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THE CONTROVERSIAL OUTGOING chairperson of the Housing Agency has been reappointed to serve another year.
Conor Skehan’s five-year stint as chair of the agency was due to end at the beginning of 2017.
The role was publicly advertised earlier this year on the State Boards website. The deadline for applications was 14 September.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Housing Agency said that the Housing Minister had not yet appointed a successor and that Skehan had agreed to stay on as chair until an appointment was made.
Today, it was revealed in the current issue of the Iris Oifigiúl that Skehan has been reappointed as chair until the end of this year.
According to the public advertisement, the role is supposed to be for an initial period of five years, with the option to possibly extend it for another five years.
In a statement, a Housing Department spokesperson said that it was “currently in the process of identifying a suitable replacement” to Skehan.
“In the meantime, the Minister has asked Dr Skehan to stay on as Chair until a replacement has been appointed,” the spokesperson said.
“Dr Skehan’s re-appointment has been made on a temporary basis for a period of up to one year.
As soon as a suitable replacement has been identified through the normal Public Appointment Service arrangements, the Department will then make the necessary order to appoint him or her in Dr Skehan’s place.
Controversial
Skehan made headlines and courted controversy this week over comments he made about homeless families in an interview with the Irish Times.
He suggested in the interview that some homeless families may be “gaming the system” by presenting as homeless in order to jump up the social housing waiting list.
Skehan was referring to a policy introduced by the previous government in January 2015 under which 50% of all social housing allocations in Dublin were to go to homeless people.
He came in for strong criticism from opposition politicians and charity officials over the comments, who said there was “no evidence whatsoever” to back up the claims.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy also said his department had no evidence to back up Skehan’s claims, but he stopped short of criticising him.
Skehan has also come under fire in the past. Most recently last November when he said that homelessness was “a normal thing”.
Sinne Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said this evening that reappointing Skehan to the role was a “a bad decision that will undermine the public credibility of the Housing Agency”.
“Minister Murphy should reconsider this ill though out decision and appoint a different chair without delay,” he said.
Speaking earlier this week, homelessness charity Focus Ireland’s director of advocacy Mike Allen said that Skehan’s comments had “done an awful lot of damage” to the debate around homelessness.
Skehan was first appointed as chair of the Housing Agency in July 2013.
The Housing Agency was set up in 2010. It plays an advisory role in matters of housing in the state and liaises with local councils, central government and housing charities and providers.
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Great news. Somebody who is in tune with what is really happening in the system and not afraid to pussyfoot around the truth
@Andy Dwyer: homelessness has become one of the biggest problems under his watch. What else can he do but spout hate about the people he’s supposed to help and be totally incompetent in his job. All aboard the gravy train as usual.
@Andy Dwyer:
If he’s not afraid to pussyfoot around the truth, does that mean that you think that he is pussyfooting around the truth?
@Deborah Behan: or maybe he did see it first hand and knows exactly what he’s talking about ..whereas you have never first hand dealt with this and have no clue ..
@Deborah Behan: You think homelessness is his fault? He has no power and is not elected.
I think homelessness could be solved, eventually, by removing the ability of tenants of social housing of the ability to purchase it. Social housing should be owned and controlled by the state, and not sold off Thatcher style.
@Andy Dwyer: Oh brilliant news Andy. So now that he has made the statement on what he thought was his last hurrah, will he now follow through and provide the names of those people who are gaming the system? Or will he just continue writing policy documents for his beloved FG?
Murphy continues the FG way by this re-appointment.
What next, will we see Noirin O Sullivan re-appointed?
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Conor Skeham is not a Housing Officer and he has no working experience in the homelessness sector.
@Andy Dwyer: there are people intentionally making themselves homeless in order to get a house/apt when they could be living with their parents .
@John Judd: on what basis do you make that assertion of supposed fact?
In fairness, Skehan say that it may be so
@John Judd: what is your personal experience, qualifications and background and what are your sources and evidence for that assertion?
