Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Now that Fianna Fáil is in leading party in government, party members believe they have to make their mark, or else. Shutterstock

Fianna Fáil's message to itself: Deliver housing now or face extinction at the next election

The FF parliamentary party meeting was told that the party was “drowning in the shadows of Fine Gael housing policy”.

IF FIANNA FÁIL fails to make progress with the housing crisis, it is game over for the party. 

A number of TDs and senators in the party believe that a “radical” plan is needed, or they face permanent expulsion from the political scene. 

Earlier in the week, Dublin South West TD John Lahart told his parliamentary party meeting that Fianna Fáil is “drowning in the shadows of Fine Gael housing policy”. 

Speaking to The Journal, he stands by his remarks.

Now is “not the time” for Fianna Fáil to be “cosy” with its coalition partners, he said.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have policy differences when it comes to housing and it is time his party stood its ground, he added. 

“If the ideal is that people own their own home, you can’t always compromise with your political opponents at the expense of our constituents,” he said. 

“What is the worst thing that can happen?” said Lahart. 

“What can Fine Gael do pull the plug? Good luck with that.”

Fine Gael spent many years in government decrying the legacy problems they were left by Fianna Fáil and a similar tactic is being deployed in the opposite direction now. 

Micheál Martin’s deputies want fingers pointed at the tax incentives of Michael Noonan’s era, and it made clear that the the action required to undo them is being blocked currently by his successor Paschal Donohoe. 

Concerns raised at party meeting

MEP Billy Kelleher and TD James O’Connor also spoke up at the meeting this week, with the fallout from Round Hill Capital buying 135 homes at a new development in Maynooth, Co Kildare firmly placing housing back on the political agenda.

While the focus has been on investment funds, O’Connor is understood to have said the credit lending policies of Irish banks is “crippling” and “makes no sense”.

He said there was a need to place responsibility on the current Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

He told his colleagues of a need to put the blame about tax incentive policies “at their feet” – the ‘their’ being Fine Gael. He argued that a perfect storm had been created while they were in government, and it has now spiralled out of control. 

In the last government, through the confidence and supply arrangement between the two parties, Fianna Fáil was seen by many to be “propping up” Fine Gael, and its housing policies along with it. 

Now that Fianna Fáil is the leading party in government, members believe they have to make their mark or suffer electoral disaster. 

‘Vote out FFG’ is a common swipe used on social media by the parties’ detractors. 

Ruffling the feathers of Fine Gael is not something the housing minister, or Taoiseach should shy away from, sources state.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said this week that there is only so much change he can do with planning laws, indicating that the issue of taxation of investment funds lies at Donohoe’s door. 

The pair are understood to be discussing the issues.

“This is not a time for weak leadership. This is a time to be brave and disruptive and courageous,” said Lahart.

He added that Fianna Fáil must get uncomfortable now with Fine Gael as they come at this problem from different perspectives.

Mayo senator Lisa Chambers believes that the housing issue is a make-or-break issue for her party.

“I think that’s a fair assessment. If we don’t do a good job on housing and people don’t see us delivering on housing, and that’s not just on Darragh’s [O'Brien's] plate, all of the parliamentary party feed into party policy… it is on all of us in the party to make this work.

“There is a feeling that we pay the price at the polls next time, if we don’t see a radical shift in housing policy. I do think that is accepted by everybody in the party and it is not just on Darragh’s shoulders – it is on all of us.”

‘We need to make our mark’

Another Fianna Fáiler vehemently agrees:

Yes, it is. If we fuck this one up, it’s all over. We need to make our mark.

“I think for us we made such an issue out of housing in the last term. Genuinely, within the Fianna Fáil party it is a core priority and belief that home ownership is something you should be able to aspire to, realistically,” said Chambers.

“So it is a core value for us – owning your own home and we’ve kind of said to ourselves, if we don’t deliver on that and if we don’t make our mark on housing and be radical in our approach, then we will have stepped away from one of our core values,” she said.

She agrees with the housing minister that the Department of Finance needs to “step up” and ensure that it is no longer lucrative for investment funds to buy up estates and block first-time buyers.

The law needs to change so that one purchaser can only buy one property, she said.

Her colleague, and tipped as the front-runner as the next leader of Fianna Fáil, Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan agrees. 

He told The Journal the practice of institutional funds coming in and buying up completed units “is not only disheartening to young people trying to get on the housing ladder but is also contrary to the government’s objective of increasing homeownership”.

“We should change our law to prohibit this practice,” he said.

“Why that hasn’t been done before now, I don’t know,” Chambers added.

