeless issue, I dont think so, tell that to the woman cold & hungry on the street with no home for herself & her 2 year old. This country is a disgrace the politicians should be in jail for what they have done!
Labour annual conferance 2016 will be held in a matchbox !
It tells you everything you need to know about Labour when that gobsh!te is the poster boy.
650 delegates formulating ideas to govern the 4.5 million rest of us.
Just on my way into town to connect with the delegates from behind the barriers .
I met some of them last night , they looked terrified to be outside the safety barriers , worried creases wrinkling up their prawn sandwich filled chubby chops , look they cried its an ” electorate” lets promise him things we have no intention of delivering ,when i didn’t engage them with adoring platitudes they scurried away back behind the safety barriers sulking .
Talk about blowing smoke up ones ass.
That can love themselves all they want. What counts is the voters hate them
It was “we’re all brilliant” are the fg thing last week, same bulls&@t this weekend with labour. We should just take over now at this stage, throw them out, organise election asap, introduce political reform, change laws to claim back political expenses and pensions, introduce performance related pay into the political system, hold real enquiries, not this pac crap, hold politicians accountable and penalise them if they realise they are doing wrong, which they do alot of the time. And for elections, if fg and ff get 25percent each, thats not a mandate to come together to from gov, it means ye were both rejected and we need new canidates. And no more election rejects on the seanad.
Watching the conference. I don’t think even THEY believe their own spin. No matter how hard Alan punches the air, there’s still a look of the impending gallows about them all.
I take no delight in this. Labour was my party in the good old days. When Labour stood for the
people who elected them. RIP
Exactly Peter, its a shame to see the Labour party brow beaten with not one ball between the lot of them to question the capitalist mantra of Fine Gael.
Its a shame that the Labour party will probably be wiped out at the next election, but they have nobody to blame but themselves for been willing lapdogs.
Not one of them stood up to Fine Gael capitulated and towed the party line.
The only way back for Labour is a complete jettisoning of all the dead wood and an injection of new members that actually care.
Great idea every landlord in the country will be upping the rents before this legislation comes in or if it ever does.
Rents are still below peak. Lack of money in people’s pockets is to blame for unaffordability.
Alan Kelly is a big mouthed idiot who has done nothing but talk bullshit since he got this job.
Rents in Ireland are significantly higher than other Euro-Zone countries. Comparing them to the celtic tiger peak is moot and irrelevant. Irish rents should be aligned to Euro-Zone rental rates. If rent controls are introduced, it should target existing tenancies.
Everything in Ireland is dearer than other euro countries so the comparison is worthless.
Also, taxes on landlords should be aligned to other countries. In Ireland, rental income is taxed even if the property is making a nett loss, this is unique in the world.
Well someone’s got to love him….
They are sick.when iw fail Eurostat test,and a no in Leos referendum will force an election. they will HEAR the ballot box .they have to go,longer there ,more damage they do to our country and citizens. too arrogant and totally out of touch.
Your heading is a bit vague. It should be “everyone in ONLY labour is…., cause he’s not getting any loving from outside the party, and thats only 6/7 percent anways!
Kelly is “all mouth and trousers”, or as they’ll be saying about Kenny when he gets to Texas ” big hat, no cattle”!
Where I’m staying in Kilarney there is one or two Labour heads staying there,The likes of phat rabbit and Kelly are staying in the Gleneagle hotel.
I wonder are they putting in for expenses? As the INEC the same barrier arrangements for FG seem to be in place there,Are these dopes deluded do they not think that the normal working man and women have had enough with these charges.
When has there ever being a party conference that security has been upped so much.
a – red thumb above and plus one green one clicked red by mistake..
Dave Byrne I’m here in the Gleneagle, came down with my branch. Not happy with the love-in this morning either. Watching the rugby instead. Wish I stayed at home with my family. Please protest peacefully and be safe.
Who said I’m protesting? I came down for the match,As for Labour there finished is phat rabbit still renting out the farm back in Mayo.
Sorry Dave. I assumed, wrong thing to do. Apologies. Enjoy the match.
wow a member of the Labour party that is actually humble and not trying to cover their ass! Well done Rachael…Im just sorry you are a Labour rep. Go independent coz this lot are finished.
Labour have made navel-gazing a high art ! Is there an app for patting yourself on the back? Call it a Patsy!!! Is that app(t)?
Arrogant, aggressive, deluded pig of a man.
Rent controls need to be introduced in Ireland.
Ni ITS, government needs to treat the rental sector like any other business and not as a cash cow.
They do. In fact, too much. That’s why rent is going through the roof. Time for more controls, like in other European countries.
ITS student, you know absolutely nothing about the rental sector in Ireland.
Look these word up in the dictonary…………supply…………..demand.
Looks like a lot of vested interests oppose rent controls. It’s worth noting that rent controls are nothing new in Ireland: they were introduced in the 1940′s and scrapped in the 1970′s. In Europe, several countries successfully operate rent controls to ensure price stability, competitiveness, and sustainable economies.