Skehan grew up in a council house, the sociopath.
@Fiona deFreyne: do you honestly think that granny and grandad would purposely let the kids go homeless when they probably have two bedrooms spare in their house? I am also away that some adult children are estranged from the parents too..
@Andy Dwyer: pussy footing a FG hack who doesn’t look like a guy who has ever known want.
Easy snipe from the sidelines when the system created by bureaucrats like him who are comfortably well off does not work.
Everyone who had dealings with welfare services are met with people behind the counter who treat people with contempt and as if they must be scamming the system .
@John Judd: Name the people you’re referring to.
@Tim Brennan: Ironic really, when the majority of welfare ‘fraud’ turns out to actually be mistakes made by PS employees in calculating people’s claims.
@Fiona deFreyne: an what is your personal experience, background and what are your qualifications to make a comment on every topic that appears on the journal tony/Michael/Fiona
@Andy Dwyer: Not afraid to continue collecting his salary despite being entirely ineffectual at his role, though?
Seems to be an expert in gaming!
Certainly more proficient at Gaming than resolving Homelessness!
Rewarding Failure the Fine Gael way.
@johnp: I have not made public pronouncements under the umbrella of the Housing Agency or defended these assertions.
Who asserts, must prove.
@Deborah Behan: what hate?
You’re just waiting to be offended.
Some families may be………
Where is the hate in that?
@Tom Burke: She just likes to blame everyone for everything. It’s a common theme for her. Point the finger, but never look at oneself. Denial, anger, misandry.
@Fiona deFreyne: whats ur personal experience and sources that it doesnt happen?
@Fiona deFreyne: the Iran protests are over chicken, Ireland has low immigration, you make repeatedly ludicrous statements and when asked for proof you disappear
@Andy Dwyer: To be fair he said”may” be gaming the system so a few questions:
1)What is the evidence?
2)Did he report his suspicions or evidence &if not why not?
I ask these questions because both the Minister& LAs have said there is no evidence!
Therefore as he has another year in the job he has a excellent opportunity to find the evidence of people who”may be gaming” the system & suggest policies to tackle it.
@John Judd: they dont want to move to a house too far from mammy! The same mammy who wont put them up!
@Andy Dwyer: another made up name and made up profile so FG can push it’s agenda to blame the homeless on being homeless.
The positive thing is on other threads on social media FG is getting a hammering on this issue. The only few seen supporting FG are false name false profile shills.
Just like above.
@Fiona deFreyne: Wow thats a surprise, you seem to comment on everything and everyone, where do you get the time ? Do you not work or have anything meaningful in your life apart from commenting on thejournal 24/7?
@Jarlath Murphy: skehan gets no salary as chairman of the Housing Agency.
@David Murphey: so you are unaware of the DIT deal where The DIT pays Skehan’s salary in full and with extra allowances, and allowing Skehan paid leaves of absence to attend to his Chairing duties of the HA?
@Andy Dwyer:
NEWS: coward hides behind fake account to tell a harmless opinion.
@Fiona deFreyne: The truth doesn’t sit well with the Spin Machine, the Secondment of staff from other State Agencies allows the pretence of “State Service” to the ignoble, while the expenses and travelling is the reward for their obedience!
@Fiona deFreyne:
Open your eyes.
Everybody knows it is happening, do you think the people doing it are going to give their names and details out so they can be caught out?
No, of course not.
I am not saying that there are not genuine homeless people out there looking to be housed but let’s not be idiots and pretend like there are not also a lot of people who are not genuienly homeless on that list too.
@Fiona deFreyne: the number of people homeless doesn’t make sense , the thousands of supposedly homeless have no family, parents etc ? it’s well known government housing is allocated based on need if you are living with your parents/family/ friend etc you are not deemed a priority in order to get yourself up the list you have to declare yourself homeless this is the reality !