“I think is inexcusable actually. That should have been in the last term. It was a problem in the last term,” she said.

The party prides itself on its house building record of the past, but Chambers said there is no use harking on about the 1950s or 1980s and how many houses the party built as that is not what today’s generation wants or needs to hear.

Time is a worry

Chambers said there is a belief in the party that they can deliver on their promises, but added: 

“There is a genuine fear and I would have this fear. Do we have enough time. Will we be given enough time to do it. Fast forward 12 months, hopefully the pandemic will be a thing of the past, and will have forgotten that construction had been closed, and people will be asking, where are the houses?”

“Covid has masked this issue,” said Lahart, but he said the issue never went away.

Two days after the easing of some of the restrictions, he said the emails on housing started to trickle back from his constituents. 

Lahart voted against the programme for government over the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme, which allows developers to bypass local authorities and apply directly to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission.

He said the SHDs in his constituency are mainly build-to-rent developments, in an area where thousands of young adults are being forced to return to the family home because they couldn’t afford rents in Dublin, he said.

“Fianna Fáil is not the party of big landlord. This is a fight of a generation, who are embarrassed and humiliated that they have to return home to their parents.”

Not only are young buyers competing with each other and investment funds, but also local authorities which are buying stock for social housing, though at a smaller scale, he acknowledged.

While he said he didn’t want to be trite, he believed this is a case of large landlords having control over small tenants again, only this time it is families in six-storey apartments.

Fianna Fáil needs to show it has a separate identity to Fine Gael when it comes to housing, he said.

If Fine Gael’s viewpoint is that there should be no State intervention, that there should be tax breaks for investors, “then they need to own that”, he said.  

“It is about opening up opportunities for builders here… that is a point of difference between us and them and the public need to see it,” said Lahart.

Lahart wants a taskforce – similar to when the National Public Health Emergency Team was drafted in for Covid- for the public housing emergency.

“We need a bigger bang and we need a bigger plan,” he said.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
113 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fairclough
    Favourite John Fairclough
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:15 AM

    After the last election Mícheal Martin’s vanity would not allow FF to negotiate with SF. Had they done so, and formed an uneasy alliance, they might not have found themselves in the predicament they are now coauthors of.

    610
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergus Jones
    Favourite Fergus Jones
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:35 AM

    @John Fairclough: SF ran away

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Harlowe
    Favourite Brendan Harlowe
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:42 AM

    @Fergus Jones: what??? FFMM refused it to be discussed

    393
    See 18 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christybhoy67
    Favourite Christybhoy67
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:21 AM

    @Fergus Jones: FF wouldn’t talk to SF, Micheàl Martin ran away from SF

    214
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angela McCarthy
    Favourite Angela McCarthy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:55 AM

    @Fergus Jones: Both FF & FG know what they need to do to fix housing. Their problem is they wont do it because they will have to steal the housing policies of You Know Who, and they simply cant have that! See ye at the next election guys.

    151
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anto Curran
    Favourite Anto Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:57 AM

    @John Fairclough: SF only approached FF, which was reneging on every election promise they made for “change”, when literally everyone else said no to them due to their insane unworkable policies. FF parliamentary party was also against talking to them. SF last election policies are incompatible with everyone else and will continue to be unless there is some sort of compromise on what their mandate is which they won’t as it alienates most of their voter base. Only way SF will get power is by a majority themselves and regardless of the party, is v unlikely.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angela McCarthy
    Favourite Angela McCarthy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:13 AM

    @Fergus Jones: I wonder what Barbara Harris Pym will have to say about all this and how he will try to rescue the Three Amigos from the evil shinner housing policies, now that the Sindo caught him with his keyboard in the Twitter cookie jar?

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Attilio
    Favourite Attilio
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:08 AM

    @Angela McCarthy: bravo!!! Well said

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:59 AM

    @Fergus Jones: Educate yourself before putting up such ridi-cul-ous comments. It’s quite embarrassing.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:00 AM

    @Angela McCarthy: Excellent:)

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Contrary Mary
    Favourite Contrary Mary
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:07 AM

    @John Fairclough: Haha! Sure.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute richard fennessy
    Favourite richard fennessy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:22 AM

    @Fergus Jones: ah sure don’t leave facts stand in your way. Ff refused Sinn Fein and u know it

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick O Connell
    Favourite Patrick O Connell
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:52 AM

    @richard fennessy: SF were preaching after the last election that they were going to form a coalition of the left, and even the left didn’t want them. Says a lot about SF when neither Government nor opposition parties want to go into government