ITS Student, irish mortgage rates are the highest in Europe,any thoughts on this?
Labour is in denial!
Ah sure we all love our own, no matter what they do.
Sure was a peculiar decision by the judge in Kelly’s lane grab (media stayed very quiet on it)
I don’t know which is worse ? – him for thinking we believe him or the some of the people behind him who haven’t a clue what’s going on,
He’s a disgrace…the changes he is looking for in the fire service will get someone killed!!
An impression of Labour party conference.
I love me. I LOVE me. I LOVE ME. You love me to. I love me to. Let me tell you why you love me. Now tell me why you love me. Well that’s because I’m just fabulous and I love me.
Minister Kelly it is NOT about Water.
Rent control …. a bit late … in place in Germany since their civil code law of January 1, 1900.
Irish demand pro-citizen laws to protect citizens from Financial Predators like:-
- Landlords who Max Rent
- Banks who Max Debt … where is the FTT Legislation Minister Kelly and US law on charge on loans?
- Political Parties (Private Clubs) who Max Tax …
Loading families with stress and shortening their lives.
#byebyeLabour never again
Do the Labour Party even know what’s going on around them or are they just living in a bubble, it’s flabbergasting to read they are so out of touch you’d have to question how they ever formed a party.
Can’t beat a bit of self congratulations when your an overpaid politician and are in love with yourself. The arrogance is nauseating
What do you mean, “debated “? How does speeches from the rostrum followed by craven praise from the floor qualify as debate?
Ha
Ha..
It should be a health & safety act preventing us poor citizens from listening to them,it does serious damage to my ears and hearing
Why not do something about it now, apart from the obvious no election run up yet
Let him bring in legislation to tackle this horrendous problem of rising rents especially in Dublin. Some of these properties on the market would be ‘suicide inducing’ and I am not just saying that for sensationalism, it’s the absolute truth. The only people that would be against this are the greedy, detached, disgusting and unscrupulous landlords!!!!
Labour also promised they would tackle rates in the last election same old lies go home Kelly and take the gang of misfits with you
Property collapses 50%+, rent crashes 40% (many peoples’ pensions!) and owners had to subsidise mortgages from life savings and many landlords defaulted with banks and got no mercy, interest deductions disallowed by government in a business investment purchase, property tax introduced, PRTB introduced, rent allowances dramatically cut by state, state originally took 40% of purchase price in taxes and 56% in any rental profit and the landlords are the problem and need to be legislated against after rent recovers only 20%? Can somebody get real?
Anyone voting for Labour, FG or FF knows what they’ll get next general election. I don’t trust SF as a party (I’m not talking about their economic policies and neither am I implying that their candidates will be inferior to the other three parties). Effectively that leaves a protest vote since there isn’t another viable party to vote for strictly in terms of one that could gain an overall majority, or enter into a two party coalition. I’ll vote socialist and independent at the next election, just as I did in 2011. I would strongly urge anyone considering voting for Labour, FG or FF to reflect on the cynical and evasive performances of their TD’s and ministers on Irish TV current affairs programs. It’s shameful.
Alan Kelly. I think you will find the Bolivian marching power has gone right to your head and out the other side.
Labour will not need to make any long term plans of promises they will not keep! There will be sitting at home fairly soon collecting there huge pensions! What ever hope Enda the incredible has of clinging on with his pointy teeth, labour are well and truly fuc✌️ed! Good ridence to bad rubbish
Fact is there is feck all he can do about it.
He is setting himself up to be the next leader as he sees Joan as another Cowan, before long Labour will throw her out like F.F. did to Cowan, he is placing himself to take over from Joan in my view?
I’m so tired of listening 2 all these c t s just f o and go away pls I’ve had enough.
Rent control is bull, why shouldn’t anyone charge whatever they like for anything they sell?
The government want to punish the people who provide housing rather than do their job and provide social housing for those who need it.
Landlords can charge high rents because there is a Demand for their property, increase supply and rents will fall.
So you’re an advocate of hyperinflation?
I just realized that it was only the intermission today at the Pantomime I thought it was over. When will this Labour PANTOMIME end as it just becomes a bigger joke as it goes on. They are such a sad group of people living on a different planet from the rest of the country. The Pantomime is over. Please leave the building.
It’s a load of BS a few months ago he was urgently drafting documents to tackle the private rental market and now he hopes to sort this by the end of the year, make your fffing mind up man and get the finger out and bring some sort of reform in thank you.
water charges in cuba huh? no mention of the totally free Cuban education and health care systems Alan? What a ridiculous comparison or does Al believe a comparison of infrastructures with a country under embargo for 50 years is a fair description of modern Ireland, maybe he has a point after all
They will get their answer soon, courtesy of the Irish people.
Just done a quick Twitter sentiment analysis for #lp15, ‘Fear Uneasiness’ features strongly make of it what you will! pic.twitter.com/dkWqvXNbyn
Talking about love ins ,he has got very close to Lorraine higgins
have your say