If it is possible to game the system, then people will game it. What’s so controversial about stating the bloody obvious?
@Fi-Fi: Maybe because the facts don’t bear it out? The major beneficiaries of any system are always the people who run that system. othe s migh tpick up bits and pieces but they certainly won’t gain to the same extent as those in power. BTW, I know that am stating the bloody obvious.
@Fi-Fi: It might not be so controversial if he now backs up backs up his statements with names and hard facts and is willing to bring legal proceedings. Do you think this FG lackey will do that?
@Fi-Fi: He’s the head of the housing agency and is talking sh*te as he is not putting forward any evidence!
@Fi-Fi: TD’s have been gaming the system since the inception of the state, it’s way more transparent now to the rest of us due to social media etc. They don’t like being rumbled (note Howlin today about censorship). A very poor example from the top rung in society will always trickle it’s way down the ladder and lead to a, “sure if them eFFers in govt are doing it why shouldn’t we. So in essence my point is that we need transparency in how our govt conduct their affairs, zero tolerance to corruption starting from the top and see how this evolves.
@Niall Quinlan: i would concur
What happens the people that earn too much to go on the housing list and earn not enough for a mortgage. These people will never get a home. But if they pretend their whole family disappeared into thin air , they skip the housing list and get a home , how is this fair?
@Bobby Palmer:
Don’t you know no-one cares about the honest, hardworking people?!
It’s the people who’ve never known a days work and never contributed to society that ‘deserve’ everything!
Free medical care, back to school payments, social housing payments.
@Bobby Palmer: free houses,free healthcare, free education, someone has to pay for these..
@moneymaid: oh and don’t forget the Christmas bonus
HE WAS only telling the truth
@Julie Burn: about what?
@Fiona deFreyne: You know what
@Julie Burn: no I don’t. That is why I asked.
@Julie Burn: he is correct .. for years that was the way to jump the q but the problem now is that they’re not building social housing anymore .. if the policy was to prioritise the homeless over those the waiting list you can be damn sure people have and are doing it .except the demand doesn’t fit the supply anymore .
@Julie Burn:
Have Irish people all become dishonest overnight.
Is that how the utterly catastrophic homeless figures have been achieved.
Or is it a case that increasing homelessness is official government policy?
@Julie Burn: As you seem to know, for a fact, that he is speaking the truth, then you must know of such cases. In which case, shouldn’t you be doing your civic duty and making sure the gamers are punished? Have you reported the gamers you know of?
It is surprising that the Housing Officers of the Local Authorities don’t supporters the speculation of “gaming” if it is true.
@Colin Morris: have a look at my comments on the other topic about the people having to leave the gresham hotel
@Father Hody Commody: are you that niave to think it is not happening
@Julie Burn: There’s a difference between thinking, and knowing. Which camp are you in?
@Father Hody Commody: so does it happen
@Fiona deFreyne: question if so many people in the past 2 yrs were left without house because landlord supposedly selling up why is the 2nd hand house market flooded with houses for sale
@Julie Burn: this guy has done nothing to address the issue of housing. If he had a go at NAMA about holding onto properties I might have some respect for his honest straight talking. He is obviously on the gravy train with no understanding of people on low incomes.
@Anthony Whelan: Stop making sense!
@Anthony Whelan: not flooded with houses for sale
@Anthony Whelan: now that is a really excellent and perceptive question! It never occurred to me. But now that you ask, there is no evidence of any of these houses for sale.
Fine Gael – the party that rewards failure.
Skehan is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
@Jonathan O Neill: I am not a member of FG.
This was a job for a party faithful member.
Conor Skehan is already a dismal failure in the role.
Which is why the blueshirts reappointed him.
The housing minister had not yet appointed a successor.
Sure there’s no rush, it’s not as if it’s a big in your face issue or anything like that.
@Tweed Cap: another answer to why nothing changes
What were the homeless figures the year this failure was appointed.