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick O Connell
    Favourite Patrick O Connell
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:53 AM

    @richard fennessy: SF were preaching after the last election that they were going to form a coalition of the left, and even the left didn’t want them. Says a lot about SF when neither Government nor opposition parties want to go into government with them

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute .
    Favourite .
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:02 AM

    @John Fairclough: FF and SF in government could be good, FF would take the edge of SF and SF would bring FF black to their roots of large social programs.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan O' Neill
    Favourite Aidan O' Neill
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:30 PM

    @Patrick O Connell: they didn’t have the numbers for Government after being boxed out by FF and FG. FF would go in with them in a heartbeat next time around and any party other than FG would work with them

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Margaret Kane
    Favourite Margaret Kane
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:05 PM

    @Fergus Jones: what world are you living in

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Power
    Favourite Paul Power
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:07 PM

    @Brendan Harlowe: I recall MM telling everyone that he would not support FG.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 3:37 PM

    @Paul Power: and vice versa!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Ryan
    Favourite Denis Ryan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 5:12 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: ” See ye at the next election guys” I hope you are fit and healthy Angela because it’s going to be three and a half years.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antaine O'Labhradha
    Favourite Antaine O'Labhradha
    Report
    Dec 25th 2021, 4:52 PM

    @Fergus Jones: That’s not factual. FFG thought it beneath them to engage with Sinn Féin, which was afforded most votes by the people, if I recall correctly. The current government is what you get when you allow the political elite to give the two-finger salute to the electorate. After all, aren’t the people supposed to be sovereign in the Republic? In addition, Fine Gael wants to leave housing to the private sector. Fianna Fáil wants everyone to buy their own house. Either of which is fine, but ignores those who cannot afford to buy their homes. Adequate supply of good quality social housing for rent is not a failure of government policy.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cookie
    Favourite Cookie
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:27 AM

    FFG has failed catastrophically in its housing policy.

    The measures it is currently taking are going to fail.

    Vulture funds have absolutely no place in the housing market and need to be driven out immediately and completely.

    610
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:16 AM

    @Cookie: All three parties currently in government can never promise anything got to do with housing again in their pre-election promises. If their combined efforts can’t solve it, then their individual promises is not worth the paper its written on.

    264
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:28 PM
    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derrick Ó Súilleabháin
    Favourite Derrick Ó Súilleabháin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:22 AM

    Don’t you love how FF are trying to pin this on FG only . When it was them in government that bust the country in 2008 and they were propping up the FG government in the last 5 years they both party’s have messed it up and now they realise it’s too late . And the public have had enough of it

    505
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraigín O'Sirideáin
    Favourite Pádraigín O'Sirideáin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:17 AM

    FF panicking now…

    358
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute merely ed
    Favourite merely ed
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:35 AM

    @Pádraigín O’Sirideáin: no way they’ll turn this around in 12 months. Every ffg scmbag has been riding the gravey train… and all through the pandemic too. Ffg don’t see societal problems, only how to turn them into a for-profit business. Direct provision, housing crisis, prohibition of cannabis are all ffg businesses. Thatcher’s neo liberalism is alive and well…

    323
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Gorry
    Favourite Paul Gorry
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:43 AM

    The inevitable was always going to happen. Prime time and the tonight show over the last few nights hardly mentioned covid (which is a good thing to be fair)so the table is turning on this mess of a government. Let the battle begin.

    355
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute HectorPickaxe
    Favourite HectorPickaxe
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:15 AM

    @Paul Gorry: Yes, the cracks are appearing. Only a matter of time I think as I can’t see how they will be able to agree on a huge change in policy and move forward at pace with this. But they know the game is up and they went too far, so maybe

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sure, Isn't it grand?
    Favourite Sure, Isn't it grand?
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:10 AM

    does the title not also apply to FG & of course the looney GP party who haven’t exactly championed hard pressed house buyers

    330
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomo
    Favourite Tomo
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:01 AM

    I said this last year and I’ll say it again. I think it was such bad optics for FF to cosy up with FG over the previous two elections when people clearly wanted radical change. In the previous election, FF/FG basically said they weren’t gonna work with Sinn Fein. Who got the most #1 votes in the country? If we had a FPTP electoral system, Sinn Fein would’ve won in a landslide.

    FF/FG completely and arrogantly ignored all of these voters and continued on with their individualistic pro-corporate neoliberal incrementalism. You don’t have to be a social democrat to realise how bought out they are. When we were ‘poor’ back in the day we had the government building more houses. This is beyond a housing crisis, this is a national emergency.