What are they now?
What are his links to FG?
@Colin Morris: He used to work for Phil Hogan. Gotta love that FF/FG gravy train. Choo choo…..
@The Risen: You will be working for the “elected” Mary Loula soon.
Just ask everyone with a child/children seeking a house to name the feckless fathers who aren’t contributing to their offspring, no names/details no accommodation, then the State can pursue them for some of the costs associated.
Simple, are we expected to believe all these people weren’t there at the time of conception or to believe they are all orphans and that there are no Grandparents or aunts or uncles from either side to help. Why should my taxes pay to house people who cant own up to their responsibilities? I have sympathy for those in genuine need, but some people are the masters of their own disasters, why should the rest of us pay? There have always been homless in Ireland, just because it is 2018 it doesn’t automatically entitle you to a free house and a Sky+ box etc…
Bring on Leo’s spin unit…
@xor: They haven’t gone away, you know……
@xor: “ It’s unacceptable”. that’s the best they’ve come up with so far.
@xor: It’s already in action, giving thumbs up to all the supporting comments.
It gives the illusion that there is support for FG policies.
Homelessness is not normal or acceptable. This man has no business holding this office he is not taking care of the homeless people in Ireland what a blowhard! How can you get rid of such a piece of work? Well Irish men women and children are freezing and starving right trying to play the system as if freezing and starving is a choice!
@Leila Larson:
Actually a certain level of homelessness for whatever reason is normal, and is found in every country in the world. We’re way above that level, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
@Leila Larson: there are no women freezing and starving. ..
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: how can you possibly know that?
@Fiona deFreyne: the homeless that are living in hotels .they hotels have heating. They also have no bills to pay for such as the heating or electricity. If they are working then their wages is their own to spend on food ( my guess is granny feeds them in her house) and if they on social welfare then the same applies . The heating is paid for and their social will pay for their food.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: And the homeless that aren’t in Hotels, and who are on the street? No women in that category? Just watching a news report a few minutes ago, and guess what? Yes, a woman getting ready to bed down for the night in a sleeping bag on a footpath.
By the way, There are army personnel on social welfare. They pay for their own food and heating, but are so badly ‘paid’ that social welfare kicks in so that their families don’t end up homeless too.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Only last month, a woman froze to death sleeping rough on the streets of Cork City.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: With all the Nuns gone and the Convents empty, these could become home to the Homeless.!!
@Father Hody Commody: you can tell by my comment that I was talking about homeless living in hotels. Of course there are men and women who are on the streets freezing tonight. There will never be enough done for those people on the streets ….
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: That was not what you originally commented .You made an unqualified assertion. You said that no homeless woman was starving. Now you are qualifying it after being challenged.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: you asserted that there are no women freezing or starving. Now you have been corrected.
@Fiona deFreyne: I meant to say women and children.i was referring to families in hotels. I have since corrected what I meant in a follow up comment and not because I was challenged . I also think it was pretty obvious that I made a mistake as there are plenty of women homeless on the street who are freezing.
@Leila Larson: ye i heard they have no heating in the Gresham and the food ,yuckk
@Julie Burn: How do you know? You don’t exist, you’re a figment of someone’s imagination in the fraperoom.
@Dave Doyle: no that’s your imagination running wild..
So this clown retains his position what else can you expect from the circus that is Failed Gael.
@john kennedy: Why is he a clown?
@john kennedy: How many years was he in the job and what did he fix to be reappointed ?
@Declan Byrne: his opinions and pronouncements in the face of evidence to the contrary. Replying on obsolete demographic data to extrapolate on current housing volume demand.
@Fiona deFreyne: Why would the man who is the head of the housing agency ( who we would expect be in the know) make a statement like he did of it wasn’t true. Doesn’t make sense to me. Obvious I would hope it wasn’t true.