    332
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomo
    Favourite Tomo
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:02 AM

    @Tomo: Sinn Fein would’ve won the most seats*

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:42 AM

    @Tomo: it shows how unrepresentative FPTP is if 23.5% (the percentage of first preference votes SF won) constituted a landslide victory.

    64
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Walsh
    Favourite Jason Walsh
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:14 AM

    @EillieEs: they’d have gotten more if they ran more candidates, they’ll not make that mistake again

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
    Favourite Diarmuid Hunt
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:54 AM

    @EillieEs: FPTP is an awful electoral system but to be fair SF would have won more than 23.5% if they had fielded more candidates. Preferential voting is definitely way better than FPTP, would hate to see FPTP here.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Oconnor
    Favourite Thomas Oconnor
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:46 AM

    @EillieEs:

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg McGarry
    Favourite Greg McGarry
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:17 AM

    Presiding over a situation in 2021 where Funds can squeeze out first time buyers is cackhanded, at best. At worst, blindingly incompetent. The ‘08 crash saw the bailout of bondholders and bulk fire-sales of the State’s property to that same group. The bulk piece here being key… it prevented Irish property from staying within the ownership of its natural & logical custodian… the Irish resident. NAMA pointedly refused to create badly needed jobs and sell units individually. Instead, foreigners were bailed out and they used the bailout money to buy stock at giveaway prices.
    And the mugs? You guessed it, the Irish taxpayer. We underwrite the Nation’s exponential debt growth while we rent our housing stock from the very foreign entities we bailed out a decade ago.
    Summary:
    1. We gave them their money back on their failed investment
    2. We locked-out Irish people from the market
    3. We sold prime property stock at giveaway prices
    4. We provide tax breaks to those institutional investors
    5. We rent the property stock back from them.

    It’s enraging.

    And now… Martin suggests we reduce Institutional investment in housing estates suitable for the first time buyer to 70%? Eh, how about ZERO Mícheal?

    If funding is the issue, provide the framework for banks to lend to first time buyers so they can buy and pay off plans alone so the builder is funded.

    How hard can it be, seriously?

    315
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory J Leonard
    Favourite Rory J Leonard
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:29 AM

    @Greg McGarry:
    Funding is the issue, but for Developers. Recall during Celtic Tiger era very few had any equity build-up in their biz.And our Establishment, incl CB, IOD, extrnl Auditors never highlighted the dangers,if they even understood them! One-man-Band developers loose at the time leading drive towards the cliff!

    All Debt, zero equity, zero corporate governance, but high life aplenty;trophy homes, Helis,slow horses,fast cars,poorly regulated bankers all willing to lash out new euro dough for spending as if there was no tomorrow.

    Then Big Bang, 2008, causing house of cards to crumble! The resulting zero liquidity in the system lead to invites to Vulture Funds.

    Just observe Plc’s Share Price currently in our Prop Dev sector. All depressed, like the rest of us on the monumental FU.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 8th 2021, 2:48 PM

    @Rory J Leonard:
    The Universities need a big rethink and overhaul considering all the 3rd Level “Qualified” B.Comms, Economists and Business MBA they produced every year and NONE of them understood it and what was going to happen!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Jo
    Favourite Peter Jo
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:38 AM

    Stopped voting for #Fiannafail years ago

    190
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angela McCarthy
    Favourite Angela McCarthy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:59 AM

    @Peter Jo: Its only a matter of time before this housing farce is going to start hurting FG too!

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mjhint
    Favourite Mjhint
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:29 AM

    @Peter Jo: myself included. I am one of those responsible for electing them. I paid a heavy a price.

    28
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drunk in Dublin
    Favourite Drunk in Dublin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:39 AM

    @Mjhint: we all paid a heavy price. Please don’t vote for FFFG ever again- not even a transfer vote. That’s how they keep slipping in.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew English
    Favourite Andrew English
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:45 AM

    FF could give every person in the country a new house and they would still hover around the 10% mark. No new ideas. No policies. No up and coming talent. Can’t resonate with younger people. Within a generation they’ll turn into a bit party like Labour waiting in the wings for a coalition deal from either FG or SF.

    178
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dsds
    Favourite Dsds
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:06 AM

    @Andrew English: the problem with ff is that their core policy seems to be what can the country do for their party and their members. They are a party that attracts selfish self centered people whose sole goal is to line their own pockets….this has been shown time and time again.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie O'Neill
    Favourite Eddie O'Neill
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:45 AM

    I laughed reading this, what a steaming pile of you know what.

    FF are obviously eyeing up the next General Election and hope their housing plan will keep them in power, if it works their housing plan will quickly go on on the long finger, back where it has been for a decade.