@Declan Byrne: he made his evidence free speculation that there “may” be gaming so as to humour his political masters and to be reappointed.
This man rents a house, he does not own his own home, and he needs a large income to pay the monthly rent.
@Declan Byrne: Why isn’t he in court every week calling the gamers out then? I haven’t seen any reports
@Father Hody Commody: Me neither but I would expect that no law is broken if that was the case .
@Declan Byrne: Well if someone lied to obtain a house then a law would have been broken.
“THE CONTROVERSIAL OUTGOING chairperson of the Housing Agency has been reappointed to serve another year.” whats controversial? that a public figure in Ireland told the truth?
@Shane Zerbe: prove then that he told the truth since you are asserting that he told the truth.
@Fiona deFreyne: ok I will go on the law of averages and common sense and say it is safe to say that some people are gaming the system. The weak system that is there to be taken advantage of and they are right to do it! The government has made a balls of housing, they make the rules, they have failed!
@Shane Zerbe: that’s not proof. It not even evidence. It is lame and invalid inference.
@Fiona deFreyne: What is your evidence that he is wrong – is it just your SF/IRA support?
When one looks at it objectively, Conor Skehan is the one who’s truly ‘gaming the system’!
@EdgeOfTheWorld: chuckling. He certainly financially benefits!
This is Ireland.
Conor Skehan is playing a blinder in pretending that there is no housing crisis and in defending FG and the Government.
He needed the job, he is renting, and he delivered the public pronoucements required.
The man spoke the exact truth. I know several single men who purposely declared themselves homeless as they couldn’t afford exorbitant rents. They were in the homeless system for about 12 months which was not easy. Now they in Dublin City Council one bed flats. And who can blame them for “gaming” the system. If u single and can’t afford rent do it. Everyone else is. Donal Skehan should be appointed for another 5 years. A man that tells the truth.
It might be a good idea to do a rigorous cost/benefit assessment of the Housing Agency and a detailed financial audit. The Comptroller and Auditor General would be well placed to do this unless the Housing Agency is off limits.
@Fiona deFreyne: C&AG does audits of their Financial Reports and any state sponsored agency audited by C&AG can be called before PAC.
This is why nobody speaks the truth ,and why our country is messed up
The Housiung Agency has resolved the housing and homelessness crisis by denying it.
This denial of the obvious truth is a FG/Tory version of Trump style gaslighting being crudely operated by a special advisor to no less an intellectual giant than Phil Hogan. He’s also a climate change denier just in case you’re flirting with the idea there’s even a scritch of sense or any actual evidence in this lunatics ‘argument’ – and here’s the evidence of all the crazy going on at his house: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fg-adviser-a-sceptic-on-climate-change-1.569876
Quite simple really. Not. Fit. For. Office.
One would have to wonder at the mindset of the likes of our Freddie and how he spends 365 days a year on this particular site attacking the homeless and the sick.
Care in the community, I suppose.
He is right, I know people leaving their homes with their families and presenting themselves as homeless in order to get a house from the social welfare !
How many people were homeless in Junw 2013 when Skehan was given this job by his FG chums?
How many are homeless now?
Conor Skehan is a symbol of FG’s hatred of Ireland.
@Colin Morris: how many newcomers have arrived in the last 5 years ,or maybe its just a coincedence.over 50.000 new people year come to live in ireland
The solution to the “earn too much for a social house” but can’t get mortgage is…..
1) Extend the income based criteria for social housing. So people on higher incomes could access – @ 15 percent of income.
Or
2) a home supplied by local authority or housing associations built for 200 k could be rented out on cost rental. Cost rental is (as I understand it) is where your rent is based on what the house costs to build, pay back finance on and maintain over 40 to 50 years or whatever.
People complain about “free houses” but should we use 1600 a month as a benchmark for what is fair. I understand that housing cost should be 35 percent of income MAX of your income to be sustainable
@EUGENE 70 percent: the 35% of income has been proven in practice unless you are on a huge income.