    We don’t need “a radical plan”, we need radical action, today.

    O’Brien in fairness has learnt quickly that his job as housing minister never had a chance with Donohues fiscal policies, and therein lies the source of this crisis, it’s government policy, that is the cause, it’s by design.

    “. . Now that Fianna Fáil is the leading party in government” – HA!

    Jack Chambers – FF did not build a single house in the 50′s or 80′s, the government of the day legislated for it and the taxpayers money of the day built those houses.

    Lahart and Chambers make for some pair!

    162
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Petulant mcbarity
    Favourite Petulant mcbarity
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:19 AM

    @Eddie O’Neill: when a party says it build a houses it doesn’t mean the party members rolled up their shirts and got to work. Of course it was with taxes and government bonds. As it would have to be if SF come to power.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Nugent
    Favourite Mary Nugent
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:42 AM

    @Eddie O’Neill: yeah Chambers should be made watch reeling in the years.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute reginald
    Favourite reginald
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:52 AM

    Fianna gael the party for landlords
    Fianna fail the party for developers
    Both parties have failed society to look after themselves and the golden circles

    162
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Byrne
    Favourite Colm Byrne
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:40 AM

    We’ve ran a worse dept per head than the rest of Europe during the pandemic.
    This is the second time in 15 years they’ve been at the wheel when huge debts have been put on the tax payer.
    The snake Martin being the face of the party tells you all you need to know.

    Forget housing, they’re already on the lifetime voting black list for me

    151
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drunk in Dublin
    Favourite Drunk in Dublin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:41 AM

    @Colm Byrne: don’t even give them the transfer votes- leave their boxes blank

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sportmad
    Favourite Sportmad
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:34 AM

    Too Late..

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute billy bound
    Favourite billy bound
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:06 AM

    Horrid little country Ireland is.
    Pay at least 1200 to live in a flat in drogheda, while you could live in a nice place in Edinburgh/Rome/Berlin for same price
    Ireland doesn’t compare.
    3rd world public transport system, hospitals.
    Only good thing is tayto crisps.

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil
    Favourite Virgil
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:00 AM

    @billy bound: and the people

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mc
    Favourite Paul Mc
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:09 AM

    The Money was only resting in my wife’s bank account wink wink.

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Nugent
    Favourite Mary Nugent
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:36 AM

    Big run on the jack’s roll now in both party’s. Greens ah well enough is enough with them.

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Mccarthy
    Favourite Richard Mccarthy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:30 AM

    Is there anything to be said for another mass

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Favourite Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:12 AM

    The govt have and are failing our young people. We have people in their 30s house sharing paying between 1500 and 2000 a month on rent. That equates to a mortgage of 500k. We’ve have TD say that a house for 450k is affordable. My hope is that FF and FG get wiped out in the next election. We need new laws that force these funds to sell their houses and exit the market. That’s all we need. It’s very simple but instead we have our own govt renting these same houses from these funds at huge prices. Housing need to be affordable and not a way for investors to get rich.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drunk in Dublin
    Favourite Drunk in Dublin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:45 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: don’t even give them the transfer votes. Tell everyone – you do not need to fill in all the boxes (and no, no one else is going to fill them in for you if they are left blank)

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 3:58 PM

    @Drunk in Dublin: Ha in the last election i was asked if i would like to use a pencil, no thanks love i shall use my own pen thank you!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Maher
    Favourite Stephen Maher
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:03 AM

    It’s to late. FF bankrupted our country and FG sold what was left of it off to vultures.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JongaFe
    Favourite JongaFe
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:25 AM

    FF will be extinct after next election anyway after the way they’ve handled Covid, never mind housing…brutal but the alternative is just as bad.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Healy
    Favourite Michael Healy
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:11 AM

    So now FF have decided they have a conscience and morals around housing…..wow things must be getting desperate with the party now. FG certainly won’t care if they deliver on housing or not, cos their base support all have housing and are well off so they won’t be too bothered promising much come the next election

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 3:59 PM

    @Michael Healy: They will be wiped out come the next election its almost a guarantee

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute der Fussballmeister
    Favourite der Fussballmeister
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:40 AM

    I really had to laugh at the headline. When the evidence of the ruination of our economy became known in 2008 I naively believed this would be the end of FF and FG would be a matter of time. This body of ineptitude would survive an asteroid hit of the scale that ended the dinosaurs.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
    Favourite Fran O'Keeffe
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:15 AM

    FF have failed in everything election now

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rochelle
    Favourite Rochelle
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:19 AM

    Housing was the main voting issue in the last election so it’s not exactly reassuring that a year later FF are realising they might have to do something about it…

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Doyle
    Favourite David Doyle
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:36 AM

    Is there any way to put in something like a 10 year ban on renting out houses that are classed as affordable in the planning stipulations?

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute artur fil
    Favourite artur fil
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:37 AM

    Extinction sounds good

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute anne
    Favourite anne
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 2:42 AM

    SF never ever built a house in its existence! Record in the North??@! Reality is FF have a history of building houses…..everyone conveniently forgets SF voted for the Bank Bailout….it was a global Financial Crises…SF will only win power at next election if it continues to attack FF! They have no track record running our economy. Yes, we do need a radical Housing Policy but I want Darragh O’Brien continue his work. He has only had the Housing Brief since last July. Just hope he is not vilified like his predecessor was. Let the public judge him on his performance since 2020. He was not in Government prior to this date ! Media need to be fair and FF need to be much more aggressive with their Government Partners.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Smith
    Favourite Gerard Smith
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 3:56 AM

    @anne: FF haven’t built affordable housing since the 50s and 60s. Half a century ago. What they permitted to be built during the noughties was substandard and in some cases dangerous and extremely expensive. Our current Taoiseach was at the cabinet table when the Troika came to town and lied to the public right up to the last minute. The problem wasn’t due to a global financial crisis. It was due to huge borrowings by banks in a feeding and profit frenzy to service a housing bubble that was allowed to run riot by FF who were using stamp duty and vat on house building to fund out of control public spending combined with scandalously wasteful public sector projects (remember the land for a new prison?) and having very cosy relationships with the construction sector. FF track record on economy is to have run it into the ground. SF are in government with their political and ideological enemies in the North and have zero control over budget allocation or tax policy. That comparison is ridiculous. I’m not saying SF are wonderful but you need to take a reality pill. FF are an awful party, frighteningly low on talent with a leader who was already tainted and damaged beyond repair from his previous performance in government.

    194
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Da Dell
    Favourite Da Dell
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 4:16 AM

    @anne: lol

    73
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute In fairness now...
    Favourite In fairness now...
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:03 AM

    @anne: Typical brown nosed response from an obviously card carrying FF member and supporter.
    They did nothing about Noonan handing over our country to vulture funds or dealing with greedy commercial landlords and upwardly only rent reviews. They and FG are the parties of the big property owners and developers and are completely out of touch with ordinary people.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 6:21 AM

    @anne: I strongly suggest you have a lie in this morning Anne. Clearly your mind is not operating correctly if you believe that tripe you wrote during the night.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan MacKernan
    Favourite Ronan MacKernan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:38 AM

    @anne: Public housing in NI is completely independent of the political system and for good reason. That’s why SF has never built a house in the North.
    The Housing Executive was set up so housing couldn’t be allocated on a discriminatory and sectarian basis , one of the foundations for the troubles.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Maher
    Favourite Stephen Maher
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:10 AM

    @anne: FF and FG have had the housing brief for 100 years. Please go and research the standard and availability of housing during that time before you make comment.
    How can we expect people with no personal knowledge of the issues arround housing and homlessness to fix the problem when their main aim is to profit from it.
    And How many former or current Housing minster own rental properties? To many conflicted interests.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Power
    Favourite Paul Power
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:43 AM

    @anne: you should send all your friends a copy of the tribunals for Christmas.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute xDemo17
    Favourite xDemo17
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:43 AM

    @anne: could of picked a better pic Darragh

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fr. Fintan Stack
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:30 AM

    @anne: Let Darragh O’Brien continue his work. Let Eoghan Murphy continue his work. Let Simon Coveney continue his work. Let Alan Kelly continue his work. Let Phil Hogan continue his work………All has a familiar ring to it?

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:23 PM

    @Gerard Smith: argee.

    38 Referenda to amend the Irish Constitution including marriage equality and abortion and divorce but no Referendum on the basic need of affordable Housing …. tells a lot about the Irish political parties. People need to wake up!

    https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 4:02 PM

    @anne: You should take a step back now and re-read what you have said in your post…. It makes no sense whatsoever and one thinks you have an issue with SF regardless of what they have or have not done…. And you must be reminded, SF has never been in Government in the south, you cannot compare that with the North..