@Fiona deFreyne: so charge social housing tenants 35% as opposed to 15 – by your very own claims this is sustainable.
@Theunpopularpopulist: as long as their income is high enough.
The role of the Chair of the Housing Agency is largely a sinecure except for having to make the occasional announcement that the housing crisis is just normal and that we only need 20,000 new housing units per annum.
He must have some connections
@Tony Hartigan: Hogan’s lackey!
This is why nobody speaks the truth ,and why our country is messed up
@Julie Burn: I hope that you and your children are very soon housed. Socila housig is a public good and you have been waiting too long.
Dr Lorcan Sirr would have been a much higher calibre appointee but he is not a quango lackey.
@Fiona deFreyne: An actual expert on housing – that might tell Fine Gael what needs doing. Can’t possibly have that.
Afaik Lorcan supports things like the Co op housing in Ballymun. That won’t suit Fine Gael at all. Who’d want to pay 1500 euro rent when you could pay 6/700 euro MORTGAGE a month in the co op 3 bed A2 BER rated home.
@EUGENE 70 percent: exactly so!
Co-op housing, social housing, publicly supported housing initiatives and mutual schemes all would increase supply and diminish the demand led inflationary pressures on rent and house prices. It would undermine the vested commercial interests support by the Housing Agency and by the Government.
The resident blueshirt fascists will love this one…..the ones about their failing health service, not so much!
@EdgeOfTheWorld: you have been proven right by the comments.
1) ‘Offical’homelessness increased by 81% since 2011& child homelessness increased by 375% in last 3 years.However Ireland just uses 3/7 Categories of ETHOS light Categories re homeless.By just including one excluded Category ie women&children in Safe Refuges which was 1658 women&2349 children,excluded figures are shocking plus there were 4831 unmet requests for refuge as refuges full.
Why doesn’t Ireland use all 7Categories of ETHOS light?
2)Total housing stock grew by just 0.4%(8,800) between 2011-2015.
According to RTE last Nov’17 there were 100,000 on social housing lists so social housing needed.
3)54% of workers earn €30,000& under so social housing needed.
4)Average rents in Q3’17 were 16% higher than their 2008 peak.
Rents are up to double to treble cost of mortgages.
Number of households paying over €300 a week to landlords has gone up 166% since 2011.
In 2008 Housing(Misc Provision)Act referred to RAS as “social housing support”& now RS is to be eventually replaced with HAP but private rented accommodation is NOT social housing.Social & Affordable Housing is the solution.
5)Number of overcrowded dwellings has gone up by 28%.
It it obvious that we have National Emergencies in Homelessness &Housing(that should be acknowledged)&replacing temporary accommodation with temporary accommodation is not the solution.There should be an Emergency Co-ordination Group set up to adequately tackle these emergencies& a program of ADEQUATE social&affordable housing built,etc
People in homelessness, whatever Category are under severe stress & childhoods are being badly affected including disabled children.
(ETHOS is European Typography of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion)
@Nuala Mc Namara: How were you allowed such a large Post.!!
@Nuala Mc Namara: Excellent post Nuala. That information regarding women and children in refuges being excluded from official homeless figures is shocking, yet not surprising.
@GizmoIrl: Of course its absolute rubbish.
@Bull Spite: All are FACTS & FIGURES from CSO, Census’16, European Report re Homelessness which stated Ireland just uses 3 out of 7 Categories of ETHOS light re homeless,Safe Refuge Report,RTE reports,2008Housing Act,economists,etc…..so it’s not “absolute rubbish”,it’s proven FACTS&FIGURES!
@Nuala Mc Namara: that is a hugely informative and soundly factual comment. Thank you very much. Well done.
@Fiona deFreyne: Thanks,Fiona ,it’s all in the public domain but my opinions are my own of course!
@Nuala Mc Namara: and do you think we would have such hi numbers if most of the people claiming to be homless to get on the priorty list ,went back to the empty bedrooms in there parents 2 or 3 bed house ,until they or DCCouncil sorted them selves out . DO you not think alot of people are jumping on the bandwagon to get a house quicker? IF people had to be sleeping rough to get on the housing list do you think we would have as many people claiming to be homelss . do you think because people know that they will be put up in a hotel if they claim to be homeless that is why theyare claiming they have nowhere to stay ,therefore skip the Q of genuine homeless
@Julie Burn: no one should have to sleep rough.
@Fiona deFreyne: i know ,and i never said they should ,i am only asking a ?
@Fiona deFreyne: hypeteticaly ?
Does the Chair of the Housing Agency speak for the official position and policy of the Housing Agency?
Rewarding Failure?
#Feelinggougedwithfinegael
@Jarlath Murphy: To right
Conor Skehan is the Donald Trump of Irish Housing.
@Fiona deFreyne: Your are the Donald Trump of SF/IRA.
@Bull Spite: I have no connection with SF or IRA. You used a series of identities to harass me about this in the past, falsely so, .
jesus , all you lefties have ruined this country
@Julie Burn: it’s the communists in power in Ireland.
FDI has resulted in a massive demand for renting of apartments in Dublin Docklands by non Irish tenants. 92% are rented to non Irish nationals. 8% are rented to Irish nationals.
The stock of housing available to Irish nationals is diminishing and not due to refugees but to well paid financial services employees.
Didn’t he play robin Williams boss in Mrs doubtfire
Does FG HQ get one of their shills to post a stupid comment and then the rest of them give it the thumbs up, or how does it work on here?
@EdgeOfTheWorld: not everyone who has a difference of opinion works for FG .. Is everyone supposed to think like you ?
@EdgeOfTheWorld: That’s a good summary of how it works.
About 40% of the commenters support the laissez fair neo-liberal private market economics advocated by and implemented by FG. These commenters work in coordination and do a lot of highly effective deflecting.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: joint the hive minds of FG or FF but only if you have property interests.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Not at all, I just find it funny that when Freddie boy posts another inanity, it instantly gets hundreds of likes whereas other comments, from either side of the ‘argument’ might get 10 or 20…….
The Mount Street bunker must be on overtime…..all the time…..
@EdgeOfTheWorld: The Special Communications Unit Members are well tipped off when these articles appear.
@Father Hody Commody: €5 million a year of OUR money well spent, eh?
@Fiona deFreyne: I absolutely agree with you on this point. Housing is too important to be left to “the market” private developers will sell at the highest price possible, might hold onto sites and wait for them to increase in value. This is not for social good, but it is what I would expect any business to do! I dont blame them at all! The failure here is those useless ******** in government.
Conor Skehan for Presidential candidate for FG ,he can do no harm there.
I don’t know,Martin!I’m new to posting here so didn’t know comments should be shorter.Il keep them shorter in future!
@Nuala Mc Namara: please continue with your detailed information and facts. You do all of us a great service. Thank you,
Fine Gael ? Just as corrupt as Fianna Fáil!!!
@Randal McNally: The ‘law and order party’… who lost 2 commissioners, 2 justice ministers and 2 sec generals in justice in a couple of short years…..LOL.
Wait until the truth about Siteserv comes out…
@EdgeOfTheWorld: the Siteserv scandal involving the man from Malta is a huge scandal.
Well he’s done such a great job, hasn’t he! NOT
Had the Minister promised to stop this behaviour.
Compare this Article by the Journal with the Irish Time’s articles https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/families-in-emergency-housing-may-be-gaming-the-system-1.3342289?mode=amp#.WktAIsTuEBo.facebook https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/councillors-support-conor-skehan-s-statements-on-homeless-lists-1.3350279
much more balanced and factual reporting.
How can a homeless family not present themselves as anything but homeless?
have your say