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Roche
    Favourite Tommy Roche
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:16 AM

    The very fact that FF are discussing housing policy only in terms of saving the party should mean the end for them. Not a care about almost 10,000 homeless. Not a care about young workers struggling in the face of massive rents. Only care is remaining in power. Disgusting.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:21 PM
    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drunk in Dublin
    Favourite Drunk in Dublin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:33 AM

    FF and FG are exactly the same, neither one cares about the people of Ireland.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Gale
    Favourite Rob Gale
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:12 AM

    @Drunk in Dublin: sure in this article and the one about the FG meeting, they openly lamented about how they’ll lose votes over this. Not even hiding that that’s the main problem they see in all this.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:56 AM

    1974 to 2021 …. 47 years Fianna Fail had since the Kenny Report on Housing (1974) to run a Referendum and put the basic need of Housing of citizens firmly in the Constitution beyond the manipulation of vested interests … they didn’t do it SO BYE BYE Fianna Fail and BYE BYE Fine Gael Landlord Party … people are not angry – they are furious.

    https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian McDonnell
    Favourite Brian McDonnell
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:52 AM

    In recent years I have come to question the entire point of politicians, they seem to lurch the country from one disaster to another with their pie in the sky fairy tale promises and policies that seem designed to enrich the few at the expense of everyone else.
    I see no leaders, no visionaries, none with any real plan, they just seem to wait for the other guy to screw up so badly it makes any old nonsense they spout sound good….and we are fool enough to fall for it every single time.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:21 AM

    @Brian McDonnell: You are spot on Brian. They don’t represent the people of Ireland. That right there is the root cause of all our countries problems. They come first, then the party, then their supporters & vested interests. The people of Ireland come in way down the list unfortunately.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil
    Favourite Virgil
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:02 AM

    @Brian McDonnell: what’s the alternative, a dictator? The Church running the place? The govt have been concentrating on the pandemic for the last year and have done a pretty good job on that

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian McDonnell
    Favourite Brian McDonnell
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:21 AM

    @Virgil: That is a very good question, but surely there has to be better than this? As for the last year, I get we have a Pandemic I am not oblivious to that, but what about the last 10, 25, 50, 100 years….they can’t blame all that on the pandemic.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Gale
    Favourite Rob Gale
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:37 AM

    Some unbelievable quotes in there. “Fianna Fáil are not the party of big landlords” “Fianna Fáil have a great record on housing” “it’s about opportunities for builders” .. I don’t need to dissect them, everyone knows. Finally everyone can see straight thru both these parties. They can say what they want now, they’ll be restrained by their parties DNA from making any radical change. There’ll be a few toothless amendments here n there, but ultimately they’ll just blame each other until election time.. WHEN THEYLL STILL GET MOST OF THE VOTES WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH US?!

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:20 PM

    @Rob Gale: 38 Referenda to amend the Irish Constitution including marriage equality and abortion and divorce but no Referendum on the basic need of affordable Housing ….
    tells a lot about the Irish political parties. People need to wake up!

    https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Gale
    Favourite Rob Gale
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:56 PM

    @Neuville-Kepler62F: it was a big issue in the last GE but there must be enough people who aren’t effected by the housing crisis and don’t care if others are, who voted them back in anyway. So disheartening. Hopefully there’ll be enough youngsters voting, they seem to not want a country ran by FFG. They can outnumber the sods who vote of them because the family always have/sure who else is there?/he fixed the roads here/etc.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I’m 76 and wealthy . What is wrong with the young of this country that they just accept the current situation. Once you get on the property ladder you pay less than renting and you have an asset for your old age .
    The present housing policies , whether by design or not ,that the vulture funds profit at your expense .
    You start by making it unprofitable for such funds to rent , regardless of what that takes re legislation etc .
    As an aside regarding your pensions .
    Say the fund that’s running it is charging 1 -2 % not that much you think

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rathminder
    Favourite Rathminder
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:33 AM

    If more low income/poor and young people voted, FFG would have to remedy the problem to stay in power. We saw the power of youth in the voting for marriage equality and the abortion referendum.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:18 PM

    @Rathminder: 38 Referenda to amend the Irish Constitution including marriage equality and abortion and divorce but no Referendum on the basic need of affordable Housing ….
    tells a lot about the Irish political parties

    https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan MacKernan
    Favourite Ronan MacKernan
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 7:34 AM

    Is Lisa Chambers the only person who speaks at these meetings? I thought see was a barrister, does she not have a knowledge of the law?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Josh Joyce
    Favourite Josh Joyce
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:37 AM

    Fianna Fail? Remind me again

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Grey
    Favourite David Grey
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:41 PM

    Smoke and Mirrors, they have No intention of changing anything unless it helps developers .
    At least 13 FF TD’s are Landlords and imagine how many close family members, friends and election contributors are Landlords?
    Would Turkey’s vote for Xmas?
    Remove Capital gains tax, tax empty houses, tax 3rd and more properties with a Wealth Tax & don’t allow tax write offs for investment mortgage costs and investment firms.
    Within 2 years the housing crisis will be over , something like 20% of the housing in Ireland is empty, often owned by individuals just basically sitting on them, free those up, allow individuals to do them up as required and make a small profit with no Capital gains and problem solved!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy mc Laughlin
    Favourite Andy mc Laughlin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:31 AM

    Why are the comments closed on the article regarding the 1000 people in direct provision granted leave to stay in Ireland but are still stuck in direct provision due to a chronic lack of housing in ireland?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jp tobin
    Favourite jp tobin
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 9:19 AM

    Their failed housing strategy (covid) aside will have a lot to do with ff going the past route next election. Michael Martin as leader is also very culpable

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:29 AM

    On the pensions it’s over 40/50 years at 2% a year : a different sum .
    If the young continue to tolerate the current system then the fools deserve what they get . Which will be “ total dependence in your old age “

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mark d
    Favourite mark d
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 10:59 AM

    FF and FG have the same ideological goals. This is just more blaming the other coalition partner rubbish. They had negotiations on the plan for government. This is what they all signed up for. The housing policy is performing exactly as intended, unfortunately for us it means we get screwed.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Maher
    Favourite Richard Maher
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 3:41 PM

    Political Annihilation sounds great! Please be gone.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I’m 76 and wealthy . What is wrong with the young of this country that they just accept the current situation. Once you get on the property ladder you pay less than renting and you have an asset for your old age .
    The present housing policies , whether by design or not ,that the vulture funds profit at your expense .
    You start by making it unprofitable for such funds to rent , regardless of what that takes re legislation etc .
    As an aside regarding your pensions .
    Say the fund that’s running it is charging 1 -2 % not that much you think

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
    Favourite Neuville-Kepler62F
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 12:14 PM

    @Michael Curran: Every young person, their parents and grandparents should sign the petition to run a Referendum on Housing. Its the only way in the long term to stop the abuse of Renters, those LockedOut of home ownership and the Evicted … This country is a disgrace. Housing must be removed from Political Parties and placed in the Constitution where citizens interests are protected. The Political Parties that have allowed this to happen should be severely dealt with at the Polling Booths.

    https://www.change.org/p/irish-referendum-on-family-home-special-status

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Carroll
    Favourite Darren Carroll
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 5:10 PM

    And who supported fg in all its policies when in a minority government? Oh yeah ff…2 cheeks of the same @r$e

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I’m 76 and wealthy . What is wrong with the young of this country that they just accept the current situation. Once you get on the property ladder you pay less than renting and you have an asset for your old age .
    The present housing policies , whether by design or not ,that the vulture funds profit at your expense .
    You start by making it unprofitable for such funds to rent , regardless of what that takes re legislation etc .
    As an aside regarding your pensions .
    Say the fund that’s running it is charging 1 -2 % not that much you think

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I’m 76 and wealthy . What is wrong with the young of this country that they just accept the current situation. Once you get on the property ladder you pay less than renting and you have an asset for your old age .
    The present housing policies , whether by design or not ,that the vulture funds profit at your expense .
    You start by making it unprofitable for such funds to rent , regardless of what that takes re legislation etc .
    As an aside regarding your pensions .
    Say the fund that’s running it is charging 1 -2 % not that much you think

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Gale
    Favourite Rob Gale
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 1:01 PM

    @Michael Curran: the young are awake and not having it. Just look at the last general election, it was the young voters who loudly and soundly rejected FF and FG. The issue is people who “have always voted FG/FF” or vote for them because the local rep “is a nice chap” and then that nice chap is in the Dàil handing the keys over to any foreign investor with a few Bob. It’s the unthinking voter who’s killing us.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Curran
    Favourite Michael Curran
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I’m 76 and wealthy . What is wrong with the young of this country that they just accept the current situation. Once you get on the property ladder you pay less than renting and you have an asset for your old age .
    The present housing policies , whether by design or not ,that the vulture funds profit at your expense .
    You start by making it unprofitable for such funds to rent , regardless of what that takes re legislation etc .
    As an aside regarding your pensions .
    Say the fund that’s running it is charging 1 -2 % not that much you think

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil
    Favourite Virgil
    Report
    May 7th 2021, 11:04 AM

    @Michael Curran: Michael, you only have to post once. Ignore the sign saying there’s a problem with your post

    14
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds