Housing Minister Simon Coveney Is A Landlord Traitor

Housing Minister Simon
Coveney is a landlord
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides

over Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at
least 30 politicians who must declare they earn more
than 2,600 a month in rent.
Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing market
in Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record levels in
Dublin. While thousands of Irish families are homeless.
He has had to declare he owns a rental property in Hartys
Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.
The revelation has emerged at the same time that one of the
biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental market
in this country is reaching its limit.
It is the responsibility of TDs to register rentals when their

share of annual rent exceeds 2,600 a month. But Irish
politicians dont have to admit they have rental properties
that they, their spouse or child lives in.
It is suspected well over 20% of political
representatives in Ireland are landlords, the most
recent registry of members interests has revealed.
Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae and Fianna Fils John
Mc Guinness are listed as owning the largest number of
properties they rent out. Each politician owns at least
eight properties.
Michael Healy Rae is one of the biggest political landlords

Healy Rae rents out two farmhouses, a property in
Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, a rental apartment in Killarney, Kerry,
houses in Kenmare, Castleisland and Killarney, and

student accommodation in Limerick.
Mc Guinness rents out three properties in Dublin, three in
Kilkenny, a property in Limerick, a property in Tipperary,
and an interest in a nursing home.
The Irish Examiner reported that at least 30 of the 158

TDs own rental property they are leasing out to tenants.
However, the figure could be much bigger. 52 new TDs are
still to record their land and property interests with the
Oireachtas registry before January 2017.
The revelation has emerged at the same time that one of

the biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental
market in this country is reaching its limit. properties

eight properties.
Michael Healy Rae is one of the biggest political
landlords
Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, a rental apartment in Killarney,
Kerry, houses in Kenmare, Castleisland and Killarney,
and student accommodation in Limerick.
Mc Guinness rents out three properties in Dublin, three
in Kilkenny, a property in Limerick, a property in
Tipperary, and an interest in a nursing home.

TDs own rental property they are leasing out to
tenants.
However, the figure could be much bigger. 52 new TDs
are still to record their land and property interests with
the Oireachtas registry before January 2017.
IRES Reit chief executive David Ehrlich told the Irish

Independent he had never seen a rental market such
as the one now in existence in Ireland, which has such
an imbalance between supply and demand.
Ehrlichs company controls 2,087 homes in the country,
mostly in Dublin where rents are peaking.
The average rent in Ireland is now above 1,000 per month
and in some parts of the capital it has reached beyond
2,000 a month.
We believe there will be a consultation process and we
hope to be part of that, he added.
We all know what happened before construction
essentially stopped and now we have this huge issue
around supply, he said.
IRES charged on average rents of 1,372 per month up
until the end of December That was a 9.1 per cent
increase from a year earlier when the company
charged 1,250 per month.
Ehrlich said such increases are not good in the long term.
, he said.
The building industry has stated the cost of and regulation
of construction needs to be reduced for more homes to be
built.
IRES has spent hundreds of millions of euro buying
apartments, mostly entire apartment blocks from banks
and Nama.
Last week it agreed to buy 203 apartments at Elm Park in
south Dublin in a deal worth 59m. It is also building
apartments in Sandyford.
HERE IS A LIST OF TDS WHO ARE LANDLORDS OR
LANDLADIES AND WHAT PROPERTIES THEY RENT OUT:
1 Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae: At least 8 properties:

2 farmhouses, a property in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, a rental
apartment in Killarney, Kerry, houses in Kenmare,
Castleisland and Killarney, and student accommodation in
Limerick.
2 Fianna Fils John Mc Guinness: At least 8 properties
and an interest in a nursing home: 3 rental properties in
Dublin, 3 in Kilkenny, a property in Limerick, a property in
3 Social Democrat, Stephen Donnelly: 2 properties:
Rental property in Beacon South Quarter in Dublin and in
Clara, Co Offaly.
4 Former ceann comhairle and Fine Gael TD, Sean
Barrett: Shareholder in 1 property: Barrett states he is a
shareholder in a company that owns an office block and
which is leased to a tenant.
5 Minister for Housing Simon Coveney: 1 property:
Hartys Quay, Rochestown, in Cork.
6 Agriculture Minister Michael Creed: Interests in 3
properties: Money invested in three addresses in
Macroom, Co Cork.
7 Fianna Fils Dara Calleary: 2 months rental income
from a property that he once lived in on Distillery Road in
Dublin but sold it in July 2015.
8 Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciarn Cannon: An
executive director in a property company.
9 Fine Gaels Marcella Corcoran Kennedy: 27 acres at
Ferbane, Co Offaly that has been rented out.
10: Waterford TD, John Deasy: 1 rental apartment in
Citywest in Dublin.
11: Pat Deering: 1 rental property in Rathvilly, Co
Carlow.
12: Chief whip Regina Doherty: 2 properties:
One in Ashbourne Business Park and City Campus in
Limerick.
13: Fianna Fils Timmy Dooley: 2 properties: One in
Charlotte Quay, Dublin and one in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
14: Charlie Flanagan: 1 property: He lets a holiday
house in Co Sligo part of the year.
15: Sean Fleming: Rented a former post office in County
Laois for part of last year.
16: Independent Noel Grealish: 2 properties and land:
He let out a house in Galway and a apartment in Dublin.
He also owns a 8,800 sq ft commercial unit in Briarhill,
Galway.
17: Martin Heydon: 1 rental property in Co Limerick.
18: Paul Kehoe: 2 properties: Renting a property in
Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and an apartment on Haddington
Road, Dublin 4.
19: Fianna Fail Cork TD, Billy Kelleher: Rents out an
apartment in Glanmire, Co Cork.
20: Fianna Fils Brendan Smith: 1 rental apartment in
Dublin.
21: Robert Troy: 2 properties: 1 in Mullingar and 1
inDublin.
22: Wexfords Mick Wallace: 2 properties: Both are
rented out in Wicklow.
http://irelandtodaynews.com/index.php/housing-minister-simoncoveney-is-a-landlord/

Only in Ireland , would a Landlord be put in Charge of
sorting the Rental crisis.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is a landlord

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney - who now presides over
Ireland's housing crisis - is a landlord - one of at least 30 politicians
who must declare they earn more than 2,600 a month in rent.
Minister
May 17, 2016

Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing
market in Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record
levels in Dublin. While thousands of Irish families are
homeless.

News Top News
Ministers Coveney and English launch

rental sector strategy
Dec 13, 2016
Housing Ministers Simon Coveney and Damien English today
published the Strategy for the Rental Sector, part of the
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homeless.
The Strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings
of Security, Supply, Standards and Services which will address
both immediate and long term issues affecting the supply, cost
and accessibility of rental accommodation.
An Expert Group is also being established to explore the
opportunities for developing a viable cost rental model for
Ireland and a larger and more dynamic not-for-profit and
Approved Housing Body sector. The group will examine the
experience of other countries and develop a roadmap to grow
new capacity for delivering cost rental options.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney said;
Our rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords or the
country. We need a strong and viable rental sector as a long
term tenure of choice for families and as a secure investment
environment for landlords. Dramatic rental inflation puts
families under pressure, damages our national competitiveness
and stability in the investment environment. We need to tackle
the consequences and alleviate short term pressures and we
need to address the long term causes by delivering increased
supply.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4p9BR-qmkE
Simon Coveney hopes to welcome up to

12,000 refugees to Ireland in the next
two years
Aug 21, 2016
"In 2 Years Ireland will be welcoming 10,000 - 12,000
Refugees... Next Year ERSI is projecting we will have net
immigration of 10,000. That figure combined is more than all of

the houses completed last year. Unless we have a dramatic
ramping up of supply (of housing)... we are going backwards
quickly."
Simon Convey is a traitor who needs to be given a ride on a C17 and air dropped over Mogadishu with a chute and a letter of
introduction.
Simon Coveney Fine Gael, Minister for Housing, Planning and
Local Government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKsNL5BsTlc
The water charges fiasco: a

lesson in how not to do
things
Social enterprise, civil disobedience and a more
accountable political system could help Ireland work
better. But for starters, lets learn some lessons from the
water-charge shambles
Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 06:00
Kathy Sheridan
Illustration: Dearbhla Kelly
A year ago, The Irish Times published the first

Blueprint for a Smarter Society.
Here, we revisit that idea, asking writers to
imagine a future of engaged citizens in a smart
society and not just alienated workers in a
smart economy.
Three years ago a young Norwegian postgraduate in
Florence examined how three small countries had been
coping over the previous 10 to 20 years with the global
crisis, globalisation, Europeanisation and so on. After
interviewing a host of ministers and civil servants,
policymakers and central bankers in New Zealand,
Norway and Ireland, he found that Ireland had come
bottom of the pile. Why had we done so badly ? The
short answer, he said, was that if we had had Norway
or New Zealands minister for finance we wouldnt
have ended up where we were.
That was fairly shaming for an Irish person to hear,
said Peter Mair, the Irish head of politics at the
European University Institute in Florence, where the
young Norwegian delivered his seminar.
Mair included the story in his address to the 2011
Magill Summer School, only a few months after the
change of government and just two weeks before his
own sudden death. He used it to ask the one question
guaranteed to propel an already frightened, seething
nation on to a higher plane of rage.
If the ministers matter so much, or the poor quality of
the ministerial government matters so much, why
dont we already have this government and this
political infrastructure, which can govern us better and
which New Zealand has, Norway has, the Netherlands
has, Denmark has and a number of countries have? . . .
Why havent we built up a system of government which

suits our needs, which can look after us well and which
doesnt neglect us, as it has done up to now?
His analysis spared no one. The defence of being a
new country doesnt wash; we have had democracy
longer and in a more sustained fashion than almost
any other country in Europe. We are the also bestrepresented voters in Europe.
So whose fault was it ? We, the citizens, did this, he
said.
We have never respected the State. We see it as
something to be dodged, ripped off, milked for
personal, local, constituency benefit. Mair called it
amoral localism. We lost sight of the broader collective
interest a long time ago.
And heres the really wounding part. We were well able
to control our TDs using fear and reward ably
abetted by the multiseat-constituency system but
never bothered to control our governments. As
citizens we never held our governments accountable
for their policies, Mair said. We were too busy
holding our TDs accountable for their local activities.
In a drinking game about the language around
Irelands path to penury, that word accountable
would account for a lot of indignant drunks. But what
Mair did was to turn the word back on ourselves.
Accountability begins with us, the citizens. If we aspire
to being a mature democracy, never mind a smarter
country, we have to begin by recognising the root of
our problems. This is about something more profound
than harnessing protests against unpopular taxes.
It is about getting to the truth of why so many of our
ministers were not up to the job, yet survived and
prospered. It is about why the Civil Service, despite the
presence of some of the brightest, most diligent people
in the country, continues to leave the average citizen

feeling excluded, disrespected and disempowered, and
is perceived to be grounded in a different culture.
It is about how and why we, the citizens, made bad
choices.
Asked to name the main problems inherent in our
political system, Dr Jane Suiter, a political scientist at
Dublin City University, lists five: cronyism, governing
for vested interests, a lack of accountability, a lack of
openness and transparency, and an absence of
challenging voices. They amount to a template for the
birth of Irish Water.
In one sense the stunning ineptness of Irish Water has
been a gift to us, the citizens: an accessible, textbook
study of how an unaccountable Government and Civil
Service can unite to patronise and insult us.
All in one quango
Eddie Molloy, a management consultant who began his

working life at Guinness when he was 14, names the
links.
With Irish Water we had the whole works: legislation
rammed through the Dil, a deal done behind closed
doors with the unions to give people contracts out to
2026, no redundancies, a licence to hire, people exiting
one job with a golden handshake then joining up again
with Irish Water, cronyism on the board.
Why has the Department of the Environment in
particular, the one responsible for Irish Water, thrown
up such vast and continuing problems, he asks. An
awestruck county manager told him: The way that
deal was done . . . you could not make it up, Eddie, you
just could not make it up.
Molloy traces the roots of Irish Water and virtually
every other State-conceived fiasco to that word

accountability and, in particular, to the crucial pivot
around which problems revolve: the relationship
between a government minister and his or her
secretary general.
As the responsibilities of both are conflated in the
relevant 90-year-old Act, the minister can swat away
criticism by declaring that he or she was acting on the
best advice, affecting a pained aura while dropping
officials in the slurry officials who are precluded
under law from saying what that advice was.
So there is no accountability, Molloy says, and both
can collude in their own mutual interest. As Brendan
Howlin put it, Go along to get along. Where do so
many secretaries general go when theyve completed
their seven-year contracts? To some other job* the
government has in its gift. Going along to get along.
Just before entering government Pat Rabbitte gave a
notably hard-hitting speech about it: Without
statutory reform, the system of accountability we
pretend to operate in this country is grounded in a
lie . . . Civil servants can hide behind the skirts of
ministers, and ministers can avoid responsibility.
And it remains grounded in a lie, Molloy says now.
When you have that, you have a real problem. Civil
servants sat across the table with managers and union
officials and cut that deal. Was Phil Hogan responsible,
or was it the secretary general? Just what are the
secretaries general of Health and Environment
personally accountable for?
Cracking accountability
Dr Tracey Cooper, an outsider brought in from the UK

to head the Health Information and Quality Authority,
remarked in her parting words: We still have not
cracked accountability in the health service when
things go wrong. The problem is we have never had any

consequences. If theres a repeated failure, nothing
really happens.
The nature of the questions still swirling around Irish
Water demonstrates how closed the process is to the
citizen. Why are we unable to apportion responsibility
for the shambles? Who were the officials who
negotiated the deal? Without grown-up answers, how
can we know it wont happen again?
For many the most dismaying aspect of the Irish Water
shambles was the inability of those at the centre to spot
the glaring danger signs. Thats because they live in
that cultural soup of complacency, keeping industrial
peace and so on to themselves. A fish does not
recognise the water it swims in, says Molloy. The
people sitting in the room are talking to themselves.
The citizen is not represented. When doing these
things, the government loses sight of the fact that its
not just acting as an employer which it is but it is
also the government of all of us.
With every single institutional failure in Ireland the
church, Fs, AIB, the prison service, the penalty points,
the child-protection system you would look to the
culture construct to explain what went wrong. Mindset
can defeat everything.
Jane Suiters solutions touch repeatedly on the issue of
transparency around appointments and lobbying, for
example. Like Molloy, she suggests naming and
allocating clear lines of responsibility between senior
ministers and civil servants.
She also suggests a review of the widespread use of the
Official Secrets Act. We should be making new
recruits sign a pledge to put citizen and public interest
centre stage, not secrecy. We are no longer a State
under imminent violent threat.
The concept of putting the public interest at the heart

of its values seems blindingly obvious to outsiders, yet
its a matter of legal and philosophical debate in some
circles. Such as, what do you do if you have to choose
between the public interest and making the minister
look good?
The civil servant paper
Among the several papers produced on Civil Service

accountability over the years, Molloy singles out for
special admiration one called Strengthening Civil
Service Accountability, produced by civil servants
themselves. It defined accountability as being subject
to external scrutiny, with a requirement to explain,
justify . . . with implications of consequences.
Then, he says, an expert panel was set up to take the
paper to public consultation, and the mice got at it.
His weary description of boards and panels stuffed
with the very people who go along to get along doesnt
make for happy listening. Its important to record that
Molloy has hope, although civil servants may be
astonished to hear that the repository of his hope lies
in them. I have huge regard for the Civil Service. The
public has no idea of all the things they do. But, God,
theyre in a system which almost abuses the human
talent they were given.
Politicians wont go for meaningful reform, because
that would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. So civil
servants are the only people positioned to do it,
because they have a degree of job security and tenure
and good salaries and pensions, and have the essential
intelligence and resources to do it.
He urges them to read and take courage from Anne
Chamberss new biography of TK Whitaker and realise
that it is in the public interest and their interest to

develop an identity as the Fifth Estate.
Among Suiters proposals are several that aim to place
the citizen at centre stage, resulting, by definition, in
accountability at every level. Perhaps we even need to
be really radical and consider a randomly recruited
citizen council, replaced annually. Or at least
citizenproof all decisions explicitly, as in a citizen
impact report.
Arguing among other things for a Dil strengthened
with committee work and the election by secret ballot
of the ceann comhairle so his loyalty is to
colleagues, not the taoiseach who appointed him
Suiter begins to sound a bit disheartened.
As we saw in the few questions that were asked at the
debate on the establishment of Irish Water, politicians
are more likely to ask questions about local politics and
their influence rather than really getting to grips with
the big issues.
And so we come full circle to the late Peter Mair.
We the people need to think about who we are
electing and why, Suiter says. If we elect people who
we think will deliver to us locally, then how can we
expect everyone in every other constituency not to do
the same? What comes first, parish or country? Were
very good at the former, not so much at the latter.
We know from at least one Irish Times poll that the
electorate is ignorant of the most basic facts about the
functioning of our democracy. So the smartest step we
could take, surely, is to educate ourselves.
When Suiter was travelling the country with We the
Citizens, an initiative to test the idea of a citizens
assembly, it was what most people wanted: real
citizenship education, not the current Junior Cert but
something much wider and more philosophical,
perhaps even in primary school. This will be really
crucial for everyone to understand how politics works

and why.
But, first, is anyone in public life brave enough to trust
citizens with the truth?
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-water-chargesfiasco-a-lesson-in-how-not-to-do-things1.2035901#.WFKAHNfjn4I.facebook
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
There Are 8 Registered

Charities Working With the
Homeless in Dublin
Dec 15, 2016 by Rita Cahill
https://www.scribd.com/document/334295006/There-Are-8Registered-Charities-Working-With-the-Homeless-in-Dublin
Revealed - how charities

spend your donations
Survey shows half of monies go on
salaries -- while half of CEOs have
wages above 100k
Joyce Fegan and Louise Hogan
PUBLISHED
15/12/2013
1
CRISIS: Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay warned 'huge
reputational damage' had been done to the sector as a result of
the CRC revelations.
IRELAND'S leading charities received more

than 1bn in funding last year, with more
than 460m of this spent on staff salaries, a
Sunday Independent investigation reveals.
An in-depth analysis reveals for the first time exactly how
your donations and taxes in the form of government
grants are being spent by our best-known charities.
Charities last week claimed that donations had plummeted
by up to 40 per cent in the wake of the Central Remedial
Clinic (CRC) 'top-up' scandal.
The fallout prompted many leading figures in the
charitable sector to demand government action to deliver
greater transparency in the accounts of the diverse myriad
of charities making up the multi-million euro fundraising
industry, as they felt they were being "tarred with the same
brush".
The Sunday Independent contacted 40 of some of the

better known of Ireland's thousands-strong charity sector
to try paint a picture for donors of precisely where the
money goes.
Most were frank and open with their financial affairs, with
the CRC and Rehab Group failing to co-operate in the
survey.
The charities have a total income pot of 1.09bn, collected
from funding from the Health Services Executive (HSE)
and Irish Aid, Lottery grants, fundraising events, generous
bequests and hard-sought public donations.
More than 472m came from donations. Yet in some
instances, this also included bequests and money from
shops and fundraising events. Just over half of all income
was spent on salaries, administration, governance and
fundraising work. Some 101m is being spent on
administration which includes costs like generating funds,
rent, IT and general office operations.
Charities were adamant the vast majority of funds went to
frontline work, and stringent efforts were made to cut
costs. Barnardos pointed out that of every 1 spent last
year, 88c was spent directly on work with children and
families.
A crunching of the bare numbers shows 461.5m was
spent on paying salaries. This includes administration
staff but also frontline workers such as Down Syndrome
Ireland's team of vital speech and language therapists and
Trocaire's aid staff getting to the frontline in struggling
regions.
In the case of the Brothers of Charity Services, the charity
pointed out the 149.8m spent on salaries and PRSI came
from government funding and was used to provide
services to more than 4,000 people with intellectual
disabilities, and also to aid a further 1,925.
Rehab claimed the survey would not deal with the "unique
nature" of the group, as most of its income came from
commercial activities.
Just over half of the chief executives surveyed had pay
packets that top the 100,000 mark, with some having

access to a company car, healthcare and pension
contributions.
One chief executive, whose salary was below 100,000,
received a 17,000 bonus, but many of the charities
stressed they gave no bonuses or 'top-ups' whatsoever to
staff.
Many of the charities were adamant they followed bestpractices for the charity sector set in the UK, regardless of
the Irish Government's broken promises stretching back
over a decade to install a charity 'watchdog' to govern the
sector.
There is no requirement in law that says charity salaries
must be drawn from state funds, with some organisations
receiving little grant funding. Several of the charities
admitted to generally lumping all funds raised into "one
pot". However, in the cases of specific appeals such as the
Philippines typhoon appeal or Christmas drives, the
money donated goes specifically to that cause.
Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay told the Sunday
Independent that where possible, there should be
separation of monies.
Mr Finlay warned "huge reputational damage" had been
done to the sector as a result of the revelations emerging
from the CRC.
Fundraising Ireland's Anne Hanniffy pointed out it was at
"crisis" point, with some charities revealing their
donations were down 40pc in the last two weeks. One of
the best-known charities in the country, St Vincent de
Paul, revealed donations were now down 8 per cent, and it
believes the CRC controversy was a contributory factor.
Aid agency Concern has been inundated with calls -- with
its Director of Public Affairs, Richard Dixon, saying it was
"only natural" the revelations had raised concerns for
people.
Focus Ireland warned the serious issues at the CRC were
hitting donations across the board. The homeless charity is
facing a drop of 30 per cent in donations so far this
Christmas, and warned it wouldn't be able to continue to

meet rising demands for help.
Emphasising the diversity of the industry, Mr Finlay
pointed out that in the case of Barnardos, they had an
income of around 23m -- with 17m spent on salaries.
"That money is spent on people who work day-in day-out
with vulnerable children," Mr Finlay said.
"It is a bit like saying 'I want to contribute to the school
but I don't want the teachers to be paid.' If you look at the
budget of a hospital, 70 per cent of the budget is on the
wages paid to nurses," he added.
Paddy Connolly, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, said
the revelations had highlighted the country's over-reliance
on the charity model, as those with disabilities did not
need charity but did need supports to live independently.
Mr Finlay called for the naming of a charity regulator or
'watchdog' before Christmas -- as they try to limit damage.
Earlier this year, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he was
hopeful of having a regulator in place early next year.
More than four years after legislation was brought in, Mr
Shatter was unable to say when exactly the appointment
would be made, but insisted he was "progressing" it as
rapidly as possible.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-how-charities-spendyour-donations-29839075.html
Dublin, Cork landlords

limited to 4% rent rises
under plan
Coveney to announce moves on private rent sector in bid
to tackle homelessness
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, Fiach Kelly
Rising rents have been blamed for contributing to the homelessness crisis and
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney is proposing measures targeting the
private rental sector. Photograph: Bryan OBrien /THE IRISH TIMES
Landlords in Dublin and Cork will only be able to

increase rents by up to 4 per cent a year, over the next
three years, under new proposals being brought to
Cabinet on Tuesday.
Rising rents have been blamed for the homelessness
crisis and in a move to tackle the issue, Minister for
Housing Simon Coveney is to announce a series of
measures targeting the private rental sector.
The centrepiece of his plan will be to give tenants rent
predictability in areas that have seen rents rise
rapidly. It will focus on so-called rent pressure zones.
Under these plans, the Residential Tenancies Board
(RTB) will assess rental rates and judge whether rents
have increased at above-average market levels for 12 of
the last 18 months.
If this is found to be the case, the RTB can recommend
to the Minister that these areas be designated as rent
pressure zones.
Annual rents in these areas will only be be allowed to
increase by 4 per cent a year, or 12 per cent over three
years.
Continue to apply
Existing measures introduced last year by then Labour

Party minister for the environment Alan Kelly will
continue to apply outside the designated rent pressure
zones.
These measures only allowed for rent reviews to take
place every two years.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-cork-landlordslimited-to-4-rent-rises-under-plan-1.2903235#.WE-UbZDMwQ.twitter
Fianna Fil will not support

proposals to cap rent hikes
at 4%
Party source says figure should be 2% and expresses
concern over exclusion of commuter belt
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, 16:52 Updated: Tue, Dec 13, 2016,
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has published his strategy for the private
rental sector but the proposals could already be in jeopardy as party sources
in Fianna Fil have indicated that they will not support the strategy.
Fianna Fail will not support proposals to cap annual

rent increases at 4 per cent, The Irish Times has
learned.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has published his
strategy for the private rental sector after getting
Cabinet approval for the plan this morning.
It sets out proposals for immediately designating
Dublin and Cork city as so-called rent pressure zones
and imposing limitations on the level of rent increases
allowable on residential properties in these zones.
The designation will apply for three years, Mr Coveney
said, and would mean landlords can only increase rents
by 4 per cent per year for that period.
The designation of the zones will automatically fall

after three years
Fianna Fil will hold a frontbench meeting later on
Tuesday evening to discuss the strategy.
It is understood the party has a number of concerns
about the measures including the decision to provide
for rent certainty solely in Dublin and Cork.
Impact of 4% annual increase

The impact of a 4%increase in 2017, 2018 and 2019
Senior figures say several other parts of the country

including commuter towns have seen similar increases
and will have no relief.
The party has insisted it will under no circumstances
support the decision to cap increases to 4 per cent
every year for the next three years.
It is understood Fianna Fil is concerned this will
incentivise landlords to automatically hike rents
substantially.
Senior sources told The Irish Times: We have huge
difficulty with the 4 per cent. It is unacceptable. That is
a guaranteed increase.
The very most it should be would be two per cent, that
is the Central Bank is recommending.

Fine Gael requires Fianna Fil support to ensure the
legislation is passed through the Houses.
Mr Coveney has said he intends to pass legislation to
give effect to the proposals through the Oireachtas by
the end of the week.
Responding on RTE Six One news, Mr Coveney said
Fianna Fil would have to decide what their position
was and he would be talking to them later on Tuesday
evening.
He said the 4 per cent figure came wide consultation
and to undermine that figure would undermine the
potential for increased supply in the market.
Sinn Fins Eoin OBroin also has a number of
concerns, insisting the Minister is allowing landlords to
increase rents by 4 per cent every year for the next
three years.
Mr OBroin said: At the core of Coveneys strategy is a
guaranteed rent increase of 12 per cent over three
years. This will continue to heap pressure on struggling
renters and lock low income families and single people
out of the rental market.
A family renting an average home in Dublin for
1,500 per month will pay an additional 4,500 in rent
over the next three years thanks to Minister Coveney.
In Cork City, families will be out of pocket by an extra
3,200 over the same period.
Low and middle income families and single people
simple do not have this money. They cannot afford
further rent increases.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-fil-will-not-supportproposals-to-cap-rent-hikes-at-4-1.2904236#.WFApFDO6Pig.twitter
Dublin, Cork landlords limited to 4% rent rises

under plan
Dublin, Cork landlords limited to 4% rent rises

under plan
Coveney to announce moves on private rent sector in bid
to tackle homelessness
!
Campaigners have urged the Government to give tenants stronger

rights amid concern that a slight fall in homeless numbers is only a
blip.
Official figures show 1,023 families were in homeless

accommodation in greater Dublin at the end of November
- three fewer than the previous month.
The report by Housing Minister Simon Coveney's office
also found 1,368 mothers or fathers with 2,110 children

had no home.
Some 780 families with 1,608 children were forced to
shelter in hotels.
The Peter McVerry Trust cautiously welcomed the slight
decline, but it said rent regulation and better rights for
tenants need to be included in next week's rental strategy
if a new trend is to be created.
There was a slight drop in the homeless figures this time
last year followed by 11 months of increases.
The charity's chief executive Pat Doyle said:
"Unfortunately, we've been here before and this drop is
more likely to be a blip than the start of a trend."
He said affordable and secure accommodation is the only
way in which the figures will start to decline long-term.
Mr Coveney said: " I have said that it will take time to turn
the tide on homelessness for both families and individuals.
Today's figures are noted but are a stark reminder of the
difficulties which we still face in dealing with
homelessness."
The minister reaffirmed the commitment to stop using
hotels for emergency accommodation by the middle of
next year.
The Dublin Simon Community also said the slight
reduction is encouraging.
But spokesman Sam McGuinness said: " We must build on
these successful initiatives and intensify efforts to ensure
the rate of homelessness further reduces over the coming
months and move on to tenancies increases."
Dublin Simon called for more detail on efforts to tackle
issues in the rental sector and utilise housing stock.
Latest stats show v slight

reduction in the number of
homeless families in Dublin -
number of homeless children

remains the same
Property outlook 2017:

expect investor appetite for
family apartments, student
accommodation and
healthcare
Investors need to be mindful of upward pressures on
interest rates globally

Tue, Dec 6, 2016, 20:00
Johnny Horgan
Johnny Horgan: There is potential for rental growth in secondary and

suburban offices.
What effects will Brexit and the proposed tax

changes have on the commercial property
market?
From an economic perspective Brexit is not good news
for Ireland. It will certainly have a negative impact on
our gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts for 2017
and beyond. The commercial real estate sector is
closely interlinked with economic performance and the
risk of a general market slowdown is a concern.
However, the commercial property market is one
sector of the economy that may benefit to some extent
from Brexit relocations from London in due course. We
expect to see a number of requirements for office
accommodation being activated over the coming
months, which will ultimately boost demand for office
accommodation, particularly in Dublin, before feeding
into other cities at a later stage. This may prove to be
the catalyst to enable some planned schemes to obtain
funding and commence on site, if pre-lettings are
signed.
The tax changes announced in the Finance Act have
already affected the price that some investors will pay

for assets. There is the potential for a two-tier market
for assets, depending on the tax treatment of buyers.
The other impact these unexpected tax changes have
had has been the damage it has done to Irelands
reputation as an investment location and it remains to
be seen if and how this might affect investor appetite in
2017.
Is there sufficient bank funding available to
allow the owners of large portfolios to offload
individual properties next year?
There has been a notable improvement in the
availability of bank funding for commercial real estate
in the Irish market from the pillar and international
banks over the past 12-18 months albeit from an
extremely low base. The limited number of lenders has
resulted in new alternative funders, principally nonbank lenders emerging in the market and we expect
this will continue into 2017. However, funders are
primarily focused on large transactions with the
availability of debt for smaller properties and in
particular land still proving extremely difficult to
source at a reasonable cost. The funding market is still
not working efficiently in this respect. This affects the
liquidity of smaller and mid-sized assets due the
requirement for significant amounts of equity to
acquire these assets.
Where are the best investment opportunities at
this stage?
With rents for prime offices in Dublin having recovered
strongly and now close to previous peaks, we are not
expecting to see significant rental growth at the prime
end of the office market in 2017. Prime yields are also
likely to remain static next year. The best investment
opportunities in the office sector will therefore be in
the development and refurbishment side of the
equation and particularly in the forward-funding

space. There is potential for rental growth in secondary
and suburban offices, however, so we expect to see
investors focussing on this.
Some investors will focus on the retail and industrial
sectors on the basis that there is still very attractive
rental growth potential in these sectors in 2017.
However, one area we expect to see considerable shift
in investor appetite towards is alternative sectors in
2017, namely investment in multi-family apartment
complexes, student accommodation and healthcare.
These sectors are seen to have less volatile income
characteristics and provide diversification for property
investors.
One thing to watch out for in 2017?
Investors need to be mindful of upward pressures on
interest rates globally with a particular focus on the
United States as the trajectory of bonds and interest
rates will ultimately dictate the shape of the real estate
cycle in 2017.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/propertyoutlook-2017-expect-investor-appetite-for-family-apartmentsstudent-accommodation-and-healthcare-1.2893758?
utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Visitors to fiannafail.ie don't think homelessness is

a concern. But then again, their poll doesn't let
them say whether it is or not
Dublin residents take action over

hostel for homeless
uesday, December 06, 2016
Ann OLoughlin
A High Court challenge has been brought against Dublin

City Councils decision permitting a former community
centre to be converted into a hostel for homeless people.
The action was brought by the Carmans Hall Interest

Group, the Michael Mallin House Residents Association and
youth and community worker Elizabeth OConnor in
relation to use the former parish centre at Carmans Hall,
Francis Street, in The Liberties, as a hostel for homeless
people.
The residents, who live close to the centre, say Dublin City
Council decided in late October to convert the community
centre which was closed in 2013 over fire safety
concerns and a lack of accessibility into a dial a bed
hostel accommodation for 65 homeless men.
The building, which has been leased to Dublin City Council
was to be operated by the Dublin Simon Community and
the Salvation Army and was due to open later this week.
However, the residents groups, represented in court by

Niall Handy, say local people are very angry and launched
the High Court action to block the move.
The court heard the residents had been actively
campaigning to have the centre, which is owned by the
Dublin Roman Catholic Archdiocese, reopened as a
community centre.
The residents say their action is not not in my back yardism. They claim the proposed hostel is an undue
concentration of services for those with addiction
problems and the homeless within a very small area of the
south inner city.
The say the local area has 12 homeless and social support
services crammed within 500m of the centres location.
The residents also say that the proposed hostel will
confound existing problems such as anti-social behaviour
in the area.
The authorities they say, should be doing more than
kettling all of greater Dublins homeless persons with
addiction issues into pockets of Dublin 1 and Dublin 8.
The groups also say they nor their public representatives
were ever consulted about the proposal to use the
community centre as a hostel for the homeless.
In their action, the residents are seeking an order
quashing the councils decision of October 26 last
permitting the change of use.
The judge, who placed a stay on the councils decision
until the matter next returns before the court, adjourned
the case to January 17 next.
Builders bid for smaller

apartments sparks
Ministers fury
Government reacts angrily to construction federations
lobbying for more concessions
Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 01:00 Updated: Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 08:24
Fiach Kelly Political Correspondent
Construction Industry Federation director general Tom Parlon, a former

Progressive Democrats junior minister, argued for smaller apartments, similar
to the standards that apply in the UK. Photograph: Eric Luke
Pleas from the Construction Industry Federation for

further State concessions for developers, including a
radical reduction in apartment sizes, were firmly
rejected by Ministers at a meeting last week.
The federation was brought before a Cabinet
subcommittee to discuss their views on the housing
sector with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for
Finance Michael Noonan, Minister for Public
Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and Minister for
Housing Simon Coveney, although Mr Coveney left
early to focus on the issue of water charges.
Mr Donohoe, in particular, was said to have been
angered by the presentation from the federations Tom
Parlon and Hubert Fitzpatrick.
Not viable
One of the main issues they highlighted was that it felt

it was not viable for developers to build apartments in
Dublin and that smaller apartments would be more
suitable for certain workers, such as those in tech firms
such as Google and Facebook.
U
U
U
Coveneys rental strategy faces resistance from

within Fine Gael
Home truths: the residential property highs and lows
of 2016
Low housing stock will fuel accelerating price
inflation, say analysts
Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Parlon, a former Progressive

Democrats junior minister for finance, argued for
smaller apartments, similar to the standards that apply
in the UK. This would be in addition to changes made
to apartment standards by the last government.
It is also understood the federation advocated a further
expansion of the Help to Buy scheme announced in the
budget, which allows for an income tax refund to help
first-time buyers accumulate a mortgage deposit.
Mr Donohoe is said to have reacted angrily and
outlined increased State funding and Government
measures to help boost the supply of housing and
challenged the CIF about what the building industry is
doing. Mr Noonan is also said to have delivered a
similar message, although in a more understated
manner.
The State has thrown the kitchen sink at this over the
past 18 months to two years, one source said
yesterday.
Mr Parlon said many State initiatives have been
promised but have yet to be fully delivered, such as the
Help to Buy scheme only taking effect from January.
Damage
I think Tom tried to pull it back with his political skills

but the damage was done at that stage, said one
figure.
Another source claimed Mr Donohoe was attempting
to be the tough guy and suggested that it could be
linked to possible Fine Gael leadership ambitions,
although he has said he will not seek to succeed Mr
Kenny.
Nama also gave a presentation to the meeting,
although this was described by sources as upbeat.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/builders-bid-for-smallerapartments-sparks-ministers-fury-1.2892862#.WEUpVGQHTk.twitter
6,442 persons confirmed as sleeping rough on the night of

the winter count. Emergency accommodation will increase
by 230 beds to meet demand.
Dick Bray, Assistant City Manager reports to the Oireachtas Co...
Applications are now being invited for the 2017 Effective

Management in Homeless Services three month Dublin
City University accredited and DRHE recommended best
practice module which will enable participating managers
in homeless sector services to enhance their
management/ leadership practice and develop their
expertise in operational supervision/support of staff
engaged in assessment and support planning
interventions.
The module is delivered through a mixture of lectures,
workshops and seminars over three two day blocks (6
days in total) facilitated by Tutors from the Chartered
Institute of Housing and DCUs School of Nursing and
Human Sciences and is informed by the work practice
contexts of managers undertaking the module. This
module is currently the only homeless specific, third level
managers training module available in Ireland and is
accredited at Level 8 with 10 credits on the Quality and
Qualifications Ireland (QQI) National Framework of
Qualifications.
The module will encompass the following areas:
Caring for Self/Caring for Staff. Operational Supervision
and Project Management and Strategic Management and
Socio-Political Contexts.
The dates for the course are as follows:
Orientation: (Monday) 6th February 2017 (9.30am
1.00pm)
Block 1: Caring for Self/Caring for Staff
(Monday and Tuesday) 13th and 14th February 2017 (9am
5pm)
Block 2: Operational Supervision and Project Management
(Monday and Tuesday) 20th and 21st March 2017
(9am 5pm)
Block 3: Strategic Management and Socio-Political
Contexts
(Monday and Tuesday) 24th and 25th April 2017
(9am 5pm)
Staff working in DRHE funded services will be eligible for
funding support towards the course fees. Please note that
only managers currently working in homeless (or related
sector) services will be eligible to apply.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS 5PM ON
FRIDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2016.
Please contact the DRHE Training Coordinator, Maria
Fitzpatrick at 01 2226863 or email:
maria.fitzpatrick@dublincity.ie for an application form or
with any queries..
480 houses will be built on the O'Devaney Gardens site.
Under this scheme, all housing on the site will be rented
from the city council, with 50% of homes rented to
applicants on the councils housing waiting list, and 50%
rented to households earning above the social housing
threshold, but with demonstrated housing need, who will
pay higher rents in line with their income.
http://www.irishtimes.com//demolition-of-o-devaneygardens
Demolition of ODevaney Gardens to be completed

Last remaining blocks of flats in Dublin complex to be razed for new
development
IRISHTIMES.COM
The vow to end homelessness

by Christmas? Not going to
happen
Jonathan Corrie died two years ago today and homelessness in Ireland
is worse than ever.
Dec 1st 2016,
TWO YEARS AGO today a homeless man died in a

doorway on Molesworth Street in Dublin, a stones throw
away from the gates of Leinster House.
His name was Jonathan Corrie and his death just a minute
walk from the seat of Irelands parliament sparked a
national outrage.
The public outcry prompted then-Environment Minister
Alan Kelly to convene an emergency summit on
homelessness, bringing together all of the key parties in
one place to come up with a solution.
Kelly swore that there would be no need for anyone to
have to sleep rough in Dublin unless they wanted to and
promised that the Government would work hard to end
homelessness.
Source: TheJournal.ie
Jonathan Corries case was a complex one. He had been

offered accommodation numerous times in Dublin, had a
chronic drug problem and had been given and sold homes
in the past.
However, his story merely highlights how homelessness is
a complex and multi-faceted issue with no easy answers or
solutions.
It is also a widespread and growing problem across

Ireland; one which incorporates numerous State bodies,
non-governmental organisations, local authorities and
individual workers.
People from all walks of life become homeless for a variety
of reasons.
They could be Julie (33) and her two young sons, who had
to move out of their home due to anti-social behaviour and
now live in a hotel room in Cork city.
They could be Natasha (20), who spent her life in care and
when she was released fell through to cracks of the system
to end up sleeping rough on the streets of Cork.
They could be Paul, who became dependent on alcohol
and lost a home he was due to move into.
The problem with catch-all attempts at solving the issue is
that no two people are completely similar each person
requires a specific type of care to meet their individual
needs.
The issue is one that has affected Ireland for decades, and
it continues to get worse.
Worsening crisis
Homelessness was first defined in Irish law under the
terms of the 1988 Housing Act. Before this there was no
legal definition for it.
A series of plans and strategies have been put in place to
try to resolve the issue ever since, but in recent years it has
only only gotten worse (the Government once committed
to ending homelessness by 2010).
A year before Jonathan Corries death, in February 2013,
the Government once again committed to ending longterm homelessness, this time by the end of 2016.
Thats one month from today, and will certainly not
happen.
In fact, in many respects homelessness is at its worst point
in the countrys recent history.
Latest figures show that there are now 4,377 adults living
in homeless emergency accommodation across the
country.
As well as this, the number of families staying at

emergency homeless accommodation (including private
B&Bs and hotels) was at 1,178 in September, the highest

number on record.
Latest rough sleeper figures show that 142 people are
sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin on the night of 22
November.
The problem is at its most acute in Dublin, where the
number of homeless families recently surpassed 1,000 for
the first time, however numbers are rising across the
country.
The use of hotels and B&Bs has never been more common,
with tens of millions spent in Dublin on housing families
and children in unsuitable, expensive accommodation,
usually for months at a time.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney who has responsibility
for addressing the homelessness issue told RT earlier
this year that 46 million per year was being spent to
house families in hotels and B&Bs.
Funding for homeless services was increased by 40% in

Octobers Budget rising from 70 million this year to
98 million in 2017.
However, according to Mike Allen, director of advocacy
with Focus ireland, the vast majority of this will go to
paying hotel bills for homeless families, and not on longterm sustainable solutions or preventative strategies.
Virtually all the increase in funding is going directly to
operators of private emergency accommodation (hotels),
so none of it is going to homeless services, says Allen.
Homeless funding is split into a number of areas
incorporating both long-term solutions and emergency
measures.
For example, over half of Focus Irelands funding comes
from the Government to carry out essential services. The
same is true of many not-for-profits dealing with the issue.
A breakdown of Focus Ireland income sources in 2015.

Source: Focus Ireland Annual Report
Housing families in hotels is an expensive, short-term

solution. And as more families present as homeless, more
money gets diverted towards paying their hotel bills, at the
expense of preventive and longer-term solutions.
It isnt that theres not enough money being spent on
homelessness, says Allen.

Its that were being forced to spend it all on emergency
measures rather than doing something to prevent
homelessness, or spending more money on supporting
people out of homelessness.
In its latest commitment, the Government has stated that
it will end the need for families to stay in hotels and B&Bs
by mid-2017, but as we reported previously, there is much
doubt around whether this is possible.
Source: TheJournal.ie
On top of this, rents across the country are at an all-time

high and social housing waiting lists continue to rise
across the country.
So what can be done?
The latest Government initiative to try to end
homelessness the Housing Action Plan was launched
in July.
The 114-page document contains multiple provisions to
address the housing crisis in Ireland.

It commits to increasing social housing in Ireland to
47,000 units by 2021, supported by an investment of
5.35 billion.
The strategy aims to do this by building more housing
units (including a planned total of 1,500 rapid-build
modular housing units by 2018), but also by relying
heavily on the private rental market to bring additional
homes on-stream.
This will be achieved through initiatives to entice private

landlords to provide their properties for social housing
these include the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and
long-term leasing arrangements.
There is a widely accepted view among charity officials
that Minister Simon Coveney is hardworking and
committed to trying to solve the housing crisis (the same
was said of former minister Alan Kelly, also), however the
Governments latest approach has come under strong
criticism for a number of reasons.
The over reliance on the private rental market, instead of
committing to targets for building new houses, is one of
the key issues people take with the plan.
Experts in the field say that some sort of controlled rents

need to be introduced to help tackle the skyrocketing cost
of living in urban centres, but so far the Government have
been reluctant to do this.
A spokesperson for Threshold, a charity dedicated to
preventing people from becoming homeless,
told TheJournal.ie that rent certainty was needed to
address the growing issue of family homelessness.
The private rented sector is currently in crisis due to a
shortage of supply and with rising rents, more and more
households are at risk of homelessness, the spokesperson
said.
Families need to be protected from economic eviction
from substantial rent increases.
Pictured are housing protesters as they block a car outside

the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council offices
where Minister Simon Coveney was visiting earlier this
month.Source: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Charities have also called for protection for families living
in buy-to-let rental properties.
A significant number families are made homeless when
the landlord of the home theyre renting is forced to sell

and they are evicted as a result.
So far, the Government has not moved the protect the
residency of tenants in these situations, even though it
could significantly reduce the number of families being
made homeless.
Positives
When it comes to solving the issue there have been some
(albeit minor) positives in recent months.
In August, the net number of people entering
homelessness in Dublin (the number of people entering
minus the number of people leaving) was at its lowest
point for the year.
This was attributed in part to a rise in the limits of the rent
supplement and HAP.
However, the impact on any increase in the rent
supplement will likely be diminished month-on-month as
rents continue to soar.
Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust operate a
Housing First Programme that is having good success in
housing and rehabilitating people who have been
homeless for years.
Basing the approach on international research and

methods, Housing First involves taking the most
entrenched, severe cases of homelessness and giving them
their own property with support.
The method does away with the traditional staircase
model for tackling the issue whereby a person needs go
to therapy, overcome addiction, etc. before they are given
a home.
Instead a person is taken from the streets and given their
own home straight off, with the only condition being that
they maintain the tenancy.
The initial goal of the project was for it to have reached
100 tenancies by the end of 2017. This was ramped up to
300 in the Housing Action Plan.
Head of Communications with the Peter McVerry Trust
Francis Doherty told TheJournal.ie that the acute lack of
affordable housing would make reaching that goal
difficult.
The challenge faced by Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry
Trust is to scale up housing provision and overcome the
acute lack of affordable housing that has hindered the

project to date, said Doherty.
However, he said that so far the programme had
housed 67 rough sleepers, and that a new programme had
been put in place to help the charities quickly achieve the
300 target.
Minister Coveney has been pushing hard for the success of

this plan, and has been in contact with local authorities
(like Dublin City Council) around making more homes
available for the project.
Whether or not they will reach the target remains to be

seen, and every month the number of homeless people
(especially families) continues to grow.
In response to a query from TheJournal.ie, the Housing
Department said it was advancing many of the measures
laid out the Action Plan, and that 2,700 exits from
homelessness will be achieved by the end of this year.
The winter bed initiative will see an additional 200 beds
provided in the Dublin.
With homelessness, the constant tension always remains
between long-term, sustainable solutions to help people
back into functioning society, and emergency, stop-gap
measures to help people in immediate need.
It is this division that makes the problem so intractable,
and leads to huge amounts of funding going to merely
helping people survive on the margins.
Theres competing ethical imperatives, says Mike Allen
of Focus.
We know that opening more emergency beds is not the
answer, and we know that the money would be better
spent on other measures.
On the other hand you cant turn to someone who has no
bed for the night and decided to sleep on the streets and
tell them we decided it would be better to spend the
money on something else.
That would be obnoxious and wrong.
Two years ago, TheJournal.ie published an
extensive study of homelessness in Ireland. Since then the
issue has gained traction and is of huge national concern.
This week, we are examining homelessness beyond the
capital. What is the situation around the whole of
Ireland? And what is being done to improve it?
Dublin through the lens of

homelessness
The In Sight project provided disposable cameras for 45
people living on streets.
Fri, May 6, 2016, 05:00
There Is 12 Billion Shoes in the World by Tomasz Lubczynski
I hope people will look at these photographs and see

how homeless people like me have lost nearly
everything, but that we can still have a little bit of
talent that we would like to nurture, Ramblin Rose
says.
Ramblin Rose prefers that her given name not be

published. As she explains, My nom de plume is
Ramblin Rose because rambling is what I do from
morning to evening. Some people like to use the term
vagabond, but I dont like that connotation.
Ramblin Rose, who is in her late 60s, is one of some
45 people in Dublin who are either homeless or on the
fringes of homelessness who were given disposable
cameras and invited to use them to record what they
saw on their daily wanderings. Several of these
photographs are now on display at Powerscourt
Townhouse Centre in an exhibition called In Sight.
Ramblin Rose speaks in beautiful sentences peppered
with surprising words such as nom de plume and
connotation. Or rather, surprising if you dont
associate people on the fringes of homelessness with
such a rich vocabulary and an accent that would be
unremarkable in Brown Thomas. The evergreen truth
is, there is no one type of homeless person.
Ramblin Rose arrives for her interview on a bitter day
of hail showers, in bare legs, her bare feet in the type of
sandals you see at the seaside. She wears a slide in her
hair that is studded with a row of pearls, and two thin
jackets over a green check shirt and a brown skirt.
Beside her is a worn shopping bag filled with salvaged
paper cups and newspapers and other items she keeps
a close eye on.
Im from Carlow, she says. Ive been in Dublin a very
long time: since before the pope came to visit.
She lives in a place she does not pay rent for, in what
she describes as very basic artisan accommodation,
which I acquired derelict. Its very damp. I do stretches
and arm swings to warm up the blood before I go to
sleep. My home isnt by any stretch of the imagination
for living in, so its absolutely only a place to sleep.
There is no heating. Its nowhere near the nurturing
sanctuary it should be.
Chequered history
Ramblin Roses accommodation sounds very like a

squat. For one reason or another, I havent got around
to making the necessary improvements, she says. I
have mental-health issues. She has had what she
describes as a chequered work history, in tandem with
my mental health issues. At one point, she worked as
a cook. I went to England to train to be a nurse, but
for one reason or another I didnt get the exams, and it
still eats away at me, she says, adjusting her pearl
slide and looking suddenly bereft.
Because her unheated accommodation is not
conducive to spending time in, Ramblin Rose spends
virtually all of her days traipsing the circuit, as she
describes it. Her circuit includes elevenses at the
Capuchin Centre on Bow Street, lunch at St Josephs
Penny Dinners, to which she contributes 1 if she can,
and the remainder of every single day is filled with
trying to pass the time in public spaces: shopping
centres, parks, libraries and train stations.
Are these the places she likes to go daily? Im not
saying I like having to go out to these places every day.
I am just making the best of things. She wants me to
know the places she does not generally include on her
circuit. I dont like to sit on the boardwalk, unless Im
desperately tired and need a few minutes rest. I dont
like it because I meet my contemporaries on the
homeless circuit there, and you dont like to be
confronted with a mirror image of yourself. There are
lots of people on the circuit who may not have been
diagnosed with mental-health issues, but they do have
them.
Good aesthetic sense
She saw a notice for the camera project in the Focus
Ireland cafe on Eustace Street. It captured my

imagination, and I think I have a good aesthetic sense.
One of her photographs is from the roof of the Chester
Beatty Library. She often goes to the gardens there, to
do her stretching exercises in a quiet corner. I like to
practise Qigong near water or trees. Qigong is a word
that is new to me. They are energy healing exercises,
she says, demonstrating a stretching movement with
her arms. They help me root and ground myself.
Ramblin Rose had just come from the Ilac Centre,
where she regularly avails of the free 55-minute
computer session at the public library, to learn
something or listen to music. I ask what she had
searched for online that morning before our meeting.
I was listening to an old song by Jimmy Kennedy
called Harbor Lights, that Rosemary Clooney sings.
Later, I listen to this lovely, melancholy 1950s
recording on YouTube and find myself wondering why
she searched for that particular song, and when she
heard it first, and why she sought it out again. The
more time you spend with someone from the homeless
community, the more their stories start to haunt you.
I watched the harbour lights
How could I help if tears were starting
Goodbye to tender nights
beside the silvery sea . . .
Very naive
The In Sight project idea of giving out disposable

cameras has been replicated in many communities in
many countries. Whats striking about this project is
that it was not initiated by any of the providers for
homelessness in Dublin; it has been entirely driven on
a voluntary basis by two friends with a background in
graphic design. Lucy Ryan and Lynsey Browne, both in
their 30s, had the exhibition idea more than a year ago.
I think we were very naive in the beginning, Browne

says. It was meant to be a two-month project.
They approached Simon first and then the Capuchin
Day Centre to see if they could access people using
their services. Both agreed. The women have since
spent a huge amount of time attending services and
events run by these organisations, building up contacts
and trust within the homeless community. The entire
project has been supported by donations and voluntary
help, from the disposable cameras and a photography
workshop for participants to facilitating printing,
providing exhibition space and building a website.
One disposable camera with 27 frames was given to
each of 45 people, ranging in age from early 20s to late
60s. The homeless community, by its nature, is mobile.
Of the 45 cameras given out, 30 were returned to Ryan
and Browne. Of those, only half the photographers
then emerged a second time, to provide captions for
the images and tell of their experiences of
homelessness. The other 15 have yet to be traced, or
have decided not to participate any further.
Before participants were given their cameras, they
attended a workshop, which was given on voluntary
basis by Des Byrne, founder of the Dublin Street
Photography Group. At that workshop they were asked
by Ryan and Browne to complete forms about their
backgrounds. One of the questions was: Tell us a little
about your experience of homelessness.
These are some of the answers they received:
Since the 1960s, I have had a nomadic lifestyle. We
were just hippies then, now were the homeless (man
aged 65).
I have been homeless for 17 years since a family house
fire (woman, 43).
You dont trust anyone (woman, 28).
I am technically not homeless. Had OCD for 40 years.
Hoarding now a major issue to the extent that I sleep

outside my flat (man, 48).
I have been homeless for about one year. I was
sleeping in Phoenix Park for a few weeks, then in
hostels on a nightly basis (man, 63).
I became homeless aged 24. I was working, had my
child with me, my own house, car etc. My landlord
wanted to sell, which left me homeless, which meant I
had to give my child to the care of a family member,
then I left my job (woman, 27).
Kicked out
Martin Joyce (45) became homeless in 2011. I was

living in a house in Gardiner Street. The landlord told
us he wanted us all out: he was going to move students
in instead. Joyce first went to a hostel in Parkgate
Street. He then rotated among several other hostels,
frequently sleeping rough in between, usually on
Molesworth Street. He lived like this for four years,
until he got a bedsit last autumn. Joyce wanted to get
involved with In Sight to support Simon, which had
supported him when he needed it, and also to show
through his photographs that everybody has potential,
and just because youre homeless doesnt mean you
dont have talent.
Most of his photographs are of animals, because thats
what he loves. One of his favourite images of is two
horses in a field, looking at a dog. It was taken at the
Cavan Centre, an organisation in Co Cavan that offers a
range of programmes to marginalised and
disadvantaged people.
I was fascinated at how the horse wasnt afraid of the
dog, even though the dog was barking and all.
Normally a horse would run from a dog.
When Joyce was homeless, he had a rabbit that he
bought from a friend for 5. He named him Bunny. He
wanted a dog but couldnt have managed one, although

a dog might have been useful the times he got beaten
up when sleeping rough, or simply kicked by random
passersby. People would rob you, too. My runners
were robbed once, and I had to walk around with no
shoes for two days, because it was the weekend and the
services were shut.
Joyce was tapping begging on OConnell Street
during his period of homelessness, but he has had paid
jobs in the past. He was a security guard for many
years, and also once worked as a caddy.
You might not associate a person who worked on a golf
course with eventual homelessness, but again, the In
Sight project proves that there is no stereotypical
person who finds themselves homeless.
Young family 2 babies have been illegally evicted and

locked out of Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Whitehall
Dublin9 emergency accomodation for complaining about
the chronic damp and mould in their room. Current
position activists suppporting help needed urgently. Tents,
I am trying to advocate that people go take empty council and nama
houses for to house the homeless, take them there and get a fire lit
for them, as long as they call it their home they've got squatting
rights. Plus the addresses can be used to receive benefits. I would
myself if I could, iv assisted in similar action many years ago in

thatcher's England and helped house people when the state let
them down.
Feed our homeless inner city Dublin will be going live in

the city center on Sunday evening from 7. 00.pm out side
londis on o Connell bridge with a Special guest also Edel
Kirwan and Sharon O Dowd feed our homeless inner city
Dublin have being raising awareness up and down the
country highlighting just how bad our homeless crises
really has got on the streets of Dublin we want

government to take immediate action and open up more
ammergency beds for rough sleepers before somebody
else dies out in that freezing cold weather we would like to
thank the public for all your support thank you please like
and share with all your friends to raise awareness thank
you
It's going to far now!!
6 homeless people sleeping in the one spot

is 18...
youngest
This is no way to live, nowhere to sleep but the side of the

road lifeless, seen this is just so upsetting this could be
your child..
Sometimes it's easy to walk by because we know we can't

change someone's whole life in a single afternoon. But
what we fail to realize it that simple kindness can go a
long way toward encouraging someone who is stuck in a
desolate place.
There are around 150 sleeping rough on our streets Why is
there homeless people sleeping on the streets of Dublin in

2015? When there are 1000s homes empty? Just doesn't
add up..
Tonight is so cold god help these people..
Cold foggy night tonight there are plenty of rough sleepers

sleeping outside tonight, shaking in their sleeping bags
cold air coming from their mouth how's your bed?
Gardai came and started asking questions, giving us more

hassle leave us be
So busy tonight lots of hot food and fresh clothes
BIG pot of hot chicken curry to warm our homeless friends

bellies it's very cold ou
Lovely big pot hot food for our homeless friends tonight to
keep them warm tonight nothing stopping us
Its an absolute disgrace that people have to sleep out in that
weather when there is so many houses free around the country,the
goverment should be ashamed!2015 this should not be happening
and its only getting worse,they are closing down hotels and all for
the refugees when they are leaving their own people out on the
streets to die......it makes no sense at all
Just sitting in the gardai station waiting for the super, I

was just talking to the volunteers who where working on
Saturday night and they said 3 gardai came up and asked
them to shut the stall down and move your cars before I
have them towed away and, now my volunteers are
scared they might be fined cause the gardai took their
names and address of them and told them never to come

back here again this is really after upsetting me these
people take time out to help the homeless and this is how
they are treated not on my watch!
Homeless disabled man was sitting down trying to get

money up for food and yet again he got arrested.. What
are homeless allowed to do?
I just want to thank everyone who was involved with
making Adams debs possible with all your kind donations

and support thank you so much Aisling coady for doing the
balloons they where so nice..
Zoe's Flowers for doing the flowers thank you very much..
Thank you to Instyle Wedding Cars thank you so much for
donating your service.. Protocol for Men Swords & Dawson
Street for giving the suit and shoes.. Thank you to
Deborah Bux Make up artist, Fashion stylist and Promoter
for doing the hair and makeup.. Also want to thank The
Dublin Barberr they looked so good and it's thanks to you
guys
Poor homeless man in DCC hasn't even got a chair to sit

on how bad is that
Update on Adam
Adam our homeless friend well he has been ask to go to

the debs with one of our volunteers as he has never been
to the debs so March for the homeless wants to make this
happen with your help guys.. We need a tux and a bit of a
pamper for Adam.. together we can make a change..
Hi guys we had a young couple come up to us and ask us
could we get them a buggy for there 4 year old, the buggy
they have doesn't lay down so the child is sitting up all the
time if anybody has a buggy out there that we could give

to this young couple please contact the page thank you
very much
I just want to thank Protocol for Men Swords & Dawson

Street for supplying the tux for the debs he looked so well
in it. You will all have to wait to see him in the tux on
Thursday we didn't want to ruin it by showing yas all now
What kind of people do things like

this? Our Irish government really
needs to take action immediately
and open up emergency beds
before somebody gets seriously
injured on our streets or worse
still dies through hypothermia on
the streets of Dublin.
Homeless people were sleeping in a doorway when

their belongings were set on fire last night.
Tony Walsh, a volunteer who hands out food to the
people living on Dublin's streets, came across the
scene while doing the rounds last night.
Walsh came across a couple of homeless people
who had been sleeping on cardboard, surrounded
by bags of rubbish for warmth, when a thug set
the cardboard on fire. Walsh said,
Erica Fleming and her daughter Emily
A homeless mother has realised her dreams after being

accepted into the prestigious Trinity College with
hopes she can finally break out of the poverty gap.
Erica Fleming, 30, has been homeless with her young
daughter, Emily, 9, for almost a year.
The mother and daughter have been living in
emergency accommodation, one of the more than
1,000 families and over 2,000 children living in hostels
and hotels.
In a bid to fight her way out of poverty, Erica - who is a
campaigner for the homeless - applied to Trinity
College, an institution she felt was out of reach
financially.
And now she hopes attending Irelands top college will
inspire Emily to follow in her footsteps.
Erica beamed: I didnt dream Id get accepted. I am
over the moon, thrilled.
My daughter Emily was recently there on a tour before
I applied, so its a big deal for her too. She is so proud
of me.
I kept saying to Emily Youre going to college, and she
said she couldnt that we wouldnt have the money.
She said she needed a laptop to go, and I said we
would do it. That she is going to do well. And now I am
going to one of the best colleges in the world and that
has showed my daughter, she can do it.
This has been a very tough year. I never in my wildest
dreams thought I would be accepted in to such a
prestigious college, but I have to say I dont think Id
even have applied if I hadnt been homeless.
This adversity has pushed me on to fight.
There were only 25 places on the course and Erica
impressed the college so much she was one of the

lucky ones to gain a spot on the free Trinity Access
Programme.
She will be studying several modules including social
studies, law, and ironically, political studies.
The mother, who works part-time to support her
daughter, has spent recent months lobbying the
Government on homelessness as the toll of those in
emergency accommodation hits a record high.
But she insists she has no plans of entering the political
arena for a career.
Instead, Erica says she would like to become a social
worker.
And after completing the access programme, she then
plans to study a degree at the college.
Erica credits Dublin Social Democrat Councillor Gary
Gannon with spurring her on to apply to Trinity, after
he gave her a pep talk that she was capable of studying
there.
Erica said: I said to Gary, I couldnt afford to go to
Trinity and he told me about this course and said Erica,
you can go to Trinity. Look at all youve done without
anyone holding your hand."
The single mum recently gave an impassioned speech
at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis and she is a regular
contributor to TV and radio shows on the housing
crisis.
Erica added: Trinity College is famous across the world.
I still cant believe Ill be going there.
"I could change everything now. I can change our
future.
This is the happiest Ive been in a long time and I know
Im inspiring my daughter and to do it after what we

have been through it makes it all the more
unbelievable.
I am literally on cloud nine, I cant believe it. My life, my
daughters life, could change from here. Its like I am
one step on the ladder.
Last year Erica and Emily appeared in the RTE TV
documentary, My Homeless Family.
This was the first time the nation got a glimpse in to the
lives of an increasing number of families who have
become homeless.
The state spent 16million on hotels for the homeless
last year in Dublin alone.
A Dublin homeless group is asking B&B owners to

allow rough sleepers to stay in their rooms this
Christmas.
Cairdeas Homeless Action Group is appealing for B&Bs
across the capital to take in either one or two people
for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Eve Bligh (8) made her Holy Communion on May 22 and

was determined to use her money to help those living on
the streets
Eve Bligh (8) made her Holy Communion on May 22 and

was determined to use her money to help those living on
the streets.
2
Mum Niamh said Eve always asked questions about the
homeless on the street and whether they had food or not.
Eve wanted to give them money but I suggested she gave
them food instead because it would be better.
Eve spent 60 of her communion money on rolls, crisps,
chocolate and flavoured water. She filled her bag and off
she went, said Niamh.
Niamh was surprised that Eve wasnt afraid at all to
approach the homeless and told her mum that it felt
really good to help those in need.
The homeless were really surprised by her and they were
grateful. People were looking at her and then at me, as if to
say is she for real?. Everyone took the food and one man
even called her a little angel.
Eve ran out of food by the time she got to the Hapenny
Bridge but refilled her bag when she saw three more
homeless people sitting on the bridge.
Shes just such a lovely, generous girl. Shes a little
mammy. She has two younger brothers and shes always
looking after them too.

Eve enjoyed helping the homeless so much that she
begged her mum to do it every month.
Her younger brother is making his communion in a
couple of years and hes already talking about using his
money to buy blankets. Its going to be a competition in
this house.
We havent a lot either, but there are always people out
there who are more in need.
Former security guard Patrick Murphy is desperate to find

a home for his ailing wife Pauline, who suffers from brain
damage.
The 58-year-old father of three broke down in tears as he
told how council red tape had stopped all attempts to find
a house or flat.
Forced to live in their car as thugs destroyed their home.
All I want is to get a roof over my wifes head so she can
have a wash and get back to normal. She is incontinent
now and is peeing in the car. The smell is awful, but we
have nowhere else to go.
All I want is to get a roof over my wifes head so she can

have a wash and get back to normal. She is incontinent
now and is peeing in the car. The smell is awful, but we
have nowhere else to go.
The couples nightmare began two years ago when the
eldest of their three sons, Patrick Jnr, fell in with the
wrong crowd and got imprisoned for drugs, says Patrick.
After he was sent down, a gang targeted the family home
in Clondalkin, Dublin, in the middle of the night.
The Westmeath hurlers helping out the homeless in Dublin

last night
Rents have risen almost 12% since this time last year, and they are
continuing to rise because you have abjectly failed to address the

rental crisis.
This is the largest increase annually on record. Four households a
day are losing their homes. Its out of control, and rents are already
at unsustainable levels.Todays Government announcements lacks
not only ambition, but will actually compound the difficulties faced
by citizens.
Disgraceful: Public watchdog

group states that a Fianna
Fail senator bent ethical rules
by claiming expenses twice
December 15, 2016
If there is one thing that politicians excel at is plundering the

public purse to enjoy spending other peoples money. While
thousands of people remain homeless across Ireland, and the
health service crumbles into dissolution, some at the top care
little for these matters.
The public expenditure watchdog has today said that Bran
Domhnaill, a Fianna Fail-affiliated senator, breached ethical
rules by claiming expenses on the double, from both Donegal
County Council and dars na Gaeltachta.
The expenses relate to three trips he made back in 2006.
Mr Domhnaill was associated with both entities at the time
of the alleged incident, so he took advantage of these
allegiances by claiming expenses from both institutions.
When questioned, he attempted to defend the morally
indefensible by saying that the trips were for different events,
on different dates.
The Standards Commission has found that Fianna Fil
Senator Brian Domhnaill breached ethics laws by
knowingly claiming travel expenses from two different

bodies for meetings taking place in different locations on
the same dates.
The disputed expense claims date back to 2006 and 2007,
when Brian Domhnaill was a member of Donegal County
Council.
Domhnaill has denied any wrongdoing and told a
hearing in May that he filled out his expense claims as
honestly as he could.
However, the Standards Commission found that each
contravention was committed intentionally.
A 'Boycott Denis O'Brien' campaign has been launched

today on social media. Organisers are urging members of
the public to desist from listening to his radio stations,
buying his newspapers and supporting his advertisers in
the interest of free speech, press freedom and Irish
democracy.
Fat Boy sold Topaz!
Deluded Stephen Donnelly on his page sticking up for govt saying
we ain't Tax Haven!
Spoiled very big boy! As his buddy called clever Mayo people, "a
whinger!" Paul Williams Scumbag & his cough slagged SF supporters
on Late Late, was allowed!
Next he was on Newstalk a.m. So I left!
Coz unpro, biased media, Aine Lawlor Beatch getting away with it so
far! On RTE joke, she asked previous Min for Homelessness, Alan
Kelly about current, Coveney! Eoin O'Broin, SF, was trying to make a
point & she stated 'I have Tony O'Brien waiting', she told the HSE
Bullshitter 'I look forward to talk to U again next Xmas.' Only RTE
didn't mention Ibrahim's court case cancelled again! Michael Darcy,
FG Idiot, caught on his phone by Vincent Browne who told Eoin
O'Broin "not to make speeches" & 'Adams less effective in Dail.' He
must watch RTE's edited version! Paul Keogh, FG, refugees more
important than homeless coz 'don't have roof over their head.'
Claire Byrne had Ian O'Doherty on again, this time re negativity re
refugees to Ireland! Edna 'we are not tax exile', Stephen Donnelly "I
agree Taoiseach." Frances Black 'Rent certainty', bad news, SF tried
many times! Harry Magee, 'Irish' Times, "populist Left", 'standout
politician': Mehole Martin! Sinead Carroll, journal.ie: Simon Harris!
Well done! Niamh Purcell, Historian, very good! Protest at Dail 20th,
re Austerity, IW etc!
Santa spotted on the 29a in Dublin...
The Govt has negotiated a higher fish

quota for Irish fishermen
Ireland's fishing quotas will be more than 17,000 tonnes

higher in 2017.
The Minister for Agriculture has announced total quotas of

233,500 tonnes or 280m for Irish fishermen for next year.
The deal was reached in the early hours of this morning
following two days of intensive negotiations in Brussels.
Minister Michael Creed says he is pleased the quotas
ensure that fish stocks in our waters will be managed
sustainably.
If Michel Martin got off his arse and did a day's work he
wouldn't feel the cold. The people sleeping on freezing
streets tonight Michel because of yours and Fianna Fil's
mistakes could tell you what 'cold and chilly' really feels
like?
BULLIED OUT OF IRISH GROUP. FIGHT THE WATER TAX SCAM.
FIGHT THE WATER TAX A GUY SCAM. ROBBIE KEARNS AS PUT MNE
OUT OF GROUP. FOR PUTTING A POST UP OF THE WAR. HE SAID HE
DID NOT WANT ISERAL ON THE POST. BECAUSE IT HAD NOTHING
TTO DO WITH IRELAND. HE MOST BE ONE OF THE IRISH MEN STILL
ASLEEP TO THE WORLD; HE BULLIED MY ON TGHE GROUP PAGE
FIRST, AND TOLD HIM I WAS LEGALLY COVERED. AND I HAD HUMAN
RIGHTS OT POST WHAT I LIKE., HE THREATENED ME ME WITH A
WARNING . I SAID HE WAS BULLYING ME. HE SAID YOU THINK WHAT
YOU LIKE. HE THEN SAID JUST CUT OUT THE FOREIGHN POST ITS
NOTHING TO DO WITH IREAND. I SAID THAT IT AHD. THAT WAS IN
THE WORLD CORRUPTION. I ASKED HIM HAD HE NOT WOKE UP YET..
I SAID IRELAND IS INVOLVED IN WARS TOO.. I FELT BULLIUED BY
THIS. SO I PUT UP A POST ON THE GROUP STATING IF ANYONE WON
ELSE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MU POST.. I DID NOT GET TIME TO GET
RESPONCE. AS HE BLOCK ME OUT OF THE GROUP
The Government sneaked in and passed a new Eviction Bill on

Tuesday night, they did this with the full support of Fianna Fail, in
2013 they were warned about the consequences of their Land and
conveyancing bill, now known as the "Evection Bill" the disastrous
consequences of that is, four Homes a day are now being taken by
Banks,leading to those people been made homeless,and again they
ignored all pleas and warnings not to bring in this bill.The warning
this time is.BE IT ON YOUR HEADS!
Dil debates
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Courts Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages
Bill, as amended, received for final consideration.
Question put: "That the Bill do now pass."
The Dil divided: T, 86; Staon, 0; Nl, 38.
Tellers: T, Deputies Regina Doherty and Tony McLoughlin; Nl,
Deputies Aengus Snodaigh and Seamus Healy.
T
Bobby Aylward
Maria Bailey
Sen Barrett
John Brassil
Colm Brophy
James Browne
Peter Burke
Mary Butler
Thomas Byrne
Jackie Cahill
Dara Calleary
Sen Canney
Ciarn Cannon
Joe Carey
Pat Casey
Shane Cassells
Jack Chambers
Lisa Chambers
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Simon Coveney
Barry Cowen
John Curran
Michael D'Arcy
Jim Daly
John Deasy
Pat Deering
Regina Doherty
Paschal Donohoe
Andrew Doyle
Bernard Durkan
Damien English
Alan Farrell
Peter Fitzpatrick
Charles Flanagan
Sen Fleming
Brendan Griffin
John Halligan
Simon Harris
Sen Haughey
Martin Heydon
Heather Humphreys
Paul Kehoe
Billy Kelleher
Enda Kenny
John Lahart
James Lawless
Michael Lowry
Charlie McConalogue
Helen McEntee
Finian McGrath
Michael McGrath
Joe McHugh
Tony McLoughlin
Josepha Madigan
Michel Martin
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Kevin Moran
Aindrias Moynihan
Michael Moynihan
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Eoghan Murphy
Eugene Murphy
Hildegarde Naughton
Tom Neville
Michael Noonan
amon Cuv
Jim O'Callaghan
Kate O'Connell
Willie O'Dea
Patrick O'Donovan
Fergus O'Dowd
Fiona O'Loughlin
Frank O'Rourke
John Paul Phelan
Anne Rabbitte
Michael Ring
Noel Rock
Shane Ross
Brendan Ryan
Eamon Scanlon
Sen Sherlock
Brendan Smith
David Stanton
Robert Troy
Leo Varadkar
Katherine Zappone
Nl
Gerry Adams
Mick Barry
John Brady
Tommy Broughan
Pat Buckley
Michael Collins
Catherine Connolly
Ruth Coppinger
Sen Crowe
David Cullinane
Clare Daly
Pearse Doherty
Martin Ferris
Michael Fitzmaurice
Kathleen Funchion
Danny Healy-Rae
Samus Healy
Gino Kenny
Martin Kenny
Mattie McGrath
Catherine Martin
Denise Mitchell
Imelda Munster
Catherine Murphy
Paul Murphy
Carol Nolan
Eoin Broin
Caoimhghn Caolin
Donnchadh Laoghaire
Aengus Snodaigh
Jonathan O'Brien
Louise O'Reilly
Thomas Pringle
Maurice Quinlivan
Risn Shortall
Brd Smith
Brian Stanley
Peadar Tibn
The government manages to pay the bank debt by

squeezing whatever they can from the electorate, thereby
enabling corporations to get off lightly. When faced with
the prospect of back taxes from Apple, to avoid shining a
light on this outrageous situation, they do everything in
their power to avoid taking the money.
Although it is nonsense to suggest that Apple would cease
trading in Ireland were it forced to pay its taxes (our

corporation tax rate is one of the lowest in Europe, so they
would still be making massive profits), for the likes of Fine
Gael, damning the population is a small price to pay for
maximising relations with big business and the super-rich:
for by doing so, they are able to secure the maximum
financial support for the next general election.
To quote Martin Ferris of politico.ie on who funds Fine Gael:
Who were the people who funded Fine Gael's election
campaign? Among those attending the sponsored Fine
Gael golf classics were Treasury Holdings and O'Flynn
Construction, both major players in the NAMA debacle.
Indeed, Michael O'Flynn was one of those who was
consulted, on the establishment of NAMA, to sort out the
mess caused by himself and his friends. The more
recent donations prove that nothing much has changed
[over the past 15 years].
If anything, it proves that Fine Gael, like Fianna Fil,
became cleverer at hoovering up cash from corporate
donors and at concealing it. The only reason we know the
identity of some of those who bankrolled the successful
Fine Gael election campaign is that some of them turned
up and won prizes at the golf classics, but the origin of the
majority of the funding is a mystery because it was
cleverly concealed. We know that Fine Gael received at
least 110,000 from Denis O'Brien between 1995 and
2000. That does not take into account whatever money
went to Deputy Lowry.
During the same period, Fianna Fil received
approximately 90,000, and to cover all bets, Denis
O'Brien gave approximately the same amount to the
Progressive Democrats. If ever there was a reason to boot
out the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail administrations dear reader,
the scandal over Apples back taxes is it
If Phil Hogan worked for a normal company and made a

massive cock-up with the company's money he would be
fired and the police would be called in. Unfortunately, this
Fine Gael clown was a cabinet member of Enda Kenny's
coalition government with the Labour Party, so for making
a massive mess of Irish Water he was rewarded with a
handy job as European Commissioner for Agriculture and
Rural Development in November 2014, on a basic salary of
250,000. (click on the link below and read about Hogan's
other allowances). If there was a law in this country that
allowed for the prosecution of incompetent politicians,
Hogan would hopefully be behind bars (along with Pat
Rabbitte/Alex White who wasted 38 MILLION on a useless
postcode system and Noel Dempsey who squandered 54
MILLION on e-voting machines (sold for 9.30 each).As the
water charges fiasco rumbles on, the Blueshirts are at long
last admitting defeat with Noonan saying "the primary
objective of the party should be to get the dead cat of
water charges off the agenda before a general election."

Fast learner.
Hogan's massive blunder cost Fine Gael the last election
and now they are squabbling among themselves about
what to do about those who paid/didn't pay their hated
charge. TD's like Catherine Byrne, mindful that she must
keep her seat warm for her daughter and Alan Farrell who
scraped in at the expense of "Bottler" Reilly are
demanding refunds for those they misled. Meanwhile
hawkish ministers like Simon "Bilderberg" Coveney and
Finance protg Donohue are still threatening to "go after"
those didn't pay into their scam. Good luck with that boys!
http://www.thejournal.ie/phil-hogan-salary-eucommissioner/
When Deirdre Foley's Natrium consortium engineered a

takeover of Clerys that left its long-serving workforce out
on the street with nothing but statutory redundancy
payments, the Fine Gael/Labour government did NOTHING.
This is all Taoiseach Enda Kenny could offer The
symbolism of Clerys and how long its been there and the
way this was done it certainly could have been handled a

lot better. It was, in my view, very insensitive.
Now, at Independent News & Media which is controlled by
Denis O'Brien and his billionaire pal Dermot Desmond, the
expected pensions of retirees are being slashed, in effect
to enable 24 million to be added to INMs balance sheet
and to be paid out in dividends to O'Brien, Desmond and
Leslie Buckley and the rest of William Martin Murphy's
successors
Rough sleeping has increased by 56%. Can you help those
who will have no safe shelter and are battling the winter
conditions this Christmas? Please donate today to support
our vital emergency services such as our Social Club,
Rough Sleeper and Soup Run team.
SIMON COVNEY TREASON TD'S LANDLORD STRAGGLY

HOUSING RENT SECTOR BILL
Emergency Accommodation Data
First Page Previous Page Page of 82 Next Page Last Page
Written Answers Nos. 192-210
Local Authority Expenditure
192. Deputy Declan Breathnach Information on Declan
Breathnach Zoom on Declan Breathnach asked the
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government Information on Simon Coveney Zoom on
Simon Coveney the amount of compensation paid out by
local authorities in the past three years for damage
caused by potholes in tabular form; and if he will make a

statement on the matter. [38516/16]
Simon Coveney the total amount of insurance claims paid
out by local authorities in the past three years in tabular
form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38517/16]
Government (Deputy Simon Coveney): Information on
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney I propose to take
Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
Details of compensation amounts and insurance claims
paid by local authorities are matters for individual local
authorities. The information requested is not available in
my Department.
Private Rented Accommodation Data
194. Deputy Barry Cowen Information on Barry Cowen
Zoom on Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing,
Planning, Community and Local Government Information
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the latest
figures from the Residential Tenancies Board or elsewhere
on the estimated number of tenants in the private rental
market in rent arrears; and if he will provide absolute
numbers and figures as a percentage of the overall
market. [38538/16]
figures that his Department has for the landlord sector,
including the number of properties it estimates are owned
by smaller landlords who have one, two or three registered
properties; the number owned by larger landlords who
have more than three registered rental properties; and the
number owned by very large institutional investors, such
as real estate investment trusts, REITs. [38539/16]
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the number

of landlords, tenants and tenancies registered in each of
the years from 2000 to 2016 to date in tabular form.
[38564/16]
Questions Nos. 194, 195 and 198 together.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlordtenant relationship in the private rented residential sector
and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and
tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was
established as an independent statutory body under the
Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and
to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. I have
no function in relation to the operational matters of the
Board.
The Act provides that landlords in the sector must apply to
register the tenancy of a dwelling with the RTB within one
month of the commencement of the tenancy. There are
currently over 325,500 tenancies registered with the RTB,
comprising over 174,500 landlords and over 516,500
tenants. Details of the numbers of tenancies registered
each year are provided in the RTB Annual Reports
available at
http://www.rtb.ie/media-research/publications/annualreports.
A study by DKM economic consultants commissioned by
the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and published in
2014, reported that the majority (65%) of landlords own
just one property, a further 17% have two properties, 9%
own three properties and 10% own more than three
properties. The results of Census 2016, when available,
will assist in providing an updated overview of housing
tenure in Ireland, including the rented sector.
In relation to the numbers of properties owned by
individual landlords registered with the RTB, my
Department does not hold or collate the information
requested. The Clerk of the Dil has requested that
arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of
information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas.
Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20
September from my Department, the RTB have set up a

dedicated email address for this purpose at
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
In 2015, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) received
4,023 applications for dispute resolution and a total of
1,260 (32%) of these related to rent arrears or rent arrears
and over-holding. This was the most common issue in
dispute in 2015, followed by Invalid Notice of Termination
at 23% and Deposit Retention at 22%.
Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility
196. Deputy Dara Calleary Information on Dara Calleary
Zoom on Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing,
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney his plans to
have carer's allowance included as reckonable income to
qualify under the tenant purchase scheme. [38543/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney Provision was
made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014
for a new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing
local authority houses. Following the necessary
preparatory work the new Scheme came into operation on
1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants,
including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are
available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible,
tenants must meet certain criteria, including having been
in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period
of one year and having a minimum reckonable income of
15,000 per annum. The minimum reckonable income is
determined by the relevant housing authority in
accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial
Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014
Act. In its determination of the minimum reckonable
income housing authorities can include income from a
number of different sources and classes such as from
employment, private pensions, maintenance payments
and certain social welfare payments, additional to
employment income.
It is essential that the income of an applicant under the
scheme is of a long-term and sustainable nature, to
ensure that the tenant purchasing the house is in a
financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the

property for the duration of the charged period, in
compliance with the conditions of the order transferring
ownership of and responsibility for the house from the
local authority to the tenant.
Consequently, a number of social welfare payments,
including Carers Allowance, are disregarded for the
purposes of determining the reckonable income. A list of
these payments can be viewed on my Departments
website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/
/inc/topic/activity/topic/guidelines.
In line with the commitment given in the Programme for a
Partnership Government, and reaffirmed in Rebuilding
Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I
intend to undertake a review of the scheme following the
first 12 months of operation and to bring forward any
changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which
are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered
at that stage. I expect this review to be completed during
the first quarter of 2017.
Electoral Commission Administration
197. Deputy Bobby Aylward Information on Bobby Aylward
Zoom on Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing,
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney further to
Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 18 October 2016, if he
will provide a further update as to when the Boundary
Review Commission, established to examine the boundary
between counties Kilkenny and Waterford, is expected to
publish its concluding report in view of the fact that the
results of the Roscommon-Westmeath border have been
published in recent days and that it is now eight months
past the initial deadline for publication of 31 March 2016;
the amount of money spent to date or the amount of
funding approved by his Department on the process in
respect of the Carlow-Kilkenny examination only from
establishment in 2015 to date; and if he will make a
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney The review
referred to is one of 4 boundary reviews which were

initiated together. The report of the Athlone Boundary
Committee was submitted on 10 November and
subsequently published. The chairpersons of the
committees which are reviewing the boundaries at Carlow,
Drogheda and Waterford have indicated that these reports
will be submitted in the coming weeks. I will be
considering all the reports carefully and I intend to address
them as part of the overall report on local government
matters which I will be submitting to Government and the
Oireachtas in 2017 under the Programme for a Partnership
Government.
Support services for all four reviews are being provided
and funded collectively. The overall estimated cost is some
87,500 , of which some 41,316 has been paid to date.
As the committees are independent in the performance of
their functions, it is not appropriate for me to comment
further on the matter.
Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 194.
National Spatial Strategy
199. Deputy Mattie McGrath Information on Mattie
McGrath Zoom on Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for
Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government
Information on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney
the status of the national spatial strategy with specific
reference to Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [38581/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney The current
National Spatial Strategy (NSS) was published in 2002 and
was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning
framework, setting an overarching planning framework.
The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the
Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its
statutory role and influence has been strengthened by
new requirements for local authority and regional plans to
align with the NSS and any successor. Bearing in mind the
elapse of time as well as the changed circumstances and
new challenges that have emerged in the planning arena
since the NSS was adopted, work is underway on the
preparation of a successor to the NSS, the National
Planning Framework, for which a roadmap on its

preparation is available on my Departments website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/
/towards_a_national_planning_fra .
Consultation is a critical element in the transparent design
and delivery of the National Planning Framework.
Successful preliminary consultation with key stakeholders
was undertaken in June 2016. A national public
consultation strategy is currently being devised to run in
early 2017.
The National Planning Framework will act as the strategic
planning context for relevant Government policies and
investment in housing, water services, transport,
communications, energy, health and education
infrastructure, as well as the preparation by the three new
Regional Assemblies of their new regional spatial and
economic strategies, and for planning authorities and An
Bord Pleanla. In this context, I am consulting with
colleagues in other Departments and agencies in order to
inform the National Planning Framework, in recognition of
the whole-of-Government approach and the challenges
and opportunities that exist to better align place making,
investment priorities, employment and environmental
strategies.
It is intended that an emerging draft National Planning
Framework will be prepared by the first half of 2017 for
submission to the Oireachtas for approval. It would be
inappropriate at this early stage to comment on the likely
content of the Framework, until sufficient preparatory and
consultative work has been undertaken.
Water Services Expenditure
the amounts paid by his Department in grants and
supports for those operating private or group water
schemes for each of the years 2011 to date in 2016, in
tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [38582/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney The information

requested is being compiled and will be provided to the
Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
Library Services Funding
201. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan Information on Jan O'Sullivan
Zoom on Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing,
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney if he will
provide a list of the library services applying to his
Department for funding for the open library initiative in
2017; the locations that were included in these
applications; the amounts applied for in each application;
and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38648/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney My Open
Library is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the
national public library strategy 2013-20 17 and is part of a
strategy to address customer demand. It allows library
members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at
times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours
from 8am to 10pm, seven days-per-week, ensuring access
to library services for users who cannot avail of them
during regular staffed hours. It is planned to extend the
My Open Library pilot to a further 23 branches from
January 2017, following a successful initial trial in
Tullamore, Banagher and Tubbercurry libraries from
November 2014. The library branches operating the
service, the indicative cost of each and the indicative
Department contributions are detailed in the following
table.
County Library Branch Indicative Cost Indicative
Department Contribution
Carlow Mhuine Bheag 36,000 27,000
Cavan Johnstown , Cavan 85,000 63,750*
Clare Ennis 79,138 59,355
Donegal Buncrana 80,070 60,054*
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Deansgrange 27,200 20,400
Galway Oranmore 82,550 61,915
Galway Ballinasloe 24,400 18,300
Kilkenny Castlecomer 70,681 53,010
Laois Portarlington 41,550 31,165
Limerick Cappamore 50,000 37,500

Longford Ballymahon 31,610 23,710
Louth Ardee 252,650 189,490
Mayo Swinford 46,500 34,875
Mayo Ballina 81,000 60,750
Meath Trim 80,800 60,600
Monaghan Carickmacross 64,100 48,075
Offaly Ferbane 73,750 55,315
Offaly Edenderry 67,150 50,365
Tipperary Nenagh 79,335 59,500*
Waterford Dungarvan 58,500 43,875
Westmeath Moate 43,536 32,650
Wexford Gorey 40,430 30,325
Wicklow Arklow 25,400 19,050
* The indicative amounts for Johnstown, Buncrana and
Nenagh are VAT inclusive. All other allocations are net of
VAT; however, the Departments contribution will cover
the VAT element.
Commercial Rates
202. Deputy Anne Rabbitte Information on Anne Rabbitte
Zoom on Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing,
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the
assistance and supports available to retailers in
circumstances in which a local business finds itself in
difficulty with rates payments due to years of austerity
and a build up of hard core debt and in which the
repayment arrangement is in fact placing the retailer
further into debt; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [38653/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney Local authorities
are required by legislation to levy rates on any property
used for commercial purposes in accordance with the
details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the
independent Commissioner of Valuation under the
Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The annual rate on valuation
(ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property
determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount
payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of
each local authority in the annual budget and its
determination is a reserved function.

Local authorities work closely with ratepayers
experiencing difficulty in the payment of commercial
rates. In this regard, local authorities are facilitating the
payment of commercial rates by instalments and work
with businesses to put in place flexible payment options
that reflect capacity to pay.
Local Authority Housing Data
203. Deputy John Curran Information on John Curran Zoom
on John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government Information on Simon
Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the number of houses
and apartments purchased by each local authority in 2015
and to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney Under my
Departments Social Housing Capital Investment
Programme, funding is provided to local authorities to
deliver additional social housing stock through new
construction projects and through the acquisition of new
and previously owned houses/apartments. Details on
properties purchased by local authorities for letting to
those on their social housing waiting list are available on
my Departments website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie//attac/1c1-la-acq-byarea_4.xlsx.
Information on quarter three of 2016 is currently being
finalised and will be published shortly, while details for the
entirety of 2016 will be available in early 2017.
Library Services Staff
204. Deputy Paul Murphy Information on Paul Murphy
Zoom on Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing,
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney his views on
the roll-out of unstaffed libraries; his further views on the
important role of library staff; and if he will make a
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney The My Open
Library service is an initiative under Opportunities for All ,

the national public library strategy 2013-2017. It forms
part of the overall strategy to address customer demand
and grants members the freedom and flexibility to use the
library at the hours that suit them best.
The initial My Open Library pilot was introduced in
November 2014. I am satisfied that the learning from the
pilots, and the very positive feedback from library users,
justifies extending the pilot phase to a further 23 library
branches from January 2017. Learning from the extended
pilot phase will inform and shape the future development
and implementation of the service across the broader
library network.
Feedback from users has been very positive. My Open
Library has made community spaces and collections
available to library members and communities, providing
access to commuters, students and families at times when
the library would be otherwise unavailable. Each library
running the service is now open to the community for 98
hours per week.
There will be no reduction in staffing levels or staffed
hours as a result of the My Open Library service.
Professional and skilled library staff are vital for a
successful library service and my Department is working
with local authorities to enhance staffing resources and
extend staffed library hours.
of houses the local authority purchased off the open
market in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date in
tabular form. [38809/16]
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the average
price that the local authority paid for properties purchased
in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date by county in

Under my Departments Social Housing Capital Investment
those on their social housing waiting lists are available on
http://www.housing.gov.ie//attac/1c1-la-acq-byarea_4.xlsx.
My Department does not routinely collect or publish
information on the average cost incurred by local
authorities in purchasing properties for social housing use
and local authorities operate with delegated sanction for
the majority of acquisitions they undertake. However, from
an examination of the funding provided by my Department
to local authorities in 2015 and 2016 for the purchase of
properties for social housing use, the average cost per unit
across the four Dublin authorities was circa 227,000 and
across the other authorities was circa 144 ,000.
on Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney the amount
his Department paid on bed and breakfast accommodation
due to the severe housing crisis in each of the years from
2014 to 2016 to date by county in tabular form.
[38811/16]
Simon Coveney Zoom on Simon Coveney My
Departments role in relation to homelessness involves the
provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and
funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in
addressing homelessness at local level. My Department

does not fund any service directly but provides funding to
lead housing authorities on a regional basis. Statutory
responsibility in relation to the provision of
accommodation and related services for homeless persons
rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for
which housing authorities may incur expenditure in
addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of
the Housing Act 1988. Under Section 10 funding
arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least
10% of the cost of services from their own resources.
Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure
on homeless related services outside of the Section 10
funding arrangements. Accordingly, the specific amounts
incurred by individual housing authorities in relation to
B&B type accommodation are a matter for the housing
authorities concerned.
of families who were in bed and breakfast accommodation
in September and October 2016 by county in tabular form.
[38812/16]
of one parent families that are in bed and breakfast
accommodation in September and October 2016 by
county in tabular form. [38813/16]
of children that are in bed and breakfast accommodation
due to the severe housing crisis in September, October
and November 2016 by county in tabular form. [38814/16]
Questions Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, together.

The official homelessness data reports provided by
housing authorities are produced using the Pathway
Accommodation & Support System (PASS), the single
integrated national data information system on Statefunded emergency accommodation arrangements
overseen by housing authorities. These reports are
published on my Department's website as soon as they
are available and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/
/homeles/other/homelessness-data.
The reports contain details of adult individuals and
households with dependents placed in emergency
accommodation. While the reports contain details of the
numbers of individual adults availing of various broad
categories of emergency accommodation, they do not
provide details specifically in relation to B&B
accommodation. That level of detail is not available in my
Department and is a matter for the individual housing
authorities.
Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae and Fianna Fils John Mc
Guinness are listed as owning the largest number of
eight properties.
Independent he had never seen a rental market such as
the one now in existence in Ireland, which has such an
imbalance between supply and demand.

The average rent in Ireland is now above 1,000 per
month and in some parts of the capital it has reached
beyond 2,000 a month.
increase from a year earlier when the company charged
1,250 per month.
, he said.
built.
and Nama.
Limerick.
Clara, Co Offaly.

Macroom, Co Cork.
Citywest in Dublin.
11: Pat Deering: 1 rental property in Rathvilly, Co Carlow.
12: Chief whip Regina Doherty: 2 properties: One in
Ashbourne Business Park and City Campus in Limerick.
14: Charlie Flanagan: 1 property: He lets a holiday house
in Co Sligo part of the year.
16: Independent Noel Grealish: 2 properties and land: He
let out a house in Galway and a apartment in Dublin. He
also owns a 8,800 sq ft commercial unit in Briarhill,
Galway.
Road, Dublin 4.
Dublin.
21: Robert Troy: 2 properties: 1 in Mullingar and 1 inDublin.
22: Wexfords Mick Wallace: 2 properties: Both are rented
out in Wicklow.
http://irelandtodaynews.com//housing-minister-simoncoven/
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is a Greedy Corrupt

Landlord and a Traitor To Irish Citizens of Ireland
https://www.scribd.com//Housing-Minister-SimonCoveney-is-
Appointing judges used to

be hands-on affair for
Taoiseach
Hugh O'Flaherty
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
1
The rationale for having a journalistic privilege is based on the fact
that a free press cannot thrive without being able to assure
contacts that their identities will not be disclosed (Stock photo)
With all the recent commotion about the

appointment of judges, it is worth reflecting
on a time when governments took decisions
without the advice or help of various boards.
Mr Justice Brian Walsh recounted in an interview which
he gave to the authors of a book, 'Judging the World', in

1988 that when the Taoiseach, Sen Lemass, offered him
the appointment to the Supreme Court in 1961, he said he
would just like to mention one thing - he would never
again refer to it - but he would like the Supreme Court to
become more like the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Walsh said: "So I pointed out to him there were
certain differences. But that was his general idea ... he said
much the same thing to the new Chief Justice, Cearbhall
Dlaigh. Obviously it was (his) wish that the court would
be more active in its interpretative role.
Supreme Court of Ireland Decisions Private Residential
Tenancies Board
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/appointing-judgesused-to-be-handson-affair-for-taoiseach-35295906.html
http://www.wmsltd.ie/pdf/canty-2.pdf
PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES BOARD

AND DAVID CONNOLLY
SECOND NAMED RESPONDENT JUDGMENT of Mr. Justice
Kearns delivered the 30th day of April, 2008
This is an application brought on behalf of the first named
respondent seeking an order striking out the appeal
brought by the appellant from the judgment and order of
the High Court (Laffoy J.) on 8th August, 2007. The
appellants appeal purported to challenge various rulings
made by Laffoy J. in the High Court. He also sought to put
in issue as being unconstitutional various provisions of the
Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
This court, in an ex tempore ruling already delivered
herein on 2nd April, 2008 determined it had no jurisdiction
to hear the appeal by reason of the provisions of Section
123(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004. That subsection provides:The determination of the High Court on such an appeal in
relation to the point of law concerned shall be final and
conclusive.
The court, however, reserved judgment on whether or not
the appellant was nonetheless entitled to appeal the order
for costs made against him by Laffoy J. in respect of the
costs of the respondent and notice party which were

awarded against him. The appellant contends that the
wording of Section 124 is not sufficiently clear or specific
to exclude the jurisdiction of this Court to entertain an
appeal confined to the issue of costs.
By way of background, the second named respondent
agreed to let to the appellant a dwelling house in
Crosshaven, Co. Cork by a tenancy agreement dated 24th
September, 2004. In 2005 a number of disputes arose in
relation to the appellants tenancy which came before the
first named respondent. Following a number of hearings
various determinations of the Board were formalised in a
Determination Order dated 19th April, 2006. A further
Determination Order was made on 6th October, 2006.
The appellant sought to challenge these orders pursuant
to s.123 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 which
provides:(2) A determination order embodying the terms of a
determination of the Tribunal shall, on the expiry of the
relevant period, become binding on the parties concerned
unless, before that expiry, an appeal in relation to the
determination is made under subsection (3).
FIRST NAMED RESPONDENT
APPELLANT
(3) Any of the parties concerned may appeal to the High
Court, within the relevant period, from a determination of
the Tribunal (as embodied in a determination order) on a
point of law.
(4) The determination of the High Court on such an appeal
in relation to the point of law concerned shall be final and
conclusive.
The only question before the Court therefore is whether or
not these statutory provisions are to be interpreted as
denying a right of access to the appellant to this Court to
argue the appropriateness or otherwise of the costs order
made against him in the High Court.
It is clear from the wording of s.123 of the Residential
Tenancies Act, 2004 that no appeal lies to the High Court
from a determination of the tribunal on the merits or on
the facts. It is a limited entitlement to appeal on a point of
law only. In exercising its jurisdiction, the High Court did
not purport to determine points other than various points

of law which had been canvassed by the appellant. Its
ruling therefore is final and conclusive.
Can a costs order in these circumstances have a quality or
character which puts it outside the determination of the
point of law so as to permit a limited appeal to this Court?
Article 34.4.3 of the Constitution provides:The Supreme Court shall, with such exceptions and
subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by law,
have appellate jurisdiction from all decisions of the High
Court, and shall also have appellate jurisdiction from such
decisions of other courts as may be prescribed by law.
In the ordinary course therefore, any decision of the High
Court is subject to review by this court. It is not unusual
for an appeal to come before this court which is solely
confined to the issue of costs and the entitlement of an
appellant in this regard is well settled (In Bonis: Vella v
Morelli [1968] I.R. 11). On behalf of the first named
respondent, Mr. Gerard Hogan, S.C. argues that the same
constitutional provision makes it clear that the Oireachtas
may restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court subject to the qualification in Article 34.4.4., which
provides that:No law shall be enacted excepting from the appellate
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court cases which involve
questions as to validity of any law having regard to the
provisions of this constitution.
He points out, correctly, that this is not a case involving
the determination by the High Court of any constitutional
issue and no such issue is before this court. He relied on
the decision of this court in Minister for Justice v. Wang
Zhu Jie [1993] 1 I.R. 426 to argue that the decision of
Laffoy J., including her decision as to costs, was final and
conclusive and immune from further appeal to this court.
In that case it was held that the provisions of s.52 of the
Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961 should be
construed as effecting an exception from the absolute
right of appeal provided for in Article 34.4.4. of the
Constitution from decisions of the High Court to the
Supreme Court. However, having read the judgments
delivered by Finlay C.J. and McCarthy J. in that case I find
nothing in either judgment which addresses the specific
point under consideration in the instant case. I believe

therefore the Court is to some degree in uncharted waters.
In my view the question can only be resolved by
considering the precise wording of any statute which
purports to limit the right of appeal to this court. Thus, by
way of example, s.50 of the Planning & Development Act,
2000 provides at s.50(4)(f)(i):The determination of the High Court of an application for
leave to apply for judicial review, or of an application for
judicial review, shall be final and no appeal shall lie from
the decision of the High Court to the Supreme Court in
either case, except with the leave of the High Court, which
leave shall only be granted where the High Court certifies
that its decision involves a point of law of exceptional
public importance and that it is desirable in the public
interest that an appeal should be taken to the Supreme
Court.
It seems to me, without in any way deciding an issue
which was not before this Court, that the word decision
of the High Court in s. 50 can be taken as including any
determination of the issue of costs which forms part of its
decision in the case. Similarly, section 42(8) of the
Freedom of Information Act 1997 provides:The decision of the High Court on an appeal or reference
under this section shall be final and conclusive.
Section 39 of the Courts of Justice Act 1936, which was reenacted by section 48 of the Courts (Supplemental
Provisions) Act 1961, provided as follows in relation to
appeals to the High Court from the Circuit Court:The decision of the High Court or of the High Court on
Circuit on an appeal under this part of this Act shall be
final and conclusive and not appealable.
Again, I have no difficulty in construing these sections as
altogether precluding any further appeal, even one
confined to costs. By contrast, however, s.123(4) of the
Residential Tenancies Act, 2004, which, if I may say so, is
unsatisfactorily drafted in a number of respects, is much
less clear. If the relevant sub-section simply referred to
the determination of the High Court on such an appeal
one could well argue that the decision of the High Court in
relation to costs was incorporated in the determination.
However, the wording contextualises the determination of

the High Court by reference specifically to the point of
law concerned.
The resolution of a point of law may on occasion compel a
trial judge to determine a case in a particular way which
may be contrary to the factual merits of the case. I am not
saying any such situation arises in the instant case, but it
is not difficult to imagine other cases where this could
occur. In such a situation an appeal confined to the issue
of costs might have significant merits.
For that reason, I think any statute which purports to
altogether remove even a limited right of appeal on an
issue such as costs should be so phrased as to make that
intention clear. That is not to say that express wording in a
statute is a prerequisite for this purpose, but rather that
the overall intention that no further appeal should lie from
any aspect of the decision of the High Court judge should
be obvious from a reading of the provision in question.
In The People (Attorney General) v Conmey [1975] I.R. 34
this Court stated:Any statutory provision which had as its object the
excepting of some decisions
of the High Court from the appellate jurisdiction of this
(the Supreme) Court, or any particular provision seeking to
confine the scope of such appeals within particular limits,
would of necessity have to be clear and unambiguous.
I would therefore allow the appeal on this jurisdictional
point and direct that the matter be listed for further
hearing on the merits.
Supreme Court of Ireland Decisions Private Residential
Tenancies Board
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/appointingjudges-used-to-be-handson-affair-for-taoiseach35295906.html
http://www.wmsltd.ie/pdf/canty-2.pdf
IRISH SUPREME COURT CREATES EDISCOVERY:
THE DISAPPEARING LINE BETWEEN DIGITAL DATA AND PAPER DOCUMENTS
http://www.williamskastner.com/uploadedFiles/BordeIrishSupremeCo
urt.pdf
SUPREME COURT AND HIGH COURT (FEES) ORDER 2014 Supreme

Court and High Court (Fees) ... Provisions) Act 1961 (No. 39 of 1961)
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/si/24/made/en/pdf
This evening is probably not a good time to write a report

on todays meeting with TDs, Senators and their
representatives in Leinster House as I usually need a day
to fully analyse any event or meeting.
However, it was an absolute pleasure to meet what I
would describe as three very like-minded people, namely
Byron, Adrienne and Martina in The Hub office in Dublin
before heading off to Leinster House. Adrienne had the job
of looking after callers to The Hub while Byron, Martina
and I went to the meeting where we first met Seamus
Healy TD and his brother Paddy. We had a cup of coffee in
the caf there while discussing the approach we would be
making when presenting our case on behalf of thousands
of people who find that they are the totally innocent
victims of the bailed out banks who want to legally steal
their family homes!
There were approx. 20 TDs present at different stages
during our presentation including the following Sean
Crowe, Eugene Murphy, Pat Buckley, Thomas Pringle, Dara
Calleary, Martin Ferris, Sean Fleming, Carol Nolan, Ann
Rabbitte, Eoin OBroin and others. Represented were
Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins. Needless to say no
representative from either Fine Gael or the Labour Party
was there. It surprised me that not one representative of
the Independent Alliance made the effort either as all TDs
were invited there by Seamus Healy TD and by myself.
I began the presentation by describing to those present
what actually happens in the Eviction Courts and how
people are being treated in a shameful way in particular
by County Registrars. I described the intimidating
atmosphere in these places and the absolute horror,
despair and desperation that I see on a regular basis in
these awful places. I also informed them that during the
month of May alone there are well over 2,000 Eviction
cases listed in the courts throughout the country and with
an average of 3 or 4 members of each household it would
be the equivalent of the population of a large town being
hauled before the Eviction courts and thats just this
month alone. I also impressed on them that not only are

there approx. 100,000 families in mortgage distress but
that there could be a further 200,000 families going
without some of the basic necessities just to pay their
mortgages and that many of these people were also
slipping into mortgage distress. Again I said that with an
average of 3 to 4 people per
household we are looking at over ONE MILLION people in
Ireland being in this awful situation with no resolution in
sight.
I then explained how the banks were refusing to engage
with many mortgage holders in any way even though the
banks claim that its the other way around. I also said to
them that the Government must FORCE the banks to
engage fairly with mortgage holders and that a fair and
sustainable solution must be found for ALL mortgage
holders before there would be any recovery for the people
of Ireland.
Martina then spoke about and gave an excellent
presentation on the Land & Conveyancing (Law Reform)
Act of 2013 [The EVICTION Act] and explained how it must
be repealed as it gives the bailed out banks easier access
to repossessing family homes.
Byron then gave an exception explanation of how The
Hub-Ireland is helping families every day for FREE and also
urged those present the need for an urgent solution to this
desperate crisis.
The politicians who were present then made their own
contributions with all of them agreeing that a real recovery
for the people of Ireland could only take place once the
people of Ireland were treated fairly by the banks. They
were all in agreement that they must act in the best
interests of the people that they represent.
Our next step with the help of Seamus Healy is to gain an
invitation to make a submission to the housing committee
where we can again impress on them the necessity for two
things 1) The urgent need for a STOP to be put on
EVICTION Court proceedings in the courts while the banks
are forced to find a fair and sustainable solution for all
mortgage holders and 2) To have an official EMERGENCY
declared in relation to this crisis. Such a declaration would
put a stop to Michael Noonans nonsense about the
Government being unable to interfere in private property

transactions.
All in all it was a very good day and Im sure that by
keeping the pressure on these people we can achieve real
change for the better, not only keeping families in their
homes but in the process, saving many lives.
I was not expecting to see Fine Gaels representative from
Offaly there as she was one of those who unashamedly
voted YES for the Eviction Bill and because there werent
any photo opportunities for her to take advantage of. I am
however extremely disappointed with the non-appearance
of the Fianna Fail TD for Offaly. When the meeting was
over he walked as we were talking outside the meeting
room, he looked and grinned, as much as to say Who let
those peasants into this important place.
Finally, I would like to thank Paddy Healy and his brother
Seamus for arranging this first meeting and I have
absolutely no doubt that we will now gain the support of
other TDs in our justified fight for fairness for thousands
of our people. With the help of these good men we
certainly hope to receive an invitation to make a
submission to the housing committee.
KEEP SUNDAY 19th JUNE FREE 1.30pm in the Killeshin
Hotel, Portlaoise EVERYONE WELCOME!
Thanks everyone,
Ken
Landlords of Leinster
House declare interests
Shane Ross
PUBLISHED
19/04/2015
3
Leinster House
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams receives a

pension from the Queen of England. The
ghosts of nationalists past must be haunting
his Donegal holiday home.
The last republican standing in Limerick, Fianna Fail's
Willie O'Dea, is a director of - and a shareholder in - a UK
company called 'Union Jack Oil'. The party's founder,
Eamon de Valera, must be rotating in Glasnevin cemetery.
Ten Labour Party TDs (one-third of the parliamentary
party) are landlords or landowners. James Connolly would
have imploded.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/shane-ross/landlords-of-leinsterhouse-declare-interests-31153379.html
Irish Independent
Evictions of tenants
to be blocked in
cases where homes

sold
02/12/2016
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has

indicated he is prepared to stop landlords
selling 10 or more units and evicting tenants.
The move is being suggested as a
compromise after Opposition TDs and
senators tried to set the figure at five houses
or apartments.
The Planning and Development (Housing)
and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 had
proposed that a landlord who wants to sell 20
or more units in a development had to allow
tenants to remain in their homes.
However, following an amendment proposed
by senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Colette
Kelleher and Lynn Ruane, the number was
reduced to five.
The 'Tyrrelstown amendment' arose after a
large number of tenants living in a
development in west Dublin were served
notices of eviction after their homes were
purchased by a so-called "vulture fund".
However, at report stage in the Seanad on
Tuesday night, the Bill was changed and the
number reduced from 20 to five.
The Bill returned to the Dil yesterday where
Mr Coveney described the section of
legislation as "significant".
"This amendment was the subject of much
debate in the Seanad and the original figure
of 20 dwellings was reduced to five on foot of
a report stage amendment tabled by the
Opposition.
"I am in the process of taking advice on this
change and may need to come back to the
House on it if it makes sense to do so," Mr
Coveney said.
"I do not believe we should try to bring small
landlords into this category because we will
disincentivise people staying in the landlord
market if we do that.
"That is why we had suggested, in the
changes proposed, that the figure should be
10 rather than five, but we can discuss that
on committee and report stages."
Sinn Fin's Eoin Broin said the threshold of
20 was too high because "it means the vast
majority of people who are currently at risk of
homelessness, or who are in emergency

accommodation because they were made
homeless as a result of a property being
repossessed by a bank and the landlord
giving notice to quit, will get no additional
protections".
"The minister knows that landlords who have
20 properties or more represent about 0.56pc
of landlords and 15pc of tenancies. It would
be great for those people but the other 85pc
are left out," he said.
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen did not address the
issue of the 'Tyrrelstown amendment' during
his Dil speech yesterday but his party
allowed the reduced figure pass through the
Seanad.
Ruth Coppinger of AAA-PBP said the minister
should respect the Seanad decision as his
original figure of 20 would only cater "for a
tiny number".
She said 70pc of tenants live in properties
owned by a landlord with four properties or
fewer.
http://www.msn.com/enie/news/other/evictions-oftenants-to-be-blocked-incases-where-homes-sold/ar-
AAl2oBz
Coveney to bring housing

planning Bill to Cabinet
Councillors concerned about proposals in Bill giving
powers to An Bord Pleanla
Tue, Sep 27, 2016, 01:02
Sarah Bardon
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney: plans will mean developers will hold
initial informal discussions with councils, to be completed within a maximum of
nine weeks. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
New legislation will allow planning applications for large

housing developments of more than 100 homes to be
made directly to An Bord Pleanla rather than to local
councils. Minister for Housing Simon Coveney is to bring
the draft heads of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions)

Bill 2016 to Cabinet today.
Housing and Planning Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/20152016/0087/16087.pdf
A Guide to Planning Enforcement in Ireland

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/Fil
eDownLoad,31564,en.pdf
Department of Housing, Planning, Community
and ... at the disclaimer document on the Irish
Statutes ... SI 135 of 2007
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/pla
nning_and_development_regulations_2001__2015_unofficial_consolidation_annotated_17_12_2015.p
df
Irelands Housing Crisis. ... Initially under Part V of the
Planning and Development Act 2000 up to 20% of
developments
Housing crisis has become part of Irish vocabulary

in the last couple of years. But what are people
talking about when they use the phrase?
Are they talking about rising rents? The increase in
homelessness? The growing number of house
repossessions? The lack of construction?
Unfortunately, Irelands housing crisis does not
involve a single issue, but represents a confluence
of problems that have been growing under the
surface for many years, and each issue
exacerbates the others.
I will look at the issues individually, examining the
background, the keys figures, the causes and the
suggested solutions.
Background
Our housing system is based on a three pillar

system; home ownership, private rented
accommodation and social housing.
Home Ownership
The majority of the Irish population own their

homes rather than renting or receiving
accommodation from the State. According to the
National Economic and Social Council (NESC), 71%

of the population were home owners in 2011, with
19% renting on the private market and 9% renting
from a local council or approved housing body.
The NESC noted that home ownership was heavily
promoted by Government policies such as
mortgage interest relief and local authority loans.
The ECB economist Klaus Regling suggested that
the Irish were obsessed with home ownership.
Many historians say this was as a result of our
colonial past and having to pay tithes to English
landlords. Others says that owning property was
seen as a form of financial security or a future
pension plan.
Whatever the reason for our obsession with
owning property, it is becoming clear that we will
not be able to maintain such high levels of home
ownership into the future. This is partly due to a
lack of availability of housing, and partly because
of the strict mortgage controls which have made it
harder to get a loan to buy property.
Private Rented Sector
The number of people residing in the private

rented sector has doubled in the last five years,
from 10% of the population to over 20%.
This is due to two things: first, people are finding it
harder to buy property and are therefore renting
for longer periods.
Second, the Government has to a certain extent
privatised its social housing programme. The
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009
recognised social housing as now including
housing supports which the Government provides.
Housing supports include rent supplement, the
Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental
Accommodation Scheme. All of these involve the
Government paying to cover the rent for a claimant

who is renting on the private market.
Social Housing
Local authorities are the main providers of social
housing for people who cannot afford to buy their
own homes. Local authority housing is allocated
according to eligibility and need. Rents are based
on the households ability to pay.
If you qualify for social housing you will be put on a
housing waiting list. However, there has been a
chronic shortage of social housing.
Currently there are in excess of 100,000 people on
the social housing waiting list, with some people
waiting in excess of ten years.
1) Lack of Supply
Statistics
j
j
j
Data from the Housing Agency shows that we need

to build a minimum of 21,000 houses a year in
order to meet demand.
However, figures from the Department of
Environment indicate that we are only building
about 11,000 houses a year. We will be about
4,000 housing units short of the estimated 7,000
units that need to be built in Dublin this and every
year for the foreseeable future.
The lack of supply is being demonstrated in other
ways:
There are over 100,000 people on the social
housing waiting list currently
There are 4,000 homeless people
Monthly rents in Dublin are just 2.3% lower than
they were at the height of the boom
It was recently reported that there are currently no
houses or apartments available for purchase in
Dublin city centre.
Problems
Initially under Part V of the Planning and

Development Act 2000 up to 20% of developments
above a certain size had to be set aside for social
and affordable housing.
However, Chief Executive of Threshold, Bob Jordan
argues that:
Unfortunately there were too many get-out

clauses in that legislation and the net
result wasnt 20% or anywhere near it, it
was more like 6%.
Ireland currently only has 9% of its housing supply
as social housing or local authority housing, while
England, for example, has 17%.
In the case of local authorities, there is almost a
total lack of new supply because of borrowing
constraints, and the fact that building costs are not
covered by the differential rent.
Jordan argues that we fell behind in house building
as a result of the recession.
Part of the bail-out programme was

reducing capital spending and
unfortunately housing took a massive hit
spending on social housing went down by
80%. The output of social housing went
down by 90%, and that continued for
seven years until recently. So we have had
almost a lost decade in which virtually no
social housing has been built and
obviously were paying the price for that
now.
2) Rising Rents
Taking into account inflation, rents in Dublin are at

almost the same levels as they were during the
height of the boom.
In the last year alone rents in Dublin have
increased on average by 9.3%.
However Jordan says that this masks what people
on the lower end of the market are facing.
50% of people coming to Threshold face a

rent increase of 200-400. To put this in
perspective, such a rent increase means
that a family on low income is expected to
find an extra 3,000-4000 a year just to
stay in their homes.
According the Threshold there has been a rise in
economic evictions, where people are forced to
leave their accommodation because they cant
afford to pay the rent any more.
Background
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act

2015 amended the main legislation covering
tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
Under Part IV of the 2004 Act you have security if
you reside in a property for more than six months
and you abide by the terms of the agreement, such
as paying rent and not acting in an anti-social
manner.
This security lasts until the tenant has been
residing for four years, after which time the clock
reset.
The landlord can terminate the tenancy for one of
the following reasons:
The landlord wants to sell the property within the
j
j
j
j
next 3 months
The property is no longer suited to the needs of the
occupants
The landlord or a family member wants to move
into the property
Vacant possession is required for substantial
refurbishment of the property
The landlord intends to change the use of the
property
The 2004 Act provided that the landlord could only
increase the rent once a year, with 28 days notice,
and not more than the market level of rent for a
similar property in the area.
This legislation only covered a tenancy in the
private rented sector, and did not include renting
from an approved housing body or renting when
the landlord was also living on the property, among
others.
The Amendment Act modified the reasons for
terminating a Part IV tenancy. Where the property
is going to be refurbished the landlord must
include a copy of the planning permission, and
specify the name of the contractor and the dates
on which the works will be carried out.
If selling the property, the landlord must give a
signed statement that they intend to enter into an
enforceable agreement to transfer their whole
interest in the property for full consideration.
Where previously the maximum amount of notice
given for termination of a property any time after
four year was 112 days, the notice now increases
incrementally between 4 and 8 years. 224 days is
the new notice period for tenancies which have
existed for 8 or more years.
The Amendment Act put in place a temporary
provision to allow rent increases only once every
two years, and requires the landlord to give 90
days notice of an increase. It required that notice

be in writing, and include three examples of similar
properties in the area with the rent level sought.
It replaced all mentions of the private rented
sector with the rented sector in order to include
publicly owned rented buildings under the scope of
the legislation.
It also provides for a deposit retention scheme,
where deposits will be held by the Private
Residential Tenancies Board rather than the
landlord.
Problems
The Private Rented System

isnt fit for purpose
Until recently the private rented sectors was seen
as a place where people stayed for short periods of
time. They were students, or people saving to buy
a home or to move on to local authority housing.
While in the past renting was perceived to be
transient, there are an increasing number of people
who will be renting for the foreseeable future.
Unlike other countries where many people rent
long term or for the entirety of their lives, the Irish
system is built to be temporary. This is reflected in
the legislation, where definite security of tenure
only lasts four years.
Additionally, the Irish market is characterised by
landlords who only own one property. They often
buy these properties to increase their assets and
try to cover their mortgages through rent.
Currently two out of three landlords own only a
single property.
These amateur landlords are often ignorant of the
law or they will disregard it altogether. They do not
have economies of scale. Where something goes

wrong they are not familiar with the legal process
to pursue tenants for unpaid rent, damage to the
property, or where the tenant refuses to leave the
property despite being legally evicted.
These difficulties make landlords more likely to
leave the market in the long term, and to simply
sell their property when it becomes profitable.
Therefore, the market is unstable for both landlords
and tenants in its current form.
There are problems with the

quality of the housing
We saw two high profile scandals where large
blocks of housing turned out not only to be
substandard quality, but also dangerous.
While we have legislation in place which is
supposed to require minimum standards for
property being rented, it is hard to enforce.
If a property does not meet the standards the
tenant is supposed to refer the case to the local
council. The council will inspect the property
(which may take a while to happen depending on
their backlog) and if repairs are to be made they
will leave an Improvement Notice outlining the
required changes.
If the landlord does not carry out these works, the
housing authority may issue a Prohibition Notice,
directing the landlord not to re-let the property
until the breach of the regulations has been
rectified.
If the landlord does not abide by the prohibition
they then may be taken to court.
As a result of this long drawn out process not many
landlords are held up for renting sub-standard
accommodation.
Threshold suggest that properties should have to
be certified as meeting the minimum standards set

out in the legislation prior to being let.
Rent supplement limits do not

match the cost of renting
Government have not raised rent supplement
limits since 2013. They argued that increasing the
amount of money provided would only push up
rents further.
However, this has resulted in a rent supplement
limit of 950-1,000 for a family in Dublin when
the average rent is over 1,300.
Currently, rent supplement will not cover the rent
of 95% of properties.
It is even more problematic when you consider that
under the law you are not allowed to top up your
rent supplement.
Therefore, those who were already on the margins
of the housing system have been pushed even
further out.
The Government may reconsider limits now that
there is a two year rent freeze.
3) Homelessness
As of 30 November 2015, there are nearly 4,000

people who are homeless in Dublin, according to
the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE).
According to Cathal Morgan, the Director of the
DRHE, the biggest change in the homeless
situation has been the number of families
becoming homeless. There has been a 105%
increase in families becoming homeless since the
start of the year. On average 60-70 families
become homeless every month.
Previously those who became homeless were
referred to as the mad, sad and bad: people who
became homeless due to mental health and
addiction issues, relationship breakdown or a

history of institutionalisation.
However, due to rising rents, the increase in home
repossessions and the lack of supply of affordable
housing, there has been a growing number of
families who have ended up in emergency
accommodation.
Problems
There are a number of different

bodies responsible for dealing
with homelessness
Morgan argues that part of the reason there has
been a lack of building of social housing is that
there is no one body in charge of housing policy or
the construction of housing.
At the moment we have different

institutions responsible for different
elements of it. The Department of the
Environment is the lead department. It has
a housing division. The Housing Agency is
there as well, which is kind of a support to
the Department and to local government
as well. And then you have local
authorities and you have housing cooperatives and you have voluntary housing
bodies as well. And then you have the
private rental system. So that to me
doesnt suggest coherence.
Cathal Morgan on the need for a long term housing
strategy
The lack of social housing

means that a large number of
families are being placed in

hotels
Of the 705 families who are homeless, 500 are
currently living in hotel rooms which are being paid
for by the State.
Morgan argues that not only is this financially
inefficient, but it also have negative consequences
for the families.
If youre in a hotel you cant cook for

yourself, youre eating out all the time,
youre making arrangements to send your
child perhaps ten, twelve miles to school.
So theres a lot of hidden costs We cant
deny the psychological and the physical
aspects of being in homeless services are
quite substantial for the households.
Homeownership and Rental- What Road
is Ireland On? No. 140 December 2014
http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_reports/en/140_
Homeownership_and_Rental.pdf
Published on Tuesday 13th December 2016
Ministers Coveney and English launch rental

sector strategy
Housing Minister Simon Coveney speaking at the launch of the

Strategy for the Rental Sector in the Government Press Centre
Housing Ministers Simon Coveney and Damien English today published
the Strategy for the Rental Sector, part of the Rebuilding Ireland: Action
Plan for Housing and Homeless.
The strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings of
Security, Supply, Standards and Services which will address both
immediate and long term issues affecting the supply, cost and
accessibility of rental accommodation.
An expert group is also being established to explore the opportunities
for developing a viable cost rental model for Ireland and a larger and
more dynamic not-for-profit and Approved Housing Body sector. The
group will examine the experience of other countries and develop a
roadmap to grow new capacity for delivering cost rental options.
Our rental sector is not delivering for

tenants, landlords or the country. We need a
strong and viable rental sector as a long
term tenure of choice for families and as a

secure investment environment for
landlords. Dramatic rental inflation puts
families under pressure, damages our
national competitiveness and stability in the
investment environment. We need to tackle
the consequences and alleviate short term
pressures and we need to address the long
term causes by delivering increased supply.
Strategy for the Rental Sector
Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning, Community
and Local Government, and Mr. Damien English T.D. Minister of
State with responsibility for Housing & Urban Renewal today (13
December 2016) published the Strategy for the Rental Sector,
following Government approval of the comprehensive and
ambitious plan at todays Cabinet meeting.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney said, Our rental sector is
not delivering for tenants, landlords or the country. We need a
strong and viable rental sector as a long term tenure of choice for
families and as a secure investment environment for landlords.
Dramatic rental inflation puts families under pressure, damages our
national competitiveness and stability in the investment
environment. We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate
short term pressures and we need to address the long term causes
by delivering increased supply.
The development and publication of a Strategy for the Rental Sector
delivers on a commitment made under the Rebuilding Ireland:
Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which was published in
July 2016. The development of a viable and sustainable rental sector
that can provide choice, quality and security for households and
secure, attractive investment opportunities for landlords has never

been more important. The Minister announced that he is
introducing with immediate effect a rent predictability measure
that will moderate the rate of rent increase in those areas of the
country where rents are highest and rising quickly. The measure is
based on the concept of Rent Pressure Zones; these are areas
where annual rent increases have been at 7% or more in four of the
last six quarters and where the rent levels are already above the
national average. In these Rent Pressure Zones rent increases will be
capped at 4% per annum for the next 3 years. The measure will be
introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local Authority
areas and in Cork city. Rent pressure zones will be designated for a
maximum 3 years, by which time new supply will have come on
stream and pressures will have eased somewhat in these areas.
The Strategy also contains a number of measures to support supply
by encouraging new investment and bringing unused capacity to the
market. Measures include Build to Rent developments and the
accelerated roll out of Repair and Leasing and Buy and Renew
Initiatives.
Speaking at the launch, Minister English outlined that the
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is core to delivering on a daily
basis the services that meet the needs of both tenants and
landlords. The strategy puts forward a number of measures that will
broaden and strengthen the role and powers of the RTB to more
effectively provide key services to tenants and landlords."
The Strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings of
Security bringing greater tenure and rent certainty to landlords
and tenants;
Supply maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging
investment in additional supply;
Standards improving the quality and management of rental
accommodation; and
Services broadening and strengthening the role and powers of the
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to more effectively provide their

services and empower tenants and landlords.
The measures include:
Accelerating Dispute Resolution timeframes by reducing time for
appeals from 21 to 10 days and by providing for one person
tribunals in certain cases; allowing the RTB to hold more tribunals.
Developing a One Stop Shop within the RTB to improve access to
information for tenants and landlords.
The RTB will introduce a voluntary landlord accreditation scheme
to support landlords in accessing best practice and promoting a
comprehensive understanding of the statutory obligations.
Simplify the law and regulatory framework through a new
consolidated and streamlined Residential Tenancies Act.
Reducing risk and increasing security for both landlords and tenants
is essential to the development of the residential rental sector as an
attractive tenure choice for tenants and as a safe and viable
investment choice for a range of investors. The strategy includes a
range of measures aimed at enabling a shift towards secure and
long-term tenancies which serve the interests of both landlords and
tenants. Measures include;
Effective Termination Procedures - changes to RTB procedure will
be introduced to reduce the time taken to repossess a property
when a tenant is not complying with their obligation to pay rent.
Changes to the obligations of institutional landlords where multiple
units are being sold - the sale will be subject to the existing tenants
remaining in situ.
Enhanced protections for tenants during receivership of
encumbered buy-to-lets.
Encouraging long term letting by providing for unfurnished lettings
where leases are 10 years or more.
Minister Coveney also announced the establishment of an Expert
Group to explore the opportunities for developing a viable cost
rental model for Ireland and a larger and more dynamic not-forprofit and Approved Housing Body sector. The group will examine
the experience of other countries and develop a roadmap to grow
The actions on standards for rental accommodation as set out in the
Strategy will ensure that an effective regime of quality assurance is

in place for the rented sector. Tenants will be reassured that the
properties they are renting are safe, efficient, durable and
comfortable. Landlords will be made fully aware of their obligations
through a consistent and uniform shared service approach by local
authorities.
The implementation of the Strategy is supported by 29 Actions
under the headings of Security, Supply, Standards and Services.
Timelines for the various actions are included, with immediate
enactment being targeted for the rent predictability measure via the
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill
2016 which commences Committee Stage in the Dil today.
A Package to deliver Rent Certainty

and Housing Supply
uesday 10th November 2015
Introduction
This integrated housing package, agreed by Government, is a
comprehensive set of measures to deal with the problems currently
being observed in the Irish housing market. Since taking office,
Government has been dealing with the fallout of the property
collapse. Now, as the recovery takes hold, a new set of problems has
arisen in the market that require Government action, particularly in
relation to the private rental sector and in relation to the lack of
supply of housing in areas where it is needed. The package also
contains important measures which will help tackle the on-going
issues in relation to the increasing numbers presenting as homeless,
and help those most vulnerable to falling into homelessness to find
accommodation.
The Government has already taken several measures to improve
outcomes, such as launching a 3.8 billion Social Housing Strategy
which will deliver 35,000 new social housing units and an additional
75,000 new social housing tenancies by 2020. Government has also
introduced other measures to stimulate the supply of housing, such
as the introduction of a Vacant Site Levy in 2019 and other
measures provided for in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act.
The measures set out below are an integrated and appropriate set
of changes to the sector which are designed to give certainty to

tenants in relation to their rent, to better protect tenants in their
homes, provide clarity to both tenants and landlords as regards
their rights and obligations, and to stimulate the supply of housing
provision in areas where it is needed.
There is no doubt that these changes will be of substantial benefit to
the 700,000 or so people now living in the private rented sector in
Ireland. As the numbers renting have doubled from just over 10% of
households to over 20% of households in less than a decade, these
measures are an appropriate and timely set of policy changes which
recognise the more important role which private renting now plays
in the Irish property market.
Ultimately, the rapid increase in rents seen in recent years is being
caused by a mismatch between levels of supply and demand for
rental accommodation where it is needed. This package includes a
considerable number of proposals to increase the number of
housing units being delivered at affordable levels. When taken
together with the on-going implementation of the Construction 2020
Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy, a comprehensive
framework is in place to deliver more homes for those who need
them.
1. Measures to Improve the Private Rented Sector
Approximately 1 in 5 Irish households, living in approximately
320,000 properties, is now renting their home in the private sector.
One third of those households are in receipt of State rental support.
This represents a doubling in size of the private rented sector
between Census 2006 and Census 2011. Further analysis shows that
the social rented sector in Ireland (i.e. rented from a local authority
or Approved Housing Body), relative to most other EU countries,
makes up a small percentage of housing tenure. Social housing in
Ireland makes up 9% of households, as compared to 15% in France,
22% in Germany, 31% in the Netherlands and 20% in the UK. One of
the effects of this is that there is a considerable reliance on the
private rented sector for the provision of social housing in Ireland.
By any standard, this is a rapid change in the structure of Irelands
property market, which in the context of the on-going market
conditions, and taken together with the lingering effects of the
property collapse, strengthen the argument for measures to be
taken to provide for a better functioning and more stable rental

market. Rental levels have increased significantly since 2012, and
are now increasing in Dublin by 9.2% per year, 10.1% per year in
Wicklow, up to a high of 14.4% per year in Co. Meath, and by close to
or greater than 10% per year in most other large urban centres
across the State (Daft.ie Q2 2015 Report).
The most recent data from the PRTB shows that in the second
quarter of 2015 rents were 7.1% higher nationally than in the same
quarter of 2014. These annual rates of increase were driven mainly
by the Dublin market. Annual growth in rents for the market outside
Dublin was more subdued; in the 12 months to end of Q2, 2015,
rents there were higher by 5.8%. The latest PRTB stats show that
rents in Dublin were only 3.5% below where they were at their
highest in 2007. They are likely to have closed the gap even further
since then.
In terms of supply, with a projected residential unit completion in
Dublin of 2,700 units for the year to end 2015, compared to a supply
requirement of roughly 7,000-8,000 units per year, there is clearly a
lack of delivery of sufficient supply, which is putting upward
pressure on rents.
The average rent in Dublin is now 1,262 per month while the
average monthly rent outside Dublin is 677. The average monthly
rent nationally is 878. The issue of rapidly rising rents is particularly
acute in Dublin but it is also an issue in other cities and, increasingly,
in the commuter areas adjacent to Dublin as tenants who can no
longer afford to rent in the city looks to the commuter counties for
affordable accommodation.
Housing affordability is measured by the proportion of household
income that is spent on mortgage or rental payments. According to
the National Statement of Housing Supply and Demand 2014 and
Outlook for 2015-2017, published by the Housing Agency in July
2015, as a general guide a rent set at below 35% of net income is
deemed to be a sustainable rent. Data from the NESC Report on
Homeownership and Rental in Ireland indicates that while the
amount of household income spent on housing has increased for all
tenure types, this increase has been most pronounced in the private
rented sector. The report Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector
commissioned by the PRTB and carried out by DKM Economic
Consultants found that a single person on average earnings of
36,000, paying a (lower than average) monthly rent of 957 for a 1
bed apartment in Dublin, would be allocating 41% of net income to
the cost of renting. On this basis, renting as a single person in the
Dublin market is not generally affordable and has not been so for
some time. For households earning below the average income there
is clearly an affordability issue in the main cities, most notably
Dublin, as competition from medium and high income households is
squeezing them out of the market and there is an inadequate supply
of housing at rents these lower income households can afford.
While the ultimate cause of the rapid increase in rents is the lack of
supply of suitable accommodation, and while appropriate measures
are also set out in this package to deal with the issue of supply, it will
be some time yet before that supply comes on stream. As the supply
of housing is very inelastic in the short run, measures in the rental
market are required to deal with the situation currently being
observed. A package of measures is set out below to deal with the
twin issues of rapidly rising rents and insufficient supply of housing
in the right areas. Measures are also proposed that will significantly
improve the legal protections for tenants and to substantially
increase tenants awareness their rights.
Measures are also set out below which will directly help vulnerable
families either already assessed as being homeless or at risk of
homelessness to find accommodation.
The Government is determined to tackle these issues in a forthright
and determined manner, and to take the action which is now
required to deal with the problems in the Irish rental market.
1.1 Measures That Will Benefit Tenants
A package of legislative measures is being introduced to provide for
greater rent certainty and also improved operation of the sector,
including through the role of the Private Residential Tenancies
Board, to the benefit of landlords and tenants alike. The following is
a summary of the measures involved, which will be given effect
through Committee Stage amendments to the Residential Tenancies
(Amendment) (No. 2) Bill which has completed its passage through
the Dil and is awaiting Committee Stage in the Seanad. The aim is
to have the legislation passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas as
early as possible in the current session.
Extended Period for Rent Reviews
The primary measure proposed is to amend the Residential
Tenancies Act so that from enactment of the necessary legislation,
rent reviews for all tenancies will take place every 24 months rather
than every 12 months as currently is the case, subject to a sunset
clause which will revert the period to 12 months in 4 years time.
This will involve no change to the fundamental mechanism for
determining rents under the legislation, which is by reference to
market rent, yet will provide the tenant with a longer period of
predictable rent.
Example 1: Deirdre and Anthony, a young couple with two children,
renting a 3 bed house in Dublin, signed a lease in April 2014, at a
rate of 1,200 per month. The landlord may increase the rent every
12 months, so in April 2015, the landlord increased the rent to
1,300 per month. Deirdre and Anthony are worried that the
landlord will increase the rent again in April 2016. The landlord had
planned on increasing the rent to 1,400 per month. With this
change, the landlord cannot increase the rent until April 2017.
Deirdre and Anthonys rent is frozen for 2016 at 1,300. Deirdre and
Anthony save 1,200 in rent as a result.
Example 2: Rachel, a lone parent with one child renting a 2 bed
apartment in Galway, signed a lease in December 2014, at a rate of
800 per month. Rachel is worried that the landlord will increase
their rent in December 2015. The landlord planned on increasing
the rent to 875 per month but, with the enactment of these
measures, cannot increase the rent until December 2016. The rent is
frozen until December 2016 at 800 per month. Rachel saves 900
in rent in 2016 as a result.
Example 3:
Michael and Stephen, a couple renting a 2 bed house in Cork, signed
a lease in March 2015, at a rate of 900 per month. Michael and

Stephen were worried that their landlord would increase the rent in
March 2016 to 1,000 per month. Now, Michael and Stephen do not
need to worry about a rent increase until March 2017.
Example 4: Larry and Mary, a couple living in Dublin, with their 3
children, rent their 3 bed house for 1300 per month. Their last rent
review was in September 2013. Upon enactment, Larry and Marys
landlord can initiate a rent review at any time, as it is more than two
years since their last rent review. However, once the other measures
in relation to rent reviews outlined below are brought into effect,
their next rent review will have to respect the new requirements
involved.
Other Measures to Improve the Rights of Tenants:
In addition to the primary measure set out above, the Government
will substantially improve the rights of tenants in the private rental
sector, through the following measures:
Longer Notice of New Rent
The current requirement for a landlord to give their tenant a
minimum of 28 days notice of new rent is to be extended to a
minimum of 90 days, giving tenants a longer period to find new
accommodation, if necessary.
Form of Notification of New Rent to Tenant
In future, a landlord, when notifying a tenant of new rent, will have
to provide the notification in a particular format, which will include
providing information to the tenant in relation to the dispute
resolution procedures that a tenant can pursue through the PRTB,
where necessary, and specifying supporting information that will
need to accompany the notice, including information in relation to
the rents of 3 other similar dwellings in the area.
Notification of Rent Increases to the PRTB
In addition to notifying the PRTB of an increase in rent within 1
month, as is currently required, landlords will be required to also
provide additional supporting documentation, including a signed
statement by the tenant that they have been made aware of their
rights and supporting documentation in relation to market rent for 3
similar dwellings in the area.
Longer notice period for tenancy terminations
Building on the current legislative position, whereby the period of
notice of tenancy termination increases according to the length of
the tenancy, up to a maximum of 112 days notice for tenancies of 4
years or more, further graduated increases in the notice period are
to be introduced, up to a maximum of 224 days for tenancies of 8
years or more, as follows:
5 years or more but less than 6 years 140 days
8 or more years 224 days
Strengthen protections for tenancy terminations
In order to guard against unscrupulous landlords evicting tenants by
falsely declaring that the property is needed for a family member, or
that it is going to be sold etc., measures are being put in place to
better protect tenants from such behaviour. These measures
involve:
i) a landlord having to explain in a written statement to the tenant
why a property might no longer be suitable to their accommodation
needs having regard to the number of bed and the size and
composition of the household;
ii) a landlord having to make a statutory declaration as to their
intention to sell a property;
iii) a landlord having to make a statutory declaration that the
property is needed for his or her occupation or that of a family
member.
Confirmation of tenancy additional information to landlords and
tenants
While the PRTB currently sends an acknowledgement of a tenancy
registration to the landlord, in future, both landlords and tenants
will be notified of tenancy registration and the notice will also advise
both parties of their rights and obligations and of the dispute
resolution procedures that are available through the PRTB.
Sharing information with Revenue Commissioners

In order to support further compliance in the sector, the notification
from the PRTB to the landlord and tenant confirming a tenancy
registration will also state that the PRTB routinely discloses
information to the Revenue Commissioners.
Deposit Protection Scheme
Under this scheme, landlords will lodge tenancy deposits with the
PRTB at the same time as they are registering their tenancy. The
PRTB will hold these deposits for the duration of the tenancy.
If the landlord agrees, the deposit will be repaid to the tenant at the
end of the tenancy. Where there is no agreement between the
landlord and tenant on how the deposit is to be repaid, the parties
may apply to the PRTB for dispute resolution.
1.2 Measures That Will Benefit Landlords
Measures are being introduced to make it easier for landlords to
deal with tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour, or those who
refuse to pay their rent.
Enforcement of PRTB Determination Orders
Landlords have consistently called for more and faster enforcement
by the PRTB in order to deal primarily with cases of rent arrears and
anti-social behaviour. The relevant legislation will be amended so
that PRTB Determination Orders can be enforced in the District
Court rather than the Circuit Court, reducing costs and case
processing times.
Validity of Notices of Termination
The legislation will also be amended to address an issue of key
concern to landlords regarding Notices of Termination so that,
where there is a dispute between a landlord and a tenant, a minor
error in the Notice of Termination does not have the effect of
invalidating the notice and causing a dispute resolution case to fall.
1.3 Measures That Will Help Tenants in Need of Support
Tax Incentive for Landlords who take HAP/RAS/RS Tenants
A tax relief scheme will be introduced to incentivise landlords to rent
their properties to tenants in receipt of social housing supports such

as rent supplement payable by the Department of Social Protection
and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), payable by certain local
authorities.
The scheme will operate on the basis of providing a 100% interest
deduction for landlords as an expense against rental income
(increased from the current 75% limit applicable to residential
lettings), where they commit to providing accommodation for those
in receipt of the above payments. The accommodation would need
to be available for a minimum period of 3 years and the tenancy
would have to be registered with the Private Residential Tenancies
Board (PRTB)[1].
The increase in the deduction (from 75% to 100%) would be
provided to the landlord on a retrospective basis after the three
year period has ended and where necessary certification is provided
to confirm that the terms of the scheme were met.
The legislation to provide for this change will be brought forward by
the Minister for Finance at report stage of the Finance Bill, 2015.
Increasing the homeless HAP Pilot limits by 50%
The maximum rent limits applying to properties that can be
accessed by people assessed as being homeless in Dublin are being
increased to 50% over rent supplement limits. This means that a
homeless family in need of a 3 bed in Dublin will now be able to find
accommodation to the value of 1,500 per month.
Example: A family with 3 children is assessed as being homeless and
placed in emergency accommodation. They are in need of a 3 bed
home, which has a regular rent supplement limit of 1,000 per
month in Dublin. Before this package, the homeless family could
only access private rented accommodation to the value of 1,200
per month (1,000 rent supplement limit + 20% under Homeless
HAP uplift). Now the family can rent accommodation up to the value
of 1,500 per month and the landlord can gain the additional tax
incentive, laid out above, if they are eligible. This increases
substantially the number of properties available to be accessed by
homeless families.
Affordable Rental
Affordable rental schemes operate on the premise that a provider of
housing receives some form of subsidy or concession from the State
for the provision of dedicated rental accommodation in return for
which the rent charged is pitched below market rent typically 7080% of the market rent. The overall objective of an affordable rental
programme would be to provide long-term affordable residential
accommodation for low to moderate income key-worker
households in urban areas of high demand. A model for an
affordable rental pilot project will be developed and launched in
early 2016.
2. Measures to Support Increased Housing Supply
A major contributing factor to the current rental crisis is the lack of
sufficient construction activity in the Dublin and Cork regions,
causing a lack of sufficient supply and putting pressure on rental
levels. Action is required to increase the number of new homes
under construction in Dublin and Cork, particularly in relation to
units which are required at below certain price points.
In addition, a range of factors arising from the housing downturn
are holding back the activation of existing planning permissions at
the more affordable price levels urgently required, notwithstanding
the progress made by the Government under the Urban
Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 in reducing costs arising from
Part V obligations and by local authorities in reducing their
development contributions
While the policy, funding and legislative measures being taken by
Government and local authorities under Construction 2020, such as
the Vacant Site Levy which takes effect in 2019, will begin to have
wider effects in reducing costs and improving affordability in the
housing market from 2018 onwards, a more immediate initiative is
required to encourage supply in the interim.
In particular, the Government has noted the analysis undertaken by
the Dublin Housing Supply and Co-ordination Task Force (DHTF) and
other local authorities, which confirms that there are a significant
number of houses and apartments for which planning permission

has already been granted in Dublin and Cork, where the issue is
most acute, but on which construction activity is not occurring.
Latest figures show that for the first 9 months of 2015, Dublin house
completions were at 2,057 units; down 14% on first 9 months 2014
(projected end-year output of some 2,700 units, as compared to a
projected supply requirement of approximately 7,000-8,000 units).
In addition, much of the new housing supply coming on stream is
costing in excess of 300,000 which is a price level that is beyond
the reach of new house purchasers.
Therefore, the Government has decided to bring forward supply
related measures designed to enhance the viability of construction,
in the locations of greatest need and at price points people can
afford.
In addition to the primary measure of a targeted development
contribution in Dublin and Cork for housing delivered at certain
price points, a number of other measures to stimulate facilitate the
provision of housing supply are set out below.
These measures include changes to planning guidelines on
apartment standards, support by ISIF for the delivery of housingenabling infrastructure, measures to maximise the potential of
Strategic Development Zones (SDZs) and measures by NAMA to
finance the delivery of 20,000 residential units by 2020.
Taken together, these provisions are designed to speed up the
delivery of housing supply, which will help alleviate the situation in
the rental market and increase the number of affordable homes.
2.1 Targeted Development Contribution Rebate
To enhance supply at prices people can afford a once-off initiative
will be put in place to kick-start increased supply of new housing
construction at more affordable prices under 300,000 in Dublin
and 250,000 in Cork.
The initiative will provide for the following;
Accelerate delivery of up to 7000 more affordable homes in Dublin
(the 4 local authority areas) and Cork (city and contiguous suburbs),
where there is a significant mismatch between predicted demand
and the current market response in terms of supply;
Establish an Exchequer funded Infrastructure Fund to meet the cost
of the rebates so that the local authority would not be at the loss of
development contributions revenue which they require to deliver

local infrastructure investment programmes on roads and services
and parks and amenities for newly developing or regenerating
areas;
Rebates will apply to developments where a project plan is
submitted to the relevant local authority indicating that the
development is for more than 50 units commenced after the announcement of
this package, and completed and sold in 2016 and 2017;
units, within appropriate floor areas, will be priced under 300,000
in Dublin and 250,000 in Cork.
Once homes are sold in line with the agreed project plan and price
points, a rebate would be payable from the Infrastructure Fund in
2017 and 2018 to developers subject to meeting agreed price points
and delivery targets and quality assurance, tax compliance and
limits on construction costs as a proportion of the sale price.
The initiative comes on top of reductions of 26% in development
contributions in the Dublin area, legislative changes to allow this
reduction to be applied to existing planning permissions, reductions
in Part V obligations (estimated at c. 10,000 per unit) and proposed
changes to the apartment planning conditions in Dublin City (which
will lead to an estimated average cost reduction of 20,000 per unit).
Arrangements will be finalised over the coming weeks with the
relevant local authorities with a view to the scheme being launched
before year end, at which stage full details of the application process
will be published. Provision will be made within the scheme to cover
any developments which commence from 11 November 2015, and
will otherwise meet the qualifying criteria, within the initiative.
2.2 Planning Guidelines on Apartment Standards
There are very few apartment schemes being developed at present
in the key urban areas and good quality apartment development
has a key role to play in meeting housing needs while avoiding
urban sprawl.
Therefore, the Minister will use his powers under the Planning and
Development Acts to issue guidelines on apartment standards which
will set a consistent national approach and ensure that planning
authorities do not seek requirements above the national standards.
These new guidelines, to be published by early December, will build

on the floor areas set in 2007, following detailed research and deal
with specific issues such as number of lifts per number of
apartments, car parking provision, provision of dual aspect
apartments (apartments with windows facing on more than one
side) that are not specifically addressed in the current guidelines.
The approach will also allow for variation in relation to meet the
needs of certain categories of dwellings housing for older people,
students and to allow for some level of studio apartments in
managed build to let developments.
The focus of the changes will be on ensuring a consistent approach
that enhances practical aspects to viability for investment in
apartment development generally rather than a reduction of
standards.
2.3 Supporting Infrastructure Delivery
As part of the cross Governmental action to deliver sustainable
housing supply in the future, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
(ISIF) will support the delivery of housing-related enabling
infrastructure in large scale priority development areas. This
support is in order to kick start the development process, provided
such financing can be done on the basis of appropriate risk and a
commercial return for the risks taken. Proposals will be assessed on
a project by project basis.
2.4 Strategic Development Zones
In line with Action 24 of the Governments Construction 2020
strategy, review of the existing arrangements for Strategic
Development Zones (SDZs) has been undertaken with input from
stakeholders. Following on from this, it is proposed to introduce
new legislative provisions which would allow An Bord Pleanla to
approve alterations to SDZ planning schemes without the proposer
having to start the process again. In particular, the aim will be to
facilitate changes to some site configuration or phasing, where there
was no change to the overall objective of the scheme.
2.5 Supply of Units through NAMA
The Minister for Finance has already indicated in Budget 2016, that
in line with the NAMA Act, he asked the NAMA Board to review the
residential sites under its control and to estimate what it could

deliver on a commercial basis, in terms of residential units, over the
next five years consistent with NAMAs mandate to deliver the best
financial return to the taxpayer. In response, NAMA is aiming to
fund the delivery of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020.
This initiative is designed to maximise the return that NAMA can
generate on behalf of taxpayers from funding the development sites
under its control. NAMA is currently carrying out a detailed, site-bysite, bottom-up review of the residential sites controlled by its
debtors and receivers and estimates that 90% of these units will be
in the Greater Dublin area. About 75% of these units will be houses,
mainly starter homes.
THE WAITING LIST for social housing is much longer

than the government has previously disclosed, according
to new figures released by Fianna Fil today.
Figures from each local authority in the country show that
there are just over 130,000 households who have applied
for and are on the social housing waiting list and not the
89,000 the government has claimed.
Fianna Fil says this number is from 2013 and there has
been a surge of 45% nationally since then.
However, the Department of Environment has disputed
the Fianna Fil figures claiming its analysis is more
comprehensive, rigorous and accounts for potential

duplication on some housing lists.
The new figure of 130,008 was complied from data Fianna
Fil collated from 28 of the 31 local authorities that
responded to Freedom of Information requests.
The scale of this problem is far greater than the
government would have you believe, Fianna Fils
environment spokesperson Barry Cowen said today,
describing the situation as a scandal.
It is my contention that they have been economical with
the truth from their perspective and the cat is out of the
bag. The real figure is 130,000 applications on the social
housing waiting list.
In Roscommon the housing waiting list has increased
157% from 252 to 648 while in the Taoiseachs
constituency of Mayo there has been a 100% surge from
1,479 to 2,965.
Heres a full breakdown of the figures provided by each
local authority to Fianna Fil:
*Denotes that this local authority did not respond to

Fianna Fil and figure is drawn from national average
of 44.99%
In Dublin city there has been a 30% increase from 16,171
to 21,015. While in both Galway city and county there has
been an increase of over 80%.
Cowen said that in many cases the figures include joint
applicants and families. The Laois Offaly TD estimated
that the actual real number of people in need of social
housing could stand at 300,000.
He said in some cases families have been waiting up to

seven years on a social housing waiting list.
The governments own analysis is that of those in need of
social housing, 44 per cent are single person households
and 30 per cent are single adults with a child or children.
Fianna Fils Robert Troy said he had never come across a
problem as big as this in his 11 years as a public
representative.
I can honestly say that I have never witnessed anything
like the number of representations that I am getting on a
daily and weekly basis in relation to the area of social
housing.
In its social housing strategy published last November, the
government committed to responding robustly with a
roadmap that will accommodate 90,000 households, the
entire Housing Waiting List, by 2020.
This includes the provision of 35,000 new social housing
units and providing housing support through the private
rental sector for 75,000 households.
Apples as oranges
Environment Minister Alan Kelly

Source: Hugh O'Connell
In response to queries, a spokesperson for Environment

Minister Alan Kelly said that Fianna Fil was
counting apples as oranges and claimed that the 2013
figure of 89,000 is a result of a comprehensive analysis
that removes duplicates.
This is a detailed analysis which removes duplicates
(people on multiple housing lists) Another assessment will
be carried out next year and every year after that,
something Fianna Fail never did.
Peoples circumstances regularly change which is why the
analysis needs to be comprehensive and carried out on a
yearly basis.
The 2013 summary of social housing needs involved local
authorities contacting households to confirm their
continued requirement and qualification for social housing
support.
The spokesperson took issue with what it says was a
snapshot of housing need in any given county at a point
in 2015.
While these figures are of course subject to on-going
fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and
new households applying for housing support, to say that
the 2013 figures differ from what is currently on file in a
local authority is erroneous because it does not compare
like with like.
To take a snapshot of housing need in any given county, at
a point in time in 2015, and compare it to the 2013 data,
which was compiled as a result of rigorous analysis will
have methodological weaknesses which could distort the
overall picture of need. The 2013 figures do not include
duplicate entries and those already in local authority,
voluntary and co-operative housing or the Rental
Accommodation Scheme, and as such are the most
accurate that are available.
The Department said it intends to increase the regularity
of social housing assessments and conduct them annually
from 2016 onwards.
Supreme Court gives clear statement that

legislators need to act now, courts for code of
conduct on arrears
Mon, Jul 20, 2015, 07:00
A judgment involving Irish Life and Permanent PLC put final nail in the coffin of
the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears as a consumer protection measure
The recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of

Irish Life and Permanent PLC and Dunne and Irish Life
and Permanent PLC and Dunphy puts the final nail in the
coffin of the Central Banks Code of Conduct on Mortgage
Arrears (CCMA) as a consumer protection measure in
repossession proceedings.
Paul Joyce on the origins of the mortgage

crisis
Dec 18, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Ma0WuAAhv4k
FAQ New regulations on residential

mortgage lending
https://www.centralbank.ie/pressarea/press-releases/Documents/FAQ%20
%20New%20regulations%20on
%20residential%20mortgage
%20lending.pdf
The Mortgage Crisis
As can be seen from the above graph, the amount

of mortgage cases in arrears of over 90 days has
been gradually decreasing.
Paul Joyce, Senior Policy Analyst with FLAC (the
Free Legal Advice Centres), suggests that this is
partly due to improving financial circumstances
over the past twelve months, which are allowing
people to start making mortgage payments again.
Additionally, the banks have been working with
people to put together alternative repayment
arrangements. The most common repayment
arrangements include temporary interest only
payments, term extensions on the loan, arrears
capitalisation and temporarily reducing the
payments.
However, the amount of accounts in arrears of over
two years has not budged.
Joyce says that while there are some solutions
that have been found the longstanding
intractable mortgage arrears cases are not being
solved.
There has also been a steep increase in housing
repossession orders granted by the courts.

In 2013 the number stood at just 244. However, in
the first nine months of 2015 that number was
more than four times as large, standing at 1,088
orders granted.
Joyce argues that the only reason the orders
granted before 2015 werent larger was because
the banks didnt want to repossess homes which
were in negative equity where more was owed on
them than they would have sold for.
Problems
The alternative payment
arrangements arent
necessarily sustainable
When a borrower falls into arrears, the lender is
obliged to make every reasonable effort to agree
any alternative repayment arrangement.
In theory the lender should take into account your
personal circumstances, your overall indebtedness,
your current and future repayment capacity and
your previous repayment history. However there is
no way of knowing whether the bank undertook a
full assessment.
The bank then decides if it wants to offer you an
alternative repayment arrangement. It is not
required to offer any particular option.
The fastest growing alternative repayment
arrangements is capitalisation of arrears. This
involves a new, higher payment because there is a
greater principal amount and more interest needs
to be repaid. Obviously this is problematic as it
involves the borrower or borrowers paying a
greater amount than when the problem arose in
the first place.
Joyce says its quite telling that one in every four

capitalisation of arrears cases is not meeting the
terms of the arrangement.
There has also been an increase in split
mortgages. This is where you split the amount
owed in your mortgage in two e.g. instead of a
100,000 mortgage you have two 50,000
mortgages. The second part is parked in a
warehouse until a certain point.
This has the advantage of being more affordable in
the short term, as you dont have to pay as much
interest. But there is a large capital balloon
payment that will have to be faced in the future.
There are a lack of fair

procedures in the mortgage
process
j
j
The mortgage resolution process, as set out under

the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, should
go as follows:
Where a borrower defaults on their payments the
bank will write to inform them of the default and to
give them a specified period during which to pay.
Where an account has been in arrears in excess of
31 days the bank will them examine the mortgage
to see whether it is sustainable and offer an
alternative repayment arrangement. The borrower
can suggest an alternative but they only have
power to accept or reject the arrangement the
bank has offered.
The bank can initiate legal proceedings if:
1 They deem your mortgage unsustainable
2 They offer an alternative repayment
arrangement and you dont accept it
3 They deem you non-cooperating
If you mortgage is unsustainable or you reject the
alternative repayment arrangement then the bank
can initiate legal action after three months. If they

deem you non-cooperating, which includes not
replying to letters, failing to provide information
within a reasonable amount of time, or not
contacting the bank when you were in arrears for
more than three months, then they can take legal
proceedings immediately.
However, a recent Supreme Court decision has
made it clear that even the above rules are not
binding on lenders apart from the moratorium on
legal action.
This creates a situation where there is no defence
to repossession in legal proceedings except to
argue that you dont owe any money or that it is
not your property.
And while you can appeal a decision by the lender,
they are not required to provide you with the
information of what arrangements they considered
and why they made a particular decision in your
case.
Joyce says You have a right to appeal but how do
you appeal when you dont know the basis upon
which the decision was arrived at? You would never
get away with this in a court. And yet, in this
private engagement between lender and borrower
it seems that fair procedures can be shortchanged.
Your mortgage can be sold on

to a vulture fund
While there is very little legal protections when you

have a mortgage with one of the banks, there is
little or no protection where your mortgage is sold
to so-called vulture funds. Such vulture funds are
not regulated by the Central Bank and therefore
are not subject to any of the rules under the Code
of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears.
Banks can sell on their mortgage portfolios to

these funds. The borrower will still owe the
remaining amount on the loan, but may be subject
to increased interest rates which cant be
challenged by taking a case to the Financial
Ombudsman.
When asked how it can be legal to have your loan
sold on to a different entity, Joyce explained that
when there is a clause allowing it in the mortgage
agreement.
Unfortunately the problem is when you

enter into a mortgage agreement you
agree to all of these things without
necessarily knowing half The terms and
conditions always authorise the lender to
sell that loan on to an entity of its choice.
By signing all the paperwork you tacitly
agree to that.
Currently the Sale of Loan Books to Unregulated
Third Parties Bill 2014 is before the Oireachtas. The
Bill would require the funds to comply with the
Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
The mortgage crisis is driving

homelessness
Part of the increase in families becoming homeless
is due to the parallel increase in the number of
repossessions of houses, the majority of which are
primary homes.
Additionally, a large proportion of landlords bought
property during the boom and ended up renting
out the property in order to pay their mortgages.
This has lead to a scenario where if a tenant
cannot afford to pay their rent or to pay a rent
increase this can have the knock-on effect of
causing the landlord to be unable to pay their
mortgage.
The law surrounding repossessions of property
where a tenant is already residing is murky. Often
there is a clause in the mortgage agreement
between the lender and the borrower which allows
them to force a tenant out to get vacant
possession of the property.
So where a borrower fails to pay their mortgage
this can have the effect of making their tenant
homeless.
Its harder to get a mortgage

The new mortgage controls require the mortgagee
to provide 20% of the mortgage upfront as a
deposit, subject to exceptions. You will not be given
a loan of more than 3.5 times your income (or
shared income if you are borrowing with another
person).
The creates two distinct problems. The first is,
given how expensive rent is currently, it is hard for
anyone to save up the amount required for the
mortgage deposit.
Second, according to the CSO, the median Irish
income is 28,500. So if you have a couple who are
both earning this average income they would only
be able to get a mortgage to the value of just
under 200,000. But the median house price in
Dublin is 400,000.
The Central Bank has said they will reconsider the
lending controls in November of this year.
Conclusion
As we can see, all of the problems are inextricably

linked.
The lack of supply has lead to increased
competition between renters and therefore an
increase in rents. Homelessness is mostly being
driven by the increase in rents, which has resulted

in people being economically evicted. The
mortgage crisis is causing families to become
homeless, and tenants are being evicted by banks
where properties are being repossessed.
But all of these current and pressing issues also
mask a number of underlying problems that
existed in the system even before the recession.
We dont have a funding model which
ensures the supply of housing: While the
recession and the cut in funding for building social
housing are a large part of the problem were
seeing today, even before the bail-out programme
we were not producing enough social housing.
Local authorities were not getting enough money
from the differential rent being paid by tenants to
fund, or even maintain, the social housing stock.
We also relied heavily on private investors to
provide us with housing under Part V of the 2000
Act, but this failed to produce even half of what
was required.
We need to find a way of funding the production of
housing that is politically feasible, but doesnt rely
completely on private interests.
Our social model is subject to market cycles:
The Governments opposition to raising the rent
supplement shows that they are sensitive to the
market and the sudden swings in the cost of rent.
And as a big player in that market, the
Governments decision to change the amount of
rent supplement offered can influence the cost of
rent.
This negatively effects Government when were
doing well economically and the cost of property
increases. It also negatively effects Government
when more people are reliant on social welfare and
they therefore have to pay out more. Right now we
have the worst of both worlds.

We have an outdated private rented sector:
The private rented sector has doubled in five years,
and before the end of this decade it is quite likely
that one in four Irish people will be residing in
rented accommodation.
However, we currently dont have security of
tenure, and we also dont have a way of ensuring
good quality, affordable housing.
Our focus should be on keeping people in
their homes: Paying to put families up in hotels is
not only expensive, it also causes health and
psychological problems for those families.
We need to figure out a long term strategy to avoid
another homeless situation similar to the one we
have currently.
The mortgage process leaves borrowers at
the mercy of lenders: The legal process
surrounding mortgages does not provide borrowers
with any clear information as to what to expect
from their lender, and what their rights are.
Overall, there has been a lack of joined up
thinking, or a coherent policy which addresses all
of the areas. We dont have one specific housing
body. We dont have a clear way of funding the
housing system. We dont have a way of ensuring
that everyone will have affordable and good quality
housing. Ultimately, the lack of a strategy or plan
for the future has resulted in the housing crisis
which we are experiencing.
RENTS NATIONWIDE HAVE risen by 10% in comparison

to the same period last year.
According to the latest Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
rent index, Dublin rents have bypassed Celtic Tiger prices.
Rents in the capital are now 3.9% higher than the 2007
peak.
Increases were not confined to the Dublin region, but also
occurred in other parts of the country.
The report shows the market is not slowing down, despite
measures by the last Government to put a two-year freeze
on rises.
On an annual basis, nationally, rents were 9.9% higher
than in the second quarter in 2015 up from 869 to
956.
Rents for houses across the country were 9.3% higher
annually in second quarter up from 850 to 929, while
apartment rents were 11.7% higher than in the same
quarter of 2015 up from 908 to 1,014.
Dublin market
The Dublin market is up by 9% from 1,251 to 1,364.
Dublin house rents were up by 7.5% from 1,388 to 1,492
and apartments in the capital were higher by 9.8% up
from 1,246 to 1,368.

The index shows the surge in rents has spread outside of
Dublin, with the average rental price jumping from 669
to 740.
Again the performance differed by property type. Monthly
rent for houses outside Dublin increased by 9.9% from
688 to 756, while apartments outside Dublin
experienced an increase of 12.7% 647 up to 729.
When comparing rent prices for the first half and second
half of 2016, rents in Dublin grew by 4.5%.
The director of the RTB, Rosalind Carroll, said there was a
slowdown in rents in the previous two quarters, but the
rate of growth in rents is increasing again, particularly in
the Dublin market.
Carroll said there are a number of drivers pushing rents up
nationwide.
Adding to the underlying supply and demand imbalance is
the return of net inward migration as confirmed by the
Central Statistics Office last month (+3,100) for the first
time since 2009.
The Central Bank will publish the findings of the first
review of its controversial new mortgage lending rules in
November,
Professor Lane, who succeeded Patrick Honohan as head

of the Central Bank, said earlier this month the rules
would be reviewed this summer.
However, it was only yesterday in his first public speech
addressing the Institute of Directors spring lunch at
Dublins Shelbourne Hotel he offered more clarity
around when the results of the review would be known.
I expect the first review of the mortgage rules to be
published by November this year.
"This review will be based on an analysis of the evidence
provided by data on the first year of the operation of the
rules, while taking into account other factors that may
have influenced the mortgage market during this period,
he said.
The lending rules, introduced last year, call for first-time
buyers to hold a deposit of 10% of the first 220,000 cost
of a home and 20% of the remainder of its value.
The timescale of the review means that mortgage
applications will continue to be measured against the new
rules for much of this year.
Again, yesterday, Prof Lane said the review could result in
an altering of the rules, but they could either end up being
tightened or loosened.
The Central Bank is open to tightening or loosening the
calibration of these rules in response to the evidence; still,
the value of stability in a rules-based framework means
that the evidence threshold to justify adjustments to these
rules is significant, he said.
He said earlier adoption of such tools as the new
mortgage rules would have mitigated Irelands boom/bust
economic cycle of the last decade.
He said the bank is firmly committed to deploying such
tools on an ongoing basis, with periodic reviews.
Ahead of the publicaton of the Central Banks first
quarterly bulletin of the new year, on Tuesday, Prof Lane
said that Irish GDP likely grew by 6.5%-7% in 2015 and
should grow by 5% in 2016.
He also stressed a need for more transparency at the
bank; saying it will shortly begin publishing minutes from
its monthly management/Commission meetings.
The minutes will be published six weeks after each
meeting, with those relating to Prof Lanes first meeting, in

December, due to be made public early next month.
The bank will also start publishing staff salary structures
and pay scales on an annual basis and is promising more,
as yet unannounced, transparency issues.
I am conscious more needs to be done to build the level
of trust among the public that the Central Bank will take
the correct actions to safeguard financial stability and
protect consumers.
"At a basic level, we believe that people will be more
confident that we act independently and in the public
interest if they have greater insights and understanding
about what is going on inside the bank, Prof Lane said in
his speech.
He said the regulator also plans to carry out reviews of the
health insurance sector and strengthen the consumer
protection code relating to variable rate mortgage holders.
We will also increase our firm-specific engagement with
low-impact firms, including intermediaries and debt
management firms, Prof Lane said yesterday.
The Central Bank is also set to hire 150 new staff this
year, taking its total workforce to around 1,650.

offered to fast-track the designation of Rent
Pressure Zones outside of Dublin and Cork,
Independent.ie understands.
In a letter to Fianna Fils Barry Cowen, the minister says
he wants to give the party some assurances around the
time-frame for next steps of his rent strategy.
Coveney says 4% cap on rent increases will

not change
Video by: RTE
It is the first significant move aimed at reaching a

compromise between the minority government and Fianna
Fil.
Fianna Fil have demanded that rent increases in Galway,
Limerick, Waterford and commuter towns around capital
be capped, as will be the case in the two main cities.
They also want the cap to be lower than the 4pc proposed
by Mr Coveney.
The minister has this afternoon indicated that he will not
reduce the 4pc figure but will attempt to extend the Rent
Pressure Zones (RPZ) early in the New Year.
Coveney accused of taking

100,000 selfie over PR
strategy
FFs Barry Cowen hits out at cost of Rebuilding Ireland
communications plan
Thu, Dec 8, 2016, 08:58
Marie O'Halloran
Resident Carol Wolfe greets Simon Coveney on announcing approval of the

regeneration scheme for ODevaney Gardens, Dublin on Wednesday.
Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has been accused of

taking a 100,000 selfie with the creation of a website
for the Rebuilding Ireland programme, established to
tackle the housing crisis.
Simon Coveney announced last night on Pat Kenny show that he is

not going
to bring in Rent certainty linking rents to the Consumer Price
Inflation.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-accused-of-taking100-000-selfie-over-pr-strategy-1.2897741?mode=sample&authfailed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews
%2Fpolitics%2Fcoveney-accused-of-taking-100-00-selfie-over-prstrategy-1.2897741
The essence of the problem we have in Ireland

today regarding housing is the conflict between the
need of Ireland's youth to have housing so that they
can get married and have children, and so ensure
the survival of our race - and the desire of the
landowner and landlord classes to enrich
themselves from that need.
Appointing a landlord as housing minister shows
which side of that conflict this rgime has decided
to gun for. The only result of this criminal policy can
be the further decline of the Irish population, and
the further flooding of Ireland with immigrants to
make up for the loss.
http://irelandtodaynews.com/index.php/housingminister-simon-coveney-is-a-landlord/
The Government's plan to limit rental prices in key
'Pressure Zones' in Cork and Dublin has been cautiously
welcomed by some tenant groups and criticised by
landlords.
Minister Simon Coveney has unveiled plans to limit rent
increases which he wants to turn into law before Christmas.
Both cities will be designated as rent Pressure Zones with
landlords only permitted to increase payments by up to 4% per
year over the next three years.
The Property Owners' Association (IPOA) has called on the
Government to review its decision - it argues that the rent
control measures will "further deplete the supply of properties
as property owners withdraw units" as they will not be able to
afford to manage or maintain properties.
The statement adds that "rather than playing politics, face
reality and listen to the practitioners in the sector and
encourage supply."
"Gross interference in the role of the private rental sector,
impose further restrictions on periods of time that rent can be
increased and amounts of the increase which is not fair or
equitable and moves to a point where the landlord is being

forced out of the provision of accommodation for tenants as a
result of interference," it continues.
The group believes that increased State interference in the
market will lead to less investment in rental properties. The
group described rent control as a "death knell for the private
rental sector."
Landlords TDs call rent

controls
Minister Simon Coveney hopes to have these measures
introduced before Christmas...
IMPACT leader organiser and Secure Rents campaign

spokesperson Joe OConnor also criticised the measures.
While the Secure Rents campaign acknowledges that
Minister Coveney has shown a willingness to move on rent
predictability for Irelands 750,000 tenants, we believe these
specific measures are not in themselves sufficient to assist
renters across Ireland.
Talk about a conflict of interest. I shall watch with a keen eye.
Worse still he is a Bilderburger and so a traitor.
This despite Rents being at higher levels than the excesses of the
Celtic tiger.
Dublin rents have bypassed the Celtic Tiger peak and reached an
all-time high
This despite Irelands largest landlord feeling sorry for Irish tenants.
Ireland
Its a great market, Ehrlich agrees. Weve never seen rental
increases like this in any jurisdiction that were aware of.
It also looks as if there will be no protection for tenants whose
properties are in receivership
despite legislation in this area promised as far back as 2013.
My question is where is this long promised legislation to protect
tenants who are paying their rents

but whose landlord is in receivership and how high does Coveney
want rents to go before he acts.
Why must Rents and House price increases be higher than the
normal cost of living ?
This...
That's fvcking disgusting. What a putrid little banana republic

we have here. Politicians are a fvcking scourge and this is just
the latest example of such a scourge.
apping rental growth at the rate of inflation will result in less
construction of new homes, which will ultimately damage us
more. If the state wanted to make housing affordable it must
tackle the supply issue under three simple headings:
When you buy a new apartment in Dublin, 40% of the price tag
will be taxes.
More than half of households who will live in central Dublin will
be carless, yet developers are required to spend big money
excavating basement car parks.
Building heights in our capital city are effectively capped at 4
storeys, making new residential development unprofitable for
small, expensive patches of land. This 4 storey cap is enforced
by An Taisce, David Norris and the Irish Georgian society, i.e.
people who are wealthy enough to never be forced to spend
half their lives travelling from Kildare.
But of course for the moment it is not in the interest of
government parties to reduce the cost of housing because the
tax payer is still heavily invested in nama assets. So the
government will simply come up with optical illusions that they
are tackling the crises with these silly schemes. The fact is up
until the recent election Labour party candidates were
opposing residential development that they felt 'wasn't right
for their area'. While talking out the other side of their mouths
about increasing rent allowance.
"While the so-called pressure zone measures will seek to

curtail the excessive rent increases projected for both Dublin
and Cork, were greatly concerned by the apparent exclusion
of other high pressure areas."

He added that the group is concerned about rapidly rising
rents in Limerick City and Galway City.
The Secure Rents campaign is a partnership between a
number of union groups including IMPACT, Mandate Trade
Union, and SIPTU.
The Dublin Tenants Association has cautiously welcomed
Simon Coveneys measures to regulate rent increases but
added that they do not believe that they go far enough.
Under Pressure
The Minister for Housing is hoping caps on rent increases for
Dublin and Cork could be in place before the end of this week.
The Pressure Zones are areas where annual rent increases
have been at 7% or more in four of the last six quarters - and
where rent levels are already above the national average.
Minister Simon Coveney announces his plan for the rental sector.
Photo: Doug OConnor
Reflecting your concerns on this matter, I have instructed

the RTB to make this an absolute priority to ensure that
empirically sound data on an area specific basis is
available for these areas by end February to allow the
designation process occur where the qualifying criteria
have been met, Mr Coveneys letter states.
Housing Crisis Q&A: What is a

Rent Pressure Zone?
Why just Dublin and Cork?
For an area to be designated as a RPZ the average rent
registered with the Residential Tenancies Board must be
above the national average and rising at a year-on-year
rate of 7pc for four out of the last six months. Dublin and
Cork city have been deemed as qualifying for the changes
immediately but the RTB will have to study the rest of the
country.
Are all rental properties in Dublin and Cork
covered?
No. Properties that are new to the market (not leased at
any time in the previous two years) will be exempt as will
properties that have been "substantially refurbished".
What happens after three years?
A RPZ status ends automatically after three years meaning
the rent review process will revert to normal.
There were calls to link rent increases to the rate
of inflation. Why didn't Simon Coveney take this
approach?
The minister said a "blunt rent cap" would disincentive
landlords entering the market and "literally shut off supply
overnight". Noting that inflation for this year is negative,
Mr Coveney said: "We want landlords to make a
reasonable return."
How does this affect the 'rent certainty' measures
introduced last year?
The last government introduced measures that restricted
rent reviews to every two years. This rule will still apply
outside of RPZs. They will cease to apply in Dublin and
Cork but not until rents fall due for review.
What supply measures are being proposed?
The minister has announced a series of measures aimed at
kick-starting supply, including:
- Examining the tax/fiscal treatment of accommodation
providers
- Using publicly owned land for development

- Promoting a build to rent model
- Supporting credit availability for bringing vacant stock
into the private rental market.
- Exploring the potential to bring into use, for rental
purposes, vacant properties where owners move to a
nursing home under the Fair Deal scheme.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/coveneywrites-letter-to-fianna-fil-offering-to-change-rent-plan35294199.html
Rental increase limits are to be

introduced in Dublin and Cork
Dec 13, 2016
The Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney has brought his new
rental strategy to cabinet today
New figures show the level of homelessness in Dublin

has shot up by over a third in the past year.
The latest report from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
has revealed there were a total of 5,146 adults and children in
emergency accommodation last month - a 35% increase in the
last year.
The figures surrounding homeless families in the city make for
even starker reading - with 1,026 families in homeless
accommodation including hotels, a 45% increase on last year.
Homelessness charity, Focus Ireland said 67 families who
became newly homeless in October were referred to its family
services in Dublin.
The organisations Director of advocacy, Mike Allen said the
figures paint, a really appalling, bleak picture as we head into
Christmas.
The number of children without a home has more than
doubled over the same time period - from 916 to 2,110.
Mr Allen said the report details much higher figures than
previous years and the numbers keep on going up.
It is hugely worrying. It has been so cold over the last few
days, he said.
The street team that we run jointly with the Peter McVerry
Trust have been out every night but there arent enough beds
for people.
The Taoiseach says the latest number of people homeless in
Dublin is "not satisfactory... you can't deny that".
"You have to do something about it - and we're doing
something about that in a very serious way, over the five
different pillars of the housing action programme."
The Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney has pledged to put
an extra 210 emergency beds in place in Dublin by December
9th and Mr Harris said the sooner those are in place the
sooner we can get people off the streets.
Minister Coveney said the Civil Defence will also provide an
extra 20 beds, bringing the nightly emergency accommodation
capacity for single adults in the city to 1,800.
The Dublin Region Cold Weather Plan commenced operation
at the start of the month and will be subject to on-going
review, he said.
It is essential that we have sufficient beds to meet any
increased demand during cold weather.
He said the Civil Defence will also provide an extra 20 beds
and said the nightly emergency accommodation capacity for
single adults in Dublin now stands at 1,800.
While there has been progress in terms of moving families out
of homelessness - Focus Ireland supported 230 Dublin
families into secure homes this year - Mr Allen said more
people are losing their homes all the time and the numbers
keep on going up.
The charity said constantly rocketing rents and a growing
number of buy-to-let homes being either repossessed or sold
is causing a constant rise in the homelessness numbers.
Focus Ireland renewed its call for urgent action from the
Government to stem the level of evictions, particularly from
buy-to-let landlords to stem the homeless crisis.
There are over 15,000 buy-to-let landlords who are in arrears
by over 2 years, said Mr Allen.
Banks and financial institutions are repossessing these
homes and evicting the tenants at a rate of 100 a month.
We are calling on the Government to outlaw this practice and
ensure that that where banks repossess such properties they

sell them on with the tenant still in place.
Focus Ireland relies on donations at this time of year more
than ever to raise vital funds for its work.
You can support the charitys Christmas appeal by donating at
focusireland.ie or 1850 204 205.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v6rUW-v2cM

Minister Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning,

Community and Local Government, and Minister Damien
English T.D. Minister of State with responsibility for Housing &
Urban Renewal today published the Strategy for the Rental
Sector, following Government approval of the comprehensive
and ambitious plan at todays Cabinet meeting.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney highlighted Our
rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords or the

families under pressure, damages our national
competitiveness and stability in the investment environment.
We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate short term
pressures and we need to address the long term causes by
delivering increased supply.
The development and publication of a Strategy for the Rental
Sector delivers on a commitment made under the Rebuilding
Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which
was published in July 2016. The development of a viable and
sustainable rental sector that can provide choice, quality and
security for households and secure, attractive investment
opportunities for landlords has never been more important.
The Minister announced that he is introducing with immediate
effect a rent predictability measure that will moderate the rate
of rent increase in those areas of the country where rents are
highest and rising quickly.
The measure is based on the concept of Rent Pressure
Zones; these are areas where annual rent increases have
been at 7% or more in four of the last six quarters and where
the rent levels are already above the national average. In
these Rent Pressure Zones rent increases will be capped at
4% per annum for the next 3 years. The measure will be
introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local
Authority areas and in Cork city. Rent pressure zones will be
designated for a maximum 3 years, by which time new supply
will have come on stream and pressures will have eased
somewhat in these areas.
The Strategy also contains a number of measures to support
supply by encouraging new investment and bringing unused
capacity to the market. Measures include Build to Rent
developments and the accelerated roll out of Repair and
Leasing and Buy and Renew initiatives.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is core to delivering on a
daily basis the services that meet the needs of both tenants
and landlords. The strategy puts forward a number of
measures that will broaden and strengthen the role and

powers of the RTB to more effectively provide key services to
tenants and landlords.
Strategy introduces Rent Pressure Zones

to provide rent predictability in areas of
unsustainable rental inflation.
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The strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings

of Security, Supply, Standards and Services which will
address both immediate and long term issues affecting the
supply, cost and accessibility of rental accommodation.
Security bringing greater tenure and rent certainty to
landlords and tenants;
Supply maintaining existing levels of rental stock and
encouraging investment in additional supply;
accommodation; and
Services broadening and strengthening the role and powers
of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to more effectively
provide their services and empower tenants and landlords.
Accelerating Dispute Resolution timeframes by reducing
time for appeals from 21 to 10 days and by providing for one
person tribunals in certain cases; allowing the RTB to hold
more tribunals.
Developing a One Stop Shop within the RTB to improve
access to information for tenants and landlords.
The RTB will introduce a voluntary landlord accreditation
scheme to support landlords in accessing best practice and
promoting a comprehensive understanding of the statutory
obligations.
Reducing risk and increasing security for both landlords and
tenants is essential to the development of the residential rental
sector as an attractive tenure choice for tenants and as a safe
and viable investment choice for a range of investors. The
strategy includes a range of measures aimed at enabling a
shift towards secure and long-term tenancies which serve the
interests of both landlords and tenants. Measures include:
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Effective Termination Procedures changes to RTB

procedure will be introduced to reduce the time taken to
repossess a property when a tenant is not complying with their
obligation to pay rent.
Changes to the obligations of institutional landlords where
multiple units are being sold the sale will be subject to the
existing tenants remaining in situ.
Encouraging long-term letting by providing for
unfurnished lettings where leases are 10 years or more.
The Minister also announced the establishment of an Expert
rental model for Ireland and a larger and more dynamic notfor-profit and Approved Housing Body sector. The group will
examine the experience of other countries and develop a
roadmap to grow new capacity for delivering cost rental
options.
The actions on standards for rental accommodation as set out
in the Strategy will ensure that an effective regime of quality
assurance is in place for the rented sector. Tenants will be
reassured that the properties they are renting are safe,
efficient, durable and comfortable. Landlords will be made fully
aware of their obligations through a consistent and uniform
shared service approach by local authorities.
under the headings of Security, Supply, Standards and
Services. Timelines for the various actions are included, with
immediate enactment being targeted for the rent predictability
measure via the Planning and Development (Housing) and
Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 which commences Committee
Stage in the Dil today.
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/launch-strategy-for-therental-sector/
Minister Coveney
welcomes
opening of new
facilities
to tackle rough
sleeping in Dublin
The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community & Local

Government Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., today welcomed the
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opening of two homeless facilities for rough sleepers in Dublin

this evening. 165 beds are being provided.
The Dublin City Council facilities that are opening this evening
are:
Peter Mc Verry Trust (PMVT) will provide all on-site supports
and engagement for 70 adult persons at 7- 9 Ellis Quay,
Dublin 7.
Depaul Trust will provide all on-site supports and engagement
for 75 adult persons at Little Britain Street, Dublin 7.
The Civil Defence service will operate a 20 bed service at
Wolfe Tone Quay during severe weather incidents.
A further facility to be operated by the Dublin Simon and
Salvation Army for 65 adults at Carmans Hall, Dublin 8, which
was also due to open today, is delayed by court proceedings.
Once a person has been assessed as homeless by the
relevant Dublin local authority, they will be placed into a bed
space via the Dublin Region Central Placement Service and
Freephone Service. Access to each facility will be via a
scheduled booking time between the hours of 18.30 and 21.00
each evening.
The long-term solution to homelessness is

to increase the supply of both social and
private housing and that is what we have
set out to do under Rebuilding Ireland.
On Wednesday I visited the facility at Ellis Quay with the
Taoiseach to view the works underway there firsthand and I
wish to commend the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
(DRHE) for the quick turn-around in delivering these facilities.
Rough sleeping is sometimes due to complex addiction
problems and these facilities offer somewhere to these people
to sleep and get a meal. The long-term solution to
homelessness is to increase the supply of both social and
private housing and that is what we have set out to do under
Rebuilding Ireland.
These additional bed spaces, coupled with the enhanced
Housing First programme (increased from 100 to 300
tenancies by end-2017), will be enough to cater for all those
currently rough sleeping while allowing for additional capacity,

ended Minister Coveney.
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-coveneywelcomes-opening-new-facilities-tackle-rough-sleepingdublin/
Landlords of Leinster House

declare interests
Posted on: April 20th, 2015
The last republican standing in Limerick, Fianna Fails Willie ODea, is a

director of and a shareholder in a UK company called Union Jack Oil.
The partys founder, Eamon de Valera, must be rotating in Glasnevin
cemetery.
Ten Labour Party TDs (one-third of the parliamentary party) are landlords or
landowners. James Connolly would have imploded.
Yes, the latest TDs register of interests reveals that ideology counts for little
when it comes to personal financial affairs. Conviction goes out the window
when business interests are on the line. The scent of a quick profit will up-end
a lifetimes political commitment.
Only Fine Gael are consistent. They have always owned land and property.
And they still own land and property. Lashings of it.
Gerry Adams UK pension comes from his time in the Northern Ireland
Assembly a unique double for anyone with an Oireachtas salary , let alone
an individual committed to a united Ireland. A divided Ireland seems to suit
him better financially.
Union Jack Willie has a weakness for oil exploration shares. His portfolio
includes such big losers as Dragon Oil and Ormonde Mining. But as Gerry
Adams might say, Tiocfaidh ar la.
Our Labour Party TDs love affair with property could give them enough TDs
to form a splinter group called Landlords for Labour at the next election.
Labour should clean up on the landlord vote.
Cabinet member and deputy leader Alan Kelly lists himself as a landlord in
the register. The Tipperary minister lets a house in Walkinstown, Dublin.
Labour deputy Michael McCarthy as the proud rent collector from a property
in Co Cork also lists himself as a landlord.
Former Labour Party leaders Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte both own land
in the West of Ireland while socialists to benefit from property income include
Dublin TD Sean Kenny (with a house he lets in Galway), Clares Michael
McNamara and Kerrys Arthur Spring. Former minister Joe Costello volunteers
that he owns properties in Dublins Sean McDermott Street and North Circular
Road which he uses for office and storage. Meaths Dominic Hannigan has
property in both Italy and London. Long-time Labour heroes Willie Penrose
and Jack Wall complete the socialist property fad with real estate interests in
their respective counties of Westmeath and Kildare.
The inheritors of the mantle of the men of no property are now men of
property aplenty.
No wonder they find such common ground with Fine Gael. The blueshirts
never change. They still own farms, property and shares.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has a formidable portfolio of assets. He is no
Willie ODea risk-taker. Richard has stuck to blue-chip stocks. Like, er Bank
of Ireland, AIB and Irish Life and Permanent. He has presumably taken a
hiding in this traditional safe haven. He is on safer ground with his shares in
food star Aryzta, Smurfit Kappa, CRH, Kingspan, FBD Holdings and an AIB
Investment Fund.
His share portfolio is beefed up by joint ownership of 175 acres of land in the
plush pastures of Dunboyne and 50 acres in Drumree both in his native
Meath. Investments as dull as ditch water maybe but Richard is likely to
have fewer sleepless nights than Willie.
Richard was lucky enough to receive a gift of a watch from the Saudi Arabian
government. He very honourably gave it up to the Exchequer, as Fine Gael
people do.
Another Fine Gael cabinet minister, Simon Coveney, may not be as loaded as
Richard but it could be a close-run contest for the richest man in the
Cabinet.
Both have inherited huge wealth but Coveneys declaration reveals less
than Richards. He describes himself as a landlord with a single property, but
admits to holding shares without being specific. Coveneys more opaque filing
merely reveals that his shares are part of Irish Wealth Managers and that he
has an interest in the Coveney Family Investment Club c/o Davy
stockbrokers. Mmm.
Coveneys reluctance to reveal more detail makes it difficult to judge who is
the canniest financial punter in the Cabinet, but the investment decisions of
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan have caused a few raised eyebrows.
While Bruton has shown confidence in Irish equities, Noonan does not like
investing in Ireland.
During the worst days of the crisis he headed for Germany and sunk much of
his wealth into low-yielding German bonds. Last year he decided to go for
gold, traditionally a hedge against high-risk equities.
He has diversified further by investing in US Treasury stocks and benefited
from the strong dollar. He does not list a single Irish stock in his eight-strong
portfolio. Apart from 20 acres of mixed pasture attached to my residence he
holds no property either.
Noonans patriotic instincts and bullishness about the economy do not extend
to his choice of personal investments.
Noonans fellow Fine Gael TDs are still deep into farms and property, many
with huge portfolios. Backbenchers Frank Feighan (with 10 listed properties);
Aine Collins (with seven); and Alan Shatter (with 14 jointly owned) lead the
field of property fans.
Lucinda Creighton, leader of the recently launched Renua party, has returned
a clean sheet indicating little reserve firepower in the event of emergency
financial injections for the new party. However Creightons husband, Paul
Bradfords Seanad declaration shows that all is not lost. Bradford owns 55
acres of farmland in Mallow, Co Cork and lists shareholdings in AIB Euro
Bonds and AIB Global Bonds.
Their party colleague, Terence Flanagan, declares a half share in a house in
Blanchardstown but gratuitously volunteers (in case Lucinda comes calling?)
that there is massive negative equity on the property.

More real wealth seems to exist in the Seanad than in the Dail.
Independent Senator Feargal Quinns portfolio stretches to three pages with a
global diversification that will undoubtedly safeguard the former supermarket
kings wealth.
Elsewhere long-time Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan declares a formidable
combination of shares, directorships and land both in Ireland and overseas.
Another Independent, John Crown, admits to four occupations apart from his
Seanad activities. The cancer doctor is an oncologist, a medical practitioner, a
medical lecturer and yet another landlord.
Indeed the Independents entries make fascinating reading. Newcomer
Michael Fitzmaurice responds to the question about whether he has received
any travel facilities with the blunt riposte that I have my own car. He
additionally insists that his job as chairman of the Turf Cutters Association
costs me money.
Independent TD Stephen Donnelly nominates himself as a landlord with
properties in Dublin and Offaly.
Is there something missing? The really embarrassing bit in the register is
deliberately buried at the bottom of this piece. My own entry exposes me as
one of the most diabolically incompetent investors in the Oireachtas.
I reveal a shipwrecked share portfolio. My Irish shares include two of the
biggest dogs in the stock market, Bank of Ireland and (dare I say it here?)
Independent News & Media. Both may be on the recovery trail today, but I
bought them back in the glory years to bolster my pension.
They promised a steady stream of dividends to carry me into my dotage. It is
many years since they delivered. They are worth less than 10pc of their
purchase price. Combined, they are worth less than 10 grand.
Some pension!
Apart from loss-making share investments the balance of my savings are
overseas, determinedly sunk into German and US bonds which yield nothing
or give negative returns. Even Michael Noonan abandoned such caution.
The only bright spot in my declaration last year is a gift of a ticket for
Wimbledon Centre Court. I promptly had a blazing row with the donor. So
there will be no repeat this year.
Instead, I think I will follow the Labour Party punters into property.
Coveney: Rent caps are

not up for negotiation
4pc rent hike cap planned for
properties in Dublin and Cork is not
up for negotiation
Cormac McQuinn, Michael Cogleyand Kevin Doyle

PUBLISHED
14/12/2016
Leo Varadkar Photo: Damien Eagers
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said

that the 4pc rent hike cap he wants imposed
on properties in Dublin and Cork is not up
for negotiation.
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1
Fianna Fil has said it's not satisfied with that figure and
want a lower percentage, but Mr Coveney warned that the
government won't support an amendment to its legislation
that would set the cap as low as 2pc.
Put to him on RT Radio that this could mean the
government would face defeat on its plan to tackle the
crisis in the rental sector, Mr Coveney replied: "Then I
don't think the legislation will be going through before
Christmas."
He added: "And if Fianna Fil want to take that on
themselves well then so be it."
He said that "there are things we can do in relation to
some of the Fianna Fil queries" but argued that there are
"an extraordinary number of issues across the broader

rental market" in the strategy that the rival party had
sought.
Mr Coveney said he's not willing to negotiate the 4pc
figure because "it has already been negotiated".
"That's why we've been through a long consultation
process with all the stakeholders."
He said he never sought the limit to be linked to the
consumer price index.
"I have always looked for a figure of around 4pc because
it's the right thing to do."
He said 4pc is a "very modest margin" above an inflation
rate of around 2pc.
Mr Coveney said; "My job is to make sure that we have a
growing expanding private rental market. If we don't have
an appetite for new buildings to come into the rental
market, for vacant properties that are currently there to
come into the rental market.
"If we don't increase the number of properties that are
available for rent in, well then we're going to continue to
have pressure building and building and building which is
driving up prices.
He said that only considering the plight of tenants would
have been "populist" because without landlords "you don't
have a functioning market".
Mr Coveney said his plan allows modest rent increases
"where appropriate" while benefiting tenants by putting a
stop to "price gouging".
Earlier this morning, social protection minister Leo
Varadkar said Housing Minister Simon Coveney has the
full support of his Government after introducing a
controversial plan to implement rent caps in areas within
the countrys main cities,as said.
Varadkar was speaking to the Dublin Chamber of
Commerce where he praised the "sterling and pioneering"
work being done by Mr Coveney.
"It's going to take time but good progress is being made
and he has the full support of Government in doing what
he is trying to do," the minister told a room of 200

business leaders.
Varadkar insisted Coveney had full support after reports in
the Irish Independent he told ministers he had been
annoyed by the lack of consultation for the plan.
Mr Varadkar spoke on a number of issues including
increasing the population between Grand and Royal canal
in Dublin City.
He told of a need to build both higher and denser in the
city centre.
Minister Coveney's new proposal will involve the
introduction of "rent pressure zones" in both Dublin and
Cork that will cap rent increases to 4pc per year.
The proposal with opposition from Fianna Fil, which
threatened to block the introduction of the zones.
Rent caps
Varadkar speaks as a new rent cap will be extended to all
of the cities across the country and the commuter belt
around Dublin.
And the measure allowing landlords to push up rents by
up to 4pc a year is to be watered down.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's new rent plan came
under immediate attack. Ministerial colleagues
complained about a lack of consultation and Fianna Fil
threatened to block the introduction of 'Rent Pressure
Zones' in Dublin and Cork.
The key element of his plan to tackle the crisis is based on
preventing landlords hiking rents by more than 4pc
annually for the next three years.
Fianna Fil wants Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and
Waterford covered by the rent cap, along with the
commuter belt around the capital.
The party is not happy with the 4pc increase and wants tax
incentives for landlords to be part of the package.
Concessions in these areas will be the price of FF support.
But Mr Coveney has already said he would not make
"fundamental" changes to the plan.
Fianna Fil 'concerned' over

plan for 4% cap in rent
increases
Rent increase limits are to be introduced in Dublin and Cork
Fianna Fil say they have "genuine concerns" over plans

for a 4% cap in rent increases in major cities.
The limit on annual rental increases is being proposed under
new measures published by the Government today.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney wants the measures put into
law before Christmas but Fianna Fil is reportedly looking for
the cap to be lowered.
Minister Coveney unveiled new measures to limit rent
increases, which he wants to turn into law before Christmas.
Both Dublin and Cork will be designated as rent pressure
zones - with landlords only permitted to increase payments by
up to 4% a year over the next three years.
The zones are areas where annual rent increases have been
at 7% or more in four of the last six quarters - and where rent
levels are already above the national average.
But Fianna Fil says it has "genuine concerns" with elements
of the current model and with its limited geographical scope.
Housing spokesman Barry Cowen said: "We are anxious that
other cities be added immediately and will be asking that
Galway, Limerick, Waterford and large population centres
surrounding Dublin and Cork city are included from day one.
"We are not satisfied that the proposed 4% increase is
appropriate and we also believe that tax incentives for
landlords should be part of the package.
"I am open to further discussions with Minister Coveney to
address these outstanding issues."
In introducing the plan earlier, Mr Coveney rejected calls from
homeless charities - including Focus Ireland and the Simon
Community - to link rents to the consumer price index.
He said linking rent to inflation would "cut off supply" and
insisted a 4% increase is a fair balance.
"We are talking about steady, stable, predictable, potential rent
increases," he said.
"Of course, that is a ceiling so if we manage to get supply up
significantly it's possible that we wont even reach 4%."
Other areas around the country could follow suit if prices
continue to rise above the national average.
The new scheme will aim to bring about greater security of
tenure and rent certainty for landlords and tenants - while also
aiming to improve the quality of rental accommodation.
Housing charity Threshold released their annual report today
warning that while the new measures could curb unexpected
hikes by landlords rental prices around the country are still
far too high.
Rents have already increased dramatically this year by an
average of 11.7% - according to the latest Daft.ie report - the
biggest 12-month increase recorded since its series started in
2002.
The latest report from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
has alsoshown that rents grew by 2.3% in the third quarter of
2016. slightly slower than in the previous three months.
Under the new plan, the RTB will now be responsible for
deciding which areas of the country qualify for caps.
Minister Coveney said the strategy aims to ensure landlords
are able to make a reasonable rate of return - but not charge
whatever they want.
"We have to take account of viability for landlords as well as
viability for tenants," he said.
The idea that you would simply introduce a blunt rent cap
which essentially is what would be proposed if you were to link
it to CPI (Consumer Price Index) cause CPI this year is
actually a negative figure.
I think that would be a significant disincentive to many people
who want to enter the landlord market or the rental market on
a permanent basis.
"Major anti-climax"
Anti Austerity Alliance TD, Ruth Coppinger said the plans do
not go far enough in controlling rents and will not solve the
crisis faced by people in the rental sector.
"It has taken Minister Coveney six months to put this plan
together but it is a major anti-climax for tenants," she said.
"It guarantees landlords the ability to increase rents by 4% well above the rate of inflation or the Consumer Price Index
which is actually at -0.1% so rents should actually be falling."
She said the new rules will only apply to current tenancies
thus "leaving landlords with a huge incentive to end tenant
leases or evict tenants to leave themselves free to jack up
rents beyond this level."
The Social Democrats said the Government should be looking
at measures that reduce rents rather than maintain current
levels.
TD Catherine Murphy said: "It is telling that the language
around this issue has changed from rent certainty to rent
predictability but what we must be talking about is rent
affordability."
"It is one thing being able to predict rent rises but its entirely
different to be able to afford or sustain those raises. 4% per
annum represents nearly 4 times the average salary
increase," she said.
The Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall said the
measures are a "Fine Gael-led response to a housing
emergency that priorities landlords over tenants."
Minster Coveney is hoping the new strategy can be in place
before the government breaks for the holidays - however he
will need the support of Fianna Fil to get the legislation
through the House.
Skyrocketing rents" fueling

homelessness crisis Threshold
Housing charity unveils its annual report to coincide with the
release of new Government plans to limit rental prices in key
areas around the country
'Skyrocketing rents' are among the main causes of

homelessness according to a leading housing charity.
Threshold is unveiling its annual report today - to coincide with
the release of new Government plans to limit rental prices in
key areas around the country.

The charity says potential rent caps in 'pressure zones' like
Dublin and Cork could curb unexpected hikes by landlords but warned that rental prices around the country are still far
too high.
According to the report, the number of people contacting the
charity with concerns over their tenancies rose by 54% last
year.
Threshold chairperson Aideen Hayden said half of the people
that approached the charity last year were, people who were
working and at immediate risk of losing their homes.
One of the issues that is going to be critical here is what is
going to happen in relation to providing affordable rental
accommodation, she said.
People will be renting in this country for the foreseeable
future and affordability is going to be a major, major issue.
average of 11.7 per cent - according to the latest Daft.ie report
- the biggest 12-month increase recorded since its series
started in 2002.
The Minister for Housing's new plan for the rental market has
been met with scepticism by opposition TD's - with Anti
Austerity Alliance (AAA-PPP) TD Paul Murphy saying the 4%
cap is above the current rate of inflation and "still running
ahead of the general cost of living."
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said people have
been "driven out of affordability" in Dublin.
Threshold reported a 26% rise nationally in the number of
tenants seeking advice and support for rent reviews in the
past year
Ms Hayden said tenants have been approaching the charity
with rent increases of up to 40%.
She said if the government plans can limit rent rises to 4% that
would be an improvement.
Enda Kenny has said the Government will scrap its
proposal for rent caps, if Fianna Fil doesn't agree to its
proposals.
This poses a real threat to all tenants, and is resulting in the

most vulnerable, low-income tenants being squeezed out of
the market and in some cases, falling into homelessness, she
said.
The current crisis in the private rented sector has been
caused by a perfect storm of unaffordable rents, shortage of
supply and a regulatory framework that simply does not
support long-term renting.
Disproportionate rent increases in particular are pushing
hundreds of families into homelessness at an accelerated
rate.
The 54 per cent spike in calls that Threshold experienced in
the past year is indicative of the huge issues that are faced by
those living in the private rented sector.
The Threshold report has also found the standard of private
rented accommodation to be a major concern affecting the
most vulnerable in society.
The most common complaints received by threshold included
poor fire safety standards and ventilation issues with other
breaches relating to heating, sanitation, damp and mould.
This issue of poor standards is, worryingly, a growing trend,
said Ms Hayden. This is being compounded by the current
availability crisis, and we are seeing increasing incidences of
overcrowding.
Also, the need for adequate standards is brought into sharp
focus with the cold weather - making standards the number
one concern for Thresholds clients at this time of year.
Threshold is calling on the government to introduce an NCT
style certificate scheme for rented accommodation.
Under the proposal a landlord would require up-to-date
certification endorsed by an approved professional to rent a
property and avail of tax credits, subsidies or housing
payments delivered in the private rented sector.
Ms Hayden said the system could make it easier for local
authorities to enforce the law and provide greater protection
for tenants.
Rents in Ireland at highest ever level
Charities call for the introduction of rent certainty and a
"housing-led solution" to address spiralling prices
NEWS
Rental prices across the country are now at their highest

ever level, according to a new report.
This year saw the largest annual increase in prices since
property website Daft.ie began its report almost 15 years ago.
Irelands average rent is now 1,077 - an increase of 11.7%
on this time last year and a new all-time high.
The country has seen double-digit rent rises in 37 of the 54
areas analysed - up from just 17 as recently as last year.
There were just over 3,600 properties available to rent
nationwide on October 1st, the least amount of properties
available in October since the start of the series.
Just two years ago - on October 1st 2014 - there were almost
6,000 properties listed.
With rents now dwarfing those experienced during the Celtic
Tiger era, the report said the prices are "having a disastrous
effect on social cohesion as well as on Irish competitiveness.
It notes that the complete absence of any meaningful level of
construction over the past five years is a systemic failure in
desperate need of policy solutions.
There is no more urgent task facing the Minister for Housing,
his department and advisers, and the Housing Agency, than
understanding why the costs of building - and building
apartments in particular - is so dramatically out of line with our
own incomes and indeed with the cost in other countries.
Tom Parlon, director general of the Construction Industry
Federation said rents won't come down until the supply of
houses is increased:
"The powers that be need to sit down and look at what
couples can afford to borrow within the Central Bank
regulations," said Mr Parlon.

"They need to look at the costs and look at where those costs
are coming from.
"Whether it be the VAT again or the very substantial levies that
are there, I believe they have to be addressed if we want to
reduce the cost of the construction of houses."
In Dublin, rents have risen at a rate of 12.1% - the highest rate
of inflation in over two years - with rents in the capital now
nearly 10% higher than their previous peak in early 2008.
Homeless charity, the Simon Community has one again called
on the government to introduce rent certainty and "enhanced
security of tenure" in order to address the crisis.
The charity yesterday submitted a strategy to the Department
of Housing which, they say, will address the "spiralling rents
and dwindling supply that have characterised the private
rented sector in recent years."
National Simon Community spokesperson, Niamh Randall
said todays figures are very worrying.
Keeping people in the homes that they already have is key to
stopping the flow of people into homelessness, she said.
People renting their homes must have the security of knowing
that their rents are in line with real market rates and index
linked - for example to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Kerry Anthony, CEO of homeless charity service Depaul said
the past year has seen persistently high levels of families and
children accessing homeless services.
Ms Anthony said if the government does not urgently
accelerate the provision of social and affordable housing,
vulnerable families and children will continue to fall through
the cracks.
Homelessness can be particularly devastating for children,
with homeless children at higher risk of mental, physical and
behavioural issues that can have life-long consequence, she
said.
The impact of homelessness on a childs sense of self-worth
cannot be overstated.
She said the homelessness crisis requires a housing-led
solution.
While Depaul works tirelessly to help transition families from
homelessness into more permanent accommodation; the
housing crisis continues to pose a huge barrier to our ability to

do this.
Trinity College Economist Ronan Lyons - the author of the
report - said the rate of inflation is extremely worrying:
Trinity College Economist Ronan Lyons
Mr Lyons said the government needs to make properties

cheaper to build and introduce policies that will fill vacant
homes in order to tackle the crisis.
With the number of homeless families and with the height of
winter approaching, it is extremely urgent that we really tackle
this from a practical point of view, he said.
Why are homes vacant? Is it to do with the legal process? Is
it to do with Fair Deal? Is it to do with a lack of incentives in
the tax system?
How can we make sure that all the properties that we have
built are in use and then how can we build more?
He has told a meeting of Fine Gael TDs that the proposed
4% cap on annual increases will not be adjusted.
Fianna Fil has tabled a Dil amendment looking to lower

the annual cap to 2%.
But at the private meeting tonight Enda Kenny has refused
to consider lowering the cap, and says the plan will be
withdrawn unless the 4% cap is accepted.
New campaign asks people to

give up the price of a pint for
homeless families
The money will be used to help people living in emergency
accommodation.
December 14, 16
Image: Shutterstock/cunaplus
/Photo Text content

A NEW CAMPAIGN is asking people to donate five euro to
help homeless families this Christmas.
#5GiveAFiver and St Vincent de Paul (SVP) are aiming to
raise 5,000 for families and children in emergency
accommodation in Dublin.
There are currently more than 1,000 families in
emergency accommodation in the capital.
The fundraising effort is asking people to give up the cost
of a pint or burrito for a good cause.
In November alone SVPs East Region (Dublin, Kildare
and Wicklow) received approximately 10,000 calls, which
is an increase of 7% on the same period last year. Similar

trends are being experienced in different parts of the
country.
Sarah Dunne, director of #5GiveAFiver, said: We are
facing a homeless crisis on a scale not seen before in
Dublin and across the rest of the country. How
insignificant can 5 sometimes be? Its the price of a drink
and scarily enough the price of a coffee in some places.
But what if we all donated a fiver to SVP this Christmas?
What if you and five of your friends sacrificed your next
pint in the pub or next coffee to donate 5 to those in
desperate need of your help?
What if those five friends passed on the challenge? It
would make a difference. It wont solve the entire problem
but it would help give a child a Christmas. Who is to say
your fiver wont make a difference?
More information on the campaign can be read here.
I have never seen anything like

this': Homelessness in Galway
hits crisis point
More and more families are presenting as homeless in Galway, where
no social housing has been built since 2009.
Nov 28th 2016,
TWO YEARS AGO, TheJournal.ie published an

THE CONVERSATION ABOUT homelessness in Ireland is
often, naturally, centred around Dublin given the sheer
scale of the problem in the capital.
However, homelessness is becoming a huge issue in
various parts of the country, including Galway.
John Dolan, the team leader of Galway Simons
resettlement service, has worked in the area of
homelessness for years. He took a career break from

March 2015 to July 2016.
When he returned to work a few months ago, he says it
was a completely different landscape to what he was
used to early last year, with a lot changing in a relatively
short period of time.
I was shocked by the increase in the number of people
seeking access to homeless services, and the change in
demographics, he tells TheJournal.ie.
Dolan says in previous years it was common to deal with

the same service users on more than one occasion, noting:
Galway is a pretty small place, you would know [people]
from the past.
Its completely different now, there are new cohorts of
people that are accessing homelessness services. People
that have never navigated this territory before. There is
huge pressure on services here in Galway.
The level of the crisis that exists is quite frightening to be
honest. I have worked in homeless services for a very long
time and I have never seen anything like this.
Its very frustrating as well. We would love to have
options to give or solutions to give people. The
demographic of people accessing services has really
expanded.
High rents
Dolan says some of the people seeking help may have

rented for many years but been asked to leave their house
as the landlord wants to sell it or allow a family member to
move in.
Taniste Frances Fitzgerald has played down the rising
number of homeless people in the Dil today, welcoming
the slow-down of the rate of increase.
Figures published yesterday show a 35% increase year on
year, while the number of children in emergency
accommodation has gone from just over 900 to more than
2,100 in the past year.
Fianna Fil raised the issue in the Dil today, but Mrs
Fitzgerald said the focus should be on the slow-down,
stressing the figures were from October.
"None of us want to see families going into homeless
accommodation or hotel accommodation," she told the Dil.
The organisations Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen said the
Christmas.
for people.
"The Taoiseach says the latest number of people homeless in
Focus
Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen

increased demand during cold weather," he said.
John Dolan
Source: Galway Simon
Due to rents being too high for many people, Dolan says
they are left with very little option but to access homeless
services.
Dolan says that while some aspect of the governments
housing action plan are to be welcomed, hes not sure its
a plan that can really solve the issue as it stands because
its such a crisis.
As part of the Rebuilding Ireland plan, the government
aims to build 25,000 homes a year by 2020 and provide
47,000 new social housing units, at a cost of over 5

billion.
Part of the plan will see mixed developments of social and
private housing in various locations.
Dolan says the plan is over-reliant on the private-rented
sector, something that will not work by itself.
There are a lot of bandages being thrown out there, he
says, adding that not introducing rent controls lacks
foresight.
Social housing
Dolan, like many others on the frontline of homelessness
services, believes building more houses has to make up a
large part of the response to what is a perennial national
housing crisis.
We were able to build a huge amount of social hosing in
the 1970s when we didnt exactly have a lot of state coffers.
Its a question of political will in terms of what we do with
the finances that we do have, he notes, saying the 500
million worth of tax cuts in the Budget might have been
better spent on building houses.
No social housing has been built in Galway since 2009.

Helena Martyn of Galway City Councils housing
department told us the first phase of new social housing
(14 units) in the city is expected to begin construction on
Ballymoneen Road in mid-December and be completed by
2018, at an estimated cost of 3.1 million.
The second phase, a minimum of 55 units, is expected to
be delivered shortly thereafter, but its too early in the
planning process for a cost estimation.
Read: My son said to me well need to put up
a Christmas tree this year please God well have
a house first
Speaking about the plan in the Dil this month, Housing
Minister Simon Coveney said: As with all social housing

proposals, there is an onus on the local authority and on
my department to ensure best value for money and a
reasonable density within the development to meet
respond to social housing need.
Accordingly, contacts between my department and Galway
City Council have included the consideration of options in
relation to the density and design for this development,
but such considerations should not delay advancement of
the project.
Coveney added that the two Galway local authorities city
and county have a combined target of 1,126 social
housing units for the period out to 2017, supported by an
allocation of 58.5 million, to be invested in a
combination of building, buying and leasing schemes.
A recent social housing needs assessment found that there
are approximately 3,500 households on the citys housing
waiting list.
The council works with a number of bodies to provide
accommodation, including Clid Housing, Tath Housing
Association, Co-operative Housing Ireland and Respond.
25,000 per month
The average monthly spend by the council on private
emergency accommodation to date in 2016 is 25,272.90,
compared to 16,856.58 per month in 2015.
Martyn notes that this is significant money, describing it
as a short-term solution rather than an ideal one.
Its not fair to expect a familys home to be a hotel. Thats
not an appropriate setting for families. she says, adding
that living in emergency accommodation is not a healthy
environment to grow up in.
Martyn says private emergency accommodation is the
main option available to Galway City Council. It has made
a number of transitional units available to homeless
families and these are used when they become available.
They are always fully occupied.
Obviously where children are involved we make sure some
form of accommodation available. No child should be child
left sleeping on the streets. Thats one of my biggest fears.

Martyn notes that, to the city councils knowledge, this has
never happened, but it if did Tusla, the Child and Family
Agency, would be notified. She says this is something that
could happen if a family didnt contact the council or
organisations such as Simon or COPE.
Martyn says that while homelessness is less prevalent in
the nearby counties of Mayo and Roscommon its still an
issue, with more and more families facing the prospect of
losing their homes.
She adds that while private rented accommodation has its
role to play in responding to the housing crisis, more
houses need to be built nationally.
Lack of accommodation remains a huge issue and new
builds are needed.
The charity's figures show that 65 families became newly
homeless in the city in September.
It brings the total to 736 families - including 1,389 children having become homeless in Dublin in the first nine months
2016.
Meanwhile, national figures released by the Government this
evening show there are a total of 6,709 people homeless
nationwide. That includes 1,173 families and 2,426 children in
emergency or temporary accomodation.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen, said: We
need to stop the constant flow of families and single people
becoming homeless. Our frontline staff have seen first-hand
that the two key reasons families are becoming homeless is
one, landlords are selling up and getting out of the business,
and two, rising rents.
"Both these issues are within the power of the Government to
tackle and while they have taken some actions they have
clearly not done enough, fast enough," he added.
Sinn Fin housing spokesperson oin Broin, meanwhile,
said the latest figures are "not surprising given the
Government's inaction".
He suggested: Every single day more people are presenting
as homeless. Home repossessions, vacant possession of buyto-let properties, spiralling rents and family breakdown are the
key reasons.
It is also deeply disappointing to see the Minister delay the
release of the September figures and then quietly post them
on the Department's website late in the evening when the
country's media is focused on the Brexit Forum. This smacks
of trying to brush this bad news under the carpet," he added.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report__september_2016_0.pdf
A DCU student who was homeless as a child has urged

her peers to support an annual charity drive.
Laura Hogan was speaking in a video to promote a 24-hour
broadcast organised by the DCU Media Production Society in
aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.
The Dublin student explained that she only realised she was
homeless after receiving a Christmas gift box similar to one
she had prepared in school for other homeless children.
Laura was in fifth class at the time, living in a shelter with her
family after they lost their home.
"Most people think you become homeless through having a
bad family, like your family are on drugs. [This] was not the
case for me at all, which made me take a long time to realise I
was homeless," she said.
"Even when it was a really rough night, staying in a car or
sitting around on the streets," she added, "it still didnt dawn
on me I was actually homeless. I thought it was normal."
Now, Laura said, her life has "completely changed".
"Since then, we've come so far. My mam is my main
cheerleader. Anything I do, she is just so impressed by.

"I got one of the highest [Leaving Cert] results in my schools. I
got into DCU; I'm now in final year doing journalism.
"Donating to charities is so important because it helps people
like me get to where I am. Now, I can actually live a normal
life."
DCU student on being homeless- 'I thought it was normal' Laura
Hogan describes her journey from homeless shelter to university Oct
25th 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCsT-pcyRA
The St Vincent de Paul (SVP) charity is drawing attention
to concerns at the housing and homeless crisis by
transforming its Dublin shop front.
For two days the window of the SVP shop on South Great
Georges Street is being transformed into a unique 'hidden
homeless' estate agency window.
This initiative is to draw attention to the SVP's concern at the
homeless crisis - and the lack of social housing in Ireland.
SVP wants to see real progress on the targets for 2016 set out
in Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for
Housing.
The charity says the 'hidden homeless' are people and
families in hotels and B&Bs - made homeless by hikes in
private rented sector rents - and also people making do with
cold, damp and poor quality rental units or 'sofa surfing' in the
homes of friends or extended family.
"These families and people are a key concern for SVP as its
members visit them, every week of the year, across Ireland
but particularly in and around Dublin, Cork and other cities",
the charity says.
"SVP directly assists in preventing homelessness, in an
informal way, for low income families in private rented housing
who face significant rent increases".
John-Mark McCafferty, SVP head of social justice and policy,
adds: "SVP volunteers assist with practical support including
financial assistance and referral to relevant agencies. SVP
also provides social housing and emergency accommodation
and is therefore at the heart of the housing and homelessness
issue."
This Monday and Tuesday, visitors to the shop and passers-by
will see a very different type of estate agency window - with
properties advertised in terms of what many low income
families face.
Shop visitors and members of the general public will also be
asked by younger SVP members from university branches to
sign a petition to join the call for Government to ensure that
enough social housing is built or bought to meet current and
future need.
Among the properties advertised are:
Hotel rooms with the opportunity for children to mix with a
variety of people from stag parties and business conferences:
Source: SVP
Compact flats with kitchenette with open vent for constant air
circulation and occasional hot water:
Source: SVP
A relatives couch within a multi-use environment that can also

be used for relaxing and entertaining guests:
Source: SVP
SVP says there are 90,000 households waiting for social

housing across Ireland and over 2,000 children living in
homeless accommodation in Dublin.
Martin OConnor, Assistant CEO of COPE Galway, says the

city is an example of somewhere where when the crash
happened, there was no overhang of unfinished
properties. He says there were small pockets of
apartments, but not many housing estates close to
completion.
Without additional housing its simply not going to be

possible to manage the crisis, he notes.
Rough sleeping
Dolan says homelessness in Galway has become much
more visible in recent times.
Its the first time in many peoples memory that visible
homelessness is now an everyday topic of conversation.
Thats significant. Squatting always happened, but now
there is more of a spillover onto the streets people
sleeping in bus shelters, in front of foyers of hotels.
COPE estimates that about 20 people sleep rough in the
city every night.
OConnor says this figure is likely to be higher as there are
also people squatting in semi-derelict or derelict buildings,
and sleeping in the stairwells of car parks.
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He says there are usually more men sleeping rough than

women, and a small number of couples. He notes that
some of their relationships formed while on streets,
sometimes due in part to reasons of safety for women.
On top of this, Dolan says there are the invisible
homeless, people who are couch-surfing or staying in
hostels, B&Bs or hotels.
Services
Simon provides a number of services in Galway city,
including a moving on service that aims to help men
move into independent living (a service they also provide),
community housing, long-term housing and a youth
homelessness service.
Heres a breakdown of the number of people Galway
Simon has helped in 2016:
Households worked with from January to September:
529 (up from 366 in the whole of 2015)
Households helped by the community support team
from January to September: 285 (up from 227 in 2015)
Number of people housed in their services from
January to September: 101 (113 in 2015)
Referrals from January to October 2016: 251 (226 in
2015)
Number of families worked with from January to
October: 112 (up from 32 in 2015 and five in 2014)
Dolan says some of the young people they support
previously lived in the care system or may have ended up
on the streets due to a family breakdown.
He adds that youth homelessness is a huge issue, and
something Simon works very much in tandem with other
agencies to tackle.
Read: I dont want to be 40 living in a tent
waking up with a bottle of vodka beside me
In a joint initiative between a number of organisations and
the city council, a new complex that will house 18-25 year
olds is due to open by the end of November with the aim
of getting young people off the streets before the weather
worsens.
Its very hard to get your head around, in terms of how
these people have been left with so few options, Dolan
notes.
Drug use
Dolan says some of the service users Simon works with
have substance dependence and mental health issues, but
describes this as a chicken and egg scenario, with some
issues developing or worsening as a result of
homelessness.
Much of this can come as a result of homelessness or
some kind of trauma that existed in childhood and teenage
years. he notes.
Source: Shutterstock/Olena Yakobchuk
OConnor says COPE has noticed an increase in heroin use

in the city in recent years. He says this can lead to a
difficult dynamic in shared emergency accommodation.
Were very clear about whats permissible. We wont

facilitate active drug use in homeless services. We will link
people and refer them to addiction services with a view to
getting them on a methadone programme.
OConnor notes that its much easier to access services in
Dublin and many addicts have to leave the west to access a
detox programme.
One of the big deficits is the near complete absence of
detox and rehab services in Galway and the surrounding
areas.
He says COPE is aware of a small number of cases where
women have engaged in sex work in order to get money for
drugs.
There is a waiting list for the local methadone programme
which can cause issues because, as OConnor puts it, there
might only be a small window of opportunity to engage
with somebody.
Evictions
COPE has also seen a rise in the number of families
seeking help in the last 18 months in particular. OConnor
says that since then there has been a very notable
increase in the number of families starting to access
services, and that level of need has persisted.
A number of families are currently being put up in a hostel
originally designed for single women.
Like Simon, all of COPEs beds are full and the demand
continually outstrips supply.
OConnor says a lack of affordable housing means some
people end up staying emergency accommodation for
extended periods of time.
COPE is working with about 60 families who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness, with four or five new families
presenting for help each month.
Martin O'Connor
Source: COPE Galway
OConnor says about 10 new families were presenting

monthly earlier this year, but fortunately this number has
dropped recently.
COPE is working with a number of families who are in
notice-to-quit situations and facing eviction. OConnor
says the organisation has had some success in getting
families more time to try to strike a deal with their
landlord.
He says some landlords are sympathetic and trying to be
amenable, with some very regretful in certain instances,
but they might want to sell the property or have more rent
coming in so dont want to continue with the current
arrangement.
He notes that a number of landlords are also not renewing
contracts to provide housing for local authorities when
they come to an end, as they might be able to make more
money by selling the house or renting it privately.
OConnor says nine of the 60 families being helped by
COPE are experiencing hidden homelessness where
they have lost their accommodation and are staying with
family of friends something that is not sustainable in the
long-term.
Roughly half of the families COPE is currently helping are
Traveller families who were settled but lost their
accommodation, often due to the landlord taking the
property back to sell it or for their own family to use.
OConnor says it can be particularly challenging for
Travellers to access new privately-rented accommodation
as there is an added prejudice.
Void properties
OConnor says the number of void properties available to
be refurbished and used as accommodation in Galway city
is pretty much exhausted.
He notes that many of the few three-bedroom houses
available in the city cost over 1,000 a month. He says
some parents struggle to make up the difference between
the rent and their rent supplement entitlement of 875 if
they have two children or 900 for three children
especially when they are competing with the rest of the
market.
The HAP was introduced in Galway in February. OConnor
says its early days for the scheme in Galway, but it has
seen some success.
Day centre
Source: COPE Galway
As well as providing an emergency accommodation

response for families experiencing homeless, COPE also
runs a number of hostels.
Its Fairgeen facility is a 26-bedroom hostel that provides
emergency and short-term accommodation for men. A 12unit hostel, Osterley Lodge, provides emergency and
short-term accommodation for women on their own or
with children.
Domestic violence
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COPEs Waterside House is the only 24-hour accessible

refuge in the western region. It provides accommodation,
information, support and court accompaniment to women
and their children experiencing domestic violence. There
is an outreach service for women in the city and county
who are in abusive relationships and need support and
information.
In 2015, almost 600 women and children received support
from across our range of domestic violence services
including our refuge. However, a further 288 individual
women and 405 children who sought safe refuge could not
be accommodated due to lack of space. In these instances
women were offered referral to refuges elsewhere in the
country.
Heres a breakdown of the domestic violence-related
services provided by COPE to date in 2016:
Refuge admissions: 68 women (58 individual); 74
children (70 individual)
Unable to accommodate: 162 women with 197
children
Outreach appointments provided: 545 in Galway city
and county
Court accompaniments: 59 women accompanied 110
times
Play therapy sessions: Provided for 93 children
Healthy relationships sessions: Provided in 33
secondary schools
The refuge has capacity to accommodate six women and 15
children at any given time. The building is unfit for
purpose its based on single room bedsit-type
accommodation and cannot facilitate onsite cooking or an
outdoor play area for children.
Osterley Lodge
Source: COPE Galway
A new facility is due to be built on Forster Street in the city

centre.
It will comprise nine self-contained accommodation units
(seven one-beds and two two-beds), each with a
kitchen/living room, bedroom/s and bathroom. It will
have an overall capacity to accommodate a minimum of
nine women and about 20 children. Units will be shared to
facilitate further capacity when needed.
The building, which will also have communal and office
rooms, was donated by the Sisters of Mercy on a 99-year
lease in 2013. The redevelopment is set to cost about 2.5
million, with a 1.16 million grant being provided by the
Department of the Environment, Community and Local
Government.
IRELAND IMMIGRANT
INVESTOR PROGRAMME
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme was

introduced in 2012 to allow foreign investors to
obtain permanent residency status in Ireland.
The ultimate objective of the programme is to
create jobs and facilitate further economic
development in Ireland.
The Irish Governments five year plan seeks to
attract 900
new businesses to the country.
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further economic development in Ireland. The Irish

Governments five year ... 300,000 immigrants into the
country in 2017,
Have a minimum net worth of 2,000,000

Be of good character, and not have been convicted
of any
criminal offenses.
Invest 500,000 into an eligible Irish company for a
minimum of 3 years.
Investments must support the creation or
maintenance of
employment in Ireland.
Investments must be made in the name of the
applicant.
Investments made for the purpose of purchasing
publicly
traded securities or real estate for the purposes of
leasing
or renting will not be considered as eligible
investments.
Benefits
Residency requirement of only 1 day per year.

Children up to the age of 24 can be included as
dependents.
No previous management or business experience
required.
Simple Documentation and One-Step Approval
Process.
Over 1,000 refugees

expected to arrive in Co
Kildare in 2017
CPPI 3 hours ago Irish News 0 Comments 65 Views
Well now arent we the lucky ones? It seems that the

Celtic people of Kildare are going to have to
welcome over 1000 invaders ( oh I do mean poor
down-trodden refugees ) in 2017.
Well thats very nice. Im sure that this little
homeless Celtic girl will happily sleep under the
portico of the GPO so that we can house thousands of
invaders.
Over a thousand are anticipated to arrive in Co

Kildare by September next. Ireland is committed to
offering asylum to 4,000 Syrian refugees.
Has any of us actually been asked if we want this?
Meanwhile, the Focolare Centre, based in
Prosperous, is organising a Christmas fair in aid of
refugees in Syria this Saturday from 11am to 4pm.
One of the event organisers, Susan Gately said: We
have been very touched by the refugees that we have
met. Syria is in our hearts.
Thats so nice of Susan. But does she actually know
what these Syrian refugees are doing in Germany?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdLQk6WbEY8
I guess Susan would not want to know about the true

nature of these poor refugees as it would go
against her demented leftie thinking.
Maybe Susan might change her mind if she saw this
footage of poor Syrian refugees attempting to rape
a young French girl.
Jhttps://www.youtube.com/watch
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdEKynBCxzU
State television broadcast footage reveals a tide of

hundreds of refugees walking along a ravaged street,
wearing thick clothes against the rain and cold, many
with hoods or hats pulled tight around their faces,
and hauling sacks or bags of belongings.
Yes well the media whores of RTE are only too happy
to encourage the ethnic cleaning of the Celtic People
of Ireland at every opportunity by guilt tripping them
into accepting the invasion of our beloved Ireland by
millions of turd worlders.
The International Committee for the Red Cross
appealed for all sides to spare civilian lives. As the
battle reaches new peaks and the area is plunged into
chaos thousands with no part in the violence have
literally nowhere safe to run. Speaking to Kildare
Now, Mr Power says that the refugees in Co Kildare
are happy to be here.
Ill bet they are happy to be here. They will be given
priority housing ahead of our Celtic People and will
be fed and clothed forever and all at our expense. In
effect we are paying to have our country invaded.
Have you noticed that EVERY week the number of
negros and asiatics increases on the streets of every
Irish town and city? And if these people are genuine
refugees, why then did they not stay in Turkey or go
to Israel or Saudi Arabia? Because there are no free
handouts there. Thats why.

There are NO legitimate war refugees in Ireland. For
someone to claim refugee status they must go to the
first safe port of call. Ireland is not any refugees first
safe port of call. Therefore the traitors of Dail
Eireann are deliberating importing millions of turd
worlders to change our Celtic country into a turd
world hell hole.
In power we will expel all

those who arrived on our
shores illegally and will hod
to account all those who
aided and abetted the
invasion of Ireland by
negros and asiatics.
http://www.cppireland.org/2016/12/14/over-1000-refugees-expectedto-arrive-in-co-kildare-in-2017/
Enda Kenny appeals to

Fianna Fil to pass proposed
rent measures before
Christmas
Fianna Fil has said they "are not satisfied that the proposed
4% increase is appropriate"
NEWS
Image: RollingNews.ie
The Taoiseach has set the Government on a collision

course with Fianna Fail by defending the proposed caps
for rental increases.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney unveiled new measures
yesterday, which he wants to turn into law before Christmas.
Fianna Fil says the 4% limit for rent increases in the two
cities is too high and needs to be lowered.
In a statement yesterday, the party's housing spokesperson
Barry Cowen said: "We are not satisfied that the proposed 4%
increase is appropriate and we also believe that tax incentives
for landlords should be part of the package."
He also suggested that Galway, Limerick, Waterford and other

large population centres are added to the scheme from 'day
one'.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Deputy Cowen
argued: "Let's see the proposals, let's amend them, let's
debate them, let's analyse them, and let's reach a consensus.
That's what the democratic process presents us with the
opportunity to do and I hope that won't be lost."
However Enda Kenny is standing by the 4% level, saying it
needs to strike a balance.
In the Dil he has appealed to Fianna Fil to allow the
measures be passed into law before the Christmas break on
Friday.
"This is a really important matter for thousands of people now,
and I do hope that this legislation will nto be delayed," he told
deputies.
http://www.newstalk.com/En
da-Kenny-appeals-to-FiannaFil-to-pass-proposed-rentmeasures-before-Christmas
Finance Accounts 2014
Dec 8, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=josVLnNiRvQ
Johnathon Sugarman (Whistleblower)
With Vincent Browne
Dec 6, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpmZV8QZiw
Hell hath no fury like a Justice scorned | Shane Ross | Irish Times |
07/12/16 |
It is important, as the chief justice has said, that politicians and judges owe
respect to the other.
And so we should. A prerequisite for such respect is that the method of judicial
appointments is transparent and democratic. Currently, it is not.
My Independent Alliance colleagues and I inserted a few paragraphs in the
Programme for Government insisting on long overdue reforms in the selection
and scrutiny of our judges.
The judges have greeted the proposals with thunder in their voices.
The dogs in the street know that party -political loyalties have played a
shameful part in the selection of Judges in Ireland. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and
Labour barristers have often been forced to wait for regime change until they
were elevated to the bench.
I have campaigned for reform of this flawed system for years. I wrote chapters
in books on it. I even suggested that interviews might be held for the first time
ever. Being recently privileged with a place in the cabinet seemed a pretty
good perch from which to implement the changes. Fine Gael agreed to them.
At long last it seems that the appointment of judges is to be taken out of the
political arena.
And it is. Even Fianna Fail has agreed that the good old days of governments
appointing party pals to the bench are over.
A new Bill hit the Dail a few weeks ago, largely removing the selection of
judges from the political arena.
The Bill was proposed by a Fianna Fail barrister, Jim O Callaghan. It was
warmly welcomed in the Dail by all sides, as it tackled the cancer of political
patronage. A few other barrister TDs, besides Jim, joined Frances Fitzgerald
and me in our initial welcome of the breakthrough.
The Bill was far from perfect. While it largely removed political leverage, it
gave someone else legal eagles a majority on the new commission
selecting judges. The old system, a board that sent up a long, long list of likely
names to the minister for justice, would end. Under Jims Bill the judiciary and
their legal friends would control the choice. Political patrons would be
replaced by legal insiders.
Irelands judges will not have been displeased by what they call Jims Bill.
Yet the prospect of legal eagles in control of the appointment of judges runs
directly contrary to the Programme for Governments commitment. We
welcome judges and lawyers on the selection board, but not in control. The
Independent Alliance agreed to an independent layperson in the chair, flanked
by a majority of lay people advised by judges and lawyers, offering their
expertise. The chief Justice would be welcome among their number. While all
the lawyers would be full members, the legal professions iron grip would be
loosened. We do not want to see judges on the inside appointing their chosen
ones. What sort of replacement would that be for political cronyism? And,
acknowledging an omission in the programme for government, I proposed that
Judges should be legally obliged to declare all their financial and other
interests. Just like TDs.
Perhaps prompted by some rather colourful rhetoric from me and by Fianna
Fail support in the form of Jims Bill, Irelands lawyers took to the media. Two
weeks ago the chief justice broke cover. The newspapers responded with
massive coverage. I came under sustained attack. Journalist Colm Keena
chastised me for alleged inaccuracies. Keena himself, without checking with

me, put his name to an article claiming that I had insisted on attending a
meeting with the judges having learned of the meeting. Keena was not
inaccurate. He was wrong.
The powerful law lobby moved into full gear. The number of lawyers offered
space to defend their patches was staggering. The Irish Times led the field in
giving openings to this privileged group. Ten days ago the chairman of the Bar
Council Paul McGarry penned a piece entitled Criticism a threat to
independence of the Judiciary. On Friday columnist Noel Whelan headed his
column Rosss fixation on judges is mere political posturing. OK, but
perhaps Whelans eagerness proves a transparency point. In his hard hitting
piece , addressing the Independent Alliance ( whom he dislikes) and the legal
eagles (his colleagues) he fails to reveal not one , but two , missing
declarations of interests. Readers might be surprised to know that Whelan is a
former Dail and Seanad candidate for Bertie Aherns Fianna Fail. Nor does he
mention that he is a senior counsel. His political comments echo those of Jim
OCallaghan, the Fianna Fail barrister in the Dail. His column serves both
Fianna Fail and the legal eagles well. Pity he didnt declare his interests.
Such transparency does not fit well with the traditions of the Law Library
where Noel does his day job.. No doubt Noel does not nurse any ambitions to
hit the bench? He would undoubtedly have told us.
He maintains that in the present controversy it is politics, not the appointments
system, that are the issue. He is wrong. The judges and the lawyers, like
Noel, are the issue. Nor is it just the appointments, it is the near- impossibility
of removing a bad judge, that must be resolved in coming legislation.
Judges are good at fighting rearguard actions. Their opposition to a cut in
their pay in the 2009 referendum was not their finest hour. Nor do they like
being challenged. Most of them are good people, doing an honest job.
Following the chief justices foray into the public arena, the president of the
Circuit Court Raymond Groarke hit the headlines. In an intemperate response
to the prospect of a shortage of judges, he declared that if the government did
not give him judges he would not be able to obey their legislative strictures. I
am sure the judge did not intend to imply that he was willing to break the law.
In response to Judge Groarke and to ensure that we do not obstruct the
needs of justice- the government has agreed to appoint new judges, albeit
under the old flawed system.
Judge Groarke, might in turn, listen to the chief justices words of the need for
respect for the other. Let alone for the law of the land.
The interview you all have being waiting for. Finally Irish
mainstream interviews Johnathon Sugarman, author of the
book Whistleblower. Johnathon goes into great detail
surrounding the complete lack of lawful behaviour of our
banks, the regulator and of the Irish government.
My apoligies for the quality, sadly I need to upgrade all my
computing tech.
Find Truthful Irish @ https://www.facebook.com/truthful.irish/

Contents used under the Fair Use acts.
Show is edited, all ads and newspaper reviews have been
removed. Watch the full uninterrupted video here.
http://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/41/0/T...
What Irish Bankers Hoped The Irish

People Would Never Discover.
Nov 21, 2016
What Irish Bankers Hoped The Irish People Would Never
Discover.
Now the questions the Irish People are starting to ask?
WHY IRELAND BAILED OUT NOT JUST "IRISH BANKS", BUT 42%
of Europes Banks ?????
This Videos exposes the hidden fraud that took place, Time for
jailing the Minster For Fraud ....M Noonan and Co..
tch?v=UOUVL_3eIGw
Interviews of whistleblowers to Vasileios
Katsardis 15 11 2016
tch?v=c7d3Cx-9ta8
Whistleblower protection: What must be
done?
Nov 16, 2016
Below all the soundbites in English
Kouloglou
There must be laws for protecting the whistleblowers. To
facilitate people who have secrets but are afraid to talk in
order to avoid suffering what the previous whistleblowers
suffered. Europe, the EU should take such initiatives. In a time

when populism is gaining ground, where citizens feel unsafe
and unprotected, enraged by cleptocracy, by the 1% getting
continuously richer at the expense of the 99%. It is essential
that the European Parliament votes for protection measures for
whistleblowers. Otherwise we will have many little Donald
Trumps, throughout Europe. And we do not protect only the
whistleblowers. By protecting whistleblowers we will in fact
protect our society, democracy, our children and their future,
ourselves.
Only from the Falciani list that has to do with only to one bank,
the American state gained 1.9 billion dollars by imposing a fine
on only one bank HSBC. After investigation on the list, France,
Spain, Great Britain -and I hope Greece- have earned at least
half a billion euros.
Sugarman
I think people should realise that literally people have gotten
away with murder. When you hear about the suicide rates in
places like Greece, when you hear about the fact that
something like 10% of the Greek population goes to bed
starving, this didnt happen because of an earthquake. It
happened because people in key positions did not do their job.
Either by neglect or criminal conduct, deliberate conduct. And
nobody has been held to account. Every bank in Greece has at
least one manager. In some large retail banks you might have
at least 50 people working in risk. Who signed all those loans?
Halet
It is a very good thing to keep on putting pressure on both the
European Commission and the politicians at national level, be
it Greek, and it is by making this kind of conferences that we
will continue to put pressure, that we will continue to talk
about whistleblowers, especially about how to find solutions to
protect them.
Elmer
I think it was a very important event because we talked about
the law which needs to be changed in respect of protection of
the whistle-blowers. That is an absolutely key issue. Because if
there is no protection for whistleblowers then the information
the society needs will not be revealed. We are talking about
tax evasion, tax fraud, terrorist financing, corruption, even
money laundering, even issues for instance in a hospital where
doctors abuse their power, they just go for the money. So, the
protection of whistle blowers is absolutely key to make our

society a better place.
tch?v=HMsMsi0NFyo
A Functioning
Private Rented
Sector Needs
Landlords - SF
A functioning private rented sector needs
landlords, according to Sinn Fin.

The party's Housing spokesperson, Eoin Broin
TD, made the call ahead of the launch of the
Government's strategy for the private rented
sector.
He also said Minister Simon Coveney has a "unique
opportunity to bring forward ambitious reforms".
Deputy Broin said: "We would like to see the
Minister committing to a review of the tax
treatment of landlords in advance of Budget 2018.
There needs to be parity in how the 65% of
Landlords that own just one property are treated
and how institutional landlords are treated.
"We all know this sector is in urgent need of
reform. The Minister's focus on the supply issue
alone will not provide any relief to over 700,000
struggling with increasing rental costs. Greater
protections for an ever increasing number of
tenants must form the cornerstone of this strategy.
We hope that despite the Minister's reluctance to
support it in the past, rent certainty will be part of
the government's plan. We urgently need to put a
halt to spiralling rental costs. Neither the tenant
nor the landlord benefits from seismic peaks and
troughs in rental prices. Linking rent increases and
decreases to an index like the consumer price
index provides certainty to both parties."
He continued: "Rent certainty must be introduced
in tandem with greater security of tenure. Sinn Fin
would like to see the option of tenancies of
indefinite duration introduced. The notion of the
private rented sector being transient in nature,
where students dominate needs to be dismissed.

"One quarter of people in Dublin are now living in
the private rented sector. In order to build
sustainable communities, there must be some
move towards providing for five, ten or twenty year
leases. We would also like to see tenants protected
by removing the sale of the home as a reason for
evicting tenants. This measure would help many
families avoid homelessness.
"Finally, we would like to see the Minister making a
commitment to increase resources and funding for
local authority inspections and for the work of the
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Renters should
not have to put up with sub-standard
accommodation and the RTB must be adequately
funded so that landlord-tenant disputes are
resolved speedily."
http://www.constructionireland.ie/constructionnews/223319/a-functioning-private-rented-sector-needslandlords-sf
Mr Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community & ... As the landlord continues to service his
mortgage throughout the term, with all relevant
http://www.ipav.ie/sites/default/files/ipav_submission_novemb
er_2016_-_rebuilding_ireland__strategy_for_the_rental_sector.pdf
Irish landlords to be
offered five years rent for
vacant properties
European News
21 Sep 2016
Landlords in Ireland will be offered five years rent up front or

as much as 30,000 for vacant properties as part of a new
Government initiative aimed at resolving the housing crisis in
the country.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is developing a scheme which
will see local authorities approach owners of vacant properties
and offer them a lump sum in return for leasing the properties.
Council officials will offer landlords grants for vacant houses
under a repair to lease scheme. It is hoped the project will
incentivise people to renovate old houses which have sat idle
for a number of years, before renting them to tenants through
local authorities.
Approved housing agencies will also be able to avail of the
scheme and organisations will be encouraged to identify vacant
properties which could be leased. Pilot projects of the scheme
are to be rolled out in Waterford and Carlow before it goes
nationwide.
The Housing Agency has also been given 70m to purchase and
renovate vacant properties for rent. There are an estimated
250,000 empty properties around the country.
http://www.property-investornews.com/news/european_news/2016/09/21/irish_landlords_to_be_offer
ed_five_years_rent_for_vacant_properties.html#.WFHb7Tsy6FI
Investing in Student
Accommodation - The
Common Pitfalls
Celia Berg, Partner and Sophie D'Ivangin,
Associate, in the Real Estate practice at Berwin
Leighton Paisner, comment
Student Market
4 Jul 2016
Global investment into the UK student housing sector is

growing and is set to grow further as an asset class providing
stable long term income streams and rental growth with the UK
being the second most popular post graduate destination for
international students. Part of the alternatives class of assets, it
is governed by its own rules and risks with a mix of residential
and commercial property considerations.
We have mentioned below some practical examples of where
things can go wrong, to highlight some of the risks inherent to
investment in student accommodation.
Tax planning
VAT Recoverability - Trying to obtain zero-rating eligibility to
ensure the recoverability of VAT is a recurring issue in student
accommodation development.
Example: - The builder/developer charges VAT on the
construction costs. The owner of the property attempts to
reclaim VAT but HMRC determines that no VAT should have
been payable so it cannot be recovered (as the developer
should have zero-rated). The owner can end up having paid
millions in irrecoverable VAT.
http://www.property-investornews.com/article/student_market/2016/07/29/investing_in_student_acco
mmodation___the_common_pitfalls_.html#.WFHcLjsy6FI
Minister
Slammed Over
Plans To Permit
Landlords To
Increase Rents
Sinn Fin has hit out at Housing Minister

Simon Coveney over plans to permit
landlords to increase rent prices by 4% every
year for the next three years.
Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Maurice Quinlivan TD said the proposals will do
nothing for struggling renters in Limerick.
Deputy Quinlivan said: "The measures announced
will do nothing to assist a family renting an
average home in Limerick for 1,200 per month, or
single people who are struggling to pay
exceptionally high rents on one and two bedroom
flats in Limerick. Low and middle income families
and single people simply do not have this money.

They cannot afford further rent increases.
"The fact of the matter is that for those living
outside the so called 'rent pressure zones' rents
will continue to rise.
"The latest quarterly rental report for Daft.ie
showed that tenants in Limerick City faced an
average annual rent increase of 13.2% which is
higher than in Dublin at 10.9%.
"The onus is now on Fianna Fil to support a cross
party amendment and do what Minister Coveney
and his colleagues in Cabinet are not willing to do,
namely to give struggling renters a break."
http://www.constructionireland.ie/construction-news/223377/ministerslammed-over-plans-to-permit-landlords-to-increase-rents
Simon Coveneys Big

House Con
By SW Editor on 27th July 2016Comments Off on Simon Coveneys Big
House Con
Simon Coveney has launched his new

Housing Action Plan with quite a fanfare.
Unsurprisingly much of the media has
echoed Coveneys own view of his
proposals: a game changer, 47,000 new
social houses!, the biggest housing
programme in the history of the state.
Simon Coveney has launched his new Housing Action Plan

with quite a fanfare. Unsurprisingly much of the media
has echoed Coveneys own view of his proposals: a game
changer, 47,000 new social houses!, the biggest housing
Tragically and it is tragic for the homeless on the streets
and the 140,000 on the housing waiting list this is spin
and hype, a huge con.
Start with the headline figure, the 47,000 social houses;
bearing in mind the 140,000 (and growing) on the waiting
list this is not enough. And when you look deeper into the
Plan you find that even this figure is unlikely to be
delivered: it actually talks in terms of building up to
25.000 by 2021. Up to here is politician speak for less
than
Then there is the fact highlighted by People Before Profit
TD Richard Boyd Barrett in the Dil that there is NO
figure in the Plan for the number of actual Council Houses
to be built. Boyd Barrett put this question direct to Enda
Kenny but got, as usual, no answer.
Another feature of the Plan is that it does not address the
crucial question of rent control, despite the fact that more
and more people are being priced out of their homes by

rapacious landlords.
This reflects the underlying problem with Coveneys Plan
and with the governments whole approach: that they
insist on relying on market mechanisms and the private
developers to deal with the housing crisis.
The whole report is littered with references to incentives
and the private sector, by which they really mean vulture
funds. The government is going to hand over 75% of state
land and funds to private developers who will build
houses, only 25% of which will be social housing.
This is despite the fact that it is has been proven over
decades that relying on the profit motive to provide
housing doesnt work it just makes the problem worse.
Simon Coveney has said he is staking his political career
on his plan working. He may live to regret that pledge.
What we need now is what People Before Profit and AAA
have been arguing for all along: declare a National
Housing Emergency; treat housing as a basic human right;
take over vacant housing; introduce emergency rent
controls; start a massive programme of council house
building.
And defy any instructions from the EU that it cant be
done: the housing needs and right of our people come
before EU rules!
Fianna Fil has

concerns over
Government's rent
plan
Article meta info, bylin, date etc
Updated / Dec. 14,
Dublin and Cork have been designated rent pressure

zones
This is the actual article body
The passage of legislation underpinning the

Government's rental strategy through the
Oireachtas in its present form is in serious
doubt after Fianna Fil raised concerns about

a number of elements in it.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney earlier
announced plans to limit how much landlords
could increase rents in designated areas;
with the central proposal a 4% annual limit
on rent rises in designated areas.
The system would last for a maximum of
three years.
Following a meeting of the party's frontbench
tonight, Fianna Fil spokesperson on housing,
planning and local government Barry Cowen
said he was open to further discussions with
Mr Coveney to address the outstanding
issues.
However, he said Fianna Fil had "genuine
concerns" with elements of the strategy.
He said Fianna Fil was anxious that a limit
on rent increases would apply to other cities
apart from Dublin and Cork.
The party wants Galway, Limerick, Waterford
and large population centres surrounding
Dublin and Cork city also included from the
outset.
Mr Cowen also stated tax incentives for
landlords should be in the package and he
added they were not satisfied that the
proposed 4% annual limit on rent increases in
designated rent pressure zones was
appropriate.
It is understood members raised the prospect
of introducing a 2% limit.
At the launch of the strategy, Mr Coveney
said he was not able to be flexible if

fundamental changes were required.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban
Renewal Damien English tonight ruled out
any change to,the proposed 4% cap on rent
increases.
Speaking on RT's Prime Time, he said the
cap had been decided by Cabinet and would
not be altered despite demands from Fianna
Fil.
Mr Coveney outlined his plans for rent
pressure zones to Cabinet this morning.
The limits will first be introduced in the socalled rent pressure zones of Dublin and Cork
city.
The areas meet two designated
criteria: that annual rents have risen by at
least 7% in four of the past six quarters; and
that the average rent is above the national
average in the past quarter.
The measure will come into effect when
tenants in the designated areas have their
rents reviewed or new tenancies begin.
In other areas, rents can only be increased
every two years under a provision to expire in
2019.
Properties that are new to the rental market
and those that have been substantially
refurbished will be exempt from the 4% rent
increase limit to ensure supply
Mr Coveney said the Residential Tenancies
Board would be in a position to come back to
him next March on the possibility of other

areas being designated as rent pressure
zones.
Where the rental market has stabilised, some
areas will be removed from the list of special
designated rent-free zones.
Mr Coveney said that he was trying to get a
balance and respond in a sensible and
proportionate way that would also incentivise
supply.
He said linking rent rises to inflation would
have a negative impact and disincentivise
people to enter the rental market.
Other measures announced in the strategy
include fast-tracking the termination of a
tenancy where there has been a failure to
pay rent.
There are also enhanced protections for
tenants where receivers are appointed to
repossessed buy-to-lets.
It also proposes allowing tenants to remain
in-situ where landlords propose to sell
multiple units within a large development at
the same time,
Rent pressure zones are being introduced
with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local
Authority areas and in Cork city.
Rent increases in these areas will now be
capped at 4% a year for the next three years.
The proposal comes amid debate that rent
increases or reductions should be linked to
the consumer price index while others
oppose intervening in the market.
The most recent report from the Residential

Tenancies Board showed that rents are still
rising.
In the third quarter of 2016, monthly rents
grew by 2.3%, although this is marginally
slower than the previous three months.
he latest Residential Tenancies Board rent
index shows that, nationally, rents rose by
just under 10% in the second quarter of this
year, when compared to last year.
In Dublin, rents are now at a new high, 3.9%
above the previous peak in 2007.
The Simon Communities in Ireland have said
the figures show the market is not slowing
down, despite rent stability measures
introduced last year.
The RTB index shows that 25% of all
properties rented in April, May and June this
year in Dublin cost more than 1,300 a
month.
RTB Director Rosalind Carroll said there is a
continuing lack of supply and an increase in
short-term lets has left fewer properties
available for long-term leases.
Significant increases were also seen
nationally, with rents up 9.9% in the second
quarter this year.
Rents for houses nationally were up
9.3% from 850 to 929 per month - and
apartments increased by 11.7%, up from
908 to 1,014 per month.
However, while rents outside the capital are
increasing, they are still 11.2% off their peak
levels.
Ms Carroll said the RTB now has a total of
323,271 tenancies registered, representing
172,121 landlords and 704,332 occupants.
Speaking on RT's Morning Ireland, she
said the return of migrants is another
contributing factor to the shortage of supply,
with "more people coming into the country,
probably particularly into the cities.
"We obviously have continued under-supply
and seasonal factors, short-term lets
happening more and more and that's putting
more pressure on the market."
Ms Carroll also stated that relationships
between landlords and tenants are generally
working well.
"We have a slight increase in the disputes but
nothing significant.
"We had over 4,000 disputes last year, but
that only represents 1% or 2% of all
tenancies so that shows most relationships
are working well between landlords and
tenants."
She said the nature of disputes has
somewhat changed with more issues such as
rent arrears and over-holding - where people
stay beyond their notice of termination indicating that perhaps these people have
nowhere to go.
The chairperson of the housing charity
Threshold said many of its clients are
subjected to rent increases as high as
30% and urgent action is needed to tackle

what she termed a situation akin to a
"runaway train" .
Speaking on RT's Today with Sean
O'Rourke, Dr Aideen Hayden said the rent
freeze introduced last year has protected
some people in existing leases and has
helped somewhat.
However, she said there is "a window where
the rent freeze will end" and said Threshold is
disappointed that Government strategy did
not introduce a model of rent certainty to link
rents to an index such as the Consumer Price
Index.
Director of the Residential Landlords
Association Fintan McNamara said rent
control is one reason for the rise in rents.
Speaking the same programme he said
landlords know that when they rent a place
now it is fixed for two years and they can
make no changes.
"And any rent they get, 60% goes back to the
State in taxes and charges."
He said the rent control which was brought in
last year has had some benefit for those in
situ.
"That is why 80% fewer properties are
advertised for rent now than they would be in
a normally functioning market. It is harder to
get accommodation."
Mr McNamara said that when rents are rising
you would expect that landlords would come
in and expand their properties to benefit from
this.
"In fact many are not expanding but
downsizing and some are getting out of the
business altogether," he said.
A new survey carried out by the Simon
Communities has found that 80% of rental
properties are beyond the reach of people
depending on State housing benefits.
It also found that there are less than half the
number of rental properties available when
compared to May 2015.
Speaking on RT's Morning
Ireland, spokesperson Niamh Randall said the
survey was a snapshot survey carried out in
ten areas.
It found 518 homes were available to rent
during the three days the study was
undertaken in August, down 19% from 637 at
the same time last year.
102 of the 518 homes available for rent were
within Rent Supplement/Housing Assistance
Payment (HAP) limits, with just eight of these
available for single people and 11 for
couples.
"Of huge concern is the ongoing reduction in
the availability of homes to rent down by
19% from August 2015 and by a shocking
55% since May 2015 when 1,150 homes were
available to rent," Ms Randall said.
"The increase in the limits, which happened
in July has made a difference, it's made a
small difference. So 80% of properties that
were available, were beyond the reach of
people in receipt of rent supplement or HAP

payments.
The report is the first since changes to the
rent supplement payment were introduced by
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney last July,
and seems to suggest the increases have had
little impact.
The number of properties available to people
in receipt of these payments increased by 54
homes since the same time in August 2015.
Ms Randall called for initiatives to be put in
place to keep people in their homes and to
increase supply in the private rental sector,
with possible tax breaks for landlords, rent
certainty and an increase in tenure to
prevent people being pushed into
homelessness.
"What we've called for, and we repeat our
calls, is for rent certainty, where rents are
linked to the consumer price index. That
would reduce the volatility in the private
rented sector. It would have much more
certainty both for tenants and for landlords
alike."
She said that rental accommodation should
not be treated as simply a stepping stone to
owning a home.
A recent survey by the Simon Community
also found that 80% of the rental properties
available that it reviewed were beyond the
reach of people receiving State housing
benefits.
Mr Coveneys proposals on the rental sector

examine key areas, including supply and rent
security and include 'Build to Rent'
developments, the accelerated roll-out of
'Repair and Leasing' as well as 'Buy and
Renew' initiatives to bring unused capacity
back to the market.
Housing charity Threshold has said there has
been a 26% rise in cases of rent increases
nationwide.
It said hundreds of people contact it from
around the country every day with stories of
rapidly rising rents and difficulty finding
affordable housing.
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/thres
holdannualreport2015.pdf
Launching its annual report for 2015, the
charity said there was a 54% increase in the
number of people calling its helpline.
Threshold says one in five households are in
private rented accommodation in Ireland and
disproportionate rent rises are pushing
hundreds of families into homelessness at an
accelerated rate.
The Residential Landlords Association says
the measures would be very difficult to
implement while Threshold is concerned
about avoidance of the regulations.
Kelly says plans will not provide
certainty
Former housing minister Alan Kelly said Mr
Coveney's plans will not provide rent

certainty.
Speaking on RT's News at One, Mr Kelly said
the scheme would allow a 4% yearly rent
increase over three years in Dublin and Cork well above inflation and the consumer price
index.
The Labour Party TD added that it will be
difficult to administer the plans, describing it
as a bureaucratic nightmare.
He said he does not believe Fine Gael wants
to deal with rent certainty, saying the plans
amount to "a hotchpotch way of trying to do
something."
He said there are huge rental issues across
Ireland, adding that it does not make sense
why Dublin and Cork are the only cities being
looked at.
Coveney writes letter to Fianna Fil

offering to change rent plan
Irish Independent
December 14, 16
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has offered to fast-track

the designation of Rent Pressure Zones outside of Dublin
and Cork, Independent.ie understands.
Fil.
by Mr Coveney.

Housing Crisis Q&A: What is a Rent Pressure Zone?
country.
Are all rental properties in Dublin and Cork covered?
There were calls to link rent increases to the rate of
inflation. Why didn't Simon Coveney take this approach?
reasonable return."
The minister has announced a series of measures aimed
at kick-starting supply, including:
providers
Simon Coveney - ireland will take 12,000

asylum seekers over next two years
Jul 11, 2016
Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney says Ireland will take 12,000
asylum seekers over next two years as part of the EU
plantations and will mix them with existing communities in
order to make everybody diverse
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sFdmTb1R9wI
we need to hang these cunts

Disgraceful. When he's using terms like "the right mix" it really
shows the social engineering/destruction behind it. 'EU
plantations' as you put it is the best term for it.
I'm nearly sure that the Government told us last year that the
figure that Ireland would be taking in would be 4000.
We need to start making a list of these Irish traitors. Obviously,

it was that kike Alan Shatter who let in the 50,000 foreigners in
2011. Still gotta keep an eye on these leftie cunts like this
man. And settle up some day. Edna Kenny is ultimately
responsible for this, it happened on his watch. Probably the
greatest fucking retard we have ever had in office.
Simon Coveney - Ireland

will take 12,000 asylum
seekers over next 2 years
By Mr O Reilly
Mon , July 11, 2016 ,
Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney has said that Ireland
will take 12,000 asylum seekers over the next 2 years

alone as part of the EU's new Common Asylum Area . he
says the government will mix them with existing
communities in order to make us all more diverse
Stop making people Homeless

1/3 of our Homeless are Children
Shame on FF and FG
Evict Them from our Dail
Elect Sinn Fein to sort out this mess!
Speaking on the Courts Bill 2016. Repossessions must be

stopped.
I have tabled amendment No. 5, the first paragraph of
which encapsulates its intent. It states,"Dil ireann
formally declares that a housing emergency exists in the
State and while this emergency continues the right of any
person to remain in the dwelling in which the person
currently resides will take precedence over any property
right of any other person", and there are actions flowing
from that. Fundamentally, the greatest issue facing the
country now and for some time to come is the housing
emergency. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government told the Irish Examiner
last May that he accepted there is a housing emergency.
This is clear to the thousands of people who are homeless
currently. A total of 6,847 people are homeless, of whom
2,470 are children. According to figures published
yesterday, 420 families lost their homes over the past
three months, which equates to four a day.
Many of them are forced by banks and building societies
to hand back their homes, the homes of others are being
repossessed. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government accepts, and is quoted
publicly as saying, that there is a housing emergency. I
heard the Tnaiste acknowledge that in the House a

fortnight ago. We need to take real action to ensure that
those people who face the ultimate trauma of losing the
roof over their heads are protected. It is essential and
urgent that this Dil formally declare a housing emergency
in order to ensure a halt to evictions, to impose a rent
freeze, to ensure that private property rights are made
subject to the common good and to see to it that the right
of individuals and families to remain in their homes
supersedes the right to private property.
This Government declared a financial emergency and
introduced legislation to cut the pay and pensions of
public servants. It renewed that emergency on 30 June
last. There is major trauma and daily evictions. We need to
ensure that families facing homelessness, through no fault
of their own, are protected and have a roof over their
heads this Christmas. The formal declaration of a housing
emergency is an absolute necessity. The Taoiseach has
written to the European Commission on this issue. While
we have not declared a housing emergency, the
Commission will not take that request seriously. There has
been no response to the request. The Commission needs
to know the problems in this country with people living in
tents, hostels and hotels. Focus Ireland tells us that 20
families and 40 children are made homeless per month.
Recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO,
show that there are more than 14,500 buy-to-let
properties in arrears of more than two years.
Unfortunately, whether the tenants in those properties
know it or not they face eviction. Most of the families
made homeless in the past 12 months were renting buyto-let properties whose landlords were forced to sell by the
banks. That practice needs to be stopped.
This situation developed as a result of the privatisation of
the public housing programme in the early 2000s by a
Fianna Fil Government. I was a member of South
Tipperary County Council at the time and when that was
announced at our housing meeting, I said it would give
rise to huge problems. We need a large quantity of local
authority public housing for our citizens. In the 1970s we
were able to build up to 10,000 local authority houses
each year and we need to get back to that level. The
Minister and the Government are simply tinkering around

the edges. We need to declare a housing emergency in
order to ensure that every citizen and family has the right
to a roof over their heads this Christmas. The
repossessions, which remind us of the battering rams used
down the centuries in this country, need to be stopped.
Shame on FF and FG
The government's Strategy for the Rental Sector is flawed,

writes Dr Rory Hearne in the latest Progressive Economy
blog. It does not link rent increases to inflation, excludes
areas outside Dublin and Cork, does not provide security
of tenure, proposes the sale of public land below market
value to global real estate funds to increase supply, and
is based on the failed (and contradictory) market
assumptions that increasing rents will lead to further
supply and increased supply will lead to affordable
rents/house prices. #rentalstrategy #housing #inequality
Pic: Doug O'Connor, Irish Independent
Rental strategy insufficient for affordable homes

Rory Hearne: The governments Strategy for the Rental Sector ,
while containing the welcome provision of rental restrictions is
ultimately f...
PROGRESSIVE-ECONOMY.IE|BY RORY HEARNE
14 December 2016
Rental strategy insufficient for

affordable homes
Rory Hearne: The governments Strategy for the Rental Sector, while
containing the welcome provision of rental restrictions is ultimately
flawed because it does not link rent increases to inflation, excludes
areas outside Dublin and Cork (particularly the commuter counties),
does not provide security of tenure, proposes the sale of public land
below market value (i.e. give away/privatising a valuable public
resource) to global real estate funds to increase supply, and is based
on the failed (and contradictory) market assumptions that increasing
rents will lead to further supply and increased supply will lead to
affordable rents/house prices.
Firstly, in relation to the Strategy for the Rental Sector, there is no
evidence or research provided by the government or the Department of
Housing as to how the 4% increase in rents is being justified. For
example, 4% per annum represents 8 times the increase in annual
earnings for full-time employees in 2015. It has no justification from
price inflation as the (Consumer price index) is running at -0.3%. Within
the CPI there is a specific category, Furnishings, Household Equipment
& Routine Household Maintenance, which you would think would be a
reasonable indicator as to the main on-going cost for landlords. Inflation
for that category is running at -4.3%.
Furthermore, the most recent PRTB rent index for Dublin showed in the
last quarter that rental growth moderated significantly, and fell to 0.6%
and the annual % change for Dublin houses was 3.3% in Quarter 3 of
2016. So the 4% level is above this market level. This is why rent
increases should be linked to inflation (the CPI) which is running at
-0.3%.
Secondly, it excludes areas outside Dublin and Cork from the
designated pressure-zones. But it indicates they could be included at
some point next year. All areas across the country have seen
significant increases in rents in recent years so why are they being
excluded? For example rent in Wicklow increased by 9%, Meath 15%,
and Kildare 12% last year. Landlords are very likely (as is already
reportedly happening today in Dublin) to inform tenants of substantial
rent rises immediately in anticipation of being designated a rent
pressure zone in these areas across the country in the coming months.
This is why the entire country has to be included in the rental
restrictions.
Thirdly, the Strategy for the Rental Sector does not sufficiently address
the other major aspect of the rental crisis that is security of tenure.
There is no change to the situation whereby landlords can evict tenants
if they intend to sell the property or want it for family use and there is
insufficient protection for tenants being evicted from buy-to-let
properties in receivership being sold on to vulture funds. Without proper
tenant security the rental sector is not a secure form of tenancy
whereby people can make a long term home as tenants are left living in
constant fear and threat of eviction and homelessness.
The rental strategy proposal actually gives landlords a potential
incentive for evicting existing tenants. Properties that are renovated or
not let for two years are exempt from the rental restrictions so a
landlord could evict lower paying tenants, engage in renovations (or
leave it idle for two years) and then get new tenants in and charge them
much higher rents - which gives the landlord a bigger return over the
long term. The Rental Strategy in fact could worsen security of tenure
and homelessness through its proposal for a fast track processto
enable landlords to regain possession quickly where the non-payment
of rent constitutes the grounds for termination.
Finally, the strategy does not address the fundamental issue of the
current unaffordability of rents. Rents are already too high. So rather
than facilitating a further increase in rents there needs to be a strategy
to reduce rents. An affordable rent is around 20% of your disposable
income. Yet tenants are paying 50% and more on their rent and as a
result are going without basic necessities in order to cover their housing
costs.
Flawed approach to achieve supply
The governments principal policy approach to achieve affordability is to
increase supply. As the strategy states:
Ultimately, the most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the
medium to long term, with benefits for the entire sector, is to increase
supply.
But in order to increase supply, the government argues, you have to
make the building and provision of rental property (and similarly they
make the case for property for house purchase) economically viable i.e.
sufficiently profitable to entice developers and financiers. And to do that
you have to provide them a sufficient return that is why the 4% level
is set and, more importantly, that is why new property is being excluded
from the restrictions. It is to make the Irish rental sector attractive for
global property and financial speculative investors.
So government policy is to allow and facilitate increased rents (and

house prices) to make the Irish rental and housing property market
attractive i.e. hugely profitable to entice private investors, developers
and financiers (many large global wealth funds) to increase supply
which will, down the line, according to the government achieve reduced
rents and prices.
But this is a flawed and clearly contradictory approach as prices and
rents that have been increased to encourage supply are not going to be
reduced by investors and landlords any time soon and, ultimately, there
is no guarantee that increased private market supply of housing leads to
reduced rents and prices. The governments policy approach is based
on the theory of the ideal free market laws of price equilibrium being
reached when supply meets demand under assumptions of unrestricted
competition. But this is theoretical neoliberal nonsense. In the real
housing world, there is significant monopoly control over major parts of
the housing system by private speculative interests who hold large
amounts of land, control over the building process and own large
amounts of buildings. They hoard land and allow asset price
appreciation and they fix prices so that even with incentives they do
not necessarily build and increase supply and the supply they provide
is always aimed at profit maximising not provision of affordable
housing.
What this shows is that it is only the government the state that can
guarantee the provision (supply) of affordable housing and homes. This
government is doing everything it can to avoid this reality and instead is
focused on increasing the profitability of landlords, developers,
financiers, and global wealth funds.
An alternative strategy for affordable homes: A 'New Deal' for
housing
What is needed to provide affordable rental and homes for ownership is
a Roosevelt-like New Deal for housing. A massive state-led house
building and renovation programme that provides 30,000 affordable
homes per year. It could be done through a new affordable housing
state authority like the ESB delivered electricity across Ireland that
would launch a new housing tenure community affordable housing
involving housing for a broad range of income groups from the lowest
income to average and above average income workers. It would use the
huge existing land banks including that of NAMA to build mixed
income affordable community homes for rent and ownership. Crucially
though, the land and housing would always be held in trust by the state
and not sold on the market owners could sell it back to the trust
housing wold thus be kept affordable. Local authorities, housing
associations and co-operative housing associations could do it directly

or through arms-length trusts. It is cost-neutral as the state can borrow
at very low interest rates and it would make a return from the range of
rents and ownership models. It would also direct some of the 500 million
going to private landlords back to the state. It could purchase and bring
it to use the 35,000 vacant homes in wider Dublin area, and the 27,042
buy-to -lets in arrears (and derelict sites and land being hoarded by
vulture funds, NAMA and developers.
Rental Strategy privatises much-needed public land
This is what the public land of local authorities should be used for and
not, as the Strategy for the Rental Sector outlines, to be sold to private
developers and speculators providing build-to-rent. The proposal to sell
off local authority lands is the most serious mistake (and indeed
tragedy) in the rental strategy and the governments wider housing plan.
Page 15 of the strategy outlines that, in order to "Kick-start supply in
rent pressure zones Lands held by local authorities in rent pressure
zones will be brought to market on a competitive tendering basis, with a
view to leveraging the value of the land to deliver the maximum number
of units for rental targeting middle income private rental households".
This is a shameful use of public land selling it cheaply for global
vulture funds to provide unaffordable housing. As the strategy notes
through this land subsidy for private developers and financiers the cost
of providing rental units will be permanently reduced by lowering the
initial investment and development costs for providers. Local
authorities are being given immediate instruction, by end January 2017,
to identify a number of sites with the potential for up to 1,000 units of
accommodation and will move forward, as soon as possible, to issue
calls for proposals from parties interested in developing rental
accommodation for middle income households. As the report notes
these developments are potentially a major engine of growth of supply
for the rental sector by tapping new sources of finance from institutional
investors such as pension funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts.
The ironic thing is the private interests who will get below market land
from the state will then not be subject to the 4% restriction rent caps as
they will be providing new housing. This is the same approach being
used in the land initiative for public land in social housing estates like O
Devaney Gardens and St Michaels Estate. This is a new form of Public
Private Partnership, but as in the previous housing PPPs, the value of
the land will be appropriate in the main by the developers and
financiers.
Political Choice and Public Attitudes-time of opportunity
So there is a clear political choice here. To focus, as the government is,

on achieving supply through global wealth investors, vulture landlords
and speculative property finance- or the state to lead in a historic
programme of providing affordable homes for rent and ownership. One
approach will enshrine unaffordable rental and house prices into the
future and associated poverty and financial stress for large sections of
our population. It will increase economic inequality as wealth is
transferred from the lower income groups in Ireland (renters, young
people, first time buyers) to the top 10% wealth holders (from Ireland
and across the world). the other approach can deliver and guarantee
the human right to housing for all our citizens. It is a choice the
government, and we as a country, have to make. But it is one that
where we already know the outcomes for each path.
It is important to note that the proposed rent restrictions are not a policy
this government wanted or wants to introduce. But the government has
left (and caused) the housing crisis reach such a disastrous point that it
is has become a major political issue. New housing pressure groups
have formed that are being very effective in not just bringing attention
within the media and wider public to the plight of people in the rental
sector but are also, for the first time in Ireland, importantly organising
tenants into active public campaigns. Notable here are the Dublin
Tenants Association and the new trade union alliance and Uplift
campaign around rent certainty and security. And the most recent
Eurobarometer, 2016, which surveys peoples views across Europe,
shows that for Irish people housing is their first priority concern (in
contrast to being the 11th position concern across Europe). 45% of
people in Ireland citied it as their first priority which is up from 34% in
2015 (in contrast, EU wide just 8% cited it as their priority concern). This
shows the opportunity for a radical change in policy as there is strong
public support for bold government action (such as outlined above a
New Deal affordable community homes programme) to guarantee
affordable, secure, and high quality homes for all in Ireland.
http://www.progressiveeconomy.ie/2016/12/rentalstrategy-insufficient-for.html
Free childcare scheme for

children affected by
homelessness
Figures show over 2,177 children are among those accessing
emergency accommodation
NEWS
The Government is to launch a new childcare scheme for

children affected by homelessness.
Children's Minister Dr Katherine Zappone, who has just
returned from an official visit to Greece, will announce details
of the scheme on Thursday.
It is being billed as a "major initiative" by the department.
In a statement Wednesday, Minister Zappone said: "This
initiative grew as a direct response to issues raised by people
who are homeless, frontline organisations and campaigners
during a summit - hosted in my office during the summer.
"Since then my officials have been working in partnership with
Dublin City and County Childcare Committees and Focus
Ireland for the roll out of a scheme which will benefit children
and their families on a daily basis.
"It is my hope that the details we will announce will help ease
the huge childcare burden on families impacted by the current
crisis", she added.
Figures from Focus Ireland show there are 6,525 people
'officially homeless' in Ireland.
This figure includes adults and children with their families.
The number of families becoming homeless has increased by
over 40% since last year - and one in three of those in
emergency accommodation is now a child.
In June 2016, there were over 1,000 families accessing

emergency accommodation, which included over 2,177
children.
The Invasion of European Countries by

Non EU Illegal Immigration TTIP
BLACK Trade
Jan 5, 2015
Video sources:
Is this enough ammo for SHTF ? (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpN2z...
Stockpiling Ammunition Responsibly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5TpP...
7 Year Old's First Time Shooting AR-15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMuv...
Fight Like a Girl? Watch This Little Girl Shoot Like a BOSS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f8Vm...
11 Year Old Girl Shooting AR 15 at 100 Yards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwCj7...
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?
v=HnJZ2haLPCw
A priest in Italy has caused uproar after announcing
there would be no Christmas nativity scene at the
local cemetery this year because it could offend
Muslims and atheists.
Fr Sante Braggi said there would be no crib in the cemetery in
the northern city of Cremona because it may anger people of
others faiths or none whose relatives are buried there.
A small corner of the cemetery is reserved for Muslim
graves, Fr Braggi said. A crib positioned within sight of
them could be seen as a lack of respect for followers of other
faiths, hurt the sensibilities of Muslims, as well as Indians and
even atheists.
He also cited a lack of council workers to set up the crib as
another reason for abandoning the tradition.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/12/italy-priest-bansnativity-scene-for-fear-of-offending-muslims
Some 131 refugees

set to land on Irish
shores before
Christmas
And the country is set to welcome 80
migrants a month next year
BY ANGELA MULLIN 12th December 2016,
Some 131 refugees are expected to land on Irish
shores from camps in Greece before Christmas,

according to Minister Katherine Zappone.
The Minister for Children has said from the start of 2017,
this country will take in approximately 80 refugees a
month.
The Minister is preparing to welcome the new arrivals
She told Morning Ireland that the Government is

considering putting a call out to charities, agencies and
churches to check there will be enough accommodation
for the new arrivals.
She also said the country is readying itself to deal with
underage refugees who may land here without their
parents.
Zappone said: Our officials have assured us that before
Christmas we will be receiving another 131 refugees, and
that we would anticipate having the full number of
refugees coming from Greece and Italy, in the resettlement
programme, by the end of 2017. Thats about 2,600 of the
4,000.
Earlier this year, Ireland pledged to take in 4,000 refugees.
Zappone is currently on a three-day visit to Greece to visit
camps where those who fled to Europe are currently
staying.
The Minister is currently in Greece preparing for the new

refugees
Gardai and officials were interviewing potential candidates

for resettlement to Ireland she said.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/287083/some-131-refugeesset-to-land-on-irish-shores-before-christmas/
I think I am a human being living as one of the PEOPLE on

this land! (Therefore I am!)
Recently WE THE PEOPLE bailed out the banks.
I now see POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, IGNORANCE ,,,,more
rife than ever! The PEOPLE need a BAILOUT!
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THE BANKS BAIL US OUT! (Well I
do anyway....who's with me

Minister
It looks like many of these guys have skin in the game, and
maintaining a housing shortage by not building, and
unchecked immigration, results in increased demand for any
houses or apartments coming on the rental market - win, win,
for the landlord class, and of course the Revenue who get 51%
of the take.
This approach assists these landlords, who more than likely
would have invested in these properties at the top end of the
boom in house prices, and maintaining high rents at the
present level is helping them to pay off their mortgages.
FF/FG/Labour are happy with the present situation, making

young Irish first-time workers and Irish families trying to
access accommodation, the first to suffer. The rest are
somehow looked after and housed by our various PC liberal
oriented Government, state agencies and quangos.
Not hard to figure out. google_ad_section_end
Last edited by BACKTOBASICS; 8th December 2016
Dont you love non landlords telling everyone that they know exactly
how everything works.
Landlords are paying up to 51% on profit rent and still have to pay
the mortgage.
Hard to believe that facing an extra 11% in taxes and LPT that rents
have gone up substantially.
Yeah, then you've got the hassle of getting rid of problem

tenants, the board always take their side.
Whole narrative in the media is 'greedy landlords exploit the
poor' - as if its 1849 or something.
Then people wonder why there's a shortage. Give me a break.
Why would you bring in something that increases demand while
reducing supply?
Oh here is another Junior Cert business-level student. Listen

here, bucko. The normal rules of supply and demand do not
apply when Landlords can accumulate whatever they
would make by renting a second house simply by
increasing the current cost of their first property.
Apartments in Kilmainham increased in price by 70% from
2011 to 2016. 70%. The house next to me went from 1100
to 2000 in three years.
The fact that the Government have thrown open the gates to
immigration from every corner of the globe doesn't help
things. They reckon there are 30,000 short-term migrants in
Dublin alone. 30,000 more are undocumented/illegal. All of
this makes rent surge.
Why would a Landlord invest in a new property when they're
making enough as it is? How would his tenant ever buy a
house anyway? It is a rent circle. It doesn't break through "the
benevolence of the noble Landlord." Get a grip.
Capping rental growth at the rate of inflation will result in less

construction of new homes, which will ultimately damage us more. If
the state wanted to make housing affordable it must tackle the
supply issue under three simple headings:
No social houses were built under AK-47. Until we accept that

the Government has an active part in maintaining and
perpetuating the rent crisis, it will not be resolved.
No rent caps. No rent certainty. Tax breaks for Landlords. No
active participation in building houses.
It is a situation that is wholly anti-capitalist and reflects the
worst case of State intervention. Actively against the people's
interests.
Just introduce mortgage tax breaks for landlords as previously.
Maybe just on apartments to avoid sending house prices spiralling.
Would increase supply immediately.
Why would anyone bother being a landlord these days. Endless
hassle, taxed to hell.
You people are working off logical economics.

The Irish Government and their Landlords have no desire to
increase the number of households. A huge amount of TDs are
neck-deep in the rental market.
Wake up.
Lets give a basic example for non landlords
Mortgage 300,000
Interest 4% pa
Service Charge 2,000
Mortgage repayment 1,800 per month
Rent 2,000
What is the landlords cash flow ?
What is the landlords after tax income ?
Tenants who stop paying

rent can live 'free' for 18
months
Charlie Weston Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
23/07/2014 | 02:30
1
Landlords claim renters can escape without paying rent for a year
and a half
Tenants who stop paying the rent and play

the system can effectively live in a property
rent-free for up to a year-and-a-half,
landlords have claimed.

1
They have criticised the system for dealing with problem

tenants and the Private Residential Tenancies Board
(PRTB), which regulates the sector.
A number of landlords, who inherited property or are
renting out their home after moving back in with their
parents, complained about delays in getting
determinations from the PRTB, being left without rent but
still having to pay mortgages, and tenants ignoring
requests to pay arrears.
The PRTB was set up to replace the courts in disputes
between landlords and tenants and operates on a quasijudicial basis.
Margaret McCormick of the Irish Property Owners'
Association said there was a growing problem of tenants
building up rent arrears, with others engaged in anti-social
behaviour but refusing to move out.
"If they don't pay your rent they can stay in the property
for a year-and-a-half by playing the system and using the
legislation. It is a nightmare for landlords as it protects the
people who break the rules," she said,
The group, which has 5,000 landlord members, said the
process of taking a case against a tenant refusing to pay
rent is long and cumbersome, and subject to appeal. The
whole process can take 18 months.
Enforced
Even when the PRTB reaches a determination its order
can only be enforced though the circuit court, she said.
"A landlord can do nothing until this process has been
completed, and in the meantime forgoes rental payments,
access to their dwelling and incurs ongoing costs
associated with the dwelling."
She said landlords cannot force people out as the fine for
an illegal eviction is 20,000.
Most landlords in Ireland own just one property, while
around 475,000 people now rent, up 46pc since 2006.
Dublin-based landlord Ciara Kennedy said her tenant
stopped paying the rent in May last year, leaving her to

pay 11,000 in mortgage repayments in the meantime.
"I went through the usual channels of notifying her that
she was in arrears. She didn't heed the notification to pay
so I lodged a dispute with the PRTB," Ms Kennedy said.
She said the PRTB had done little to help her and she was
still waiting for a determination.
A spokesman for the PRTB said: "The board takes very
seriously the issue of non-compliance with its orders and
since 2012 has referred some 900 cases to its legal
advisers (Eversheds) for formal enforcement through the
courts."
It has obtained in excess of 300 court orders to date, he
added. Most of these orders relate to landlord cases for
rent arrears. Another 30pc of cases were taken by tenants
seeking the return of deposits.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/tenants-whostop-paying-rent-can-live-free-for-18-months-30452306.html
Coveney writes letter to

Fianna Fil offering to
change rent plan
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
14/12/2016
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http://www.newstalk.com/Fre
e-childcare-scheme-forchildren-affected-byhomelessness
Here's what you need to

know about the latest iOS
update
Apple has added in a whole host of new features, including
100 new emoji!
NEWS
Share to LinkedIn
iOS 10 arrived earlier this year and brought with it some

of the biggest changes we've seen to the operating
system since it was first released. Apple unveiled iOS
10.2 last night and here's what you can expect when you
update.
Wallpapers
Apple has added three new wallpapers that can be used on
the new phone models; iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Each has
its own name - Droplet Blue, Droplet Red and Droplet Yellow.
100 New Emoji
You may well wonder if there's any real need for 100 more
emjoi, but you're getting them anyway! The new emoji
additions include male and female versions of firefighters and
judges.
"Press and Hold to Speak
You'll find Press and Hold to Speak within the Settings app >
General > Accessibility > Home Button. This allows you to
activate Siri or Voice Control when you press and hold
the circular home button.
Videos Widget
Apple has added a new widget for videos to the lock screen.
This widget will show you the latest videos recorded to the
device.
Headphones Icon
You'll find a small headphones icon in the status bar, which will
indicate when the headphones are connected. This is very
helpful for those of us using Bluetooth headphones.
http://www.newstalk.com/He
res-what-you-need-to-knowabout-the-latest-iOS-update
Apple Sidesteps
Billions in Taxes,
Heres How
Apple has established subsidiaries in locations that
offer low or zero taxation rates., and have created
corporate strategies in which clearly takes
advantage of the taxation loopholes. Should we
congratulate them or not?
By IT Ninja December 14, 2016
We all know that Apple is the worlds most successful

and profitable technology company based in Reno,
Nevada. However, the company doesnt design their
iPhone there, neither does the company run their
AppleCare Customer service from the city, nor does
this technology giant manufacture their MacBooks,
iPads, iAnything anywhere near there.

However, with only a handful of employees working at
the Reno location, the techno giant has managed to
pull off something crucial to the companys operations.
Apple has managed to avoid paying several millions of
dollars in taxes in California, as well as 20 other
states.
Apples headquarters are nested in Cupertino,
California, and by placing an office merely 200 miles
away in Reno, the side office is charged with collecting
and investing the companys profits. Going about it
this way allows Apple to sidestep the states income
taxes on some of their profits.
While Californias corporate taxation rate is 8.84%,
Reno has a taxation rate of 0.0%. All over the world,
offer low or zero taxation rates. Locations included in
the list are Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and
the British Virgin Islands.
Naturally, all corporations do their best at minimizing
their taxes. Its human nature. However, for our
friends at Apple the savings ratio on their taxes are
alarming given their extremely high profit yields.
According to Wall Street analysts, Apple is capable of
yielding $45.6 billion in the current fiscal year. If they
accomplish this, itll set a new record for any
American-based business.
Apple is serving as a mentor on how large technology
companies can take advantage of tax codes. Some
profits for large companies including Apple, Google,
Amazon, HP, and Microsoft have derived their profits
not from that of physical goods, but from
royalties coming in from their intellectual property.
Such property includes patents on programs that
makes different devices operate.
Even when comparing against other tech companies,
Apples taxation rates are ridiculously low. Yes, Apple
has remade several industries, helped ignite economic
growth, and has enlightened their customers.

But theyve also created corporate strategies in which
clearly take advantage of the taxation
loopholes. Using a special type of accounting
technique, also known as the Double Irish With a
Dutch Sandwich, the company avoids high taxes by
routing their profits through their Irish subsidiaries
and then via the Netherlands before finally paying
their taxes when the money hits the Caribbean. And
now, in todays world, that very same tactic is used by
several large corporations.
http://anonhq.com/applesidesteps-billions-in-taxesheres-how/
Housing refugees in family
homes Positive Action in
Housing petition
We call on the British government to harness the goodwill
of those individuals and families who are willing to take
refugees into their homes and quickly resettle Syrian
refugees so that they may begin the process of rebuilding
their lives.
Thats the rallying cry of the Change.org petition launched by

Positive Action in Housing, the UK charity behind the Room for
Refugees scheme which whereby people offer to take
refugees into their own homes.
Running in partnership with 147 caseworkers from refugee
support agencies (including the British Red Cross and the
Refugee Council), they have over 3,000 fully-registered
refugee hosts across the UK, and since September 2015 the
scheme has provided over 12,000 nights of shelter for people
seeking asylum and refugees.
Theresa May the then UK Home Secretary told the Home
Affairs Select Committee that she would consider refugee
housing schemes. But nothing happened. Yesterdays report
from the committee revealed that under the Vulnerable
Persons Relocation Scheme, the UK Government has only
resettled 1,602 Syrian refugees since September 2015. This
falls far short of the 5,000 a year target.
Rooms for Refugees

emergency and humanitarian relief.
The scheme began in response to the increasing numbers of
destitute refugees coming to our drop in surgeries. They were

being left without basic human needs e.g. food, shelter, financial
means, emergency hostels, the right to work and recourse to
public funds.
This problem of enforced destitution as a way of forcing people to

leave the UK is not working. More and more refugees are being left
destitute. We want to prevent vulnerable people from being forced
to return to unsafe countries due to the dire situations they found
themselves in It makes a difference by giving vulnerable people
the breathing space to assess their options and secure the support
needed to gain a positive decision on their asylum claim or be
granted Leave to Remain.
As of February 2016, Rooms for Refugees have 2,800 refugee

hosts. And in the year since April 2015 they have provided
over five thousand nights of shelter to refugees in Scotland,
England and Wales.
Could you offer temporary

shelter to someone forced to
flee their country who does not
have the means to support
themselves ?
j
j
j
If so, you could be a host with Room for Refugees.

We receive referrals from the British Red Cross,
Refugee Council and established immigration and
asylum advice agencies. We assess all referrals
and we do not offer space to those with a history of
criminality, violence or substance abuse. We aim to
match guests who are seeking asylum in this
country with hosts offering a spare room.
Placements can be for as short or as long as you
choose. If you are interested in becoming a
host, please read the information below and then
complete the online registration form.
KEY FACTS
Room for Refugees was pioneered by Positive
Action in Housing in 2003. It is the longest
running refugee hosting scheme run by a
registered charity in the UK or Western
Europe.
We specialise in safe refugee hosting for
those facing emergency homelessness.
Room
for
Refugees went
viral
in
September 2015.
A major practical resource in terms of
a human
and
compassionate
approach
to supporting refugees to rebuild their lives
with an unrivaled level of pastoral support by
sharing what we have too much of in the
Western world.
We are accepting registration from potential
refugee hosts in Scotland , England, Ireland,
Wales, Northern Ireland, Western Europe,
Canada* and the U.S.*
We
are
building links
with
refugee
organisations across the globe.
Hundreds of families and individuals have so
far been assisted under the scheme, helping
us to give hope to thousands more

individuals and families and help them
achieve stability in their lives.
Fleur Houston addressed the Churches Refugee
Network conference in Coventry on Tuesday. The author of
You Shall Love the Stranger as Yourself: Biblical Challenges in
the Contemporary World took delegates on a tour of European
migration policy over the last 12-18 months.
You can listen back to Fleurs talk as well as read the fuller
version of her comments below.
She reminded us of the contrast between the welcome that the
relatively small number of resettled refugees receive and the
harsh treatment experienced by those who spontaneously
arrive and often treated as having engaged in criminal activity
even though they have as the Refugee Convention
acknowledges been obliged to use illicit means of entry to a
safe country.
Fleur finished by talking about fear: the fear felt by some
European citizens faced with uncertainty and
disempowerment, the erosion of public welfare, and the scale
and pace of cultural change; the the fear of those seeking
asylum as they encounter violence at the borders of Europe,
and worry about their children. She concludes that what is
needed is to quote human rights barrister Cian Murphy
not just the furious energy of activism but the ferocious power
of political love.
A ferocious power which is based on the repeated public
affirmation of the dignity of all human beings, of the calling to treat
all people with fairness and humanity, even if it is at cost to
oneself, a power that is learned and shaped in social interaction, a
determined commitment to political love.

How welcome now are refugees in Europe?
Fleur Houston, Coventry, 22 November 2016
Now is a small word, so small that it often passes unnoticed,
almost an apology for a word. Yet here it has particular weight.
For now, today, Germany, Hungary, Austria, France are facing
significant political elections. And the key issue for all four is
the extent to which they are prepared to welcome refugees.
Two days ago, Angela Merkel announced that she was going
to stand again as Chancellor of Germany. There was a
widespread sense of relief. After three terms in office she still
has high popularity ratings both within her own party and in
Germany as a whole. She is widely respected as being one of
the few political leaders in Europe to defend universal moral
values which she has summarized herself as: democracy,
freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity
of each and every person, regardless of their origin, skin
colour and creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views.
In 2015, with Europe in disarray, she emerged as guardian of
the principle of international asylum.
Mrs Merkel has made it clear that she and her government
were hit out of the blue by the mass movements of people that
were triggered by the conflicts of the Middle East. But she has
never distanced herself from the decision to open Germanys
borders to avert a humanitarian crisis in Hungary and has
always rejected calls for an upper limit to asylum seekers. She
has also rejected a banning of people on the basis of their
religious beliefs, claiming that this was incompatible with
Germanys constitution and her own partys ethical
foundations. Following a series of violent attacks on Germany
she affirmed that a rejection of the humanitarian stance we
took could have led to even worse consequences. Assailants,
she continued wanted to undermine our sense of community,

our open-ness and our willingness to help people in need. We
firmly reject this. Fear, she suggested, cannot be a substitute
for political action. Yet with the resurgence of the Far Right
party, Alternative fr Deutschland, which plays on fears about
immigration, she is nonetheless facing the toughest electoral
campaign of her career. By and large, at present German
citizens are displaying a can-do attitude. There is, its true, a
certain amount of local unease in villages about the scale and
speed of change. But by and large, they are proud of the
example they are setting other countries in Europe by making
refugees feel welcome.
There is greater ambivalence in Germanys neighbours. Take
Hungary. Viktor Orbans hard-line rhetoric about refugees led
last September to calls for Hungary to be expelled from the
EU; he built a fence to drive refugees back to Serbia people
were chased by dogs and beaten. He is now calling for a
second border fence allegedly to protect Hungary from
refugees. He vigorously opposed the EU project to relocate a
relatively small number of refugees in Hungary. And on 2
October he held a referendum, urging citizens to reject the
plan. It was a deliberate attempt to give political legitimacy to
his desire to exclude refugees. And he hoped that there would
be a series of copycat plebiscites in other countries of Europe.
In the Czech Republic, for instance where president Zemans
intemperate and offensive language about Muslim incomers
marks him out as a likely ally, or in Poland, or Slovakia, whose
leaders take their cue from Mr Orban. But Viktor Orban failed.
Spectacularly, the turnout fell short of the threshold, and the
vote was invalid. A majority of Hungarian citizens had refused
to support their prime ministers attitude to refugees. And so,
while the impasse regarding EU common asylum policy is
likely to continue, Viktor Orbans ideological momentum at

European level has stopped.
Austria stands somewhere in between Germany and Hungary.
The two main candidates in the presidential election to be held
on 4 December are running neck and neck and the battle is
being fought largely over refugee policy. Mr Van der Bellen
has stressed Austrias obligations to integrate the newly
arrived refugees and is in favour of keeping Austrias borders
open; Mr Hofer, on the other hand, is stoking fears about
immigration and hatred of Muslims. The electorate is highly
polarised. The result will be crucial for European integration.
Can, will the people in just over a weeks time, declare that
they wish Austria to welcome refugees?
France too is in the early stages of a presidential election. And
here the right wing National Front has assumed a new aura of
political correctness under the disciplined leadership of Marine
Le Pen. It presents itself as the only true defender of Western
liberties and identifies Muslim immigrants as the primary
threat to the secular values of the Republic. It reshapes
national identity so as to exclude from nationhood those who
have legitimate claims. And its message is beginning to
resonate wildly with a fearful population, suffering from
terrorist attacks.
It is clear from these electoral campaigns that the values that
underpin civil society in Europe are under significant threat.
The voice of Europe which in the aftermath of the second
world war spoke out so strongly for human rights and refugee
protection, is now in danger of being stifled by a strident
rhetoric of Islamophobia and xenophobia; the open borders
which were till recently a sign of free association are now
blocked by barbed wire and fences, and patrolled by security
guards, police with batons, primed not to protect, but to
exclude.
The second point I would like to make is that while a small
number of refugees are welcomed by western democratic
states through programmes of resettlement, spontaneous
arrivals are likely to be treated harshly and induced to leave.
To arrive by unauthorized means is seen by many people as
criminality. Yet as the Refugee Convention acknowledges,
refugees may be obliged to use illicit means of entry to a safe
country. They may never have had documentation or their
papers may have been lost or destroyed in the chaotic
circumstances of their flight. In consequence, host countries
shall not impose penalties. Yet to enter the UK without
papers or with false documentation supplied by a smuggler is
consistently seen by border officials as criminal activity or a
threat to national security.
These spontaneous arrivals are perceived to carry a criminal
virus to a civilized world. Not only do they flout national
boundaries, they typically consort with criminal smuggling
gangs to do so. But they may have little choice. Many are
fleeing for their lives. They may spend their life savings on
securing the services of a people smuggler to take them and
their families to safety in Europe. This may involve a journey
across the desert in a rickety vehicle or across the
Mediterranean or Aegean seas in an unsuitable craft.
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children die on
the way. While Italian coast-guards, Greek fishermen and
other philanthropic individuals do what they can, acting on the
basic moral instinct that when people need help, you save
them, toddlers are still being washed up on the beaches while
the nations of Europe argue over who has responsibility for
sea rescue.
As the catastrophe continues to unfold, Europe continues to
build fences. Some of these are diplomatic. Take the Dublin

system. Under this regulation, refugees must claim asylum in
the first country they reach. But this is under severe strain.
Those who survive the journeys from North Africa or SE
Europe arrive in Italy and Greece who are increasingly unable
to support such an influx on their own. The need to move
beyond Dublin is obvious, but so far, there is no collective will
in Europe to do so. So many refugees are forced to settle in
squalid camps, depending for survival on the good will of
volunteers and charitable organizations. It was the images of
children, not in Greece or in Italy, but in the Jungle camp in
Calais that first brought home to many people Britains
institutional violence and inhumanity.
I would like to make one final point. Political relationships are
highly emotional. 2016 has been characterised so far by fear
and anger. Faced with uncertainty and disempowerment, the
erosion of public welfare, and the scale and pace of cultural
change, many inhabitants of European countries are afraid.
Asylum has come to be seen by them as a proxy for foreign
brutality and alien values impinging on western life. Refugees,
especially Muslim refugees, are seen as a threat. Politicians
often play into such fears by linking extremist terrorism with
EU border policy, and an increasing emphasis on sovereignty
and security concerns has meant that humanitarian concerns
for refugees have had to take a back seat.
And those who are seeking asylum are also afraid. They are
afraid of the violence they encounter at the borders of Europe,
they fear for their children, they fear to return. They and their
advocates are angry at perceived injustices. Such fear and
anger has its uses, it can drive demos, petitions, litigation. It
can challenge unfair practices and lead to changes in
government policy. But in itself it is not enough. In the end it
stokes more fear and anger and eventually consumes the

fearful and angry. What is needed at present and I quote the
human rights barrister Cian Murphy, is not just the furious
energy of activism but the ferocious power of political love. A
ferocious power which is based on the repeated public
affirmation of the dignity of all human beings, of the calling to
treat all people with fairness and humanity, even if it is at cost
to oneself, a power that is learned and shaped in social
interaction, a determined commitment to political love
http://focusonrefugees.org/republicof-ireland/
Deputy Robert Troy asked the

Minister for Justice and Equality her
plans to ensure that refugees who
come to Ireland will be integrated
into the communities in which they
are sent; and if she will make a
Answer
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy

Frances Fitzgerald): The Deputy will be aware
that the Government took a decision to establish
the Irish Refugee Protection Programme on 10
September 2015 as a direct response to the EU
migrant crisis. Ireland has agreed to accept
approximately 4,000 persons in total under
resettlement and relocation programmes by the
end of 2017. The figure of 4,000 includes
approximately 2,600 persons to be taken in from
migration hotspots in Italy and Greece under the
new EU programme and 520 programme refugees
from Lebanon and Jordan, which the Irish
Government has committed to taking in by the end
of 2016 under Ireland's Refugee Resettlement
programme. The mechanism by which the balance
of the 4,000 will be taken in, has yet to be decided
by Government.
Among the measures agreed under the programme
was the establishment of a network of Emergency
Reception and Orientation Centres which will be
used to provide emergency accommodation and
meet the basic needs of the 4,000 people who are
expected to arrive over the next two years. Also
among the measures announced was the
establishment of a cross-Departmental Taskforce,
chaired by my Department, to coordinate and

implement the logistical and operational aspects
associated with the Irish Refugee Protection
Programme. This will include the provision of
emergency
accommodation
and
orientation
services in the first instance, and facilitating the
longer term integration needs of those with
refugee status through the provision of a
sustainable housing strategy, health services,
education, social welfare, and social inclusion
activities.
With specific regard to refugees arriving under
resettlement schemes, one hundred and seventy
six refugees arrived in the State under the
resettlement programme in 2015. Post arrival, the
'programme' refugees participate in a language
training
and
orientation
programme
for
approximately 8-10 weeks before being moved into
permanent accommodation in the community. The
resettlement team of the Office for the Promotion
of Migrant Integration convenes and supports a
local interagency working group which operates for
approximately 18 months after the transfer of the
refugees to the receiving community. Grants are
made to the receiving community for the
establishment of homework clubs, links with
sporting and other clubs and the employment of a
local resettlement person to support the refugees
during their first year in the community.
A similar integration strategy is being developed
within the Department of Justice and Equality for
the estimated 2,600 persons relocating to Ireland
from migration hotspots in Italy and Greece, once
they receive refugee status.
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PQ19-01-2016-300
Day of intercession in
memory of those who have
lost their lives
at the borders of the EU
Information, Intercessions and Ideas
http://www.ccme.be/fileadmin/filer/c
cme/20_Areas_of_Work/01_Refugee
_Protection/2016-06-08Intercession_day_June_2016.pdf
No homes for 2,470 of our children UN report shames our country
Monday, December 12, 2016
Irish Examiner Editorial
HOW many times does the Government have to be

reminded that the number of homeless children in Ireland
is a crisis that must be tackled with the utmost urgency?
It isnt as if the powers-that-be have not had constant

reminders.
In February 2016 the UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child told our Government it was deeply concerned at
reports of families affected by homelessness facing
significant delays in accessing social housing and
frequently living in inappropriate, temporary or emergency
accommodation. Just last month the annual report of the
special rapporteur on child protection concentrated on
emergency accommodation, stating that policies need to
be more effective in responding to real needs in Ireland.
To mark International Human Rights Day on Saturday, the
ISPCC highlighted the fact that children who are homeless
in Ireland are worse off than those in similar circumstances
in the UK where emergency accommodation is very much
the exception rather than the norm.
Unlike in England, Wales and Scotland, children in Ireland
who are homeless do not have a right to temporary
accommodation and assistance. In England and Wales,
children have a right not only to assistance but also to
temporary accommodation that meets certain standards.
In Scotland there has been a ban on the use of B&B
accommodation since 2004, with similar bans in England
and Wales introduced more recently.
ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long gives one startling
statistic: In the month of October alone, 44 children
became newly homeless thats the equivalent of more

than one classroom.
The figures of children who are homeless continue to
rise, says Ms Long. The right to an adequate standard of
living is a critical right for all children including those
who are homeless and living in emergency
accommodation. The state must, therefore, ensure limited
use of emergency accommodation, similar to neighbouring
jurisdictions.
But it doesnt, despite the fact that unlike Britain we
passed a referendum on childrens rights and later
enshrined it in law. It was passed in November 2012 and,
while the main thrust of the referendum concerned
adoption, guardianship and custody, it contains the
following provision: The State recognises and affirms the
natural and imprescriptible rights of all children and shall,
as far as practicable, by its laws protect and vindicate
those rights.
Our stated commitment to childrens rights as human
rights goes back even further than that, to our
Constitution in 1937 and the 1948 UN Declaration of
Human Rights.
We have a habit of enshrining noble ideals in our domestic
laws and then doing little or nothing to implement them.
It should never be forgotten that childrens rights are
human rights.
There are now 2,470 homeless children in Ireland. The
liklihood is that they will remain so for Christmas. That a
national scandal of international proportions.
Human rights group call on Ireland to

show "moral leadership" on refugee
issue
Thursday, April 21, 2016
By Caroline O'Doherty
Senior Reporter
The States independent human rights watchdog has

criticised Irelands support for the EU-Turkey deal on the
return of refugees and migrants.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said the

agreement represented a disturbing European trend of
regression from fundamental human rights values.
It called on Ireland to show moral leadership in pushing
to replace it with real protections for people fleeing Syria
and other conflict zones. It said Ireland must improve its
offer to take in 4,000 refugees by the end of 2017.
A meeting of the European Parliaments civil liberties,
justice and home affairs committee takes place today to
review the agreement a month after it came into force,
allowing refugees and migrants arriving on Greek islands
via Turkey to be sent back before they get a chance to
apply for asylum, with the intention that for each person
returned, someone in an official refugee camp in Turkey
would be resettled somewhere in Europe.
The commission said preventing refugees from seeking
asylum and returning them to Turkey where their safety
was in doubt ignored the EUs duty to protect people
fleeing persecution. Offering protection to people fleeing
systematic human rights violations is not optional, nor is it
charity. It is a matter for Ireland and the EU of legal and

moral obligation. The Irish government, and the EU, have
failed to adequately meet this obligation, it said.
It added the drowning this week of hundreds of African
migrants in the Mediterranean showed the problem would
not be solved by addressing the Greek-Turkey route alone.
Letter from Human Rights

Campaigners
L
L
L
Dear Deputy,
On 22nd March 2016 the Acting Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, will report
to the Dil on the meeting of the European Council attended by himself
and Acting Minister of State, Dara Murphy TD, in Brussels on 17 and 18
March 2016.
As a group of organisations we are seeking your commitment to the
following:
Outlining the concerns about the EU-Turkey deal and the ways in which
it will place people at risk and undermine Irelands commitment to its
international obligations
Ensuring greater participation in the relocation of asylum seekers and
resettlement of refugees
Advocating for an increase in the number of refugees allowed to settle
in Ireland
The EU-Turkey deal

We are calling on you, as a newly elected TD in the 32nd Dil, to take
the opportunity in the Dail on Tuesday 22nd March to outline why the
EU-Turkey deal, agreed at theEuropean Council on 17/18 March 2016,
is unjust and unworkable and will not address the current refugee crisis.
The deal will see the return of irregular migrants arriving in Greece
from midnight on 20th March 2016 to Turkey. The policy agreed by the
European Council will have a huge impact on the lives of very
vulnerable people seeking safety in the EU and has potential far
reaching consequences for our obligations under international law and
risks breaching the fundamental right to seek asylum.
The agreement on 18th March 2016 followed a decision of the
European Council on 29th November 2015 to provide 3bn to Turkey to
prevent people crossing to Greece. Despite that agreement, nearly
2000 people continued to make the crossing on a daily basis. In
addition, the attempts made by the Turkish authorities to deter people
from crossing have been shown to put lives at risk.
The deal is premised on the understanding no decisions will be taken
unless they are fully compliant with EU and international law. Given the
current situation in both Greece and Turkey, it is difficult to accept that
such statements are grounded in reality. The whole emphasis of the

European Councils decision is that of return as opposed to the
settlement of refugees who have arrived or will arrive in Greece. It has
been estimated that Greece will require 4000 personnel in order to
properly register and accommodate asylum seekers, assess the
admissibility and if necessary determine claims for international
protection and process appeals against negative decisions and
removals. At the time the European Council took the decision on
18th March 2016, an estimated 45,000 people were trapped in Greece,
unable to move to other EU countries because of border closures. The
UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has previously estimated that 90% of
those arriving in Greece from Turkey are from the top 10 refugee
producing countries, including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
There is therefore a real possibility of one of two consequences arising
from the EU-Turkey deal on returns to Turkey: either Greece will grant
refugee status to the majority of those who have or will arrive in the
country or they will be returning prima facierefugees to Turkey where
they will face an uncertain future. Turkey has not only already
accommodated 2.7 million refugees, many without the ability to support
themselves, it has also not signed the Protocol to the Refugee
Convention and is itself facing challenges to its own security. The
agreement to provide resettlement for every Syrian national registered
in Turkey for every one returned from Greece itself (one in, one out) is
alarming and has very little chance of success. The agreement already
in place to resettle refugees from Lebanon and Jordan in EU states is
already well below target. Furthermore, the emphasis on resettlement
from Turkey of those who have not previously entered or attempted to
travel to the EU is punitive, undermining the right to seek asylum and
exacerbating the trauma which many refugees have already
experienced in taking flight and being forced to take perilous journeys.
International organisations have been highly critical of the proposal to
enter into this agreement with Turkey. These include Human Rights
Watch, Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees
and Exiles, Oxfam International and Medecins Sans Frontieres. Given
that the plan to return people to and resettle people from Turkey has no
real prospect of success, the questionable legality of the deal and the
reality that many will continue to travel to and be trapped in Greece, we
would welcome an opportunity to work with a joint Oireachtas group on
real alternatives to the EU-Turkey deal.
Irelands participation in relocation and resettlement

schemes
Even if the EU-Turkey deal remains in place, Ireland could and should
be doing much more to honour its commitment to previous agreements
on relocation and resettlement and increase the number of refugees
that it is willing to take.
Ireland opted-in to the European Agenda on Migration and made a
voluntary commitment to accept 4000 people, over 1000 of which are

due to be resettled from Lebanon and Jordan and just under 3000 from
Greece and Italy. To date, according to the information available to us,
only 10 people (one family) have been relocated from Greece and less
than 300 from Lebanon and Jordan. We would ask you to ensure that
the government fulfils the commitments that it entered into in 2015 and
increases the rate of relocation and resettlement, particularly given the
immense pressures on Greece and the inhumane conditions in some
parts of the country. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) has
recently indicated that the numbers applying for asylum in Greece have
increased significantly and many more are now willing to be considered
for relocation. Given the inevitable delays in putting resources in place
to deal with the new EU-Turkey deal, both relocation and resettlement
from Jordan and Turkey can be implemented without delay.
In addition, given the pressures on the countries surrounding Syria, we
would ask you to call on the government to increase the available
places for resettlement of refugees from outside the EU. By comparison
to the population of other EU countries, Ireland has not yet taken an
equal proportion of refugees, despite a clear indication from Irish people
that refugees are indeed welcome in Ireland.
Ireland will co-host an international conference on the migration crisis
at the UN in September 2016. The invitation to co-host with Jordan is an
indication of the respect in which Ireland is held in the wider
international community. We cannot now undermine our international
good standing by not taking a full and active role in the current
humanitarian crisis and fail to fully participate in both relocation and
resettlement. Thank you for your consideration of this. We look forward
to receiving your response.
We trust that you will endeavour to use the debate on Tuesday 22
March 2016 and your presence in the Dil to raise these concerns and
seek Irelands full and proper participation in resolving the current
refugee crisis in a manner that is in full compliance with our international
human rights obligations.
Yours faithfully,
Action Aid
Comlmh
Community Work Ireland
Conference of Religious of Ireland
Cultr
Doras Luimn
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Irish Missionary Union
Irish Refugee Council
Mercy International Association
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
http://immigrantcouncil.ie/pages/arti
cles/2016/10
Slow intake by Ireland and human rights
fears about EU plan must be addressed in
Dil statement
Statement by the Immigrant Council of Ireland

Serious human rights concerns over Ireland and the EUs
response to the refugee crisis must be answered by acting
Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dil this morning (Tues March
21st 2016), according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council says there are a number of issues of urgent
concern including the low number of refugees arriving
here despite commitments to offer protection to 4,000
people as well as fears that the deal reached between the
EU and Turkey is a threat to human rights.
The Immigrant Council says the fact that a caretaker
Government is in power does not absolve Ireland from its
responsibilities.
Brian Killoran, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council of
Ireland said:
Our political leaders must accept that a humanitarian
crisis needs a humanitarian response and meeting needs
of men, women and children fleeing war and terror must
be central if any solution is to be found.
When the acting Taoiseach makes his Dil statement this
morning he must address concerns around the latest EU
plan and also Irelands response.
Deputy Kenny must clarify what measures are in place to
ensure the deal reached with Turkey will not lead to illegal
mass deportations or undermine the right for people in
danger to seek asylum.
An update on the progress Ireland is making on meeting
its own commitments to refugees is also required. Last
September in response to public outrage the Government
agreed to accept 4,000 refugees yet to date plans have
only been advanced to take 5% of that figure.
In addition the search and rescue operations of the navy
must be urgently restarted as the need for the expertise of
our officers and crews is again great.
Despite recent political spin this crisis is far from over
two children a day are drowning on the Mediterranean
while we are close to 500 lives being lost so far this year.
Even if we are a lonely voice in Europe, Ireland has a duty
to act with humanity and be an example to others. The
Taoiseach can start this process with his Dil statement
today.
ENDS
http://immigrantcouncil.ie/pages/articles/2016/10
Dil calls for Ireland to lead to protect child

and women refugees must be acted upon

Confirmation in the Dil that Ireland is to accept a further
31-refugees falls far short of the commitments made by
the Government last September, according to the
Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council also says that calls for Ireland to take an
international lead on ensuring that protections are in place
for women and children fleeing war and terror must lead
to action.
The Immigrant Council is warning that broad political
agreement in the Dil that Ireland should act with
humanity is not being followed through with action.
Ireland, said:
It is disappointing that the Government has only being
able to identify a further 31-refugees for resettlement here
to follow up on the 10 which have already arrived from the
hotspots of Greece and Italy.
The figures fall far short of the commitment last
September to take in 4,000 by the end of 2017.
Many speakers in the Dil debate highlighted the fact that

hundreds of people, including children travelling alone, are
stranded in camps in Northern France. We again call for
the Government to consider sending officials to the ferry
ports and see if refugees there can be offered protection
and hope here.
Ireland has a historic record of speaking up for the
voiceless and we echo the calls from TDs for a lead to be
taken in ensuring that measures are in place to protect
and safeguard the estimated 95,000 children travelling
alone within the EU and to find the 10,000 which are
missing.
The need for political leadership is great and we will work
with any new Government to ensure our promises to men,
women and children fearing for their lives are honoured,
and that they will find solidarity and hope in Ireland.
ENDS
Forming Ireland's response to the Refugee

and Migration Crisis
A Call to Action and Unity:

Forming Irelands response to the Refugee and Migration Crisis
Date: 9 & 10 June 2016
Venue: Emmet Theatre, Trinity Conference Centre, Trinity
College Dublin, Dublin 2
#ActionNow
Opening address by President of Ireland, Michael D.
Higgins
Globally, migration is at a crossroads. With 50 million
people experiencing displacement, and other forms of
migration increasing, the question of how individual states
and bodies such as the European Union react to a new
migration reality has never been more pressing. In a
context where people fleeing war, terrorism, human rights
abuses, climate change and poverty will take whatever
means are available to them to travel, however
dangerous, many believe that the expansion and
strengthening of legal migration channels, coupled with an
increased investment in integration and close cooperation
between state and non-state actors, is the future. What is
required is a sustainable response which informs a vision
of future global migration and respects human rights and
dignity.
This conference will consider the current refugee and
migration crisis and seek to inform a humanitarian
response, both nationally and at an EU level. The aim of
the dialogue is to share information and expertise and to
develop legal and policy strategies which place human
rights at the forefront of Irelands and the EUs response.
An overarching theme of the conference will be the need
for innovative responses to the current crisis which involve
close cooperation and collaboration between state actors,
non-governmental agencies and communities.
Key Speakers include:
Demetrios G. Papademetriou
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Co-Founder and President
Emeritus of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), and
President of MPI Europe

UNHCR Ireland
Mdicins Sans Frontires Ireland
Safe Passage UK
Italian Red Cross
Amnesty International Ireland
Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre

Discussions will include:
A high-level panel of speakers will provide an

overview on the governance challenges posed
Consideration of the experiences of NGOs working

on the frontline in various countries; exploration of the
strategies and responses that are being developed
A response from national stakeholders to the crisis
Promising practices in countries throughout the EU
National and international legal perspectives on

such issues as the EU-Turkey deal and the sustainability or
otherwise of the current European approach
An exploration and consideration of the responses

at EU level and the policy/legislative impact of the crisis
Following the conference the Immigrant Council of

Ireland will draft recommendations to form a Call to Action
and Unity in Ireland and the EU
Immigration
Reform and
Law Centre
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is an Independent Law
Centre under the Solicitors Acts, 1954 to 2002
(Independent Law Centres) Regulations 2006.
The Immigrant Councils legal team can provide assistance
and legal representation to individuals regarding their
immigration status. This is a free, but limited, service for
particularly complex situations or cases that give rise to
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specific policy concerns.

Our work with migrants through our Legal Service helps
inform and shape our policy development and campaign
work.
Clients are referred to our legal service through our
Information and Referral Service or via other practitioners
or organisations.
Because our capacity is limited, we select cases according
to our strategic litigation policy. Resourcing constraints
mean the legal service is not available in all cases. Cases
are selected according to the following criteria:
strategic importance of the case
merits of the case
availability of other advice and representation services
vulnerability of the client
financial means of the client
timing of referral
capacity
The Immigrant Council does not provide legal advice or
representation in relation to applications for refugee status
or subsidiary protection (with the exception of applications
relating to victims of trafficking).
The Immigrant Council of Ireland prioritises support for
migrants who have experienced human rights abuses in
this country. Among these most vulnerable migrants, we
have established special support for people in the
following categories:
women who have been trafficked to Ireland for the
purposes of sexual exploitation
women subjected to sexual exploitation within the sex
industry
victims of domestic violence
unaccompanied minors
The Immigrant Councils unique position as an
Independent Law Centre allows us to use our expertise in
the area of Irish immigration law to offer high quality legal
advice and representation to migrants who have
experienced human rights abuses. We can provide support
and advice to migrants in relation to their immigration
status in Ireland, their immigration-related dependency on
abusive family members and a range of issues facing
victims of trafficking, including liaison with An Garda
Sochna.
The purpose of the Immigrant Councils Specialist
Immigration Advocacy Service is to provide quick, holistic
and appropriate responses to the needs of vulnerable
clients. We are committed to ensuring confidential and
priority access to support services and legal advice. We
view our Specialist Immigration Advocacy Service as an
integral part of our overall strategy of working in
cooperation with other organisations to provide free,
confidential and reliable information, quality legal advice
and representation, as well as appropriate referrals as
necessary.
Contact can be made through the Immigrant Councils
Information and Referral Service on (01) 674
0200 between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays. The Information and Referral
Service is closed on Wednesdays.
The Refugee Legal Service (www.legalaidboard.ie) is
available to asylum or subsidiary protection applicants
who require a free legal advice service. The Refugee Legal
Service also provides legal aid and advice in appropriate
cases on immigration and deportation matters. Other nongovernmental organisations can also provide asylum or
subsidiary protection applicants with information and
support, for example, the Irish Refugee Council
(www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie) and The Integration
Centre (www.integrationcentre.ie).
We are grateful for the continued financial support to our
services from Pobal, the Department of the Environment,
Community and Local Government and the Programme,
the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2016-2019.
Political promises to those fleeing war,

exploitation and abuse must be priority"

The new Government must hit the ground running and
deliver on promises already made to men, women and
children fleeing war, people smugglers and human
traffickers, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council says the delays caused by months of political
uncertainty must be ended by honouring promises to
accept 4,000 refugees into Ireland and restarting the
Sexual Offences Bill with its measures to combat sex
trafficking.
The Immigrant Council says by acting swiftly the

Government can reassure those targeted by war-mongers,
smugglers and traffickers that they have at least one ally
in Europe.
Ireland added:
Now that its back to business for Irish politics it is time
for uncertainty and delays to be replaced by action. As a
frontline service provider and Independent Law Centre we
are calling for a number of long-standing political promises
to be delivered in the first 100 days.
Set out a firm timeline for the arrival of 4,000

refugees into Ireland as announced on the steps of
Government Buildings last September
Use Irelands voice at the EU and UN to demand

legal avenues for those fleeing war and terror to reach
safety and put humanitarian needs back on the top of the
agenda
Immediately recommence the stalled Sexual

Offences Bill and its measures to crush demand for sex
trafficking and a range of other crimes
The lack of political leadership and commitment to
address these issues has gone on far too long. The
Government now has an opportunity to fill that void and
show Ireland is a country which will again offer hope and
solidarity to some of the most vulnerable people on the
planet.
ENDS
cles/2016/10
Homeless children in Ireland worse
off than those in UK
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The ISPCC today said that children who are currently

homeless in Ireland are worse off than children who are
homeless in the UK.
The charity has raised concerns about the ongoing

placement of children in emergency accommodation and
the lack of standards associated with hotel use and the
duration of stays.
The ISPCC marked Human Rights Day today calling on the

state to put in place minimum legal protections for
homeless children, including a right to temporary
accommodation and advice and assistance; the
establishment of a programme of alternative
accommodation for homeless families to reduce the use of
emergency accommodation; and a commitment to outlaw
use of emergency accommodation for homeless children
from 2018 onwards.
The right to an adequate standard of living is recognised
in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to the October homelessness statistics from the
Department of Housing, there are currently 2,470 children
across the country who are experiencing homelessness,
an increase of 44 children in one month.
The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive further reported
that 1,608 children are living in emergency
accommodation in the Dublin region.
These children are worse off than children who are
homeless in the UK because they have fewer legal
protections, according to the charity.
ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long stated: The figures of
children who are homeless continue to rise. 44 children
are newly homeless this month, more than a class full of

children that will have no home this Christmas.
The right to an adequate standard of living is a critical
right for all children including those who are homeless
and living in emergency accommodation.
The state must therefore ensure limited use of
emergency accommodation, similar to neighbouring
jurisdictions, like Scotland.
ISPCC is concerned that the progress made so far to bring
forward alternatives to emergency accommodation in the
Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and
Homelessness is insufficient if the target of ceasing to use
emergency accommodation for children by mid 2017 is to
be met.
Urgent action is needed to heed the advice of the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child earlier this year, to
provide housing for homeless children, adequate to their
health and well-being."
A homeless charity in Dublin has issued an urgent appeal
for nappies and baby food.
The number of homeless families in Dublin has reached
over 1,000 for the first time ever and The Capuchin Day
Centre has seen a surge in demand for supplies.
About 90 families queue up every week for things like
nappies and formula and the charity will be handing out
thousands of hampers ahead of Christmas.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at the Capuchin Day

Centre - 29 Bow Street - Dublin 7
Brother Kevin Crowley runs the centre.
"Two days before Christmas we'll have a huge drive, we'll
have anything up to 3,000 for food parcels.
"So again, it's so sad in 2016 to think so many people are
coming here for food."
The Government has agreed to take in 4,000

refugees following a special cabinet meeting
this morning. In IRELAND A HOMELESS
CRISIS IS HUGE AND IT DOSENT MAKE
SENSCE THAT IRISH GOVERNMENT ARE
BRINGING IN ILLEGAL MIGRANTS, ARE
THEY GOING TO BE HOUSED THE ANWSER
IS YES, EMERGENCY ACCOMADATION WILL
BE PROVIDED FOR THEM, THE QUESTION
WILL THE IRISH BORN CITIZEN BE HOUSED,
NO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE
HOUSED AS TOP PRIORITY OVER IRISH

BORN CITIZENS, WHY THE QUESTION HERE
REMAINS A MYSTERY
It is expected a fast-track system to streamline the

application process for the hundreds of refugees fleeing
war-torn Syria who will be relocated in Ireland will be rolled
out by the government in the coming weeks.
The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald this morning
confirmed a budget has been allocated and refugee
welcome centres will be set up around the country.
She said the Government is now asking the European
Commission to exclude this sum from national finances.
The main point is the that Cabinet recognises and wants
to respond to this Humanitarian crisis.
4,000 is the figure that will take account of what the
Commission is asking us to do but it is somewhat more
generous than that figure.

She said a network of emergency reception and
orientation centres will be set up around the country.
Refugees will start arriving primarily from Greece and
Hungary by the end of the year, the Minister said.
She said any security and public order issues will be dealt
with, and Ireland would have the right to refuse any
refugee on those bases.
Accomdation centres will be set up within buildings under
the Department of Defence, the Office of Public Works,
and voluntary offers. Audits will be carried on these
accommodation centres in the coming weeks, she said.
Among the State sites being considered for the incoming
refugees are Clancy Barracks, army facilities in the
Curragh and Kildare as well as Gormanston Camp in
Meath.
The latter, reports suggest, is being considered by the
government for hundreds of refugee families fleeing the
Middle East and Africa.
Gormanston is still used by the Defence Forces as a
training camp for recruits. However, there a number of
reasons the government could utilise the camp.
It is relatively close to Dublin Airport and is linked to the
country's main airport directly by motorway. Gormonston
also has over 200 acres of land on which housing for
"The initial budget agreement this morning is that for
every 1,000 refugees that we welcome, the cost is
approximately 12m per 1,000.
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has

said he thinks Ireland will be taking a volume
of refugees "in the thousands" in the coming
years.
Mr Kelly said the matter will be discussed at
Government and the country will take its fair
share of refugees.
He said: "Irish people want us as a country to
step up to the mark and we will... This

Government is going to show leadership in
order to do that. "
The minister added that he believes Ireland
should take a leadership role with regard to
the escalating refugee crisis in Europe.
Mr Kelly said Ireland is well placed to do so as
"we have always punched above our weight",
and because Irish people have experienced a
huge sense of sadness, grief and loss.
Ireland has an "opt out" option from a
number of Justice and Home Affairs rules
under EU law, but has agreed to "opt in"
voluntarily on the relocation of migrants who
have arrived in Italy and Greece.
A proposal by the European Commission in
May called for a binding quota system for the
relocation of refugees, but it was rejected by
EU leaders in June.
Instead a voluntary quota system was put in
place to relocate 40,000 people.
So far, the uptake by member states has
fallen short at 32,000 people.
Following a meeting of justice ministers in
July Ireland agreed to voluntarily accept 600
people.
The Commission will relaunch a mandatory
system next week and justice ministers will
seek to agreement on it on 14 September.
Ireland will take 'many more than 600'
refugees - Simon Coveney
Minister for Defence, Agriculture and the
Marine Simon Coveney has said that Ireland
will take in "many more than 600" refugees.

Speaking on RTs Primetime
programme Minister Coveney said he had
spoken to a lot of ministers today and that
they all accepted that Ireland needed to do
more in terms of resettling refugees.
"The basis for the 600 figure until now was
that Ireland is 1% of the population of
Europe, we want to do more than our
population suggests we should be doing
because of our history and quite frankly
because Irish people would expect us to do it,
so we will go way beyond that figure in my
view." the minister said.
Follow
RT News
Simon Coveney: "Clearly we are not doing enough"

X
9:57 PM - 3 Sep 2015
13 13 Retweets11 11 likes
Referring to next week's meeting of the

European Commission Minister Coveney
said "We will make a much more generous
commitment."
Minister Coveney said that Ireland was a
small country but he believed it could give
leadership on this issue.
He said it was not true to say that Europe had
been doing nothing and that there had
been emergency meetings about the crisis
every month since May.
Ireland had spent around 80m in recent
years on a humanitarian aid in response to
the refugees emerging from Syria and
Somalia, he added.
Speaking in Paris today Taoiseach Enda
Kenny declined to give an exact number of
refugees Ireland would commit to taking but
said he had asked justice minister Francis
Fitzgerald to "have a flexible mind" at next
week's meeting.
"They are going to have to work out a
formula here to see what numbers are
appropriate for each individual country" the
Taoiseach said.
But he added: "We've got to be realistic in
what we can contribute."
Mr Kenny suggested that under the new
scheme the overall EU relocation figure
would be "over 100,000."
"It's not realistic to set a figure on this, but
there will be a real focus following the justice
ministers' meeting, which will arise at the
[heads of government] European Council in
October.
Past experience is that countries will not
measure up if they're asked to do so
voluntarily," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Kenny described the picture of the young
boy on the beach in Turkey as "absolutely
shocking."
He said: "Any parent could see that child in
their own arms. Here was the body of a
young boy, a life lost and wasted, washed up
on a beach."
He said the image would "shock political
processes into taking action.
FF ask Kenny to recall Dil early
over crisis
Fianna Fil has tonight written to the
Taoiseach asking him to recall the Dil to
debate how Ireland can respond to the
refugee crisis.
The party said Ireland can no longer wait for
a pan European response and should instead
lead the way.
In a letter to Mr Kenny the Party's Transport

spokesman, Timmy Dooly, said this was a
horrific humanatarian crisis - the worst since
World War Two.
The Dil is due to return from its summer
recess on 22 September.
Deputy Dooly wrote that "while the Irish
Navy's contribution is admirable and to be
commended. However Ireland should and can
do more."
He requested the Taoiseach to summon the
Dil for an earlier return date under Standing
Order 24(1).
Government expected to make

announcement on refugee quota
The Minister of State at the Department of
Justice with responsibility for Direct Provision
has said the Government will make an
announcement in the next few days about
increasing the number of refugees to be
accepted into Ireland.
Aodhn Rordin said the Department of

Foreign Affairs, the Department of Defence
and the Department of Justice have been
working on the issue.
He said that the number of refugees will be a
multiple of the 600 figure which we have
already agreed to accept.
He said: "If people are asking does the Irish
Government intend to work and play a lead
role in this and intend to take its
responsibility seriously? Yes we do."
Mr Rordin said the numbers Ireland had
committed to were not enough.
When asked if a figure of accepting 10,000
refugees seemed excessive, Mr Rordin
said that figure sounded like a lot.
Mr Rordin said it would be reasonable to
expect if Ireland accepted more refugees it
would get financial support from the
European Union.
Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch also said
the 600 figure was not enough. "Ireland
should step up to the mark" she said.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Brendan Howlin earlier said he is sure Ireland
will take in more refugees than the 600 it has
already pledged to take in over the next two
years.
Mr Howlin said Ireland would take part in a
quota system and that there is a requirement
for Ireland to "step up to the plate".
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe
described the migrant crisis as
"unprecedented in recent decades" and
described Ireland's response so far as
"positive and comprehensive".
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmud Martin has said
parishes in Ireland would be willing to take in
refugees.
Speaking on RT's News at One, the

archbishop said authorities here should also
provide quality as well as quantity and
provide something more than just "an
emergency bed."
He said this is the largest refugee crisis since
the second world war and was not going to
go away.
The archbishop said it was not just a question
of numbers but of "when can we start?"
Europol identifies 30,000 suspected

people smugglers
Nearly 30,000 suspected people smugglers
have been identified by European authorities
since the start of the year.
The figure was disclosed by the head of the
EU's law enforcement agency as he told

reporters criminal activity is at "very high"
levels as gangs attempt to exploit the
migrant crisis.
Rob Wainwright said investigators across
member states have opened up a total of
1,400 new cases in 2015 alone.
The director of Europol also described
trafficking gangs as "agile", with members
adopting new tactics such as using social
media to "recruit" victims.
Europol Chief of Staff Brian Donald said the
EU was facing a crisis of management due to
the current influx of migrants and refugees.
Speaking on RT's Morning Ireland, Mr
Donald said the volumes are such that police
and border guards are being faced with
unprecedented problems.
Mr Donald said there was strong element of
organised crime supporting the movement of
migrants across Europe.
"In the last year since we set up a specific
project in relation to this crisis, there's been
1,400 cases ongoing with almost 30,000
suspects reported to Europol and in our
systems and that's just since the beginning
of 2015.
He said Europol is playing an important role
in helping the police community across
Europe "upgrade" its response to the gangs
involved.
"So it's quite clear to us and quite clear to
member states that we're working with that
there are criminal gangs and networks which

are across the whole of the EU that are
helping migrants to continue their journeys to
wherever they want to go."
Mr Donald said one criminal gang operating
over a period of six months is estimated to
have made 71 million.
However he said he did not believe the crime
groups are among the causes of the
migratory flows but said they are exploiting
them.
PQ: REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME
Thu, December 8, 2016
41. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tnaiste and Minister for Justice and
Equality the number of Syrian refugees resettled here in 2016; the
anticipated number to be settled here during the first quarter of 2017;
and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39289/16]
Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David
Stanton): The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by
Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the
humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of
mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this
programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons
into the State by the end of 2017, of whom 1,040 refugees (520 in 2015/2016
and 520 in 2017) will come to Ireland under the UNHCR led refugee
resettlement programme currently focussed on resettling refugees from
Lebanon.
The resettlement strand of the programme is focussing on cases displaced by
the Syrian conflict into Lebanon and proposed to Ireland by UNHCR. Most but
not all of the cases referred are Syrian. In 2016, 312 Syrian refugees were
admitted. In total, 507 persons displaced by the Syrian conflict (448 of whom
are Syrians) have arrived in Ireland from Lebanon since 4 August 2015 and a
further 12 refugees (all Syrians) are scheduled to arrive from Lebanon in mid
December 2016. By mid-December 2016, all but one of the quota of 520
resettled refugees for 2015/2016 are expected to have arrived.
In addition, the Government recently announced that it is extending the
resettlement programme to take in a further 520 refugees from Lebanon in
2017. 260 refugees have already been selected during a selection mission to
Lebanon in October 2016 and are expected to arrive in Spring 2017. Most of
these refugees are also Syrian. A further selection mission to Lebanon will be
arranged in the coming months to select the remaining refugees due to come
to Ireland in 2017 under the resettlement programme.
http://www.nascireland.org/parliamentary-questions/pq-refugee-resettlementprogramme-7/
EU CHILD FORUM JOINT STATEMENT

Tue, November 29, 2016
Child Rights Agencies call on EU to put refugee and migrant children
first
Brussels, 29 November EU institutions and Member States must do more to
protect refugee and migrant children, a statement signed by 78 agencies
including Save the Children and UNICEF said today to mark the opening of
the 10th European Forum on the Rights of the Child in Brussels.
Europes refugee and migrant crisis will soon enter its third year, with children
playing an ever larger part and the impact on their lives all the more tragic.
Between January and September 2016, more than 664,500 children claimed
asylum in Europe; In Italy, nine in ten children arriving this year are
unaccompanied; in Greece, 23,000 children remain in limbo their futures
hanging in the balance, their education on hold.
More than 700 children are estimated to have died at sea trying to reach
Europe this year alone. Last week a six-year old child died in a fire in the
Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
UNICEF and Save the Children are deeply concerned that failure to prioritise
the protection of children is putting more children at risk. Too little has been
done to address the particular needs and vulnerabilities of children. Children
in Sweden, for example, can often wait up to one year for their asylum cases
to be heard. Children stranded in Greece have been out of school an average
of 20 months. Many children have to wait more than a year to reach family
members in other EU states a dangerous delay that causes children to
disappear or turn to smugglers.
The EU and member states can do a lot more to protect children and address
their particular needs and vulnerabilities.
Addressing the Forum, the Child Rights Agencies call for deliberate action;
leadership, public investment and an agreed policy framework that defines
goals and measures progress, saying protecting children does not just
happen on its own.
The 78 partner organisations identify 7 priority actions to protect refugee and
migrant children today and prepare them for the future. These actions include
the urgent adoption of an EU Action Plan on children in migration,
strengthened safeguards for children in the asylum legislation, increased
funding for national child protection systems and building mechanisms to
protect children across borders.
The agencies say that actions at the EU level have so far been scattered and
insufficient. What is needed now, they say, is comprehensive action on
children in migration, bringing together all responsible authorities and
encouraging states to better collect and share data.
The reform of the common European asylum system, currently debated in the
European Parliament, provides a unique opportunity to ensure children get
access to guardians, education and family reunification. EU Action is also
needed to end the detention of migrant and refugee children, and the
identification of alternatives.
Many of these children will grow up becoming future EU citizens. They should
be considered as children first, regardless of their migration status. States

need to invest in them, and empower them to fulfil their potential as equal
participants in their communities.
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Childrencannot-wait_7-priority-actions-to-protect-children-in-migration_78organisations_29-November-2016.pdf
MIGRATION AND PROTECTION MUST BE

PRIORITIES FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
Fri, May 6, 2016
Given the current humanitarian crisis, migration and protection must be

priority issues for the new Programme for Government, states Nasc CEO
Fiona Finn.
After the debate in the Dil last week about the refugee crisis in Europe, it is
clear that the majority of TDs support Ireland taking a lead in supporting the
million plus people currently seeking protection and safety in Europe. Now is
the opportunity for those lofty words to be turned into solid commitments to
act.
These are the defining issues of our time. Migration and displacement as a
result of violence, poverty, starvation, persecution and climate change is our
new global reality our new Programme for Government must reflect that.
Nasc has contacted TDs and Ministers to call for the inclusion of the following
points in the new Programme for Government:
Reforms to immigration legislation and policy, to ensure that migrants have
access to justice and rights, including:
1 The introduction of an independent appeals mechanism for
immigration decisions;
2 A statutory framework facilitating family reunification for all legal
residents, including Irish citizens;
3 The establishment of a permanent residency status
Support refugees and asylum seekers who are seeking protection in Ireland
and Europe, by:
1 Promoting safe and legal migration channels into Ireland and

Europe, for example a new Humanitarian Admission Programme
for Syrians;
2 Strengthening Irelands support of the globally displaced by
adequately implementing and resourcing the Refugee Protection
Programme;
3 Ensuring that the people currently in the asylum and direct
provision systems are not forgotten, by implementing in full the
recommendations in the Report of the Working Group on the
Protection Process and Direct Provision?
Promote integration and combat racism and other hate motivated crimes by:
1 Introducing of hate crime legislation;
2 Ensuring that the measures outlined in the upcoming National
Integration Strategy are implemented and adequately resourced;
3 Legislation and flanking measures to proscribe ethnic profiling
by state agencies and bodies
To support Nascs call, please contact your local TDs and Senators today and
tell them that it is urgent that migration and protection be prioritised in the new
Government.
PQ: ASYLUM SEEKER ACCOMMODATION

(LOCAL RESIDENTS)
Tue, December 8, 2015

324. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if
it is good practice to have a consultation process with locals in place
prior to introducing asylum seekers and refugees into an area, if
consultation is required by legislation and the time period for the it to
take place prior to the introduction of the asylum seekers and refugees.
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): There is no
legislative requirement setting out any consultation process that may be used
by RIA prior to the establishment of accommodation centres for those in need
of international protection.
On 31 July 2015 RIA published a call for expressions of interest from persons
or companies wishing to provide accommodation and related services.
RIA have analysed the responses and have visited many of the centres on
offer to assess their suitability for their needs and the needs of potential
residents. For operational and commercially confidential reasons details of
these visits and the discussions with the owners (who are potential
contractors) are not disclosed to any other Department, agency or local
community representatives.
Any potential centre is assessed from a number of perspectives including
access to local amenities and the provision of services.
This model and approach has been operated by RIA since its establishment
and has proven to be extremely successful in the establishment of
accommodation centres to date. No person seeking accommodation has ever
been left without the provision of that service. Communities across the country
have welcomed the establishment of these centres and have been engaged in
the provision of local integration services to residents in those centres. I am
confident that people in Ireland will continue to welcome into their
communities those who are the most vulnerable and most in need of
protection.
I am advised that it is the intention of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme
to adopt broadly the same approach when establishing Emergency Reception
and Orientation Centres (EROCs).
Immigration Residence &

Protection Bill (Archive)
The International Protection Bill 2015

In 2015, the Coalition Government split off the Protection elements of the
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, 2010 and published the General
Scheme for the International Protection Bill, 2015.
This move formed part of the Governments commitment to treat asylum
seekers with the humanity they deserve, which also included setting up a
Working Group on the Protection Process and Direct Provision to recommend
reforms which would show greater respect for the dignity of the persons in
the system. The Working Group Report was published in June 2015 and is
available here.
Nasc made a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice,
Defense and Equality on the Heads of Bill, which can be viewed here. The
Justice Committee published their Interim Report in July 2015, which can be
viewed here.
The Bill is expected to be published in September 2015. The remainder of the
Immigration and Residency related issues remain in limbo, waiting to be redrafted.
The Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2010

In 2010, a coalition of eight human rights organisations prepared a Briefing
paper on the previous governments Immigration Residence & Protection Bill
of 2010. The key concerns in the Briefing Paper are outlined here.
Click on this link to read Nascs own detailed Submission on key elements of
the IRP Bill 2010.
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/General%20Scheme%20of%20the%20International
%20Protection%20Bill%20_final_.pdf/Files/General%20Scheme%20of%20the
%20International%20Protection%20Bill%20_final_.pdf
NGO-Coalition-Briefing-Paper-IRP-Bill-2010_FINAL
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NGOCoalition-Briefing-Paper-IRP-Bill-2010_FINAL.pdf
Submission to Select Committee on Justice, Defence and
Womens Rights Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2010
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NascSubmission-on-key-elements-of-the-IRP-bill-2010-11.pdf
These are the five 'pillars' the

government plans to address in
its housing plan:
Ireland urged to shelter

some of the two million
Syrian refugees
Sarah Stack Twitter
PUBLISHED
23/08/2013
1
Syrian refugees cross into Iraq amid continued fighting
The Government has been called on to take

in refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
The Green Party accused the international community of
standing idly by as the United Nations revealed the
number of Syrian children forced to flee their devastated
homeland has reached a million.
Almost two million people have been driven out of the
country to date.
Malcolm Noonan urged Ireland to lead the way by taking
displaced people from one of the surrounding camps in
neighbouring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq
and Egypt.
"One in four people living in Lebanon is now a refugee,
many are so desperate that they are fleeing into Iraq," said
the Green Party environment spokesman.
"It is our view that if the Irish Government were to take
the initiative by offering to accept a number of refugees on

a programme basis agreed with UNHCR, it would compel
other EU states to follow suit and ease the humanitarian
crisis in countries bordering Syria."
The UN has demanded that Syria give its chemical
weapons experts immediate access to rebel-held
Damascus suburbs amid claims a chemical attack
orchestrated by Bashar Assad's regime killed hundreds of
people, including children.
The team of UN weapons inspectors is in Syria but only
has permission to visit specific locations and the regime
has dismissed as "baseless" claims it was behind the latest
incident.
Meanwhile UN high commissioner for refugees, Antonio
Guterres, has warned the traumatised children of Syria are
losing their homes, family members and futures.
Mr Noonan said there have been successful settlement
programmes in Ireland, in particular the Sudanese
resettlement programme of 2007.
"Ireland has an incredible track record in humanitarian
causes," he said.
"The Green Party believes that to accept people fleeing this
conflict during such a challenging time in our own
country's history would send a message to the
international community that we must act now to help
alleviate suffering and that this is a tangible way in which
we can begin to act.
"The crisis in Syria will not end any time soon and with
over two million people displaced both internally and in
surrounding countries, it is essential that the international
community responds in a compassionate way.
"Ireland should show leadership in initiating a refugee
settlement programme."
http://www.independent.ie/irish
-news/ireland-urged-to-sheltersome-of-the-two-million-syrian-
refugees-29523249.html
THE CORK CITY INTEGRATION
STRATEGY (CCIS) 2008-2011
http://www.integration.ie/websi
te/omi/omiwebv6.nsf/page/AXB
N-85KK841540318-en/
$File/Cork%20City
%20Integration%20Strategy
%20(CCIS)%202008-2012.pdf
migration nation statement on integration strategy and diversity
management
N-7SQDF91044205-en/
$File/Migration%20Nation.pdf
Laws for Legal Immigration in
the 27 EU ... PIELAMI
Cooperation on Preventing
Illegal employment of Labour ...
through the introduction of
integration-related .
http://publications.iom.int/syste
m/files/pdf/iml_16.pdf
TRANSATLANTIC TRENDS: IMMIGRATION 2010 ... Legal and

Illegal Immigration: ... ation integration. Overall,
Transatlantic Trends
http://trends.gmfus.org/files/arc
hived/immigration/doc/TTI2010
_English_Key.pdf
Alliance of Civilization of
multinational strategy on ...
and to pursue more efficiently
the illegal immigration
http://www.unaoc.org/repositor
y/thematic_migration.pdf
Immigration Taking Action on ... Cracking Down on Illegal
Immigration at the Border: ... read the Immigration
Blueprint
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sit
es/default/files/rss_viewer/immi
gration_blueprint.pdf
Family Unity
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1. 1 The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and

fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution
possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and
superior to all positive law.
2 The State, therefore, guarantees to protect the Family in its
constitution and authority, as the necessary basis of social order and
as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and the State.
Article 41, Constitution of Ireland Bunreacht Na hireann
For various reasons, those who migrate to Ireland whether to work or to
seek safety are often forced to do so without their husbands, wives, children
and other close family members. Conversely, Irish citizens may wish to get
permission for a spouse from outside of the EU to join them here. Information
on how to apply for family reunification is contained on our Know Your Rights
Page here.
Our campaigning work involves highlighting the anomalies and injustices in
the immigration system. Our campaigning work is based on the cases we see
presenting to our free legal service, and consists of:
Lobbying the Department of Justice for legislative and policy change
Campaigning on the upcoming Immigration Residence and Protection Bill
Making submissions to international bodies
Referring strategic cases to the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) for
litigation
The Zambrano Case and the rights of parents of

Irish Citizen Children
Nasc has been to the fore on campaigning for the rights of Irish citizen
children with migrant parents. Following the decision of the Court of Justice of
the European Union in the case Ruiz Zambrano v Office National de LEmploi
(C 34/09) which recognised the rights to reside and work in the State of nonEEA citizen parents of dependent Irish citizen children, Nasc were
instrumental in having the right of unlimited access to the labour market for
parents of Irish citizen children extended to Romanian and Bulgarian parents
of Irish citizen children.
After their accession to the EU, Romanians and Bulgarians were given limited
access to the Irish labour market and were generally required to obtain a work
permit. This disadvantaged Romanian and Bulgarian jobseekers as only
certain types of employment with a renumeration of 30,000 p/a and above
were eligible for work permits.
Arguing that EU law prohibited the State from treating EU citizens less
favourably than their EU counterparts, Nasc referred the case of a Romanian
man with an Irish citizen child to PILA for litigation. The case was settled with
the Department of Justice removing the requirement for work permits for all
Romanian and Bulgarian parents of Irish citizen children. Subsequently the
State removed work permit restrictions for all Romanian and Bulgarian
nationals.
Nascs main campaign goals relating to family

reunification are:
1. The replacement of the current discretionary system for Irish citizens

and non-EEA citizens (with the exception of refugees and persons
eligible for subsidiary protection) with a statutory framework.
At present Irish citizens and migrant workers do not have a legislative right to
family reunification with immediate family members. These applications are
decided on a discretionary basis by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration
Service (INIS). This means that Irish citizens are treated much less favourably
than their EU counterparts who are living in Ireland.
We believe that a framework facilitating family reunification for all legal
residents of Ireland is desperately needed.
The INIS published their policy document Family Reunification Policy
Document (see here for Nascs summary) on the 31st December 2013 which
details, for the first time, the financial and other criteria that will be taken into
consideration when deciding on an application for family reunification by a
non-EEA citizen with an Irish citizen or non-EEA sponsor.
Although Nasc welcomes the publication by the INIS of their internal policy,
we believe that this is insufficient and that the Minister for Justice and Equality
should place the right to family reunification on a legislative footing.
Nasc calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to implement clear and
coherent rules on the rights of Irish citizens and non-EEA citizens to reunite
with their families.
We believe that Irish citizens should have access to family reunification on the
same basis as their EU citizen counterparts. We believe that Irish legislation
in relation to family reunification for this category of migrants should be
brought into line with the provisions of the EU Directive on the Right to Family
Reunification. Ireland has opted out of this Directive, causing us to fall behind
best practice in the EU.
2. Introduction of an independent appeals mechanism.
At present, no appeals process for those dissatisfied with an adverse decision
related to family reunification exists the only option at present is to initiate
judicial review proceedings.
This is not an appropriate remedy as it extremely expensive for citizens to

take a case to the High Court to judicially review a negative decision and it
overburdens the High Court with immigration related judicial review
applications.
We call for the introduction of an independent Immigration Appeals Tribunal to
relieve the pressure on the Irish courts while offering an inexpensive,
expedited appeals process to applicants.
Back to Top
Related Links and Resources

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INIS has recently published new guidelines for family reunification. More
information about the guidelines is available on our Factsheet. Nasc has
welcomed these guidelines but we have concerns about some aspects of the
policy and on the implementation of the guidelines. You can read more about
our concerns here.
The MIPEX index assesses and compares integration policies worldwide.
Irelands family reunion policies score very low indeed on the overall ranking
table, we rank the worst of the 31 countries (EU and North America) surveyed.
Click here to download Nascs submission (pdf) to Irelands Universal Periodic
Review (UPR) at the United Nations General Assembly (including family
reunion concerns).
Watch our 3 minute Better Together video to meet Tracy, her husband
Abdullah, and their baby Malika. Abdullahs first application for permission to
come to live in Ireland with his family was denied. Tracy made a second
application with Nascs assistance, and she and her husband are now living in
Cork together with their daughter.
NASC WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF NEW

FAMILY REUNIFICATION POLICY BUT HAS
CONCERNS
Thu, January 9, 2014
Nasc welcomes the introduction of the new family reunification policy

published by the Department of Justice at the New Year. The document adds
some clarity to an obscure but critical area of immigration law and policy. We
hope that the development of this policy will lead to improved consistency in
decision-making on family reunification both within INIS itself and the visa
offices in Irish embassies and consulates throughout the world. However, after
our initial inspection of the policy document, we have considerable concerns,
which are outlined below.
There are several aspects to the policy which we welcome, however
additional clarification on starting dates and details of administrative schemes
is required. We welcome new measures such as the introduction of
provisional entry to the State for the purposes of marriage, the introduction of
standardised application forms, the introduction of interim administrative
permissions for minors under 16, the references to the exceptional
circumstances of domestic violence victims and the commitment to the
establishment of a statutory appeals mechanism which will include family
reunification appeals. We also note that the new policy allows for family
members of sponsors to apply for residence in their own right after five years
of residence in the State.
While we are pleased that the INIS has provided clarity on the necessary
requirements to those who wish to reunite with elderly or dependent parents,
we are concerned that the income thresholds of 60,000 net for one parent
and 75,000 net for two parents for each of three years preceding the
application will bar many Irish and immigrant families from reuniting with their
parents.
We cautiously welcome the proposed introduction of a pre-clearance system
for non-visa required nationals who wish to reside in Ireland and often times
find themselves in a limbo situation while their application is being processed.
However inclusion of this proposal without indicating when this measure may
be introduced and confirming the interim current procedure may be confusing
as it appears to contradict policy contained on other parts of the INIS website.
Issues of Concern
There are several points which we consider quite negative and potentially
very harmful, including consistent reference within the document to decisions
made by family members to voluntarily separate and that the State does not
bear an obligation to reunite the family in these cases. We believe that this is
not reflective of a modern global society where immigration for work purposes
is increasingly common and where instant communication has made it
possible for families to have close links and ties while living thousands of
miles apart.
A major concern is the restrictive economic policies in places for people,
including Irish citizens who wish to reunite with spouses. Comparatively, the
income threshold is quite high and could effectively bar many people from
applying for reunification with their family. For those who are ill or unable to
work due to disability or old age there is no possibility that they will be in a
position to meet the income requirement. Furthermore, we believe that the
seven year bar on making a second spouse or de facto application is
excessive. Worryingly, the policy document refers to the ineligibility of
sponsors who are suspected of contracting a marriage of convenience
without referencing how or when it will be decided that a marriage of
convenience has, in fact, taken place.
The inclusion of the INIS policy on DNA testing is welcome however important
information regarding how long people may expect INIS to retain their biodetails provided in the DNA testing results is omitted. We would ask INIS to
confirm that this information is used only for the purposes for which it is
provided and is not shared with any other State or non State organisations.
In addition, there are a few points which suggest potential developments in
the future that we will be keeping a close eye on, including the possible
introduction of English language tests and knowledge of Irish culture and
society. It is positive that the document mentions that long term residency
should be available however no indication of when or how this might be done
is included. There is currently no permanency of residence for non-EEA
citizens.
Nasc CEO Fiona Finn comments on the new policy:
We are delighted that after years of pushing for changes to family
reunification policy, we are finally seeing some movement towards clarification
of the existing policy. However there are some very worrying aspects to this
document and several areas that require additional clarification.
We call on the Department of Justice to immediately amend the document to
rectify the issues mentioned above. We also ask for the immediate
introduction of the statutory appeals mechanism to ensure families are
reunited as quickly and efficiently as possible. And finally, we will continue to
campaign on behalf of Irish citizens, who remain in limbo without a legal right
to family reunification with their loved ones.
We welcome the states recognition that the current system is in need of
reform across a number of areas and look forward to the publication of the
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill which is promised to bring greater
clarity to this critical area, Ms Finn adds
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB13000447
EU Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family
reunification
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?
uri=CELEX:32003L0086&from=EN
Policy Document on Non-EEA Family

Reunification
The purpose of this document is to set out a
comprehensive statement of Irish national
immigration policy in the area of family
reunification. It is recognised that more
comprehensive and transparent guidelines are
necessary to assist applicants and decision makers
in this area. The policies outlined in this document
will apply to all decision making in the immigration
system in relation to family reunification cases in a
harmonised way, incorporating both visa
applications and the various leave to remain
processes. The document also outlines some
recommended administrative changes.
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Fa
mily%20Reunification%20Policy
%20Document.pdf/Files/Family
%20Reunification%20Policy
%20Document.pdf
FACTSHEET ON INIS POLICY DOCUMENT ON NON- EEA FAMILY
REUNIFICATION]
http://www.nascireland.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/Famil
y-Reunification-Factsheet-2.pdf
Reunification
%20Document.pdf
Better Together With Nasc - Bringing
Families Together"
Dec 15, 2011
This is a short film we made with the help of Brian Cronin as
part of the 2011 Better Together (www.bettertogether.ie) video
competition. Some of our most important and fulfilling work

here at Nasc, centres around families and helping migrants in
Ireland reunite with their loved ones. The three-minute video
features Tracy, her husband Abdullah, and their baby Malika.
Abdullah's first application for permission to come to live in
Ireland with his family was denied. Tracy made a second
application with Nasc's assistance, and she and her husband
are now living in Cork together with their daughter.
Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, is a non-profit
organisation based in Cork, Ireland. We provide legal support
to migrants living in Ireland, particularly in the Cork region. We
are recognised as a leading voice in the migrant sector,
providing support to over 1,000 migrants per year.
We do not receive any government assistance and are entirely
dependent upon donations to keep our service going.
Contributions large and small are gratefully accepted on our
website:
v=HerGyRaOhHw&context=C4ff5736ADvjVQa1PpcFOs11ttpE5
bjNPc3z1m_aczJ3NIj18KRvY=
Simon Coveney rules out

reducing rent cap limit from
4% to 2%
Fianna Fil has criticised government proposals to limit rent increases
in pressure zones in Dublin and Cork.
December 14, 16
MINISTER FOR HOUSING Simon Coveney has defended

the governments rental strategy, but said it will not be
going through before Christmas.
Fianna Fil has heavily criticised government proposals to
limit rent increases in rent-pressure zones in Dublin and
Cork.
Yesterday, Minister Coveney brought proposals to Cabinet
that will cap rent increases in designated zones of Cork
city and Dublin city and county to 4% a year over a threeyear period.
Fianna Fils education spokesman Thomas Byrne says the
4% limit is too high, but ruled out seeking to link rent
hikes to the consumer price index. He said Fianna Fil was
working through the night on its own proposals.
Speaking this morning, Coveney said the 4% rise was nonnegotiable, and the government would not support any
amendment to reduce the rent cap to 2%.
He also that if Fianna Fil wants to oppose the 4% cap,
then the legislation underpinning the Governments rental
strategy will pass before Christmas, which is something
the party will have to take on themselves.
The measures are due to be tabled today. Minister
Coveney reportedly failed, however, to persuade Cabinet

to approve linking rent increases to the consumer price
index.
The rental plan designated Dublin and Cork city as rent
pressure zones because annual rents there have risen by at
least 7% in four of the past six quarters. The average rent
in both high-pressure zones is also above the national
average in the last quarter.
Ive been minister for housing for six months, Coveney
told Today with Sean ORourke on RT this morning.
Within the first 74 days we had a housing strategy agreed,
which is agreeing to spend 5.5 billion on social housing,
to increase the number by almost 50,000 [houses].
We said on that day that we would have a rental strategy
by the end of the year, and we have delivered that. We
have increased the budget for housing next year.
He said that the Budget included a big package for firsttime buyers, which he said has fundamentally changed the
housing market for first-time buyers.
Cork City.
Source: Shutterstock
Airbnb
As a result, developers are planning to build a lot more
houses, starter homes, for first-time buyers.
Planning permissions are up, commencements are up.

We are expecting that next
year An Bord Pleanla will see up to 50 applications for
more than 100 houses across the country on individual
sites.
He said that, in Galway, in seven years, there has been
one application for a housing estate, while Tipperary has
seen none, adding:
We are changing the market, and its working, and were
starting to see momentum build in the property market.
He also said the department is looking at the effects of
Airbnb on the rental market.
Anybody who plans to use Air Bnb effectively for a B&B
or a hotel-style operation, they will have to go to their local
authority for a change of use in terms of planning, he
said.
The priority here is protecting tenants from a very
dysfunctional market at the moment.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

Source: Rollingnews.ie
Major decision
Writing in TheJournal.ie, Sinn Fin housing spokesman
Eoin Broin said the measures could amount to an
average 4,500 rent hike over the next three years for
renters in Dublin city. Renters in Cork city, meanwhile,
could be hit with a bill for 3,200, he said.
Fianna Fil broadly supports the strategy, but wants the
rent-pressure zones extended to Galway, Limerick,
Waterford and parts of the commuter counties and the 4%
figure lowered.
Now whats happened here really is a procedural
nightmare, education spokesman Thomas Byrne told
RTs Morning Ireland today.
Once again, coming up to Christmas, the government is
going to make a major decision which is going to have
major consequences.
And, quite frankly, in this case, were going to have to
take action. Because its extremely market-sensitive, and if
action isnt taken this week, then the rental market could
go off
He added: This is extremely sensitive, not only in terms
of the rental market but also the stock exchange, and the
Dil cant be in that space. We must show the public that
we can actually effect change, and make a real difference
in peoples lives.
Crazy
Byrne said Fianna Fil housing spokesman Barry Cowen
has been in discussions with Minister Coveney regarding
the 4%, and the geographic areas covered by the measures.
Fine Gael junior minister Damien English last night ruled
out any change to the 4% measure on RTs Primetime.
Byrne said Fianna Fil could in theory amend the
governments measures without Fine Gael support, but
added:
We want to engage in fruitful discussions on this with the
government.
He said the ministers approach has resulted in procedural
chaos.
Our teams have been working throughout the night on
this, and government have been as well. Its not the way to
do this.
The government is tabling this not as an existing bill, but
as four-stage amendments to an existing bill thats already
gone through the Dil.

That is due for discussion, we think, tomorrow, and
amendments have to be in today. Its crazy stuff.
Government amendments that are going to amend this
have to be in by 1pm today.
Its the same every year, they dont seem to have learnt
their lessons about rushing legislation in before Christmas.
Broadly, we think a lot of the difficulty we would have
with this strategy there are more measures that are
coming in for this time next year, rather than for this time
this year.
Byrne said that, at this point, its unclear when Fianna
Fils amendment will happen, but said the party is
seeking tax breaks for landlords.
We would like to see more stuff in terms of landlords, he
added, insisting he meant small-time landlords, rather
than REITs (vulture) funds who have snapped up large
swathes of Irish property.
We think they do deserve a tax break, in terms of
restoring the full interest deduction which is available.
This morning, Minister Coveney said Fianna Fil should
have proposed any changes to tax incentives before the
Budget, rather than six weeks afterwards.
Landlords
Asked whether Fianna Fil would link proposed tax breaks
for landlords with greater security for tenants, Byrne said
the Constitution precludes an opposition party from
tabling a finance bill.
Byrne said the partys proposals are somewhere in
between the 4% cap and linking rent increases to the
The partys proposals are based on the average of rents
over the past five years, allowing for increases in some
areas but a ban on increases in other areas.
We think the 4% is just too high its a price increase. It
certainly should be lower, Im not going to put a figure on
it.
As of October, there were 3,486 homeless adults and
children in the State, three times what the figure was three
years ago.
There are 142 people, meanwhile, sleeping rough in
Dublin city alone.
Certainly the housing supply needs to be increased,
Byrne said.
And thats not happening fast enough, because they need
houses a lot of the single people who are homeless would
be ideal for bedsits.
Number of rough sleepers on

Dublin streets up 56% in last
year
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has confirmed there were 142
rough sleepers on the streets of the capital.
Nov 30th 2016
Image: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie
/Photo Text content

THE OFFICIAL WINTER count for Dublin has confirmed
that 142 people are sleeping rough on the streets of the
capital.
Homeless charities have slammed the figures, while
Dublin City Council has pledged a further 230 emergency
beds to combat the problem.
The official count was conducted on the night of 22
November into the morning of 23 November. This
represents a rise in rough sleepers of 40% since the last
count found 105 in April, and a 56% rise since 91 rough
sleepers were identified in the same period last year.
Since 77 people were sleeping in the Homeless Night
Caf on Merchants Quay on the evening of 22 November,
it meant that a minimum of 219 people were without a bed
that night.
Alongside these figures, the Dublin Region Homeless
Executive (DRHE) and Dublin City Council has confirmed
that emergency accommodation is being expanded by 230
bed spaces, which will be delivered in full by 9 December.
The DHRE said that this expansion of 230 beds was
essential to ensure no person is forced to sleep rough due

to inadequate provision.
A spokesperson said:
Given that in Dublin there are at least 142 persons
sleeping rough tonight, the addition of 230 new bed spaces
alongside the expansion of Dublins Housing First Service
ensures we can, and will, provide for everyone engaging in
rough sleeping while allowing for additional overall
capacity.
These bed spaces will be provided by organisations across
four sites: Peter McVerry Trust on Ellis Quay, Depaul
Trust on Little Britain Street, Dublin Simon and Salvation
Army at Carmans Hall, and the Civil Defence at Wolfe
Tone Quay.
Demographics
The key findings were, of the 142 persons confirmed
sleeping rough:
110 were male, 20 were female, and 12 individuals were
unknown;
63 were Irish nationals, 21 were non-Irish, with 58
individuals nationality unknown;
21 people were aged 18-30, 30 were aged 31-40, 21
were aged 41-50, 6 persons were 50+, and the age of 64
people was unknown.
Homeless charities called the figures wrong and totally

unacceptable, as well as deeply disappointing and very
frustrating.
Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said: [Our] view
is that the only effective way that we can begin to reduce
and ultimately eliminate rough sleeping is to ensure we
have enough appropriate housing options.
To that end we need to see stronger and quicker
interventions to make housing available.
Focus Ireland director of advocacy, Mike Allen,
commented: While much good work is being done to
prevent people from becoming homeless the constantly
rocketing rents and a growing number of buy-to-let homes
being either repossessed or sold is causing a constant rise
in the numbers being forced into homelessness.
Both added that the Housing First service, which is jointly
operated by Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust has
seen consistently high numbers of rough sleepers this

year.
Focus Irelands Mike Allen urged the government to
outlaw the eviction of tenants when a house is
repossessed, while Pat Doyle from Peter McVerry Trust
called for a vacant property tax to be introduced to push
houses back into the system.
She said: According to the CSO, there are just over
35,000 vacant private homes in Dublin. Even a 10% rate of
return to use of these vacant units is equivalent to all the
properties currently available to rent in Ireland, so you can
see how tackling this issue now could have a massive
impact.
The government has pledged to spend 5 billion over the
next five years on its housing plan which it says will help
alleviate the homeless crisis.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY, Housing Minister Simon
Coveney and other Cabinet members have announced
details of the governments housing plan this afternoon.
It includes a plan to spend over 5 billion on social
housing over the next five years. Hotels will only be used
in limited circumstances to provide accommodation for
homeless families from next year, the government is
pledging.
The new social housing units would be in mixed tenure
developments, Coveney said meaning social housing
would be placed in areas where people also own their
homes outright.
When driving into estates you are not going to know the
difference, the minister said.
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TheJournal Politics
Coveney says biggest ambition in plan is creating mixed

tenure developments
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1:39 PM - 19 Jul 2016
Source: TheJournal Politics/Twitter
The housing plan was one of the marquee projects

announced in the programme for government. Published
in May, that document set out an aim of building 25,000
new houses a year by 2020. Last year, building on just
8,000 homes was begun.
In the next five years, we are going to provide about
50,000 more social houses for our people, Coveney said.
This is about integrating communities so they can live
together, grow up together and not be segregated on the
basis of what they can afford and where they can afford to
live.
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These are the five 'pillars' the government plans to

address in its housing plan:
http://
bit.ly/29QURcF
2:02 PM - 19 Jul 2016
Source: TheJournal.ie/Twitter
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The plan is set out in five pillars summarised under the

following headings in the official report:
Address homelessness
Accelerate social housing
Build more homes
Improve the rental sector
Utilise existing housing
Here are some of the ways homelessness

will be tackled
Ensure that by mid-2017 hotels are only used in

limited circumstances for emergency accommodation for
families
This will be achieved by meeting housing needs
through the Housing Assistance Payment and general
housing allocations
Needs of homeless families will also be met by
expanding the Rapid Build Housing programme (1,500
units)
And a Housing Agency Initiative will acquire vacant
houses (1,500 units)
Targets for tenancies to be provided by the Housing
First team in Dublin will be tripled
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Enhanced supports for homeless families with

children; separately, enhanced supports for homeless
people with mental health and addiction issues
Increased Rent Supplement and HAP limits (details
of this were already revealed last month)
A new initiative to provide financial and legal advice
for people facing serious mortgage arrears
And here are some of the plans for social

housing
47,000 social housing units by 2021, supported by

investment of 5.35 billion
NTMA/Private sector Housing Fund to deliver
increased housing supply
Government to establish new Housing Delivery Office
and Housing Procurement Unit
Streamlined approval processes
Mixed tenure developments on State lands and other
lands
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Taoiseach says plan will work to end the use of long term
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1:21 PM - 19 Jul 2016
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Entitled Rebuilding Ireland, the project is described by

the government as an action-driven plan that will result
in a dramatic increase in the delivery of homes
nationwide.
Speaking at Government Buildings, the Taoiseach said it
would give a clear roadmap to the country on how to
proceed with housing.
The announcement of the plan follows a sharp rise in
homelessness in recent years. Latest figures, from May,
show there are nearly 6,000 people without a permanent
home in the state.
3,969 adults and 1,994 children make up the overall
figure. There are 955 families living homeless, 625 of
which are single-parent families.
Geographical distribution of adult homelessness

Source: Environ.ie
On the specific issue of families living in hotels, heres how

the government says the problem can be tackled:
The prevalence of homeless families and the utilisation of
hotels for emergency accommodation is a much more

significant issue in the Dublin Region than it is in the rest
of the country.
Based on May 2016 data, there were 1,054 homeless
families nationally, of which 913 were in the Dublin
Region, and on a single night in May, 622 families in
Dublin were accommodated in hotels.
Our intention is to move the existing group of families out
of these hotel arrangements as quickly as possible, and to
limit the extent to which such accommodation has to be
used for new presentations. Our aim is that by mid 2017,
hotels will only be used for emergency accommodation in
very limited circumstances.
The report says the increases in Rent Supplement
and Housing Assistance Payment levels in terms of
supporting families to remain in rented accommodation,
will play an important role in the achievement of this
overall objective.
Related: More on those increases to rent
supplement and HAP, announced last month >
Where families do find themselves in homelessness
situations, their needs will be met through the enhanced
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and through
general social housing allocations, as well as by tapping
into wider housing supplies to be delivered as part of the
overall housing plan.
Mixed tenure
Coveney stressed that there would be a focus on mixed
tenure housing which is generally considered to mean
that homes in areas targeted for social housing may be
owned outright or rented from a local authority or housing
association, amongst other options.
According to the report:
Irrespective of the method of their housing provision, our
citizens deserve to live in sustainable communities with an
appropriate tenure mix.
The size of the individual construction projects in the new
social housing building programme reflects that clearer
thinking on achieving good tenure mix.

Building a mix of smaller scale and infill developments is
essential, if we are to deliver on our commitment to create
long-term sustainable communities and avoid repeating
the mistakes of the past.
Source: Rebuilding Ireland
EU rules
The question of whether Ireland is prevented by EU rules
from spending more money to build social housing was
also raised today. If we could, we would spend more,
Coveney maintained.
He said his department was speaking to agencies such as
the NTMA about funding vehicles that could finance social
housing. He pointed to a model being used by Nama in
which they pay for the building of houses and lease them
long-term to approved housing bodies, which then sublet
them to social housing tenants.
Coveney said this ensures the matter is off-balance sheet.
We do need to get clarity from Eurostat on what works and
what doesnt.
He said there were cases in the UK where social housing
had been built and deemed off-balance sheet, only to be
told by Eurostat, the EUs statistics agency, that it is in fact
on-balance sheet.
It has caused huge problems there, so we want to avoid
that problem, he said, adding that it would take time to
clarify.
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for

Housing and Homelessness
Jul 19, 2016
Rebuilding Ireland is an action-driven plan that will result in a
dramatic increase in the delivery of homes nationwide.
Ambitious and inventive in its reach, and radical in its
approach, this significant Government priority will deal with the
under supply of housing and the effect it has on people and
communities.
This video illustrates the scope and spread of the plan through
a number of tangible actions. Using a Five-Pillar approach,
Rebuilding Ireland will address the needs of homeless people
and families in emergency accommodation, accelerate the
provision of social housing, deliver more housing, utilise vacant
homes and improve the rental sector.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rAPWcpUE3E
Alan on the Streets - Homeless Crisis |

Ireland AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiJQNlcxWm0
LARGE INVESTORS SUCH as private equity companies

are responsible for almost a fifth of new house purchases
in Dublin over the past two years.
Thats according to a new Central Statistics Office
residential property price index.
It covers all market transactions in the residential
property market and measures price changes.
The CSO said that the new index improves upon its
predecessor by including new and more detailed data,
such as information about cash purchases of property.
According to the new index non-household buyers
accounted for just under a fifth of all residential market
transactions during 2014 and 2015.
Just over 13,000 housing units changed hands in the
capital during 2014, with that number rising to just under
14,000 in 2015. Non-household buyers acquired about
4,500 and 4,800 units in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
John McCartney, director of research at property group
Savills, said that this category of purchaser is dominated
by large, mostly foreign private equity companies and real
estate investment trusts (REITs), companies set up
specifically to trade in property.
Neither class of buyer featured in Ireland before the crash,

with legislation for REITs only enacted in 2013.
Recent development
Large buyers were also not active in Ireland until relatively
recently. In 2010 5,726 housing units were sold in Dublin,
and just 144, or 2.5%, of these were bought by nonhousehold buyers.
Likewise in 2011 non-household buyers acquired 182
units out of the 5,000 that were traded in the residential
market.
Speaking to Fora, McCartney said that this shows the
extent to which big investors have bought up property in
the capital in recent years. He said:
This is all new to us. Prior to 2012 there was no such thing
as institutional investors in the residential market.
When the economy emerged from the crash, there was an
overhang of apartment blocks built at the tail end of the
boom, and investors, primarily US private equity firms,
spotted an opportunity to buy at rock bottom prices [and]
hoovered up large chunks of investment blocks.
Tight lending
McCartney said that although these large companies
aimed to buy at the lowest price possible, their presence
had the effect of pushing prices up for everyone else.
He said that this is probably what is driving the continuing

rise in house prices.
Something that people havent got their heads around is
[how] you can have continued house price growth even in
the presence of tight mortgage lending, he said,
referencing the Central Bank rules that require many
house buyers to provide a 20% deposit.
The critical thing is that these large companies are all
cash buyers by nature [and] it makes the mortgage lending
rules irrelevant.
House prices
McCartney said that investment companies have now
acquired most of the available property around the capital,
and many are focused on renting instead of buying and
selling for the time being.
However, he said that he expects house prices to still rise
in the next two years as smaller investors re-enter the
market. He said:
Small investors have found it tough to compete with
institutional buyers but now I think there will be more
space for them.
I think you will see a flow of investors into the market who
will compete with one another (for houses) and push
prices up.
Looking more than two years ahead that may change as
you would expect rising prices would make developments
viable and then you could see the supply begin to come on
board (and) dampen price growth.
Houses along Clonliffe road in Dublin

Source: Barry Cronin/PA Wire
Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown
Overall, the new CSO data showed that the national
average house price in 2015 was 225,783, although there
were huge variations across the country.
The most expensive area was Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown,
where households paid an average of 568,980 to buy a
house.
Second and third most expensive in 2015 were the Dublin
city and Fingal administrative areas, where the average
house price was 389,022 and 336,310 respectively.
The least expensive place to buy a house in 2015 was
Longford, where the average price paid was just under
80,000. The second and third least expensive places
were Roscommon and Leitrim, with average prices of
94,105 and 94,572 respectively.
The data also shows that Irelands property crash was
more severe than previously thought. According to the
CSO house prices fell by 54.4% after the property bubble
burst in 2007, more than the previous estimate of 51%,
before beginning to recover in Dublin in 2012.
Fianna Fil to force changes

to Simon Coveneys rent
control plan
Ministers proposals would see rent rises in Dublin and
Cork capped at 4% a year
about 16 hours ago Updated: about 9 hours ago
Fiach Kelly, Sarah Bardon

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has published his strategy for
the private rental sector which will feature the capping of rent
increases in Dublin and Cork . Video: Bryan O'Brien
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney will be forced to

make changes to his rental strategy in order to have it
passed by the Oireachtas this week.
Fianna Fil has objected to aspects of Mr Coveneys
plan, which includes rent restrictions in Dublin and
Cork city and is due to come into effect in the new year.
Mr Coveney has already had to overcome worries in his
own Fine Gael party about the plan, with Taoiseach
Enda Kenny, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan,
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar among
those concerned about its potential effect on the rental
market and investment in the sector.
The rent predictability plan sets out proposals for socalled rent pressure zones and imposing limitations
on the level of rent increases allowable on residential
properties in these zones. The designation will apply
for three years and would mean landlords can only
increase rents by 4 per cent a year in that period.
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Fianna Fil wants to halve proposed rent cap

Rent plan: Taoiseach defends 4% rent cap in Dil
exchanges
How Simon Coveney sold rent controls to the Cabinet
Listen to Inside Politics

Inside Politics Podcast Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's Calculus
Under the plan, a household paying a monthly rent of

1,300 in Dublin or Cork could see it rise to some
1,470 by 2019.
Mr Coveney said he arrived at the straightforward 4
per cent figure following discussions with the Irish
Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). He said a lower rate
would fail to stimulate housing supply.
Rent cap
Fianna Fil has objected to the 4 per cent rent cap,
saying it favours a 2 per cent threshold, but it is open
to compromise on the matter.
It is also concerned that the scheme will initially be
confined to just Dublin and Cork city, although Mr
Coveney has said other areas may be included from

next March.
Fianna Fils housing spokesman, Barry Cowen, will
meet his Sinn Fin counterpart, Eoin Broin, to
consider joint amendments to the legislation.
Mr Varadkar raised concerns at Tuesdays Cabinet
meeting over the effect the plan will have on rents in
commuter counties and how it will could dissuade
investors from taking an interest in the Irish rental
market.
He is also understood to have objected to the fact he
was not consulted on the plan, since his department
pays out 480 million annually in rent. Mr Coveney
replied that secrecy was warranted to ensure the plan
did not leak.
Mr Noonan said at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting
on Monday evening that while he had reservations
about rent restrictions, he understood why Mr Coveney
had to act.
Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's Calculus 14th Dec 2016
To take a look back at a six month period of "new politics"
that is now ending with ambitious Minister Coveney's new
rental reform package, and with Taoiseach Enda Kenny still
firmly at the helm, Political Editor Pat Leahy chatted with
his chums Michael O'Regan, Fiach Kelly and Sarah Bardon.
Will Coveney's hard work pay dividends of power down the
line
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimes-politics/coveneysrental-plan-enda-kennys-leadership-six-months-of-newpolitics
Problem solved, or is it? Simon

Coveney and Paul Murphy on
water
Will the report of the expert commission on water help
bring this vexed issue to a conclusion at long last? Minister
Simon Coveney hopes so, but AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy

says "it's not over". They both sat down with Hugh Linhan
and Sarah Bardon this morning.
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimes-politics/simoncoveney-and-paul-murphy-on-water
AREAS WITH RISING rents in Dublin and Cork are to be

targeted in the governments new rental strategy, which
has been launched this afternoon by Housing Minister
Simon Coveney.
Rent pressure zones, recognising regions where there is
sustained tension in the rental market, will be identified
by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) as part of the
plan.
This afternoons statement from Coveneys department
said the pressure zones would be introduced with

immediate effect in Dublin city and county and in Cork
city.
What happens in pressure zones?
The measures will cap rent increases in the designated
zones to 4% per year over a three year period.
According to the Department:
These are areas where annual rent increases have been at
7% or more in four of the last six quarters and where the
rent levels are already above the national average.
The measures are being brought in straight away in the
four council areas in Dublin, and in Cork city. From this
afternoons announcement:
Rent pressure zones will be designated for a maximum 3
years, by which time new supply will have come on stream
and pressures will have eased somewhat in these areas.
Despite calls from parties such as Sinn Fin and the Social
Democrats, the new rental strategy does not contain a
system of national rent control.
Speaking this afternoon, Coveney said he believed a
national rent cap would have devastating consequences in
terms of supply and that he didnt think it would work.
The government was putting a bridle on a horse that has
been almost out of control for the last two years in terms
of rental increases, he insisted.
The Minister said he had spoken to his counterpart in
Fianna Fil, Barry Cowen, and hoped to get the plan
passed by the end of the year.
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Coveney on why he didn't opt for nationwide rent cap

1:51 PM - 13 Dec 2016
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The new plan will also strengthen of the role and powers of
the Residential Tenancies Board the agency set up in
2004 to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The measures include boosted dispute resolution
timeframes (time for appeals will be cut from 21 to ten
days and one person tribunals will be held in some cases
allowing for more tribunals to take place). The law in the
area would also be simplified, according to the plan
announced this afternoon.
Todays measures follow changes introduced last year by
then-housing minister Alan Kelly, which included longer
notice periods for any rent increases and a two-year limit

on how often rents could be reviewed.
Since then, rents have continued to climb. Over the past 12
months, prices have gone up 8.6% nationally, according to
the latest figures from the RTB.
Vulture funds
Taking questions from reporters on the issue of homes
that have been brought by so-called vulture funds, he said
that when ten or more houses are sold together, tenants
should have tenancies uninterrupted.
A measure to allow for that change is included in
legislation going through the Oireachtas at the moment,
and the issue was also covered in todays plan, Coveney
said.
Residents of Cruise Park in Tyrrelstown in West Dublin
had been holding a separate event near the Dil this
morning to highlight their cause.
Reduced incentives
Coveneys plans, which were formally announced at a
press conference at Government Buildings this afternoon,
have already been criticised as likely to reduce supply in
critical areas.
In a briefing note this morning, Goodbody analysts Colm
Lauder and Eamonn Hughes said previous rent controls
meant there hadnt been price increases at many
properties for a significant period of time, while market
rents have appreciated considerably.
As a result, large swathes of the residential lettings
market would be technically under-rented, yet the
landlord unable to mark-to-market, they said.
We see this as damaging to professional landlords
operating in the Irish market and will provide reduced
incentives to growing lettable stock.
There was also criticism from property owners association
the IPOA, which described the measures as an attempt to
re-introduce rent control.
Short term interference causes long term difficulties

undermining the confidence of prospective investors,
Chairman of the group Stephen Faughnan said in a
statement.
The State has caused the rental crisis and continual
interference is making it worse, he added.
Sinn Fins Eoin O Broin, meanwhile, said the simple fact
was that rents are too high and that the Minister was
allowing landlords to continue to increase rents.
Renters simply dont have the money. I see no benefit in
what hes announced today for renters.
Todays announcement was the latest installment of the
Rebuilding Ireland plan, launched back in July to tackle
the spiralling housing and homelessness crisis.
Reporting by Daragh Brophy, Christina Finn and Peter
Bodkin.
TheJournal.ie will be hosting a special Facebook
Live interview with the Minister for Housing
Simon Coveney in TheJournal.ie HQ in Dublin
on Thursday evening.
Todays Leaders Questions, which was scheduled for

30 minutes, was drawn out by questions on the renting
plan and a report on tax evasion released by Oxfam.
In a plan released yesterday afternoon by Simon
Coveney, a cap on rent increases in the designated
zones to 4% per year over a three year period was
announced.
Today, Fianna Fil and Sinn Fin said that the plan
didnt go far enough to control spiralling rent costs, and
ensure there homes for people.
Meanwhile, Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and
Maureen OSullivan addressed allegations against the
government in a report by Oxfam Ireland.

12:11PM
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T dam caite, says the Dil chairman after Mchel

Martin delivers a very long, roundabout question,
signalling the first in a long series of warnings for TDs
to hurry up.
Enda Kenny answers his questions around the cap of
rents to 4% in certain areas. Kenny says there needs
to be a reasonable return on investment, that the rate
chosen by the government is 20% lower than in
previous decades in the countrys history, and the rate
is less than half of the current rental rise nationally.
He hammers home the point by going over time
himself, and comparing rent capped rates globally:
Germany 20%
New York 7.5%
Sweden 5%
12:14PM
Source: Oireachtas
Michel says that consultations on the plan were very

late, and the focus on Cork and Dublin is far too great
(he previously listed rising rent rates in areas outside of
Dublin and Cork).
After another long question and another chiding for
Micheal Martin by the chairman, Enda says that the
start will be with those two areas, and it will spread to
others eventually (pending feedback, youd assume).
Share
12:21PM
Fiery questioning from Gerry Adams as per usual.

Youre actually publishing more reports than youre
building houses, he says, saying that theyve failed on
their approach through their rent cap proposal.
He says 90 amendments were suggested by Sinn Fein
TD Eoin Broin, including one on rent certainty, which
was voted down.

Do the right thing and introduce rent certainty, not rent
punishment, he says, before sitting back down.
Gerry Adams seems most delighted with the fact that
hes finished within his allocated time.
12:29PM
Source: Oireachtas TV
Maureen OSullivan brings up tax injustice and tax

evasion.
If were serious about eliminating poverty, we have to
look at tax systems for corporations.
Our role and reputation internationally will be
undermined unless we commit to tax justice, she says.
Those on the lowest incomes benefitted most from the
last Budget, begins Kenny, citing figures released this
morning by a government-backed report.
We are fully compliant with tax regulations, says
Kenny. He rejects Oxfams assertion in their annual
report that their corporate tax rate of 12.5% is part of
their tax haven status, saying that the rate is in line with
the OECD, and is only available on trading profits.

We have not been and we will never be a brass plate
economy, he says emphatically.
Share
12:41PM
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Stephen Donnelly addresses the Oxfam report as

well. He analyses three of the allegations they made,
and rejects two of them:
Corporation tax rate is too low Donnelly says thats
none of their business
Ireland facilitates large scale profit sharing he
agrees with the government that progress has been
made.
On the third charge, he says theyre on the money.
He says that certain companies arent obliged to
publish their accounts, meaning we dont know how
much tax theyve avoided.

He says that these companies are defined by four
criteria, and foreign landlords meet three of these
criteria. Does Enda approve of the accounts not being
published?
Enda first thanks Stephen Donnelly for his work on the
Finance Bill, which looked at addressing transparency
around tax payments.
He was then asked to table a bill, which would ensure
vulture funds and other organisations would have to
publish their accounts so TDs, journalists and
politicians can see what theyre doing.
No commitment made by Enda, but he thanks Stephen
for his work on the Finance Bill, and his questions.
Share
12:45PM
An Taoiseach corrects a statement he made in the Dil

on the 6 December, where he said that Gerry Adams
drove the sons of murdered prison officer Brian Stack
in a blacked out van.
Following a letter from Gerry Adams, Kenny clarified
that Gerry Adams drove his own car, and the blacked
out van was driven by someone else.
BUDGET 2017 PROVIDED small gains to all income

groups but the greatest gains went to those on lowest
incomes.
Thats according to data released today from Governmentbacked think-tank the ESRI.
The findings are based on the ESRIs SWITCH model,
which uses data from almost 8,000 households.
The Budget for 2017 was announced back in October, with
some changes (like hikes to cigarette prices) kicking in
immediately.
USC cuts announced by the Government will come into
effect on 1 January, while the 5 boost to social welfare

payments, including pensions, will come in in the spring.
The ESRI has measured the impact of Budget policy
against what it calls a distributionally neutral benchmark
which would see incomes rise at the same rate for all
income groups.
According to the think-tank:
The overall impact of Budget 2017 when compared with
this neutral benchmark is a small rise in average income
no more than one quarter of 1%.
The greatest gains are focused on the lowest income
groups. Average gains for the one-tenth of households
with the lowest incomes are close to 1%, while for most
income groups gains are closer to one quarter of 1%.
The majority of family units will also have small gains of
between a quarter and half of 1%.
The family types with the largest gains from Budget 2017
are non-earning lone parents and unemployed couples,
according to the ESRI, for whom the budgetary changes
are set to lead to a rise of approximately 2% of income.
These family types represent just 3% of the population.
The ESRIs Professor Tim Callan said:
Higher welfare payments helped to ensure that incomes
for those relying on social welfare benefits rose in line with
general incomes.
Changes to Rent Supplement in advance of the budget,
and the suspension of water charges mean that percentage
gains in income were highest for the lowest income group.
The nearly 8,000 households analysed by the ESRIs
SWITCH model are from the CSOs nationally
representative Survey on Income and Living Conditions.


1,470 by 2019.
Rent cap
next March.

market.
did not leak.
had to act.
FG & FF No Closer To
Agreement On
Proposed Rent
Increase Limits.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fil appear no closer to agreement on
proposed caps on rent increases

Enda Kenny and Simon Coveney are sticking by their plans to limit
annual increases to 4% in high-demand areas in Dublin and Cork.
The Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland and several Kildare TDs all
say Kildare should have been named among the areas to which
the increase limit applies.
Fianna Fail insists that 4% maximum rent increase per year is too
high.
Micheal Martin said his party, however, is prepared to engage with
Fine Gael on the matter.
Ms Zappone said that to every living child in some inner Dublin city,
their responses would be the opposite of what she expects to hear
Only your Vote for Sinn Fein will put an end to

this....otherwise it will escalate and continue for years and
years to come
CHILD MIGRANT
TURNS OUT TO BE
ADULT VIOLENT
RAPIST
December 14, 2016
JAYDA FRANSEN
A Muslim taxi driver who claimed he was the son of a
Taliban leader has been jailed for 18 years for violent
rapes.
Ghairat Khan, 26, claimed to be from Afghanistan and only
15 when he arrived in the UK to qualify him for asylum
but the authorities now believe that he is from Pakistan
and was lying about his age.
After he was threatened with deportation in an immigration
age row, Khan went to Teesside where he violently raped
two women.
Khan, formerly of Bowesfield Lane, Stockton, was jailed
for 18 years, ordered to register as a sex offender for life,
and given an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order
after the court learnt he raped his victims a number of
times then subsequently threatened them over the phone.
http://www.jaydafransen.com/child-migrant-turns-out-to-be-adultviolent-rapist/

First Page Previous Page Page of 82 Next Page Last
Page
[38517/16]

my Department.
market. [38538/16]
[38564/16]

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the
landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented
residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of
landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board
(RTB) was established as an independent statutory body
under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration
system and to resolve disputes between landlords and
tenants. I have no function in relation to the operational
matters of the Board.
The Act provides that landlords in the sector must apply
to register the tenancy of a dwelling with the RTB within
one month of the commencement of the tenancy. There
are currently over 325,500 tenancies registered with the
RTB, comprising over 174,500 landlords and over 516,500
available at

employment income.
http://www.environ.ie/search/category/housing/subtopic/incremental-purchasescheme/topic/activity/topic/guidelines.
In line with the commitment given in the Programme for
a Partnership Government, and reaffirmed in Rebuilding

Government.

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/fil
es/towards_a_national_planning_framework_december_20
15.pdf .
Consultation is a critical element in the transparent
design and delivery of the National Planning Framework.
early 2017.

strategies.
matter. [38582/16]

table.
Louth Ardee 252,650 189,490
Meath Trim 80,800 60,600

the VAT element.
Commercial Rates
matter. [38653/16]
203. Deputy John Curran Information on John Curran
Zoom on John Curran asked the Minister for Housing,
of houses and apartments purchased by each local

authority in 2015 and to date in 2016, in tabular form; and
if he will make a statement on the matter. [38712/16]
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/1
c1-la-acq-by-area_4.xlsx.

library network.
hours per week.

Under my Departments Social Housing Capital
Investment Programme, funding is provided to local
authorities to deliver additional social housing stock
through new construction projects and through the
acquisition of new and previously owned
houses/apartments. Details on properties purchased by
local authorities for letting to those on their social housing
waiting lists are available on my Departments website at
the following link:
[38811/16]

[38812/16]

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/ho
melessness-data.
authorities.
eight properties.

1,250 per month.
, he said.
built.
and Nama.

Limerick.
Clara, Co Offaly.
Macroom, Co Cork.
Citywest in Dublin.

Galway.
Road, Dublin 4.
Dublin.
inDublin.
http://irelandtodaynews.com/index.php/housing-ministersimon-coveney-is-a-landlord/
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB AND

INVESTIGATE THE ASSETS OF THOSE IN GOVERNMENT
WHO WE ALL KNOW TO BE CORRUPT
ARREST THE CORRUPT, ARREST THE GUILTY...

DO WHAT YOUR EMPLOYED TO DO. NOT SELECTIVE
INVESTIGATIONS.
THE BIGGEST CRIMINALS IN IRELAND WEAR SUITS AND
TIES...
THE BIGGEST CROOKS IN IRELAND ARE IN GOVERNMENT...
EUROPEAN COMMISSION WHO ALLOWS ILLEGAL FOREIGN

MULTINATIONALS OF TAX DODGERS WHO DONT PAY TAXES
IN EUROPE , TO WALK OVER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
ESPECIALLY A SMALL COUNTRIE LIKE IRELAND, EU SHOULD
CHALLENGE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND SET A SAMPLE BY
CHARGING THEM IF THEY REFUSE MULTINATIONALS TO PAY
BACK WHT THEY OWE TO IRELAND AND OTHER
COUNTRIES, UNFORTUNATE WE ARE A WALK OVER IF YOU
HAVE THE LIKES OF KENNY FG AND FG NOONAN CORRUPT
TO THE CORE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY UNDER ILLEGAL
FOREIGN MULTINATIONALS WHO ARE FLEECING US BLIND.
Brussels, 11 June 2014
State aid: Commission investigates transfer pricing
arrangements on corporate taxation of Apple (Ireland)
Starbucks (Netherlands) and Fiat Finance and Trade
(Luxembourg)
The European Commission has opened three in-depth
investigations to examine whether decisions by tax

authorities in Ireland, The Netherlands and Luxembourg
with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by
Apple, Starbucks and Fiat Finance and Trade, respectively,
comply with the EU rules on state aid. The opening of an
in-depth investigation gives interested third parties, as
well as the three Member States concerned, an
opportunity to submit comments. It does not prejudge the
outcome of the investigation.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy
Joaqun Almunia said: "In the current context of tight
public budgets, it is particularly important that large
multinationals pay their fair share of taxes. Under the EU's
state aid rules, national authorities cannot take measures
allowing certain companies to pay less tax than they
should if the tax rules of the Member State were applied in
a fair and non-discriminatory way."
Algirdas emeta, Commissioner for Taxation, said: "Fair tax
competition is essential for the integrity of the Single
Market, for the fiscal sustainability of our Member States,
and for a level-playing field between our businesses. Our
social and economic model relies on it, so we must do all
we can to defend it."
The Commission has been investigating under EU state aid
rules certain tax practices in several Member States
following media reports alleging that some companies
have received significant tax reductions by way of "tax
rulings" issued by national tax authorities. Tax rulings as
such are not problematic: they are comfort letters by tax
authorities giving a specific company clarity on how its
corporate tax will be calculated or on the use of special
tax provisions. However, tax rulings may involve state aid
within the meaning of EU rules if they are used to provide
selective advantages to a specific company or group of
companies.
According to Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), state aid which
affects trade between Member States and threatens to
distort competition by favouring certain undertakings is in

principle incompatible with the EU Single Market. Selective
tax advantages may amount to state aid. The Commission
does not call into question the general tax regimes of the
three Member States concerned.
Tax rulings are used in particular to confirm transfer
pricing arrangements. Transfer pricing refers to the prices
charged for commercial transactions between various
parts of the same group of companies, in particular prices
set for goods sold or services provided by one subsidiary
of a corporate group to another subsidiary of the same
group. Transfer pricing influences the allocation of taxable
profit between subsidiaries of a group located in different
countries.
If tax authorities, when accepting the calculation of the
taxable basis proposed by a company, insist on a
remuneration of a subsidiary or a branch on market terms,
reflecting normal conditions of competition, this would
exclude the presence of state aid. However, if the
calculation is not based on remuneration on market terms,
it could imply a more favourable treatment of the
company compared to the treatment other taxpayers
would normally receive under the Member States' tax
rules. This may constitute state aid.
The Commission will examine if the three transfer pricing
arrangements validated in the following tax rulings involve
state aid to the benefit of the beneficiary companies:
- the individual rulings issued by the Irish tax authorities
on the calculation of the taxable profit allocated to the
Irish branches of Apple Sales International and of Apple
Operations Europe;
- the individual ruling issued by the Dutch tax authorities
on the calculation of the taxable basis in the Netherlands
for manufacturing activities of Starbucks Manufacturing
EMEA BV;
- the individual ruling issued by the Luxembourgish tax
authorities on the calculation of the taxable basis in
Luxembourg for the financing activities of Fiat Finance and
Trade.
The Commission has reviewed the calculations used to set
the taxable basis in those rulings and, based on a
preliminary analysis, has concerns that they could
underestimate the taxable profit and thereby grant an
advantage to the respective companies by allowing them
to pay less tax. The Commission notes that the three
rulings concern only arrangements about the taxable
basis; they do not relate to the applicable tax rate itself.
In parallel to these three formal investigations, the
Commission will continue its wider inquiry into tax rulings,
which covers more Member States.
Luxembourg, contrary to The Netherlands and Ireland,
only provided the Commission with a limited sample of the
information requested (see IP/14/309), which included the
ruling for Fiat Finance and Trade, but not the complete
information demanded by the Commission. The
Commission has therefore initiated infringement
proceedings against Luxembourg by issuing letters of
formal notice.
Background
The Commission is looking at the compliance with EU state
aid rules of certain tax practices in some Member States in
the context of aggressive tax planning by multinationals,
with a view to ensure a level playing field. A number of
multinational companies are using tax planning strategies
to reduce their global tax burden, by taking advantage of
the technicalities of tax systems, and substantially
reducing their tax liabilities. This aggressive tax planning
practice erodes the tax bases of Member States, which are
already financially constrained.
Regarding tax rulings specifically, the preliminary
enquiries have shown that the quality and the consistency
of the scrutiny by the tax authorities differ substantively
across Member States. In particular, the Commission notes
that The Netherlands seem to generally proceed with a
thorough assessment based on comprehensive

information required from the tax payer. The Commission
therefore does not expect to encounter systematic
irregularities in tax rulings. However, at this stage the
Commission has concerns that the tax ruling for Starbucks
Manufacturing EMEA BV is providing that company with a
selective advantage, because there are doubts whether it
is in line with a market-based assessment of transfer
pricing.
In the case of Ireland, the authorities have been fully
cooperative in providing comprehensive replies in
response to Commission's requests. The Commission
notes that although the transfer pricing rules have been
tightened over the years, the tax administration had a
significant degree of discretion in the past. The
Commission has concerns that such discretion has been
used in the case of Apple to grant a selective advantage
to that company, reducing its tax burden below the level it
should pay based on a correct application of the tax rules.
The Commission notes however that the number of tax
rulings issued in Ireland relating to transfer pricing
arrangements is limited.
The opening of formal investigations allows Member
States' authorities to further explain their practices and
the Commission to gather further information from
interested parties.
The non-confidential versions of the decisions will be
made available under the case numbers SA.38373,
SA.38374 and SA.38375 in the State Aid Register on the
competition website once any confidentiality issues have
been resolved. New publications of state aid decisions on
the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the
State Aid Weekly e-News.
The Secret Deal. Who knows what?
Mary Robinson is now Mary the Robber. The bloody cheek

of this woman building a monument to HERSELF (and her
husband btw) and screwing the taxpayers of this country

for her ego project. Aided and abetted by the clown of a
Taoiseach Kenny of course. Would you ever fcuk off Mary
you greedy ex Labour Party thief
Why is Enda Kenny backing CETA? Because he has been

told to endorse CETA by his European masters and the
spineless Taoiseach will always side with his EPP and EU
bosses no matter what the cost to the people of Ireland.
Fine Gael always put the people second ... and this will
continue, because the next generation of Blueshirt is just
as subservient - on TV during the week, Noel Rock, Fine
Gael's youngest TD (age 28) expressed some doubts
about CETA but was still prepared to back it. With morons
like Rock who will put their party before the interests of
the people in the hope that his loyalty to Kenny will get
him promotion there is no hope for real democracy in this
country any time soon
Figures provided by the Courts Service show that the

amount the States judges have incurred in expenses
between January and June 2015 totalled just under 1m.
The splurge on judicial attire is made mainly by new
judges including Judge John King who claimed 1,126

under the same headings. King qualified as a solicitor in
1993. He was educated at the National University of
Ireland, Galway. He was a partner in Hennessy and
company solicitors in Bantry, Cork.
John King was appointed to the District Court by the
coalition government of Joan Burton's Labour Party and
Fine Gael in 2015. In the Children's Court on Friday Judge
King found in favour of Joan Burton and convicted a then
15 year old of falsely imprisoning Burton and her adviser
in November 2014.
They say "clothes don't make the man" and a fancy wig
and gown don't necessarily make a good judge. Especially
if it's a POLITICALLY APPOINTED JUDGE.
On Fridays "Today with Sen O'Rourke" on RTE Radio 1

Joan Burton was given a prime time slot to promote herself
and the Labour Party. Listening to her you would think she
was a caring politician fighting for the ordinary people and
wanting to get Fine Gael to deliver a budget that would
help the most needy.
Joan Burton is a sham. She is a liar. She ONLY cares about
her fat salary, her expenses and the gold plated pension
she is going to retire with. This woman wreaked havoc
with peoples lives while in government with Fine Gael from
2011 to 2016 - no, sorry ... she wreaked havoc on the
weakest, the poorest, the most vulnerable and the
voiceless. She made sure that her wealthy pals were
looked after and got richer. Much richer. Like Denis O'Brien
who under Joan's watch added more millions to his
BILLIONS. Joan destroyed the Labour Party of Connolly and
Larkin and made it more right wing than even the
Blueshirts. When the people deserted Joan & the
Charlatans in the General Election herself and the hated
Alan Kelly who both scraped back into Dil ireann,
decided to re-invent themselves so that they could
continue pocketing massive salaries and live a life of
luxury. And that is why Joan came on the radio and
pleaded for Noonan to look after the little people, And why
Alan Kelly was on the same programme last week voicing
support for striking workers.
They have no shame.
Nama- Charity For The Rich

There is more than a whiff of corruption arising from
NAMA. The most obvious case has already been
highlighted with Project Eagle in Northern Ireland.
Here a giant US company Cerberus paid a 7 million fixer
fee to secure assets originally worth 6.5 billion for just
1.34 billion. Even though Michael Noonan was informed
that another company had withdrawn from the bidding
after it was asked for a fixer fee, he still allowed the sale
to go ahead.
The main fixer was Frank Cushnihan, a well connected
insider among the Northern political elite. It is alleged that
Peter Robinson and his son Garret stood to benefit from
this fee. Astoundingly, Cushnihan was also acting as an
advisor for 58% of NAMAs Northern debtors.
Soon after getting this deal, Cerberus went on to snatch
up Project Arrow a portfolio of just under 2,000 mainly
residential properties in Southern Ireland. This has
originally been valued at 6 billion but NAMA s reserve
price was just 1 billion. There were apparently just two

valid bids for this project one from Cerberus and the
other from Apollo.
When it was established NAMA took over 74 billion of
loans for a write down price of 34 billion. The strategy
adopted by Fine Gael was to sell off the loans as quickly as
possible in order to show a small profit.
Their principle mechanism for doing this was to invite in
US vulture funds to buy up the loans. They could squeeze
the bankrupt original owners and take over the property.
Department of Finance officials met with vulture funds on
sixty five occasions and Michael Noonan personally
attended meetings with Lone Start Capital, Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts and Appollo Investments.
The last company is headed up by Brian Goggin, the
former chief executive of Bank of Ireland, but is controlled
by Leon Black one of the richest men on Wall Street.
Goggin was one of the bankers who helped wreck the
country but after receiving a pension of over 500,000 a
year, he is now heading up a vulture fund. In that capacity
he benefits from the crash he helped to provoke.
RETURN OF THE ZOMBIES
The Return of the Zombies would be a good film title for
the extraordinary pattern by which indebted Irish
businessmen come back to life with the help of the state.
It might even be suggested that this was the real purpose
of NAMA.
NAMA, for example, made a fund of 3.5 billion available
in soft loans to bankrupt developers to help them
complete their projects. In a previous report the
Comptroller and Auditor General estimated that 2.6
billion of that fund was actually drawn down by 2015. This
was at a time when no bank would lend them a cent.
Sixty six developers were also paid salaries of over

10o,ooo a year to work for NAMA. 41 of them received an
average of more than 1 million in overhead costs for
repairing or improving their properties.
9 Million euro a month was paid out on rent for NAMA
properties but these funds were not automatically
impounded to help pay off loans. Instead, developers were
able to keep a substantial proportion in maintenance
fees. The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated that
in 2011 in a sample of just six cases, developers managed
to skim off an additional 2 million euros in unanticipated
costs.
VULTURE FUNDS
Another way that the zombie builders come back to life is
by fronting up vulture funds that are buying up 300 billion
of Irish property. The builder Joe O Reilly, for example, is
heading up a fund known as Chartered land which is
buying up property in Ballsbridge and is backed by the
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
The main reason for Fine Gaels quick sale strategy was to
revive the Irish property market. Most of the Irish rich
invest in property because it can bring easy money
especially if you have the political influence. They had lost
heavily in the crash of 2008 and were left with big loans
on distressed property.
By bringing in the US vultures, demand on Irish property
helped push up the prices. This was combined with other
policies to help stimulate the market. These included cut
backs to council housing and a greater reliance on the
private rental market through HAP and RAS schemes to
house those in need. The overall effect was to re-heat the
property market and help the wealthy recover some of
their money.
But it came at a considerable cost and some of the
mechanisms by which this occurred are only beginning to
leak out now.
It is estimated that 90% of NAMA property has been

bought up by US vulture funds. And the same mechanisms
that were used to bring in companies like Apple were used
to attract them.
In 2013, the Fine Gael/Labour government brought in a
special tax relief for Real Estate Investment Trusts. These
are big US mutual funds which buy up distressed property
around the world mainly for rental income. The
governments 2013 measure reduced their tax bill
considerably.
But that was only half the story. As early as 2010, Irelands
tax planning industry was telling the vultures that they
could use other mechanisms such as Section 110
provisions and a mechanism known as a Qualifying
Investor Fund to cut their tax bill to near zero.
Clearly Noonan knew about these tax dodges when he
met the vulture funds.
If he did not know that Irish tax planners were openly
advertising how to pay no tax, he was incompetent. Does
anyone seriously belief that the man who encouraged the
US vulture funds to buy up 90% of Nama property did not
also point them in the direction of the Section 110
measure?
It is time to clean up the stink of dirty money that seeps
out of every pore of the Irish state
-----------------------------------------------------------Fact Check: Did Michael Noonan tell "bare-faced lies" in
the Dil?
A ROW BROKE out in the Dil last week between Finance
Minister Michael Noonan and Fianna Fils Finance
Spokesperson Michael McGrath.
In a debate about Fianna Fils bill to force banks to lower
their variable mortgage rates, Noonan claimed the

publication of McGraths bill had wiped 10% off the value
of state-owned Irish banks shares.
McGrath fiercely disputed the claim, and Sinn Fin TD Eoin
OBroin later accused the Minister of telling bare-faced
lies, on RTE Radio 1s Saturday with Claire Byrne.
Time to step in and sort this out.
Claim: The publication of Fianna Fils variable rate
mortgage bill caused state-owned Irish bank shares to fall
by 10% that day
Verdict: FALSE by some margin, but Minister Noonan later
said he was referring to an 11-day period, not one day.
It is absolutely true that there was a 10.5% drop from 9-17
May
The publication of the bill may have played some role in
the decline, but there were several other plausible
explanations for it.
What was said:
So we all know what were talking about, heres what
Michael Noonan said in the debate on Tuesday evening.
The day you republished your bill, Deputy McGrath, bank
shares went down by 10% across the line. Irish bank
shares went down by 10%. So if you take the total value of
the Irish taxpayers holdings in the bank, the publication of
your bill dropped it by 10%.
The Facts
11/5/2016. Silicon Valley Announcements
Its not clear from that statement alone which date or
which banks Noonan was referring to.
A Fianna Fil spokesperson told us the party had asked on
6 May for permission to introduce the bill. On 12 May they
asked for permission to present the bill to the Dil, and
debates followed on Tuesday 17 May and Wednesday 18

May.
A spokesperson for Minister Noonan told us the key date,
by their reckoning, was 9 May, the day that Deputy
McGrath began publicising the re-publication of his Bill.
The re-publication here, refers to the fact that McGrath
and Fianna Fil first introduced their bill last June, before it
was voted down by government TDs.
In any case, lets check those three dates.
There are three banks in which the state owns a significant
portion of shares: AIB (99.8%), Permanent TSB (74.92%)
and Bank of Ireland (13.95%).
Its very important to note that only 0.2% of AIB shares are
actually traded on the stock market, so the share price is
not a particularly reliable gauge of the banks actual
value, and should be viewed in that light.
However, using official Irish Stock Exchange data, we
calculated the total value of shares owned by the Irish
taxpayer at close of trading from 5-17 May, and found
these changes:
On 6 May, the total value fell by 0.23%, from 24.2 billion
to 24.13 billion
On 9 May, it fell by 1.26%, from 24.13 billion to 23.83
billion
billion
Noonans spokesperson, however, told us that AIB share
prices were not included in their calculations, for broadly
the reasons set out above.
So we checked the total value of state-owned shares in
just Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB at close of trading
from 5-17 May.
noonanshares2
On 6 May, the total value of state-owned shares in the two
banks fell by 2.88%, from 1.97 billion to 1.92 billion
billion
billion
As you can see, there is no calculation method for any of
the three dates in question which shows a drop in the
value of state-owned bank shares by anywhere close to
10%.
Minister Noonans claim, as articulated in the Dil on
Thursday, is therefore entirely FALSE.
What did he mean to say?
We asked Michael Noonans spokesperson whether he
accepted that his claim in the Dil last Tuesday was false,
and if he would be retracting it.
We did not receive a substantive response to that
question, but our attention was drawn to remarks the
Minister made to reporters two days later, on Thursday,
when he re-articulated his position:
When Michael McGrath first began to publicise his intent
to publish the bill on the 9th of May, between that and the
17th of May, the average decline in Bank of Ireland and
PTSB was about 10.5%. And thats what I referred to in my
speech.
That 11-day time frame is very different to what the
Minister claimed in the Dil, but if youre interested in
seeing it evaluated, read on.
Between those two points in time, the total did indeed fall
by 10.5%, from 1.92 billion to 1.72 billion.
If we include AIB share prices, the total fell by 16.3%.

The only possible explanation?
When asked, the Department of Finance did not provide
evidence to support the claim that the re-publication of
the bill had caused the 10.5% drop from 6-17 May.
How does Fianna Fil explain that decline? A spokesperson
told us:
A numbers of factors have influenced bank share prices in
recent weeks. AIB announced a reduction in rates on 9
May and PTSB provided a trading update on 11 May.
It made absolutely no mention of political action in
relation to standard variable rates.
Thats true. You can read the PTSB trading update here.
Noonan told reporters on Thursday that the Permanent
TSB statement had been favourable, and more good
news than bad news.
However, PTSBs share price fell by 10.75% that day, the
single biggest day-to-day decrease of any of the three
banks in the last month.
The AIB announcement on 9 May, that it would cut its
standard variable mortgage rate by 0.25% to 3.4%,
preceded a 1% decline in its share price that day, far from
the biggest drop in the last month.
This also wouldnt factor into the Department of Finances
10.5% drop, because that figure only addresses Bank of
Ireland and Permanent TSB shares.
Its difficult to identify for certain the primary causes of
those share price changes in the 11 days between 9 and
17 May, but we can make a couple of observations.
Immediate impacts?
17/5/2016. Mortgage Interest Rates Issues Fianna Fil

Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath
Firstly, the fall in total Bank of Ireland/PTSB share values
on 9 May was 4.22%, the second-biggest in the last
month, behind 3 May, when the value of state-owned
shares fell by 5.13%.
So whatever forces were at work that day, the share price
fall in those two banks was a significant one.
What happened next
Secondly, the period since last Tuesdays debate would
appear to somewhat undermine the claim that Fianna
Fils mortgage rate legislation hurt Irish bank shares in
the run-up to that date.
6-17 May
Michael McGrath began publicly discussing the bill in a
significant way on Friday 6 May, in an Irish Examiner
article.
On Monday 9 May, he appeared on Morning Ireland, and
discussed the bill for three minutes at the end of his eightminute interview.
A Google News search for Fianna Fil mortgage yielded
four Irish articles on mortgage rates that day, three from
the Irish Independent, and one by the Irish Mirror. All four
focused primarily or exclusively on AIBs mortgage rate
cut announcement that day.
A Reuters article with the headline Irish opposition to test
new government with mortgage rate bill was syndicated
by BusinessWorld.ie and several other foreign news
outlets.
Between 10 May and close of trading on 17 May, there
were six news reports focused on the Fianna Fil bill, in the
Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Sunday Business Post.
17-23 May
27/4/2016. Central Bank Annual Reports Central Bank

Governor Philip Lane.
On 17 May (after trading closed for the day) the legislation
was debated in the Dil for the first time, and advanced to
a second stage debate, which took place the following
evening.
On 18 May, Michael Noonan withdrew a government
amendment that would have delayed further debate on
the bill for another six months.
Over the following days, there was extensive coverage
focused on the Fianna Fil bill in the Irish Times, Irish
Independent, Sunday Business Post, TheJournal.ie, the
Irish Examiner, RTE, and the Irish Mirror.
Some of that coverage was critical of the bill, including
analysis (reported in the Irish Times) by Davy
Stockbrokers, which warned about the pitfalls of Fianna
Fils proposals.
One intervention in particular made the prospect of the
legislations implementation appear increasingly realistic.
On Thursday 19 May, RTE reported that Central Bank
Governor Philip Lane, a crucial figure, who had previously
called Fianna Fils proposals a very crude instrument
with many downsides, told a conference in Dublin:
We dont think having legislative caps is the best way to
ensure competition, but we will work not just to the spirit
but to the letter of every law that comes in.
Remember that the rationale behind Michael Noonans
allegation was that publicity in advance of the bill, starting
9 May, had caused the 10% drop in share prices.
So you might reasonably think that Irish bank shares
suffered even more after 17 May, as the legislation
gathered momentum in the Dil, media coverage stepped
up, and the Central Bank Governor committed to

implementing the bill, if it were passed into law.
In fact, though, there was a 1.5% increase in the value of
state-owned shares in Irish banks between 18 and 23 May.
If we remove AIB from the equation (as the Department of
Finance is quite reasonably doing), the increase was even
greater, 5.3%.
This could suggest a correction in the market, as
shareholder confidence levelled off and recovered after
the initial impact of publicity around the legislation.
But it could well also suggest that publicity surrounding
the anticipated introduction of an opposition bill was not
the blow to Irish bank shares that Minister Noonan is
claiming.
The chart below tracks the performance of state-owned
shares throughout the period in question, with reference
to a few events discussed in this article, and cited by both
the Department of Finance and Fianna Fil.
Those events are far from an exhaustive list of potential
factors in the rise and fall of Irish bank shares over the last
month.
By definition, Michael McGraths re-publication of his
mortgage bill could not have been the only factor in Irish
bank share trends between 9 and 17 May.
So we can fairly safely dispense with any claim that it was
solely responsible for the 10.5% drop in Bank of Ireland
and Permanent TSB shares during that time period.
And the improving performance of Irish bank shares after
17 May certainly casts doubt, retrospectively, on the logic
behind Michael Noonans claim.
If the relatively little publicity surrounding the promised
presentation of the bill caused shares to fall, why did
warnings from analysts, a commitment from the Central
Bank Governor, greater publicity and the actual
presentation and advancement of the bill accompany an

increase in bank shares?
Ultimately, however, we cant say for sure. So we cannot
verify the claim that the re-publication of the bill caused a
10% drop in shares from 9-17 May.
Remember, though, that thats not actually the claim
made by Michael Noonan. What he said in the Dil during
Tuesdays debate has been shown above to be FALSE by
some margin.
-----------------------------------------------------------The Government will publish its report into Nama's
controversial multi-billion Project Eagle sale this week
THE GOVERNMENT HAS said it will publish its report into
the 1.6 billion sale of Namas loan book in the North this
week.
Last night Fianna Fil called on Minister for Finance
Michael Noonan to release the report, compiled by the
Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) into the sale by
Nama of its Northern Ireland properties.
Last Wednesday, Noonan said he had been in possession
of the report since the middle of August.
Government chief whip Regina Doherty told RTs The
Week In Politics today that the report would be released on
Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
If an inquiry was needed the Cabinet would make a
decision in a prudent manner, she added.
Sinn Fin have long called for a public inquiry in the
controversial 2014 sale of Namas northern loans to US
investment company Cerberus Capital Management.
The portfolio had a book value of 4.5 billion, and leaks
this weekend suggest hundreds of millions of euros were
lost due to shortcomings in the transaction, which was
approved by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan.

Sinn Fin deputy leader Mary Lou MacDonald, a member
of the Public Accounts Committee, said the inquiry should
look at the full Nama system, beyond any Garda
investigation into a lone wolf.
There needs to be an acceptance politically, and at the
highest levels of Government that what we are facing into
here is a scandal, she told This Week on RT Radio One.
The goings-on around the sale of Project Eagle, that huge
portfolio which at the time was the biggest sale transacted
by Nama, is taken very seriously [in the UK and US].
Here, we have had a blind eye turned to a very, very
serious matter, which has cost the taxpayer, the southern
taxpayer perhaps hundreds of millions of euro. Its us who
are picking up the tab.
Mary Lou Mary Lou MacDonald
Fixers fees
The Government needs to face the fact that it cant run
away from this any longer. Fianna Fil need to get on to
that page as well, both of those have consistently blocked
an inquiry into all of these matters, MacDonald added.
Michael Noonan, bear in mind, bears a very big
responsibility for things that happened around this very
large sale.
Michael Noonan was aware that there was a problem with
the bidding process, that there was an attempt at fixers
fees and illegal payments. At that stage, the State in the
person of Michael Noonan should have intervened, should
have called a halt to that.
She added: A responsible Minister for Finance would have,
in my view, called a halt to the entire process at that
stage. He didnt do that, but worse than that, from that
day to this the Government of Fine Gael and

Independents, backed by Fianna Fil have used every ruse
to see we dont need an inquiry here.
And now we are looking at the entrails and the
consequences of his failure to act. The inaction and denial
needs to stop, we need to see the C&AGs report, he
should just publish that today or tomorrow morning.
MacDonald added that the Public Accounts Committee
needs to investigate the report, and a commission of
inquiry with full judicial powers should be established.
Fianna Fil Michael Martin has said this weekend an inquiry
is inevitable. He told the Sunday Business Post that the
whole thing stinks to high heaven.
Kelly Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly.
Incredible
Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly, Public Accounts
Committee vice-chairman, called for a cross-border
commission of investigation. This stinks to high heaven
by the looks of things, he told This Week on RT Radio 1.
The idea this cant be investigated is incredible.
There are criminal investigations in the North, but here
we are saying that the C&AG say there was a potential
loss of hundreds of millions of euro to the Irish taxpayer.
Well in that scenario it has to be investigated.
This is a huge issue for the Irish Government, it is a huge
issue for the Irish public.
Kelly also said Nama should make a public statement. He
said he was contacted privately by a Nama executive to
meet prior to their September 22 appearance in front of
the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
I believe they have been quite naive on this, even this
week a senior member of Nama contacted me to brief me
before they went before the PAC, I redirected him to the

chairman of the PAC.
I wasnt comfortable that selective briefing was the way to
go or would be appropriate, given the situation we find
ourselves in.
I wont give the individual, but it was just a call during the
week to meet up. I explained that the PAC is a different
committee to other committees, it has different powers.
I referred to the chairman in relation to this. I didnt think
it was the appropriate way to deal with things. I have no
idea, I was going to raise it with committee colleagues.
Kelly said he didnt think there was anything malicious in
the contact, but said it was another aspect of Namas
naivety.
I suppose they were coming before us in the coming
weeks and wanted to brief us on various actions, but
thats for Nama to state. I dont know, because I didnt
meet them.
Nama sale inquiryThe National Asset Management Agency
Treasury Building on Grand Canal Street in Dublin
2.Source: PA
Tens of millions
Fine Gaels Noel Rock, who also sits on the PAC, said an
inquiry should not be ruled out, but that Nama should first
come before the PAC on 22 September.
If there are unanswered questions, then yes I think there
should be further inquiries.
Were not entirely sure, it depends on the answers we
get. I accept there may be a need to compel people to
come further forward with answers.
My understanding is that there is a dispute between the
C&AG and Nama on this, naturally I would be compelled to
trust what the C&AG says on this. Its quite unusual for
any agency to question the findings of the C&AG, and that
will be one of the questions Ill be asking at the PAC, why

they reached a different conclusion.
My understanding is the C&AG and Nama are more than
tens of millions apart in terms of their estimation of the
funds that should have been acquired from certain
purchases.
Nama have made a complain to Garda about an individual
associated with the Project Eagle Sale. Rock said this lent
further weight to calls for a public inquiry, but that this
would be complicated, and they dont want to step on the
toes of the UKs investigators.
Belfast businessman
The C&AG report was requested after allegations that a
Belfast businessman, who had been advising Nama, had
also been working for a US company seeking to buy the
state agencys Northern Irish property portfolio.
The controversy first hit headlines in the Republic when
Independent TD Mick Wallace stood up in the Dil and told
TDs that a property portfolio was sold for 1.5 billion to US
private equity firm Cerberus, despite having been worth
4.5 billion.
Last month, TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace launched a
new whistleblower website called Namaleaks, seeking to
uncover poor practice within the financial institution.
McDonagh Brendan McDonagh, chief executive of Nama.
Anxious
The UKs National Crime Agency are already investigating
the sale, and several arrests have already been made.
Fianna Fil have called on the Government to publish the
report as soon as possible.
Minister Noonan said on Wednesday that he has been in
possession of the report since mid-August, Fianna Fil
finance spokesman Michael McGrath told TheJournal.ie.

We arent aware of any legal constraints that could stop or
delay its publication. We are anxious for it to be published
as soon as possible.
Fianna Fil also released a separate statement last night,
in which it reiterated its call for a meeting of party leaders
to discuss last weeks BBC Spotlight revelations.
This has been made all the more important following
todays reporting of extracts from the C&AG report, it
said.
We would hope this meeting can take place quickly and an
agreed way forward found. This issue will also be closely
examined by the PAC.
In response to queries from TheJournal.ie as to when the
report will be published, the Department of Finance said
Minister Michael Noonan will brief his Cabinet colleagues
at an upcoming Government meeting.
The report will be published thereafter. No further
comment will be made until after publication.
Insider
Last night Sinn Fins Gerry Adams said recent revelations
by the BBCs Spotlight team have shown there is an
insider working against the interests of the State within
Nama, and called on all Nama transactions to be
suspended.
The Government must publish the report as a matter of
urgency and establish a commission of investigation.
There is also a need for all transactions involving NAMA to
be suspended pending an inquiry.
Last weeks BBC Spotlight programme showed that there
is an insider within NAMA working against the interests of
the state.
Therefore the State needs to protect its assets urgently.
-----------------------------------------------------------How real is Michael Noonans 12 billion?

There is not as much money available as everyone seems
to think
How much money will the next government have available
to do new things with?
Last weekend, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said it
would be 12 billion. Other political parties and various
newspaper have pointed to the small print down the back
of Budget 2016 and said it will be more like 8.5 billion.
-----------------------------------------------------------Source:http://ireland.indymedia.org/article/105973
http://www.thejournal.ie/factcheck-thejournal-ie-michaelnoonan-dail-claim-fianna-fail-mortgage-bill-bank-shares2784738-May2016/
http://www.thejournal.ie/project-eagle-report-2973929Sep2016/
-----------------------------------------------------------Related News:http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/us-may-seek-someof-apples-13bn-tax-money-michael-noonan-hits-out-at-eucommission-752136.html
http://www.politicalworld.org/archive/index.php/t16384.html
CRIMINALS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

NOT TO MENTION POLITICIANS OR THE OTHER MANY
PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE THERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
AND NOT THE SYSTEM OR THEIR OWN AGENDA OR THE
AGENDA OF THEIR SUPERIORS.
IRELAND`S PUBLIC SERVICES HAVE BECOME A HAVEN OF
CORRUPTION AND CRIMINALITY.
BIG CHANGES ARE NOW NEEDED TO REPAIR THESE
SYSTEMS AND ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION AND MAKE
THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY OF ABUSING THEIR POWER
WITHIN THESE PUBLIC SERVICES.
GARDA HAVE BECOME A CRIMINAL PROTECTORATE OF
THE WEALTHY WHO FORCE THEIR UNWANTED SYSTEMS
ON THE PEOPLE.
THE COURTS HAVE BECOME LAW BREAKERS WHO ONLY
SERVE THE WEALTHY WITHIN A SYSTEM OF CORRUPTION
AND CRIMINALITY.
BANKERS HAVE BEEN STEALING THE WEALTH OF THE
NATION THROUGH THEIR FRACTIONAL RESERVE LENDING
AND OTHER SYSTEMS WHICH AMOUNTS TO NOTHING
MORE THEN THEFT.
PRIESTS AND MEN OF THE PAPACY HAVE BROKEN ALL OF

THEIR OATHS.
THESE CRIMINALS ARE PROTECTED BY THE VERY SYSTEM
THEY SERVE.
THESE SYSTEMS NEED FULL REFORM WITHIN OUR
SOCIETY AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WITH MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY AT THEIR CORE STRUCTURES.
IRELAND - A STATE OF INJUSTICE.
An in depth study.
Social injustice and inequality has increased dramatically
in several European Union member states, posing an
existential threat to EU stability and integration, a leading
German think-tank has warned. The Bertelsmann Stiftung
called on the EU and member states to balance strict
budget rules and austerity policies with a greater concern
for social justice and efforts to invest in the future.
The study, which has been conducted every three years
since 2008, warned that massive cuts in crisis-battered
states had not been administered in a balanced manner,
falling hardest on the poor, children and the young. It
predicted that the social imbalance between northern and
southern EU states would also place a strain on the
European project.
Social divide
Jrg Drger, a member of the foundations executive
board, said: The growing social divide between member
states and between the generations can lead to tensions
and a considerable loss of trust. Should the social
imbalance last for long or increase even more, the future
of the European integration project will be threatened.
According to the report, social injustice has increased most
dramatically since 2008 in Ireland, followed by Greece,
Spain, Hungary and Italy. Greece was the worst overall

performer, with record high levels of unemployment and
poverty. The Bertelsmann Stiftung said that austerity
measures had led to significant problems in the
countrys health system.
The rise of extremist parties, it said, had left minorities
facing growing levels of discrimination. It also highlighted
the unfairness of younger Greek generations being left to
pay back a huge mountain of debt.
Sweden emerged best from the study, followed by Finland
and Denmark. Poland has made significant improvements
in social justice since 2008, as has, though to a lesser
extent, Germany and Luxembourg. The survey described
how youth in Spain had been particularly hard hit by the
economic crisis, with youth unemployment at 55% and
young people twice as likely as elderly people to live
below the poverty line.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung also sought to dispel the notion
that richer countries were necessarily fairer countries. It
drew a comparison between Sweden, Germany and
Ireland, which all have broadly similar gross domestic
product per capita. Ireland came just 18th overall in the
ranking, with almost 33% of all young at risk of falling
below the poverty line and with the EUs worst levels of
pre-primary education spending. By comparison, the
Czech Republic, where per-capita GDP is about two- thirds
of that in Ireland, came fifth in the overall ranking.
The socio-spatial impacts on inequality and suggestions
for alternative, social-justice based, economic
development. The Irish elite, government, big business
and media are trumpeting that austerity and
neoliberalism have worked. The Irish economy is now
fully in recovery it is claimed, austerity will be eased
with tax breaks again to be given out to the middle
classes, employment is rising and we have a mini property
boom in Dublin to celebrate. Even potential social
partnership agreements are floating in the political air.
However, it is now more than ever that critical political,
economic, and socio-spatial justice analysis of the Irish

economy is required. Rather than cheerleading blindly into
another boom and bust cycle based on inequality and
spatial injustice there is a need for academics and policy
makers to engage in rigorous analysis and reflection on
the crisis and the political economic trajectory for the
coming decades.
Prof Gerry Kearns, of the Maynooth University Department
of Geography draws on President Higgins reflection on the
importance of critical thought in the wake of failed
orthodoxies as the crisis is one of ideas as well as of
policy. Now more than ever, space and time must be
given in the academic and public sphere in Ireland to
identify the causes of the crisis, its impact on inequality,
and alternative (non-capitalist) policies and approaches
based on the common good and social justice rather than
the interests of the minority elite the 1%.
By placing social and spatial justice as an urgent
consideration in all areas of social and economic policy.
Interestingly, Kearns highlights how government
responses to the current crisis go against Articles
contained in the Irish Constitution including commitments
of the state to promoting the welfare of the whole people
by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social
order in which justice and charity shall inform all
institutions of the national life (Article 45.1). Significantly,
this also includes ensuring that the ownership and control
of the material resources may be so distributed amongst
private individuals and the various classes as best to
subserve the common good (Article 45.2.ii).
He covers the origins of the financial crisis, its political and
territorial implications such as the outsourcing of state
power to international credit rating agencies, the links
between crisis, housing and planning, the uneven impacts
of the crisis in different parts of the country and unevenly
within cities such as failed regeneration, impacts on
equality of opportunity, marginalization of migrants, and
sustainability. Within these areas he addresses the
questions of spatial justice and where the pain of crisis
and the opportunities of recovery are distributed,

geographically and socially. It highlights the uneven
development that was at the heart of the Celtic Tiger in
the inequalities that persisted through that period, how
they were worsened by the crash and the forms in which
they continue today.
Professor Danny Dorling, Professor of Geography at the
University of Oxford, on Spatial Justice, Housing and the
Financial crisis makes important links between rising
inequality and housing crises internationally. This chapter
is very interesting for an Irish audience as it highlights
how the current housing crisis in Ireland has similar causes
to other countries and there is much we can learn in
regard to social justice based responses. Dorling argues
that we really need to think of housing again as a way in
which we feel safe about where we are: not as a source of
investment or a pension or something that can be used for
profit, but instead as primarily a source of shelter. He
offers suggestions to address this such as a mansions tax,
rent control, and using second and third homes for
housing for those who need it. He explains that housing is
fundamental. It is what lies at the bottom of this crisis.
Housing is one of the basic things that everybody needs
and that policies can work out a way to guarantee. He
surmises that the reason this is not the case is because
current policy appears to be trying to protect the equity
interest of a small proportion of people who happen to
own quite a lot of very expensive housing.
Spatial justice and housing in Ireland, which I co-authored
with Rob Kitchin and Cian OCallaghan, details the
catastrophic fallout of the property crash and its social and
spatial repercussions for households in Ireland. It analyses
how, during the Celtic Tiger period, housing policy in
Ireland was increasingly neo-liberalised and the
privatization of social housing and the rolling out of PPP
regeneration schemes in many instances served to erode
existing social housing infrastructures. It critiques the
failure to alter the fundamentals of how the Irish housing
market is constituted and works, and the assumption that
future housing will be the preserve of the private market
and the benefit of private interests. The current housing

system is not only inherently unequal, but now
fundamentally unfit for purpose and perpetuates and
entrenches social and spatial injustices, making them
increasingly difficult to dislodge. Through the Celtic Tiger
many communities in our large cities and rural towns were
excluded.
Similarly in the crisis and recovery places are affected
unevenly with significant spatial inequalities remaining.
The danger is that the imbalanced spatial and institutional
landscapes deposited by the crash, left to the whims of
the market, will calcify into a nation increasingly
characterized by geographically uneven development.
Echoing, Dorlings conclusions, the authors highlight the
need for (and indeed right to) decent social housing
cannot be questioned given the housing waiting list
figures and the high dependence on rent supplement.
Providing social housing and regeneration can be a win
win scenario we claim, as delivering it on a large scale
offers the potential for real economic and social stimulus
for local communities and for the wider society and
economy. Finally, it is clear that the ideological
opposition to social housing and obsessive support of the
private rented and property market must be put aside to
develop alternative approaches that place the primary
value of housing as a home and a right, and not a
commodity.
Greening the economy in Ireland, Anna Davies provides
extensive detail and analysis of the challenges and
possibilities for a more just transition to a green, lowcarbon economy through grassroots enterprise responses
such as cleantech clustering. Three core elements pervade
the discourse of just transitions: the need for wide and
inclusive consultation about the economic changes
involved in decarbonization; the requirement for green
and decent jobs; and suitable mechanisms for reskilling
people to work within resource-efficient economies. She
examines whether one novel socio-spatial configuration,
hybrid clustering around cleantech, could function as a
mechanism through which collaborative agendas for just
transitions towards a greener economy might emerge in

an Irish context. she details the case study of Irelands
first cleantech cluster, An tSl Ghlas The Green Way, a
cluster of more than 200 public, private and civil society
enterprises including those with a social and community
focus, such as the Rediscovery Centre. she concludes that
it could be optimistically characterized as a novel sociospatial arrangement for radical sustainability
transformations.
Health and spatial justice, Ronan Foley and Adrian
Kavanagh, explore the relations between ill health and
poverty. They explain how they have devised an index that
uses the measure of social description now collected by
the Irish census to describe the healthiness of people in
small areas. This will allow geographers to monitor the
health consequences of the recession and recovery. Foley
and Kavanagh highlight their findings and how
unemployment, poverty and ill-health reinforce each other
and the geography of the crisis is marked by these
interactions.
Since the 1970s geographers internationally have
developed a rich tradition that critically and systemically
analysed capitalism based on social and spatial justice
perspectives. It is significant to see that in the last decade
we are witnessing the emergence of similar progressive
social justice analysis and research by Irish geographers
that are engaging with issues of critical societal
importance. Examples include the National Institute of
Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at the National
University of Ireland, Maynooth, the Ireland after NAMA
blog and leading work done by Irish geographers on
climate change and associated justice issues.A critical and
radical geographical perspective offers an important lens
to understand the world around us as it focuses on issues
that are often neglected from mainstream economics and
political research and policy.
Geographers have a particular set of perspectives on
social justice and each of the core themes of geography
can be made the focus of a justice perspective; thus we
may speak of spatial justice, environmental justice and

place justice. As Kearns explains geographers have also
tried to understand these inequalities as having a
structural basis so that they can examine the production
of unequal space, particularly as a consequence of
capitalism or of legal orderings of space around ethnic,
racial or class apartheid. Thus geographers highlight the
importance of place and scale in frameworks such as
solidarity, resistance and human rights in regard to the
Right to the City.
These perspectives are important to challenge dominant
narratives about society and politics such as the claim that
the Irish did not protest the crisis and austerity. A
geographical lens reveals that the Irish did not protest like
the Greeks and Spanish but had its own, unique placespecific socio-political response. This is evident in the new
and (often local) social movements such as the youth
against forced emigration Were Not Leaving, the
Spectacle of Defiance challenging cuts to disadvantaged
communities and the anti-household charge campaign,
along with a rise in support for radical left and
independent politics. This sits alongside the hidden
resistance and solidarities in the on-going local
community struggles such as the anti-incinerator
campaign in Poolbeg and Shell to Sea in Mayo.
But a spatial lens also highlights the necessity for political
resistance strategies to reach across scales in order to be
successful to build solidarity from the local to the
national to the international. The recent Greyhound
dispute which highlighted the importance of workers
struggles connecting beyond the workplace into local
communities is noteworthy in this regard.
The public revolt against water charges is about injustice,
and its justified.
The public revolt against water charges is not, for the
most part, a rebellion against the eminently sensible idea
that a small State should have a single public utility to
develop its water system.
It should be so easy. How much political brilliance does it

take to persuade the population that it is necessary to
change a water supply system that leaves whole cities
(Galway) and almost entire counties (Roscommon) without
drinkable water for long periods? That wastes through
leakage half of all the expensively treated water it
produces? That the State cant do this tells us something
about much more than the debacle of Irish Water. It tells
us about the governability of the State itself. It would be
hysterical to suggest that the State is ungovernable. But it
would be naive to deny that it is heading gradually in that
direction. And heading there for good reasons: a very
significant part of the population has ceased to feel that
the State is theirs, that it tries its best to treat them with
care and dignity.
develop its water system. Its an expression of anger
about bigger things: command-and-control politics; trustme- Im-an-expert arrogance; rotten, feckless disregard for
the realities of life at the bottom of the heap; the feeling
that nobody gives a curse how you live or what you think.
Its about injustice, and its justified. The recent budget
was the fourth regressive budget in a row. Four times, the
Government has coldly and deliberately decided to hit the
weakest and poorest hardest. This has nothing to do with
austerity. The austerity budgets under Fianna Fil
between 2008 and 2011 were mildly progressive they hit
the better-off harder than the worst-off. But every budget
under Fine Gael and Labour (Labour!) has quietly reversed
this trend. In last months budget, the average combined
impact of the tax and welfare measures and of water
charges on the lowest income households is to reduce
their income by about 1 per cent. For the one-fifth of
households with the highest incomes, there is a gain of
about 0.5 per cent.
As part of the sneaky privatisation agenda quietly pursued

by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and others, one of the foreign
private companies that has been brought in is Seetec.
Seetec claims that is it one of the UKs largest and most
experienced employment, training and job-search support
specialists.
Where once it was the task of ANCO, Manpower and FAS to
look after unemployed citizens, those state department
services have now been closed down. Instead, political
parties through a silent unannounced back-door route,
have given those duties to a private company. State

employment services have been scrapped and the private
companies have again moved in!
Once Seetec moved in, the political parties involved with
its invitation handed the private company the personal
data of unemployed people from every corner of the
country. This data includes names, addresses, dates of
birth, social welfare numbers, contact details, email
addresses and more all handed over to yet another
private company without any express permission given
from those who are unemployed.
Did the Irish government tell everyone in advance that
they were quietly sneaking in another foreign private
company and worse, giving them copies of Citizens
personal information? What reassurances were given to
government regarding data security of same?
Who in government authorised this massive transfer of
public data? Who awarded the contract? How was it
awarded? Was it put out to tender or what was the
awarding process, and based on what criteria? What were
the protocol safeguards instigated during the company
assessments?
Why all the secrecy? Why have citizens been kept in the
dark with little or no media announcements, ministers not
speaking publicly on the matter in press statements, or no
detailed discussion allowed in Dail Eireann? Where is there
any evidence of fair, democratic or transparent process in
all this? There is none.
The political parties continue to duck the data protection
and may claim they were legally entitled to do it. This
might be the case however, as the citizens of Ireland
know only too well, when political parties in government
want to get up to something they usually make sure they
write the legislation laws first so that they can get away
with it!
In the past few years in particular, is had been judged that
citizens are suffering a progressive and nasty undermining

attack, based in this case, on their unemployment social
status. Seetec in Ireland is leading the current charge of
this attack, instigated quietly by the Irish government.
Aye sure its happening again, I was called offered a brand new Volvo
S40. Approved from the bank via the dealers just come down and
sign the papers and we will do the rest. The auto finance loan is the
new 100% mortgage. We should have fucked them into jail like
Iceland did and told Germany to get to fuck. Absolute psychos
pushing buttons behind computers approving people they know full
well to be high risk and likely to fall into arrears so they can
repossess the property and make a killing while destroying peoples
lives. Its happening as we speak.
Enda`s Recovery, Zero Taxes Paid By multinational

Companies to Fuck the countrys Economy up
If the man said it on Spotlight on the British Broadcasting

Corporation it must be true
Michel Martin and Fianna Fil are waiting for the right
moment to pull the plug on Kenny and his puppet
government. When Fianna Fil think the time is right they
will ditch Kenny and a General election will follow. Martin
and his advisers know that they must be seen to oppose
water charges to win enough marginal seats to get them
back into power - with the Labour Party and the Greens.
Once in office Martin and his new friend Alan Kelly will
move quickly to re-introduce water charges and they'll
offer some lame excuse like 'the EU/European Commission
INSIST that we charge for water usage'. Once the charges
are up and running the EU will also decide that Irish Water
must be sold. Competition law, etc. etc. Alan Kelly's
brother Declan and his Teneo will want to snap up Ireland's
water because it is worth BILLIONS and so will Denis

O'Brien. But of course it will be sold for peanuts because
the new owners will need to invest MILLIONS we will be
told. The new owners will invest alright but the money will
come from you and me in increased charges.
It's up to you my friends. Vote for your local, friendly
Fianna Fil candidate and believe everything they tell you.
In fact, why not also vote for the Blueshirts and those nice
people in the Labour Party like Joan Burton and Alan Kelly
and Brendan Howlin. And give any spare votes to the
Greens, why don't you. These are the people who want to
sell off our water. And they probably won't even get any
brown envelopes this time like they got when they gave
away our gas and oil and our fisheries ...
Quiet Avoided.
.
As Saturday's water charge protest nears, its VERY
important that people notice that political parties are
being sly and clever in avoiding mentioning eradication of
(a) Irish Water itself and (b) the water meters.
.
Most parties except FG, Renua and Labour (who are
deliberate keeping their heads down, hoping their don't
get any flak) are looking to come out of the water situation
as if they are on the side of the protesters - for eventual
votes.
.
The few GENUINE ones will state absolute clear that that
they want:
(a) water charges gone
(b) Irish Water, the expensive private registered company
gone
(c) the end to meters being bullied in so to eventually
charge
.
Sadly, too many political parties are being sly about
stating ALL three. They mention (a) to try garnish public
support but duck (b) and (c).
.
Look at recent past statements and look at ones coming
soon. Listen to what's being said - but more importantly,
find what's actually NOT being stated!
.
Irish Water, the company and meter usage (ability to
specific bill) is being avoided by some. You are not meant
to notice this though!
The GOOD NEWS is that the Blueshirt piranha are circling

their mortally wounded, failed leader and waiting
impatiently to devour the man who has become a serious
liability. The BAD NEWS is that the leaders-in-waiting are
equally clueless gobshites who have failed abysmally as
Ministers and are only in the running because of the PR
spindoctors who are working in the background to
promote their claims to the top job.
Coveney is probably best know for his attendance at the
Bilderberg Group get-together and for doing his utmost to
scrap Irish neutrality. He has done NOTHING as a Minister
so far to warrant giving him the job of running a country
(apart from lots of talk and no action on homelessness).
Varadkar talks the talk alright but hasn't walked the walk,
his term as Health Minister can be described in two words
- HOSPITAL TROLLEYS. Fitzgerald is ANONYMOUS as

feuding armed gangs roam the streets of Dublin killing
each other and innocent bystanders. Is she the worst ever
Justice Minister? (mind you there's been more than a few
duds). None of these three deserve to be Taoiseach, none
of them are up to the task.
And do you want the really bad news? Next in line in the
Blueshirt academy are Paschal "plastic" Donohue and
Simon "Baby Doc" Harris. Jesus, our country deserves
better than this!
SACK THE LOT OF THEM AND OUR SO CALLED GOVERNMENT THERE

NOTHING BUT PARASITES
There should be a revolution and redistribution of wealth 300 - 400
Irish citizens evicted from their homes this past weekend it make
you sick to your stomach how corrupt this business ( i mean
country) is. Run by money men psychos and liars that put no value
on human life only in turning a euro for profits. CUNTS!!
Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble
An' if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision's buggin' me (Indecisin me molesta)
Mason Hayes $Curran were an ordinary run-of-the-mill

solicitors practice with offices in a run down Georgian
building at 6 Fitzwilliam Square. But after Fine Gael
Environment Minister Phil Hogan got the Revenue to
collect the HATED "Property" Tax when faced by a mass
boycott, MH$C landed a lucrative contract from the
Revenue to hassle, threaten and intimidate householders
to pay the unjust, unfair tax. Maybe somebody in MH$C
played in the RIGHT golf club ... ?
The "Property" Tax is a slush fund, being used by Kenny
and Noonan to subsidize Irish Water, so if you paid, your
money is not being used for local services - your local
Council will only get a small percentage of your hard
earned cash to fund street cleaning, public lights and

maintaining Council properties, etc ... the bulk of the
"Property" Tax will pay the salaries of Irish Water
managers on 100,000 PLUS.
Angry? Call Mason Haye $Curran who are now located in
expensive offices at South Bank House in Barrow Street,
Dublin 4 and who are sending the sheriffs to steal peoples
possessions on behalf of Noonan and the Revenue!
Ask them if they are chasing APPLE for the BILLIONS that
they owe
The LPT was introduced in 2013 and is based on the

market value of the home. The deeply unpopular tax has
been sharply criticised because it penalises people living
in cities, where property prices are generally higher.
Collector General Michael Gladney said action was being

taken because some homeowners refused to pay. Mr
Gladney didn't explain why the Revenue turned a blind
eye to Apple's tax evasion and neglected to collect
BILLIONS of Euro for the state. Or why billionaires like
Denis O'Brien evaded tax by supposedly living overseas
(there are no checks by the Revenue on how many days
"exiled" tax evaders spend "overseas". In the words of the
wise man "taxes were for the little people"
It has emerged Revenue was aware in January of the

widespread sale of loans by NAMA to companies which use
Section 110 of the tax code to pay little or no tax in
Ireland.
Correspondence obtained under the Freedom of
Information Act shows that Revenue officials discussed
what they said were "a lot" of NAMA loans being sold to
so-called Section 110 companies.
Section 110 is under the spotlight after claims that it is
being used by vulture funds to establish companies to buy
up distressed property loans while paying little or no tax in
Ireland.
In response to opposition pressure, the Government asked
Revenue to examine the tax law to see if it is being
abused by funds to make money on assets in Ireland

without paying tax in this country.
The FOI documents show that Revenue was aware of the
widespread use of Section 110 of the code by companies
buying distressed property loans from NAMA - several
months before the issue was raised in the Dil.
Correspondence dating back to January reference what it
says are "a lot" of NAMA loans being sold to Section 110
companies.
Special Purpose Vehicles set up by these so called vulture
funds have bought up assets worth around 300 billion,
according to data gathered by the Central Bank.
Exposed as Ireland ugliest running in this years worlds

ugliest people too, both ugly on the outside and even
uglier on the inside, king ugly mug.
He`s being doing more than sticking it with the EU. She
was also investigated for corruption.
If you are a part of this racket evicting people we will get

your information and name you to the public to which you
prey upon for the enemies shackle. Shame on you. Our
citizens who defend these homes from the likes of you will
employ any means to get your identity, weather it be your
picture, your registration or your personal information, we
will get your full identity by any means necessary. Be
warned!
Sometime these type of people are to thick to care about been
shamed. They are just lower than scumbags. Anyone benefiting for
another person misfortune is lower than low scum.
Clare Daly, TD yesterday labelled Judge Desmond Zaidans

decision to issue a warrant for her arrest as ludicrous
and claimed he was causing huge problems with regard
to the administration of justice in Kildare. Her attack on
the judge was described as "unprecedented" but Daly was
saying something that resonated with a lot of people.
Anybody who has been in a court in this country and
witnessed the bizarre behaviour of many if not most
judges will agree that Daly was highlighting a serious

problem with the administration of justice in Ireland's
courts.
Some judges look on people appearing before them as
inferior and often verbally abuse and humiliate people and
make derogatory remarks that are designed to make their
way into the newspapers. You can imagine judges at their
get togethers having a good "haw haw" at their
supposedly clever put down of mere ordinary citizens those plebs who were not educated in private schools or
went to the King's Inns.
Judges are supposed to be fair and impartial and this is
often not the case. I have personally witnessed a judge
accepting the blatant lies of garda in court when anybody
with an ounce of sense could see that there was perjury
being committed. The funny clothes and silly wigs don't
help and they should be discarded and burned at the
nearest Halloween bonfire.
But the biggest problem is that judges are politically
appointed and are elevated because of connections to
political parties. We don't often agree with Shane Ross but
he is trying to change this practice. Just don't
underestimate the power of the legal profession and their
political bedfellows to maintain the status quo
Theres still button-pushers getting paid half a million. And
not to say Im not a button-pusher. Im just pushing a lot

more buttons."
Rolling Stone, 2012...
As a reward for FORCING householders to pay the deeply

unpopular Property Tax, (aka the BONDHOLDER TAX),
Feehily was appointed as head of the Policing Authority by
a grateful Fine Gael/Labour. You can be sure that Josie got
a nice payout from Revenue when she exited but didn't
have to wait long before she walked into her new position
where she's not working for the minimum wage. But
Feehily, (like John Tierney and a few other elites) obviously
moves in the right circles. In this country - it's WHO you

know!

(Luxembourg)

companies.

countries.
Operations Europe;
EMEA BV;
Trade.

formal notice.
Background
pricing.

interested parties.
'The EC sees the Apple deal as "state aid" to the company,

and therefore illegal. Informed speculation says it may
demand that Apple pay Ireland 6bn, which the full 12.5pc
tax would have reaped over three years; or 19bn if they
reckon it over 10 years.
What would you or I do? We'd gratefully take the money
and turn to Apple and say, Ah, gee, we're under orders
from the EC, but we'll put the money to good use.
Enda Kenny, with the backing of Micheal Martin, doesn't
want the money. Michael Noonan has said they'll appeal
such a ruling. They'll fight like dogs not to take it.'
Useless tossers could not run a raffle. Ireland one of the most fertile
lands on earth with vast resources intelligent people incredible
history and culture. Run into the ground by gobshites corruption and
cronyism we need a whole new system of government and we
cannot have the corrupt Gardai minding the ballot boxes it is a joke.
I still cannot believe that Kenny got Thirteen and a half thousand
votes in Mayo a county devastated by emigration evictions suicides
and unemployment what a complete moron the man is. he lost the
election but is still in power.
/react-text I would imagine that the only enquiry necessary is the

one undertaken by the Brazilian police.All Ireland needs is another
toothless enquiry.Of course the minister probably knows a lot of
legal eagles who are on the breadline.......
Democracy Ireland say 48.72 Million of public money be

refunded
Direct Democracy Ireland a National Citizens Movement

are calling on all political parties that shared a total of
48.72 Million from the Electoral Act fund each year, to
refund this money immediately so that it can be used on
essential services.
There is no justification for this Government telling the
people of Ireland that they must endure austerity and cuts
in essential services and at the same time paying
themselves an additional 48.72 million out of public
money. This money is in addition to their wages, expenses
and allowances received by politicians.
Out of the above figure, 34.92 Million was allocated for
parliamentary activity which mainly covers public
relations, training and social media. It is nothing short of a
national scandal that a total of 48.72 Million was shared
between political parties in 2014, while the people they
were elected to represent, struggled to support their
families due to the austerity inflicted by this Government.
Political parties must explain to the people of Ireland why
paying themselves an additional 48.72 Million comes
before the funding needs of the most vulnerable they took
an oath to protect.
Direct Democracy Ireland want to put on the record that
they have not received any public funds to-date and call
on all political parties to put the needs of the Irish people
first before any financial or political gain. On behalf of the
public we demand that this additional 48.72 Million of
public money be refunded.
Eircode, the White/Rabbitte white elephant which cost 38

MILLION and is being ignored by the vast majority of
people and companies are now mounting hugely
expensive TV advertisements in a desperate bid to trick
people into using their useless postcodes. The only ones
using EirCode it seems are the Revenue and you will
notice that they have attached the code to your Property
(Bondholder) Tax. Irish Water will soon be using Eircode to
keep track of all households. The government are planning
to also use Eircode to collect the Broadcasting Charge that
is going to replace the TV licence and in fact that was one

of the main reasons Rabbitte went ahead with Eircode in
the first place. An Post have already asked Eircode to hand
over address details for collecting the TV licence.
Soon the code will be used across all government
departments to keep track of all citizens and to facilitate
the collection of more and more future taxes.
Meanwhile Eircode are already SELLING address
information and in the future their database will be
flogged to companies and corporations so that they can
target you with their products and services
Gardai have become a militia for the highest bidder. Many

of the Gardai on the streets have been taking part in
barbaric crimes against the citizens of Ireland by removing
our constitutional right to protest peacefully against the
draconian measures being enforced on the citizens by
what has now amounted up to a dictatorship who live

inside a bubble where they have lost touch with reality
within Irish society. Is this going to now become the norm
for people in Ireland. Are Gardai blind to the fact that they
are now enforcing a private firms laws and not the law
they swore to protect? It shows a blatant dis-regard for
every constitutional right we have and the oath they
swore to uphold.
Name and shame the Gardai who apparently abuse their
power
Once Duffy confirmed to Coveney that he had paid his

water charges it was only a matter of discussing the
generous financial rewards - to come up with the right
result
The Securitisation of European Debt The European

Economic Treason Treaty
The EU Council, the EU Commission and the Government
have known all along that the total cost of setting up Irish
Water PLC was always going to be on our State Books and
not off the balance sheets as some would try to have us
believe in the mainstream and State ran Media outlets
nationwide.
Initially we had the Fianna Fail/Green Party Coalition
Government who in September 2008 forced us into the
State Bank blanket Guarantee Then after the General
Election of February 2011 the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition
Government who in a complete u-turn from what they had
promised catastrophically continued where Fianna
Fail/Green Party left off with the introduction of the
Household Charge, Local Property Tax and Irish Water PLC,

so where else was the money required ever going to come
from only from the State Coffers (Funded from the
Pension Fund / Property Tax / Car Tax plus International
High Interest Loans etc) and all under the guise of being
off the Balance Sheet. Is That Fraud? . so as not to effect
or increase our huge National Debt, its a total misnomer
and a lot of people in Ireland fell for it Hook line and
sinker, to the tune of 43% of households allegedly to have
paid up.
EU number crunchers EUROSTAT have done their sums
and in a key report have ruled that the detested utility
that is Irish Water PLC cannot be classed as a commercial
operation, again one cant help believe that is by total
design. The results, originally due out in June were
suspiciously delayed to coincide with the Dail summer
break. But; Direct Democracy Ireland strongly suspects
that the EUROSTAT decision will be reversed.
The question must be asked When Irish Water is
eventually abolished, as the writings on the wall would
indicate, (as the vast majority of Irish People have not
paid, and have no intentions of ever paying three times for
water). Which of the European Investment Banks will have
possession of the debts it has accumulated, forcing the
Irish people to once again bail out yet another failed
government escapade holding our 11 Billion worth of
Irish State Assets as ransom, also how will our
Government handle the issue of Council Staff that were
transferred to Irish Water from the 34 City and County
Councils back in 2012/13. Will Ireland have any chance of
getting our unlawfully removed Water Charge Exemption
back?
The setting up of Irish Water PLC was a Political Decision
by the 2011 Fine Gael and Labour Government and not
imposed by the Troika as they have us believe under the
Memorandum of Understanding for Irelands Bailout
Programme. The EU/ECB knew of Irelands Household
Water Charge Exemption.
So, if by some miracle Irish Water does continue to exist

will it be sold off to the highest bidder? The exact same as
any other State Assets to pay off more
International/European Bank Debts. One must also ask? By
whose design? The Troika? the European Banks? or by
European Private Capital/Hedge Funds?
At first, there was the European Economic Union (EEC)
1973 i.e. The Nice Treaty.
Then in February 2003 we had the European Union (EU)
i.e. The Lisbon Treaty.
Then a Treaty establishing the European Stability
Mechanism (ESM) 11.07.2011 The signing of the Treaty
paves the way for the ESM to take over from the European
Financial Stability Facility and the European Financial
Stabilisation Mechanism in July 2013
So what have we got in August 2015 and for generations
to come, we have the Irish State blanket Banking
Guarantee of September 2008 in effect we have been
forced to take on the burden of 43% of all European Debts.
We believe that the EU is heavily involved in the
Privatisation of Ireland its services and its natural
resources. This is all part of an effort to harmonise a
private corporate structure throughout Europe, all with the
unsanctioned approval of our Government, is this
Economic Treason?
So what is it? The EETT? The European Economic Treason
Treaty that is being robustly implemented by unseen and
unelected individuals that are being fully supported by
Neo-Liberal policies that are coming from the EU Council,
The EU Commission and the ECB spanning across the once
Sovereign Nations of Europe. Imagine Greece, Italy, Spain,
Portugal and Ireland all holding a Referendum on their
continuing membership of the EU?
Is this the reason why Politicians who work within
representative democracies in Ireland
Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail like to talk about crisis but
they ignore the fact that they CREATED it
This marks the first time a Fine Gael Taoiseach has ever
been re-elected and represents a partial return to power
for Fianna Fil, the party in charge during the devastating
financial collapse and subsequent austerity.
Fine Gael has consistently blamed Fianna Fil for
destroying the economy, and the other parties have
blamed both of them for their stifling austerity measures
which have increased homelessness, privatization, and
emigration.
RTE HIT NEW LOW - EVEN FOR THEM

Phil Hogan and his unelected bureaucrats in the EU
Commission leaked a banal answer to a simple question
about water charges to RTE today BEFORE presenting it to
the EU Parliament.
Now, that answer in itself does NOTHING to support the
super quango that is Irish Water yet RTE, absolutely
disgracefully, tried a 'gotcha' on MEP Lynn Boylan today
and attempted to utterly misrepresent the Commissions
position to spin the story to suit their agenda.
Lynn Boylan as ever was on her mettle and put Mary

Wilson firmly in her place but this really is a new low by
RTE and the EU Commission.
Democracy has been under attack in Montrose for a
considerable time now but this just has to be stopped now.
As to the EU Commission? Wouldn't you think that, as a
result of their neo liberal anti-democratic nature, they
would have enough on their plate with a possible Brexit?
Listen to Lynn Boylan call RTE out here on this evenings
Drivetime.
cdn.rasset.ie
#EXTM3U #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAMID=1,BANDWIDTH=64000 /hlsvod/audio/2016/0531/20160531_rteradio1-drivetimewatereu_c20997447_20997450_261_/20160531_rteradio1drivetime-watereu_c20997447_20997450_261_.mp4.m3u8
cdn.rasset.ie
like?

successors
"A nativity scene without Jews, Arabs, Africans or

refugees."
The greatest heist in Irish history.
Big Mick does not want any light to shine on the strange
goings on in NAMA. Big fat Mick gets very annoyed if
anybody questions him about the flogging of state assets
to vulture funds at knockdown prices... or about the
developers who ruined our country and who are back in
business (and laughing all the way to the bank) thanks to
NAMA... But Big Mick gets really, really upset and visibly
annoyed if anybody - especially the "man in the pink
shirt", mentions the shenanigans up North. Something to
hide Big Mick?
The European Commission is a dictatorship that bullies

small nations. The commissions Environment
Commissioner is Maltese Labour Party politician Karmenu
Vella and predictably he has backed Simon Coveney and
the governments water charges/privatization plans. The
European Commission and the likes of Vella are in the
pockets of large corporations and big business and hate
the very idea of democracy. They have learned nothing
from Britain's exit from the EU dictatorship and think they
can still throw their weight around. Let me tell you
something Mr Vella - the Irish people are not going to take
orders from you or your unelected mafiosi so go back to
your bosses and tell them Ireland will come to a standstill
if you try to force your hated charges on us.
(The trouble with Karmenu and his Commission pals is that
very few of them have ever done a day's work in their
lives)
District Court judge Desmond A Zaidan was born in

December 1962 and his early education took place in
Lebanon and Sierra Leone. He attended Rockwell College
before going to Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated
with a BSc and an MA. He later studied at the King's Inns
and was called to the bar in 1990.
He is a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
Judge Zaidan will most definitely be promoted shortly. He
has made certain people very happy - e.g. the Garda
Commissioner, the garda, Frances Fitzgerald, Alan
Shatter, Fine Gael ....
Oops! Hope I am not in contempt of Judge Zaidan's court.
Desmond can be a little touchy. He once jailed a couple for
kissing at the back of the court and gave a man 7 days for
clapping in court
Totally shameful, while they award themselves pay rises of

5k.
the state pension was funded by the people getting it, and the
government went and robbed that fund too, so there might not be a
pension for you to get, it is gone to pay off the debts of the
European rich who should be bankrupt but no the Irish paid off their
debts.
Enda wants to talk about porn. Does Enda secretly want to

be a porn star?
They along with Kenny are trying to make the people think that the
row is about 12.5% cooperate tax, but it is not, We have been the
row is about Apple having an office in Ireland that was deemed as
its main office ,Apple were putting the biggest bulk of its world wide
trade through that ghost office so they could avoid taxes, now it is
the business that passed through that ghost office that is the
problem. And it is not Apples problem it is the Irish revenues
problem they have helped so many companies to avoid paying their
fair share of tax, but they will jail us for fifty euro. We have been
screwed. and it is time we stood up against revenue and the
government, they are very quick to accept EU rulings on water taxes
and household taxes, the government don't tell them to go away we
will deal with taxes in our own way and say we are a sovereign
nation and won't take interference from others, bullshit always
catches up with people who use it on a daily basis.
Quick poll: Will the Government's new "rent pressure

zones" proposal be effective?
: 6 RESULTS /react-text
9 1259 Votes
j
j
j
Yes, it's the right move9%

No, but it's a start37%
No, not at all46%
I don't know8%
Whistleblowers Jonathan Sugarman at EU Parliament 15 11

2016
Nov 17, 2016
here's a link with better sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuAQO...
WHISTLEBLOWER, JONATHAN SUGARMAN, IS THE BIGGEST
STORY IN 2016, IN OUR COUNTRY, IRELAND, YOU ARE
DELIBERATELY BEEN DISTRACTED BY OUR GOVERMENT
AND MEDIA AT PRESENT, WITH A STORY ABOUT GERRY
ADAMS AND SINN FEIN.....WAKE UP AND DON,T TAKE YOUR
EYES OFF THE BALL. CORRUPTION EXPOSED, REGARDING
OUR BANKS, INCLUDING THE EVIL CENTRAL BANK AND OF
COURSE OUR GOVERMENT. THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION
IN 2017, SO REMEMBER, THE WAR AGAINST ALL PARTIES
HAS BEGUN. DO NOT LET JONATHAN SUGARMAN,S,
REVELATIONS, ON CORRUPTION, BECOME JUST ANOTHER
STORY.
Johnathon Sugarman (Whistleblower) With Vincent Browne
Dec 6, 2016
This is a must watch & share.
computing tech.
Find Truthful Irish @
https://www.facebook.com/truthful.irish/
HERE IS REAL TRUTHFUL NEWS NOT FLAWED NEWS
ABOUT THE NIGHT OF THE BANK BAILOUT, THAT FG, FF,
AND LB, GP, PD, MEDIA ARE BLOCKING OUT USING SF AS A
POLITICAL POLITICS FOR THEIR OWN GAIN IN VOTES

Coveney is a Landlord
Read all About Real news
Here,
https://www.scribd.com/docu
ment/334243711/HousingMinister-Simon-Coveney-isa-Landlord
CV - Simon Coveney TD
Title
Government
Personal details
Full name: Simon Coveney
Place and date of birth: Cork, 16th June 1972
Place of residence: The Rock, Carrigaline, County Cork
Civil status: Married to Ruth, with three daughters
Education
Mr. Coveney holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture and Land
Management from The Royal Agriculture College,
Gloucestershire. He was also educated at Clongowes
Wood College, County Kildare; University College Cork
and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary.
Career and Party Political Positions
Appointed Minister for Housing, Planning and Local

Government on May 6th 2016.
Appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food on
March 9th 2011 and Minister for Defence on July 11th
2014
Elected to the Dil (Irish Parliament) in 1998 as one of
Fine Gaels youngest TDs. Since then, he has held
shadow ministries in the following areas: Drugs and Youth
Affairs; Communications, Marine and Natural Resources;
Transport and the Marine.
Mr. Coveney chaired the Fine Gael Policy Development
Committee, prior to the 2011 General Election.
Elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and was a
member of the EPP-ED group. He was a member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee and the Internal Market and
Consumer Protection Committee. He was also a
substitute member on the Fisheries Committee. Mr.
Coveney was the author of the European Parliament's
Annual Report on Human Rights in the World for the year
2004 and again for 2006.
Member of Cork County Council and the Southern Health
Board from 1999 to 2003.
Other activities
A keen fan of all competitive sport, he played rugby for
Garryowen, Cork Constitution and Crosshaven Rugby
Club. In 1997/8 he led the "Sail Chernobyl Project" which
involved sailing 30,000 miles around the world for charity.
Mr. Coveney continues to be involved in the running of a
family farm in County Cork.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/cor
porate/ministers/cv-simoncoveney-td
Secretary General's Diary - November

2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/secret
ary_generals_diary_november_2016.pdf
Minister of State Damien English - Diary - November 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/damie
n_english_-_diary_november_2016.pdf
Housing Supply Coordination Task Force Returns Q2 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housi
ng_supply_coordination_task_force_returns_q2_2016.pdf
Report on Cri cal Infrastructure De cits in Residen al
Priority Areas in the Dublin Region
Second Report - January 2015
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/dublin
_housing_supply_coordination_task_force_report_jan_2015.pdf
Detailed information on review by expert panel of the Rural Water
Multi-Annual Programme 2016-2018 - Measure 5
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/detail
ed_information_on_review_by_expert_panel_of_the_rural_water_
multi-annual_programme_2016_-_2018_-_measure_5.pdf
Electromagnetic Fields in the Irish Context

Electromagnetic Fields in the Irish Context RIVM Report
2015
es/2015-0073_emf-ic_final_report.pdf
Indecon's Assessment of the Feasibility of a Tenancy Deposit

Protection Scheme in Ireland
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownL
oad%2C31535%2Cen.pdf
Minister Coveney says there is no

direct link between begging and
homelessness in Kildare
19:31 Saturday 10th of December 2016
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community

and Local Government, Simon Coveney, has
outlined that there is no direct link between
people begging and being homeless in
Kildare.
The remark came following a question from
Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, who
questioned the minister on whether or not
there was sufficient engagement between
State agencies and those sleeping rough in
Kildare, some of whom are begging.

Minister Coveney said that there was a
Homeless Support Team that is funded by the
Housing Authority that engages with every
homeless person who seeks out the service,
while he went on to say that public begging
is a matter for the Garda and that
homelessness and begging are not
necessarily concordant.
In the Kildare County Council administrative
area, a housing authority funded Homeless
Support Team engages with every homeless
person who presents seeking services, while
the Homeless Outreach Team investigates all
reports of rough sleeping and provides
assistance as appropriate. Furthermore, the
local Homeless Action Team meets on a
regular basis and includes participants from
the Department of Social Protection, the
Probation Services, the Health Service
Executives mental health service and
addiction service, service providers and
housing authority staff," outlined Minister
Coveney.
"Incidence of public begging is a matter for
the Garda Sochna to consider and there is
no automatic direct link between public
begging and homelessness."
https://www.kildarenow.com/news/ministercoveney-says-there-is-no-direct-link-betweenbegging-and-homelessness-in-kildare/133188
Coveney Allocates
25million for the first phase
of Dolphin House
Regeneration Project
Published on Wednesday, 20 Jul 2016

Government, Simon Coveney TD has today 20 July 2016,
announced the allocation of funding of 25 million for the
development by Dublin City Council of 100 new social
housing homes as part of the regeneration at the Dolphin
House estate, Dublin 8. The Minister was accompanied to
the site by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Rebecca
Moynihan and by local TD Catherine Byrne, Minister of
State for Community and the National Drugs Strategy.
Minister Coveney said, I am pleased to approve this very
significant new social housing investment. Following the
launch yesterday of the Action Plan for Housing and
Homelessness
(link is external)
, what we are announcing here today is a tangible
example of the enhanced commitment to social housing

delivery. In particular, its a commitment to delivery for
communities who, with some legitimacy, may have felt up
to now that their concerns and priorities werent getting the
investment of State funds they deserved. This is one of a
number of regeneration projects in Dublin City and one of
three in the Dublin 8 area. We have seen the successful
completion of Thornton Heights on the St Michaels Estate
and I know that work on the regeneration of the St
Teresas Gardens estate is gaining momentum. This first
phase of regeneration at Dolphin House will help to
maintain the strong community spirit that exists here.
He added, Late last month, I launched the Dominick
Street project on the north side of the city and now I get to
launch a similarly ambitious project on the south side.
They highlight the determination of both myself, as the
Minister for Housing, and the Government to deliver on
our promises with regard to urban regeneration. Social
housing improvements do not just mean new housing,
they also bring other benefits in the form of social,
community and economic renewal. They demonstrate our
commitment to individuals, to families and to communities
to provide homes and environments of which they can be
proud.
The Minister continued: Yesterday, along with the
Taoiseach and Minister for Public Expenditure and
Reform, I launched Rebuilding Ireland, an Action Plan for
Housing and Homelessness,
(link is external)
which is made up of five pillars of concerted actions right
across Government addressing homelessness,
accelerating social housing, building more homes,
improving the rental sector and utilising existing housing. I
am delighted to be here today to launch one of the most
significant social housing regeneration projects that will be
delivered under that Plan. This is one project in a truly
ambitious social housing programme of 47,000 units that
will be delivered with funding of 5.35 billion over the

coming period out to 2021.
Minister of State for Community and the National Drugs
Strategy, and local T.D. for the area, Catherine Byrne
welcomed the announcement I want to congratulate the
residents and the Regeneration Board of Dolphin House
for their steadfast commitment to this project. The 25
million announced by Minister Coveney this morning
clearly shows the dedication of this Government to
revitalising the area. It will enhance the living conditions in
Dolphin House as well as providing much needed housing
in Dublin 8.
Speaking at the announcement, the Deputy Lord Mayor of
Dublin and local councillor, Rebecca Moynihan said, "I
am delighted that the Department of Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government has approved funding
of 25m for the regeneration of Dolphin House. This is a
long-awaited redevelopment project that will provide
much-needed new homes for this area. It will be the
beginning of a new phase in the life of this strong Dublin
community."
ENDS
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/socialhousing/regeneration-scheme/coveneyallocates-eu25million-first-phase-dolphinhouse
Simon Coveney TD,

Minister for Housing,
Planning and Local

Government today offi
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local

Government today officially turned the sod on a major
investment of 11m at the Bon Secours Care Village at Lee
Road Cork. The Lord Mayor of Cork Des Cahill and the Deputy
County Mayor, Mary Rose Desmond were on site for this
significant day. Peter Lacy Chairman of Bon Secours welcomed
the investment in additional beds and facilities to build on the
already successful Care Village to deliver exceptional care for
its residents. Nollaig Broe Hospital Manager and Director of
Nursing at the Care Village was delighted to formally
commence the project which will be complete by January 2018
to provide state of the art facilities.
This ground breaking development in care for the elderly
complements many of the major projects the Bon Secours
Health System is undertaking over the next five years in the
newly announced 2020 Plan which will see 150 million
invested in all hospitals in the Group in Cork, Tralee, Galway,
Dublin and the Care Village in Cork. 75 million alone will be
earmarked for Cork, at Bon Secours Hospital Cork and the
Care Village on the Lee Road.
Speaking at the sod turning event Minister Coveney said Bon
Secours Health System is the Standard Bearer of private
healthcare in Ireland treating million patients every year a
significant portion of the countrys population. The Bon

Secours Health System has a reputation of building on what is
good and what is strong. I recently attended the Bon Secours
Conference on Patients Partnerships and Planning and was
impressed with their ambitious plans and particularly their
intention to partner with the public system to improve services
for patients.
Bill Maher CEO Bon Secours Health System also announced
that there will be significant developments at the Cork
Hospital. We are delighted to announce that the CCPC have
formally approved the joint venture with UPMC to develop
radiotherapy services in Cork which means Cork now can
provide the full range of Cancer services to meet the needs of
all its patients. The Cork development also includes new
theatres, new in-patient beds and an expanded ICU and the
newly expanded Medical Assessment Unit enhancing the
services of Bon Secours Hospital Cork as the largest private
hospital in Ireland. Bill Maher continued, with the new
facilities in Tralee and the recent sod turning for the Cath Lab
in Galway by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, the BSHS, as a
not for profit organisation continues to invest in all of its
facilities across the country.
Bon Secours Cork News

prettyphoto scripts ends
Funding for Cork Simon Community 2016

Tuesday 16 February 2016
R
Andrew McCarthy, Mission Leader at Bon Secours Hospital

commented we have a long track history of supporting
homeless charities here in Cork through our Community
Initiative fund, and are privileged to commit 10,000 to assist
Cork Simon in the great work that they do. Annually we
commit significant funding to the homeless sector here in
Cork, assisting some of the most vulnerable people in our

community.
Cork Simon Community now supports over 1100 people
annually, operating 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It
supports men and women who are homeless, or at risk of
becoming homeless, in the Cork and Kerry area, and is a key
frontline homeless service.
Last year, Cork Simon supported 345 people sleeping rough in
Cork; thats a 21% increase from 2014.
Sinead Naughton of Cork Simon commented Support from
companies such as Bon Secours Hospital Cork has never been
so important to us.

Bon Secours Hospital Cork responds

to Homeless Crisis
Thursday 05 November 2015
R
This hostel, which is run by St. Vincent De Paul,
accommodates Homeless men from all over Munster, and is
one of the key frontline services at the coldface of the ongoing
homelessness crisis.
According to John Calnan, Manager of St Vincent De Paul
homeless services in Cork:
This hostel caters for 74 service users every day, and has a
significant waiting list. We are delighted to have forged this
relationship with Bon Secours Hospital.
Initiative fund, and are privileged to assist with the provision
of funding to construct this shower facility. It is but a small
intervention in the current crisis, but is essential for St.
Vincent De Paul.
Editor Notes:
St. Vincents Hostel is one of two SVP hostels located in Cork
City. The other being Deerpark House on Friars Walk. St
Vincents is best described as an emergency accommodation
hostel providing accommodation and support for people who
are out of home and homeless. It works to source good quality
accommodation for its service users and help to reintegrate

people back into community. The unit consists of 74
bedrooms, communal rooms, kitchen and dining room. Hot
meals are provided daily and are cooked fresh on site.
Professionally trained staff work with service users to deal with
issues. The hostels currently provide services to a wide range
of residents. Many are people with addiction, financial or
family issues.
Minister pressed to continue

with Ballymun fund
Friday, 2nd December, 2016 2:00pm
Story by Jack Gleeson
Cllrs Paul McAuliffe (FF) and Noeleen Reilly (SF) with Director of
Axis which benefits from the Social Regeneration Fund, Mark
OBrien (centre).
MINISTER for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government, Simon Coveney, paid a visit to Ballymun last
week to hear concerns over plans to end the areas Social
Regeneration Fund.
Last month Northside People reported how the future financing of
several local programmes in Ballymun is unclear following a
decision to end funding for social projects by 2017 as the areas

physical regeneration is deemed complete.
However, many locals and their public representatives believe that
while much work has been done on the regeneration, its far from
complete, and theyre calling on the minister to continue the fund.
Social Regeneration is one of the keys to the successful
regeneration of Ballymun as it has long been recognised that
changes to bricks and mortar alone will not bring about real social
change, said Cllr Paul McAuliffe (FF).
Since the Ballymun Regeneration Fund was established we have
seen transformative changes in economic, social and community
life in Ballymun.
I would therefore very much welcome any decision to continue
funding social projects in the area, but I must warn the Minister that
regeneration remains a long way from complete.
While the rehousing project has been completed, we still have
many social and economic issues which need to be addressed.
We hope to see a rise in the number of owner occupied and
affordable homes in the area which will increase the level of
disposable income and attract more retailers. In order to achieve
this we require a policy instrument from the Minister that allows us
to develop affordable housing.
Last month Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) called on the minister to visit
Ballymun after it emerged the fund was in danger and she was
satisfied that he met with the Ballymun4Business group last week.
I am pleased to see that Minister Coveney has responded to calls
for him to visit Ballymun and see first-hand how much of the
regeneration has left to be completed, she said.
The Minister made a statement that the Physical Regeneration of
Ballymun was complete and he can now see for himself that this is
not the case as in the middle of the Town centre is an eyesore
where once the Ballymun Shopping proudly operated.
The Budget for the Ballymun Regeneration was cut by Fianna Fail
and the last Government to which Minister Coveney was a part off.
This now needs to be restored so we can complete the

regeneration of the town centre as well as provide more housing in
the area on all the vacant land.
Vital Ballymun fund secured for

future
Tuesday, 13th December, 2016 8:00am
The fund for Ballymun has been secured.

View More Images
BALLYMUNS 1.7 million Social Regeneration Fund is secure

for 2017 it was revealed following a recent visit to the area by
the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government.
The financing of several local programmes in Ballymun had been
uncertain following a decision to end funding for social projects
such as Axis as the areas physical regeneration is deemed
complete.
However, Minister Simon Coveney came under pressure from local

politicians who called on him to reverse the decision, which would
have left local projects depending on Dublin City Council for
funding.
Local Fine Gael TD, Noel Rock, recently confirmed that an
agreement regarding the 1.7 million fund had been reached,
meaning the money will still be available up to and beyond the end
of 2017.
The agreement between Minister Coveneys department and
Dublin City Council will see the council eventually taking over
financing for the local projects on a phased basis over the next four
years.
The structure of the handover is a little bit complex, but in effect
assures that the Department will fully directly fund these projects
up to and including the end of 2017, said Deputy Rock.
The funding will then transfer sequentially from the Department to
Dublin City Council.
This deal assures the future for a number of worthy organisations
such as Axis in Ballymun, and I was glad to speak to them to
confirm the details.
I was glad to have Minister Coveney visit Ballymun and am
grateful for his direct role in assuring this outcome and the
certainty that it provides.
I am satisfied with this outcome, and it is simply the first step of
many big plans for a brighter future for Ballymun.
Sinn Fin Councillor, Noeleen Reilly, welcomed the news and
called on Minister Coveney to continue to invest in Ballymun.
It was made very clear to the Minister when he visited Ballymun
the community was very concerned about the cessation of the
Social Regeneration fund at the end of this year, she said.
I am delighted the Minister has listened to the community and
political representatives and this funding will continue for the
foreseeable future.
Fianna Fail councillor, Paul McAuliffe, also welcomed confirmation
that the fund would continue.

He also said that while Ballymuns rehousing project was complete,
the area still needed funding as the community still has social and
economic issues that need to be addressed.
A key objective of our confidence and supply agreement with Fine
Gael was to increase funding to disadvantaged areas through the
Local Authorities, he added.
Extending the social regeneration fund will achieve that objective
in the Ballymun area.
I particularly welcome Minister Coveneys engagement in the
Ballymun area and hope that his department will continue to work
with us to fulfil the promise made to the people of Ballymun to
create a vibrant and prosperous village.
30K GRANTS FOR

LANDLORDS UNDER
SCHEME TO HOUSE THE
HOMELESS AND
VULNERABLE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
OWNERS of vacant houses in Cork city will be given up
to 30,000 in a multi-million euro repair and lease
project to bring the properties up to standard to rent
to vulnerable people.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney. Pic: Diane Cusack
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney revealed to the

Evening Echo that hundreds of properties around Cork
would be targeted for the new scheme, which would
be administered by the likes of Cork Simon, Focus
Ireland and other approved bodies. The scheme would
see owners of vacant and dilapidated properties given
30,000 and possibly even more if the scheme is
successful to do up their houses in exchange for
signing a medium-to-long term lease that would then
see tenants housed.
Mr Coveney said: We are willing to spend millions on
the project in Cork if needs be. It is a win-win for
everyone concerned. Most importantly people are
housed, but also those who have houses lying idle will
have them brought back into use. There are hundreds
of such properties in Cork. It is already happening in
Carlow and Waterford under the local authority, but we
want the likes of Cork Simon and Focus Ireland to run
the scheme in Cork.
http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/e30kgrants-landlords-scheme-house-homeless-
vulnerable/2532782/
Latest figures for homeless

children an appalling
indictment
December 14, 16
Fr Peter McVerry appeals for emergency

legislation to prevent the banks and
landlords from evicting families,
particularly those with children, into
homelessness.
Well known Jesuit campaigner on homelessness, Fr
Peter McVerry, has described the latest figures on
homeless children in Dublin as an appalling
indictment of Ireland.
Speaking to RTE Radios News at One, the priest
warned that the numbers are just going up and up
and up every single month.
These latest figures show that 2,020 children in the
capital do not have a permanent home.
We have almost one thousand families who are
homeless with 2,020 children who are homeless.
That is an appalling indictment of a country like
Ireland, he criticised.
2,020 children from 993 families are in emergency
accommodation, an increase from just under 1,900
in June, which is a 71% increase since last July.
This is another milestone and it will merit a tiny
little piece in the newspapers and then we move
on, Fr McVerry observed.
He added that if two years ago he had said that
there would be 2,000 children homeless today, he
would have been accused of scaremongering.
And here we have now with this appalling number
of people who are homeless and we have just

become so used to it, it has become the norm
now.
According to the Jesuit, two measures are required
immediately.
I think we need emergency legislation to prevent
the banks and landlords from evicting families,
homelessness.
They should not be allowed to put families on to
the streets unless they have been offered and have
accepted alternative suitable accommodation.
The second measure is compulsory purchase
orders on empty buildings lying vacant and not
being used.
While he welcomed Minister Simon Coveneys plan
to tackle homelessness and housing, describing it
was a very comprehensive plan, Fr McVerry
stressed that it would not kick in for a period of
time and by the time it starts to kick, the numbers
of homeless is likely to be much worse than they
are now.
Discussing the circumstances many homeless
families find themselves in temporary hotel
accommodation, the Jesuit priest described it as
absolutely appalling.
We have one family a husband and wife, a 20year-old boy, an 18-year-old boy and three young
children all living on one hotel bedroom. The
tensions within the family obviously increase as
time goes on and the children are stressed out.
Their education is suffering because they are
stressed out. The parents are stressed out and the
parents feel that they are bad parents that they
have failed their children so their self-esteem has
hit rock bottom.
He warned that the consequences of leaving
families in those conditions for long periods of time

will affect those families and those children for the
rest of their lives.
They have no cooking facilities so they have to go
out to the local chipper or takeaway to buy food. I
dont know how you can afford to do that if you are
on social welfare most people even if they are
working couldnt afford to eat out every night. So it
is really a huge financial pressure as well as every
other pressure on those families living in those
rooms.
Asked if it costs the Government more to keep
people in hotel rooms than to increase rent subsidy
and allow people remain where they are, Fr
McVerry said it did of course.
For 50 families in a hotel it is costing a million
euros per year. The hotels arent doing the
Government any favour; they are not giving them
reduced rates. The hotels could fill those rooms
with tourists so the Government is paying top
rates for those hotel bedrooms.
He stressed that while the rent supplement has
been increased by 15%, realistically it needs to be
increased by 30% to meet the current levels of
rent.
He said the priority is to prevent more people
becoming homeless and being thrown out of their
accommodation because of increasing rent or
being thrown out because the landlord is saying
that they are going to sell their property or the
banks repossessing homes.
Sinn Fin's latest suggestion to control rising rental prices has
been criticised by landlords.
Gerry Adams' party wants to link rents to inflation to ensure
that payments don't go up quicker than other market prices.
A vote will take place on the proposals in the Dil on Thursday,

but Fianna Fil and Fine Gael look set to unite to vote it down.
Fintan McNamara, is the Director of the Residential Landlords
Association of Ireland.
He says Sinn Fin's rent plan would give investors another
reason to leave the already struggling rental market: For
every two properties that go up for sale only one property is
bought with the intention of letting it.
And there is a very simple reason for that.
There is very little return in the business now, most of the
increases that have taken place in the business in the last 1218 months, has either gone back to the lending institution or
gone back to the State in taxes and charges.
Earlier
Sinn Fin is putting forward legislation in the Dil tonight that
will link rent increases to the rate of inflation.
But it is looking increasingly likely the bill will fail to pass in a
Dil vote on Thursday, after Fianna Fil described it as "gutter
stuff".
The special Dil committee that has been looking at the issue
of housing and homelessness is to publish its report on Friday.
Sinn Fin's housing spokesperson Eoin O'Broin, insists there

is no need to wait for that: Were not trying to pre-empt the
housing committee or the minister.
But a piece of legislation takes time and we think this should
be a central element of what Simon Coveney is going to come
up with at the end of August.
We are very clear, rent certainty has to be part of the
package of Simon Coveneys measures and I think the vast
majority of TDs in the Dil agree with us.
Some 5.35 billion euro will be spent on 4 7,000 new social

houses by 2021, and the number of homes being built each
year will double to 25,000.
Another 1,500 rapid build social houses are planned,
including 200 this year and 800 next year, and the
Housing Agency is aiming to get 1,600 empty homes off
banks, mortgage lenders and vulture funds.
The Rebuilding Ireland plan also includes 200m euro for
councils to get large sites ready for developers to get on
with building 15-20,000 homes. Up to 20 sites are being
identified for this.
Other sites on state owned land are also being identified
for 500 homes to be built by developers in 2017,
increasing each year up to 1,000 homes by 2021.
The 84 proposals, some of which have deadlines, look to

cut repossessions and improve rental contracts and bring
in child, health, justice and welfare chiefs to help stem the
flood of young and vulnerable people into homelessness.
It also includes plans for incentives to stop tenants being
evicted even if a landlord sells up and for European
models to be used to set rents close to market rates.
The proposals were outlined as more than 6,000 parents
and children live in emergency homeless accommodation,
and up to 130,000 people are on social housing waiting
lists across the country.
Pat Doyle, chief executive of the P eter McVerry Trust, said
the ideas showed a clear urgency to help young people and
families at risk.
"The actions set out to support families will no doubt
improve the situation of many households in hotel and
B&B settings and we fully support efforts to phase out and
ultimately eliminate the use of these types of
accommodation within the homeless sector," he said.
The trust said money was now being ring-fenced to help it
open accommodation specifically for young people leaving
state care.
As the plan was unveiled, Focus Ireland said 72 families
became homeless in Dublin in June - 502 families with
995 children were added to homeless lists in Dublin in the
first six months of the year.
Director of advocacy Mike Allen said: "It is positive that
the plan provides direction, but the litmus test will be
when we see roofs over people's heads - be this through
bricks and mortar of building social housing or by the
taking the urgent steps required to provide a better private
rented sector."
Focus Ireland said plans to tackle family homelessness fell
far short and warned using rapid build homes could
become permanent homes if left unchecked.
The Rebuilding Ireland plan also looks to expand Housing
First by tripling tenancy targets in Dublin and extend it to
other cities.
The Government also said the next budget will have

proposals worked on with the Central Bank to make
mortgages more accessible and affordable.
For families forced into emergency hotel accommodation
it said they should be supported with breakfast and after
school clubs for children, access to a creche for pre-school
years and free school transport.
The Government also aims to spend 10m euro a year on
the affordable rent scheme to put people up in at le ast
2,000 properties by 2018.
On building, three sites are to be found for at least 3,000
new homes from 2017-2021 in Dublin and other cities and
10m euro has been set aside for homes for people with
disabilities and a pilot scheme for up to 60 homes for the
elderly is planned for Dublin.
A new unit for pregnant homeless women will also be
opened.
Analysis of the crisis-hit housing market showed there are
115 active housing sites in Greater Dublin.
The capital has planning permission in place for 26,886
homes, but less than one fifth of them are being built.
Environment Minister Simon Coveney said providing
homes for people is the Government's number one
priority.
"It's crucial that we move from words to actions
immediately," he said.
"We may not have all the answers to address every issue
right now but the actions, funding and structures that we
are announcing today have the potential to make early and
very substantial progress on the journey to fixing our
broken housing sector."
Mr Coveney added: "While it's a huge challenge, it simply
has to be done."
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: " I am committed to ensuring
that it results in us achieving our critical national ambition
of ensuring that all our people have access to quality and
affordable housing, either through their own endeavours
or with the support of the State. "
Ruth Coppinger, Anti Austerity Alliance TD, said the plan

marked the end of local authority housing as we know it.
"The plan is a landlords' and developers' manifesto," she
said.
"As well as not proposing measures to curb their
profiteering on rents, it defends and promotes their
interests by continuing the use of the private sector as a
substitute for public housing, alongside introducing a new
range of tax breaks to incentivise landlords."
Sinn Fein's h ousing spokesman Eoin O Broin claimed the
plan will only produce up to 6,000 social houses a year for
six years.
"Minister Coveney is falling short of the Dail Housing and
Homelessness Committee recommendations by 40%," he
said.
Mr O Broin added: "The plan is particularly disappointing
on the private rental sector where no specific actions are
being proposed.
"Rather, the plan proposes relegating the issues of longterm reform of the private rental sector and issues of
security of tenure and standards to some future date."
FF to try block Rent

Pressure Zones being
limited to Dublin and
Cork
Kevin Doyle and John Downing
PUBLISHED
13/12/2016
3
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government
Simon Coveney TD during the announcement of the Government's
new Rental Strategy under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for
Housing & Homelessness at the Government Press Centre,
Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
Fianna Fil will try to block the introduction

of Rent Pressure Zones in just Dublin and
Cork.
The key element of the Governments plan for the rental
sector announced today it is to restrict rent increases in
the two cities to 4pc per annum for the next three years.
However, sources said that a meeting of the Fianna Fil
frontbench tonight heard concerns that this may cause
unreasonable price hikes in commuter belt towns.
Fianna Fils housing spokesman Barry Cowen is to
contest the 4pc figure, arguing that this is too high.
The Government will not be able to pass the necessarily
legislation to introduce the changes before Christmas
without Fianna Fils acceptance.
Cowen said the party's had "intensive discussions" on the
matter.

"We are pleased that Fine Gael have abandoned their long
held view that there should be no interference in the rental
sector and that the market alone should decide on rental
levels," he said.
He said he also wanted "to acknowledge" that Fine Gael
have included recommendations made by Fianna Fil in
its recent submission on rent reviews.
"However, we have genuine concerns with elements of the
current model as outlined and with its limited
geographical scope," he said.
"We are anxious that other cities be added immediately
and will be asking that Galway, Limerick, Waterford and
large population centres surrounding Dublin and Cork city

are included from day one."
Mr Cowen added: "We are not satisfied that the proposed
4pc increase is appropriate and we also believe that tax
incentives for landlords should be part of the package.
address these outstanding issues," he said.
The development will cause a major headache for Housing
Minister Simon Coveney who has already said he would
not be prepared to make fundamental changes to his
proposals.
Speaking at the launch of the plan Mr Coveney said he
would not be open to making significant changes as this
would require to get Cabinet approval.
Mr Coveney has prosed that Dublin and Cork be
designated Rent Pressure Zones and thereby restrict
annual rent increases to 4pc for the next three years.
Senior Fianna Fil sources told Independent that they
have concerns which need to be thrashed out, adding
that they expect to find a resolution.
The party must facilitate the passing of legislation through
the Dil this week if the new measures are to be
introduced before the Christmas break.
A source say they are by and large support of the plan
announced today but its clear that the 4pc isnt going to
fly.
When you accept these are pressure zones then you
shouldnt be saying its ok to have 4pc increases.
The party are likely to demand that Mr Coveney revise the
figure downward to 2pc, although they may settle on 3pc.
A second source said: We cant have a situation where the
current prices are seen as the base level and we have
upward only reviews.
Fianna Fil want to know what to do to resolve the price
inflation in the long-term.
The partys frontbench are set to meet to discuss the issue
further tonight before they decide a formal position.
Read More: All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure

Zones' answered
Earlier Labour leader Brendan Howlin told the Dil that
the new proposals to control the rents spiral will not work.
Mr Howlin asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if he accepted
that key housing campaign groups - Threshold, Focus
Ireland, the Simon Community, the Peter McVerry Trust
and the NEC did not believe in the Government
proposals.
Are they all wrong and only yourself and Fianna Fail are
right on this issue ? the Labour leader asked.
Mr Howlin said the Government was allowing rent
increases which were a multiple of any other index, eight
times the consumer price index. He said the Government
thought the only pressure zones were Dublin and Cork.
You know these rental pressures exist in Louth and
Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and probably Mayo,
he added.
Mr Kenny said if Mr Howlin had taken time to study the
Government plans he would see that the Housing Agency,
in consultation with local council, would designate an area
for rent increases.
It is a focused, targeted strategy to deal with the question
of predictability and certainty for tenancies, he added.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said statistics showed
average rents were now averaging 1,000 per month
around the country, and over 1,500 per month in Dublin
and he said the Government plans lacked ambition.
All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure
Zones' answered
The standout measure is the establishment of Rent
Pressure Zones in Dublin and Cork which will restrict rent
hikes to 4pc per annum. Here are the key questions on the
plan:
What is a Rent Pressure Zone?
These are areas where rents are high and rising quickly
which will now be subject to price caps. Legislation is
passing through the Dil and Seanad that will designate
U
U
Dublin and Cork city as RPZs before Christmas. As a result

annual rent increases in these cities will be restricted to
4pc per annum for the next three years.
Cork city have been deemed as qualifying immediately but
the RTB will have to study the rest of the country.
covered?
properties that have been substantially refurbished.
of inflation. Why didnt Simon Coveney take this
approach?
The minister said a blunt rent cap would disincentive
landlords entering the market and literally shut off supply
overnight. Noting that inflation for this year is negative,
Mr Coveney said: We want landlords to make a
reasonable return.
How does this affect the rent certainty measures
The last Government introduced measures that restricted
kick-starting supply. These include:
Examining the tax/fiscal treatment of accommodation
providers
Using publicly owned land for development
U
U
Promoting a build to rent model

Supporting credit availability for bringing vacant stock
Exploring the potential to bring into use, for rental
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ff-to-tryblock-rent-pressure-zones-being-limited-todublin-and-cork-35289605.html
Minister Coveney please don't do this. Consider what happened in
California where a long history of similar rent controls contributed to
disastrous fire in Oakland and the deaths of Irish students in Berkeley.
Attempts to punish landlords are always passed to tenants. Rent
subsidies only transfer wealth to property owners and push prices
beyond what non-subsidised renters can afford.
First do no harm! Next, stop seeing the landlord-tenant relationship as a
class war. Instead, reward those who form a mutually beneficial
business relationship. Decrease a landlord's income tax for each year he
maintains the same tenants. Put a 10% tax on vacant property, followed
by a tax break for renovation and tax breaks for raising the BER
efficiency. You'll put builders to work within weeks and reduce
homelessness by January. Less money will leave the Irish economy to
pay for heating BER D and F rentals.
The current plan is a non-starter and will do much more harm than
good.
So the decent landlords who did not increase their tenants rent for a
number of years are being penalised as their next increase will be 4%of
the lower rent.The greedy landlords who increased their rents by
exorbitant levels will get 4% increase on a higher rent.you will have two
houses beside each other one with a rent of 1,000 and the other with a
rent of 2,000 I guess it pays to be greedy.What are this goverment
playing at, they did the same with the water charges, those that do the
right thing get penalised and those that don't pay get rewarded.i think
its time to get out of this renting game
Rent has twice been found unconstitutional. In the case of Blake v
Ireland. It was also found to be unconstitutional in an Article 26
reference by the president to the Supreme Court. Far better to remove
the 300 a month direct rent increase introduced by FG/Labour in the
2013 Budget by adding property tax, PRSI and USC to rent. That caused
about 20% of rentals to be taken off the market. It is one cock up after
another
The Settled Land Act, 1882, with explanation, notes, and
precedents, also with the rules and forms for proceedings in court,
and an appendix containing the Settled Estates Act, 1877, the
Conveyancing and Married Women's Property Acts, 1882, and the
rules and forms under the conveyancing acts
https://ia902708.us.archive.org/8/items/settledlandact1800dodduoft/
settledlandact1800dodduoft.pdf
UnderEUDelegationandseparationof
powers
Separation_of_Powers The Judicial Power and the Legislature
https://s3.amazonaws.com/oxbridgenotes/samples/5406/original/Sep
aration_of_Powers_sample.pdf
Ireland has strong tenant protection laws. ... In Blake v
Attorney General ... hi just found out that our tenants have
been subletting our house for the last 2 years.
Constitutional Aspects of the Pluralisation of

the EU ...
Treaty provisions on delegation of powers, under Articles
290 and 291 TFEU ... Delegation of Powers in the EU: ...
Shane, H. Bruff, Separation of Powers Law
SEPARATION OF POWERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONS

INTERTWINED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ... might be held in
Ireland was still not clear.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1398902.
Analysing the EUs System of Government on the basis of the treaties
establishing the Community and the Union leads to identifying five basic
government functions, which are distributed in a complex system of
checks and balances between the EU institutions and between the latter
and member states institutions. Those five functions may be
characterised as legislative function, which evolved over time from rule
making to law making, the executive function which consists in
implementing common policies, the supervisory function, consisting of
judicial review and of oversight of member states compliance with their
treaty obligations, the function of direction, consisting of policy guidance
and programming, and an organic function consisting in institutional
development. The new wording of the relevant treaty clauses by the

Lisbon treaty clarifies the nature and distribution of these five functions
and thus enable us to understand how separation of powers is
organised in the EU.
POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

COMMITTEE
Second Report of the Political and Constitutional Reform
Committee, Session ... and Northern Ireland ... There shall be
a separation of powers guaranteeing by Italy Which
Defeated on Dec 5th 2016
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commonscommittees/political-and-constitutional-reform/The-UKConstitution.pdf
Separation of Powers in Written and

Unwritten Constitutions
Separation of Powers in Written and ... of separation of
powers applies differently under a written and an ... and
other treaties underpinning the European Union.
http://www.francisbennion.com
/pdfs/fb/2006/2006-015separation-of-powers.pdf
European Union, ... should only be cast by the leader of the
delegation in a unitary way. ... separation of powers into a
system that has always ignored it
http://www.epc.eu/documents/u
ploads/602431467_EPC
%20Working%20Paper
%202%20The%20future%20of
%20EU%20decision
%20making.pdf
separation of powers issues. Irelands Evolving ... of EU

Law in Ireland:
https://www.kingsinns.ie/cmsfil
es/entranceexamination/ConstitutionalSyllabus-2014.pdf
This text of the Constitution is a copy of the text enrolled on 27
... the Treaty on European Union ... between Ireland and
another state.]
https://www.constitution.ie/Doc
uments/Bhunreacht_na_hEirea
nn_web.pdf
DEFERENCE UNDER THE SEPARATION OF POWERSAN INCREASINGLY ACCEPTABLE TRAIT AMONGST
THE IRISH JUDICIARY?
http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1044&context=aaschssldis
THE LEGAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS: ... of the
Irish Delegation to the ... on the doctrine of the separation
of powers and provides that justice ...
http://www.juradmin.eu/colloqu
ia/1998/ireland.pdf
Politico-Administrative Relations under Coalition Government : The
Case of Ireland
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/g
roups/public/documents/nispac
ee/unpan003676.pdf
Tenant protection laws are

significant but not onerous
Ireland has strong tenant protection laws. The parties are free to
negotiate rents, but the amount must not exceed the open market
rate. The rent may be reviewed and can only be adjusted once a
year. Rent disputes go to the Private Residential Tenancy Board
(PRTB). Security of tenure is effective for four years; during the
first six months, the landlord can terminate the leasing contract
without specifying grounds but once a tenancy has lasted six
months, the landlord can only terminate the tenancy for the next
3 ? years citing just causes. Irish law is pro-tenant.
Rents: Can landlord and tenant freely agree rents in Ireland?
The parties to the contract are free to agree rents, however rents
may not be charged above the market rent. Rent may be reviewed
(upward or downward) once a year only.
Tenants are to be given 28 days notice of any new rents. A tenants?
right to request a rent review annually cannot be contracted out of.
Disputes about rents go to The Private Residential Tenancies
Board (PRTB).
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/default-documentlibrary/foi-publication-scheme-13-04-2016-msw.doc?sfvrsn=2
STRATEGY FOR THE RENTAL SECTOR

LAUNCHED TODAY 13TH DEC 2016 BY
MINISTER SIMON COVENEY
by RTB | Dec 13, 2016
Strategy for the Rental Sector launched today
Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr.
Damien English T.D., Minister of State for responsibility

for Housing and Urban Renewal today launched the
Strategy for the Rental Sector. Please find below links
for the strategy document and the accompanying
press release:
NEW AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION

EFFECTIVE FROM 9TH MAY 2016
by RTB | Dec 13, 2016
Information on all amendments coming into effect from 9th

May 2016
1.
Additional proofs required by Landlord in
certain instances to terminate tenancy
Amendments have been made to Sections 34 and 35
(reasons to terminate a part 4 tenancy) of the 2004
Act, as detailed below:
(i)
Accommodation needs reason a written
statement must accompany the Notice of Termination
specifying the bed spaces in the dwelling and setting
out grounds as to why the dwelling is no longer
suitable having regard to the bed spaces and the size
and composition of the occupying household.
(ii) Intending to sell within 3 months of the
termination of the tenancy the three month period
must be set out in the Notice and the Notice must be
accompanied by a Statutory Declaration confirming
this intention. The Statutory Declaration must contain
a declaration that the landlord intends to enter into an
enforceable agreement to transfer to another, for full
consideration, of the whole of his or her interest in the
dwelling or the property containing the dwelling.
(iii) Dwelling intended for own or family use the
Notice must contain or be accompanied by a Statutory
Declaration confirming the intended occupants
identity and (if not the landlord) their relationship to
the landlord and the expected duration of that
occupation. The statutory declaration must also

confirm that the landlord is required to offer a tenancy
to the tenant if the contact details under Section 35 of
the Act are provided and the dwelling is vacated within
a period of 6 months from the termination date.
(iv) Substantially refurbish or renovate reason the
notice must contain or be accompanied by a written
statement specifying the nature of the intended works
to be carried out and where planning permission is
required a copy is to be provided. Where no planning
permission is required the statement must set out the
name of the contractor (if any), the dates on which the
works are to be carried out and the proposed duration
of those works. The statement must also confirm that
the landlord is required to offer a tenancy to the
tenant if the contact details under Section 35 of the
Act are provided and the dwelling becomes available
within a period of 6 months from the termination date.
(v) Change of Use reason the notice must contain
or be accompanied by a statement specifying the
nature of the intended use and where planning
permission is required to provide a copy of the
permission. The statement must provide details of the
works to be carried out, identify the contractor, if any,
and the dates and expected duration of the works.
(vi) Breach of Obligations reason There is no change
to this reason which provides that where one of the
parties has failed to comply with their obligations, they
must first be notified of the breach and given an
opportunity to remedy it.
2.
Rent Reviews
The notice of new rent is required to comply with the

form prescribed by the Minister.
j
j
It must state the amount of new rent and the date

from which is to have effect.
It must include a statement that a dispute must
be referred to the Board on the expiry of 28 days from
the receipt by the tenant of that notice or the date the
new rent takes effect.
It must include a statement by the landlord that it
is their opinion that the new rent is not greater than
market rent having regard to
1
2
3
4
5
3.
The other terms of the

tenancy
Letting values of dwellings of
a similar size, type and character and
situated in a comparable area
It must specify the rent
amount for three comparable
dwellings of a similar size, type and
character and situated in a
comparable area
It must include the date on
which the notice is signed
It must be signed by the
landlord or his/her authorised agent
Anti-Social Behaviour
A third party may refer a case to the RTB in relation to

anti-social behaviour where they are or were directly
and adversely affected by the landlords failure to
enforce their tenants obligations in relation to anti
social behaviour.
j
j
The third party may request one of the following to

communicate with the landlord or former landlord on
their behalf or submit a case on their behalf:
An owners management company in a multi-unit
development
A body corporate
A body of persons who have as one of their

principle objectives the promotion of the safety and
security of the dwellings and the persons residing in
the vicinity of the dwelling containing the tenancy
concerned, such as a residents association or a
neighbourhood watch group
4.
Additional Requirements for Tenancy
Registration Confirmation
The tenancy registration confirmation letter must now
be in the prescribed form and must:
j
j
j
Acknowledge receipt of the application

Acknowledge receipt of the registration fee
Specify the Registered Tenancy (RT) number
Include information setting out
j
j
j
j
j
The rights and obligations of landlords and

tenants including
The setting of the rent, a review of the rent and
the notice of new rent
Security of tenure under Part 4
The termination of tenancies
Matters which may be referred to the board for
dispute resolution including
Complaints in respect of the

amount of rent initially set
2
amount of rent determined on foot of
a review
Redress that may be granted by the Board and

specifying the amount of damages that an adjudicator
or Tribunal may direct be paid to a party in respect of
the matter
The function of the Board to disclose particulars
of the registration to the Revenue Commissioners
Table containing all Legislative Changes to date
SOLICITORS PANEL FOR ENFORCEMENT
OF DETERMINATION ORDERS
by R.C. | Dec 06, 2016
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), formerly the Private

Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), was established in 2004.
Its remit is to regulate and support the rental housing market
by;
-
Operating a national system of tenancy registration
- Providing a quasi judicial Dispute Resolution Service for

tenants and landlords
- Conducting Research and providing advice to the Minister in
relation to matters impacting on the sector. This includes
producing a quarterly rent index based on one of the most
extensive rental databases in the country
Our remit has also recently been extended to Approved
Housing Bodies, which are not-for-profit housing providers or
housing associations and provide housing for about 30,000
tenants. This change (and hence the name change) means
that both tenants and landlords of these properties enjoy
certain provisions of the Residential Tenancies Acts, including
access to the disputes resolution services we operate.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004(as amended) provides a
statutory dispute resolution process for the resolution of
disputes between landlords, tenants, and certain third parties,
by way of independent mediation or adjudication facilitated by
the Board. There is a facility to refer the matter (in the case of
mediation) or appeal, in the case of adjudication to a Tenancy
Tribunal established by the Board. Following the conclusion of
this process the Board makes a legally binding Determination
Order. The Act provides that a party or the Board may take
legal proceedings to enforce the determination order if not
complied with. The Board takes very seriously the issue of noncompliance with its orders and while not obliged to take
enforcement, has done so in over 1200 cases in the last 3
years.
In agreeing to cover the cost of enforcement the
Board has regard to its published Policy and criteria on
enforcement. Once the Board agrees to an enforcement
request the case is then submitted to its Solicitors for

enforcement proceedings.
The Board is now seeking to establish a panel of solicitors
around the Country willing to provide legal representation to
parties where the Board has sanctioned enforcement on their
behalf. The Panel is expected to be in existence for a period of
3 years. Currently enforcement is through the Circuit Court
however, an amendment to the Act provides for enforcement
to be taken in the District Court. This amendment is expected
to be commenced by the end of the year. Consequently, it is
expected that panel members will be enforcing orders in the
District Court and experience of advocating in the District court
is required. Copies of the application form and the terms and
conditions of the Panel are available on the Boards website
(www.rtb.ie).
The terms and conditions include the fee structure that is
being put in place by the Board. The Board wishes to have a
limited number of solicitors on the Panel and selection for the
Panel will be based on the applications received. The Board
also reserves the right to interview solicitors for the Panel.
Solicitors selected for the panel will be expected to comply
with the Boards Best Practice Guidelines copy of which is
available with the application form. The Board will provide
training in respect of enforcement and Solicitors must
participate in training provided by the Board before they can
be placed on the Panel.
The Board would be pleased to receive applications from
solicitors with a real commitment to the work and experience
in advocacy before the District Court. Experience in providing
legal services to residential landlords and tenants is desirable
but not necessary.
To apply submit a completed application in the format provided
by e-mail (typed applications only) to enforceorder@rtb.ie.
Solicitors should note a training event has been provisionally
arranged for early March 2017 in Dublin and should submit
their application by 31st January 2017.
STRATEGY FOR THE RENTAL SECTOR LAUNCHED

TODAY 13TH DEC 2016 BY MINISTER SIMON
COVENEY
Dec 13, 2016
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/legislative-changes/rentalstrategy.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Strategy for the Rental Sector, Having TD Landlords like Simon
Coveney Laws owner as a Landlord Verses Tenant
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/legislativechanges/strategy-for-the-rental-sector.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Deposits
There are no maximum deposits.
What rights do landlords and tenants have in Ireland, especially as

to duration of contract, and eviction?
U
U
U
U
U
U
Security of tenure is based on a curious system of 4-year cycles.

During the first six months, the landlord can terminate without
specifying grounds. But once a tenancy has lasted 6 months, the
landlord can terminate the tenancy during the following 3 ? years
only if:
The tenant does not comply with the obligations of the

tenancy
The dwelling is overcrowded
The landlord needs the dwelling in the next 3 months
The landlord requires the dwelling for his own
occupation or for a family member
The landlord intends to refurbish
The landlord intends to change the business use of the
dwelling
At the end of the 4 years, a new tenancy will commence and the
cycle begins again unless otherwise agreed upon, i.e., the landlord
can give notice without stating a reason within the first six months.
Tenants may give notice at any time without giving a reason,
subject to any fixed term lease or agreement contained in the
contract; the periods of notice are indicated below.
Regardless of why the termination is occurring, the periods of
notice to be given by the landlord and tenant depend on the length
of the tenancy, as follows:
NOTICE PERIOD FOR TERMINATION
Duration of Tenancy Landlord Tenant
Less than 6 months 28 days 28 days
6 months - 1 year 35 days 35 days
1 - 2 years
42 days 42 days
2 - 3 years
56 days 56 days
3 - 4 years
84 days 84 days
More than 4 years 112 days 112 days
Source: Global Property Guide
The Act allows leases to provide greater security of tenure for
tenants, and allows leases to specify longer notice periods.
Landlords have to register details of their tenancies within a month
with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), with
registration fees of ?70 per unit.
Despite anything to the contrary in a lease or tenancy, where a
landlord withholds consent to assignment or sub-letting, the
tenant may terminate the tenancy. Leases for more than one year
(now rare) must be in writing.
EVICTION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT
Duration until completion of service of process
11
Duration of trial
50
Duration of enforcement 60
Total Days to Evict Tenant
121
Courts: The Lex Mundi Project
How effective is the Irish legal system?
It is generally accepted that landlord and tenant law is one of the

most complex and involved fields of Irish law. The new PRTB
hearings attempt to resolve this. The fees are not expensive. Legal
representation should not be necessary. Costs will not be awarded
except in exceptional circumstances. The dispute resolution
process operates informally. But enforcement of the orders of
Board not complied with, will be through the Court.
The following table indicates the pre-Board situation:
Legislation:
Recent changes in Irish landlord and tenant law Irish landlord and
tenant law comprises a mix of the common law (judge-made law),
and statute law, including (distantly) the Landlord and Tenant Law
Amendment Act, Ireland, 1960; the Conveyancing Act, 1882; and
more recently, the Rent Restrictions Act, 1960 and 1967; the
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Acts 1982-1983; and the
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992. But undoubtedly
the most important legislation is The Private Residential Tenancies
Act, 2004.
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2004/a2704.pd
f
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1982/act/6/enacted/en/print.
html?printonload=true
Housing Private (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 19821983 ... HOUSING (PRIVATE RENTED DWELLINGS) .
http://photosa.propertyimages.ie/media/2/9/8/3182892/e464d42d-98ca403a-9eee-1b314a1ed220.pdf
Private Rented Sector Tenants of 20 or more

years Occupancy ...
Private Rented Sector ... of protection under the Housing
(Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982. It is ... Private
Housing Section
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/JELR/LongOccupation.pdf/Files/Long
Occupation.pdf
Conveyancing Act, 1882 - Irish Statute Book

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1882/act/39/enacted/en/print
.html?printonload=true
Conveyancing and Law of

Property Act, 1892
Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

- Oireachtas
f
Brief history
During World War 1, the British Parliament passed measures of

rent control and security of tenure. These persisted into the post
war period, and eventually became the Rent Restrictions Act 1960,
an extremely complex set of restrictions.
The restrictions survived until the early 1980s, when they were the
subject of a constitutional challenge. In Blake v Attorney General
(1981) the Supreme Court ruled that Parts 11 and Parts 1V of the
Rent restrictions Act 1960-1967 were unconstitutional in that they
amounted to an ?unjust attack? on landlords? property rights. The
legislation, the Supreme Court complained, provided no
compensation for landlords subject to rent control, and almost
permanently alienated the property from the landlord. Following
Blake, more moderate legislation was passed, designed to phase
out the formerly rent-controlled sector by 2002 (the Housing
(Private Rented Dwellings) Acts of 1982-1983). The net result was

that tenants became largely unprotected from eviction, and the
rent market was free.
This brought a reaction. Following campaigns by Threshold, a

housing NGO, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992
was passed which provided new rights: more notice-to-quit,
minimum standards of accommodation, and the right to a rent
book, plus a system of registration. It also abolished the old
common law right of the landlord to seize his tenants? property in
lieu of rent (distress). However the Act did not address security of
tenure, and there was another Threshold campaign, which resulted
in the present, more anti-landlord Act.
I won't do something that I

know to be wrong' - Coveney
not budging on rental strategy
Talks broke up without agreement late last night.
December 15, 16
HOUSING MINISTER SIMON Coveney has said that it is

legally impossible for him to give into Fianna Fil
demands about revising the Governments new rental
strategy.
Talks between Fianna Fil and Fine Gael ended late last
night without agreement over the issue of rental caps for
the proposed new strategy.
As things stand, the Government will not be in a position
to bring legislation before the Dil concerning its proposed
solution to the rental crisis.
Speaking today on RTs Morning Ireland, Coveney said
that the parties disagreed on three key elements of the
strategy.
These were the proposed 4% yearly cap yearly rental
raises, more tax incentives to be introduced for landlords,
and designating more areas as rent pressure zones where
the caps will apply.
Coveney said the parties had made good headway on the
first two issues, but that the rent pressure zones issue had
been the real stumbling block.
Coveney said that Fianna Fil wanted the legislation to

name towns and cities outside of Dublin and Cork as rent
pressure zones (where the 4% cap on rent rises could
apply).
The problem with that is I have to make sure that we have
a robust process that is evidence-based, that is
independently assessed by the Residential Tenancies
Board, he said.
We cannot be making political decisions to designate areas
to become rent pressure zones without the evidence to
back that up.
Coveney said that he agreed to prioritise certain areas and
cities to look at designating as rent pressure zones in the
new year, but that Fianna Fil said they want them
named now.
It is legally impossible for me to name them now and they
know that.
I will not introduce flawed legislation I wont do
something that I know to be wrong.
End of term
As things stand, the legislation around rents will not be
introduced before the Dil rises for the Christmas break
today, leaving tens of thousands of households in the
private rental market in uncertainty until next year.
Homeless campaigners have expressed dismay that no
agreement has been reached between the two parties.
Follow
Mike Allen
Thousands facing homelessness don't need this! We need
national consensus on measures to keep families etc in
their homes
https://
twitter.com/mikeallenfi/st
atus/809308327993835520
8:07 AM - 15 Dec 2016
Source: Mike Allen/Twitter
The talks broke off last night between the two parties
without agreement at about 11.30pm.
The disagreement is the biggest issue to face the minority
government and its confidence and supply arrangement
with Fianna Fil since the Government was finally
confirmed in May.
Fianna Fil has accused the government of intransigence
regarding the negotiations.
Rent control talks break

down without agreement
Taoiseach Enda Kenny pledges to withdraw plan if Fianna
Fil do not support it

the private rental sector but the proposals could already be in
jeopardy as party sources in Fianna Fil have indicated that they will
not support the strategy.
Talks between the Government and Fianna Fil on

proposed rent control plans broke down without
agreement on Wedesday night.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney Coveney and his
Fianna Fil counterpart, Barry Cowen, held talks to try
to solve a dispute over proposed rent controls for
Dublin and Cork.
Mr Coveney has dug in on his rent strategy against

Fianna Fil opposition to aspects of it. The
Government needs Fianna Fil to either abstain or
support the measures to pass them through the Dil.
Government sources said the ball was in Fianna Fils
court and expressed hope that their plan would be
allowed pass largely intact, albeit with some
alterations.
Some sources said it was clear Fine Gael was not
budging from the core elements of the plan.
U
U
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Miriam Lord: Two parties circle each other to square

rent issue
Simon Coveney plays hardball with Fianna Fil over
rent cap
Approval of rental strategy hangs in balance, says
Michel Martin
Highly critical
Fianna Fil sources were, however, highly critical of

how Mr Coveney had handled the issue and said no
decision had been made. It is no way to do business,
said a senior Fianna Fil source. Emphasising the
Governments hardline stance, Taoiseach Enda Kenny
told Fine Gael TDs and Senators the rental plan will be
withdrawn in its entirety if Fianna Fil does not
support it.
Mr Coveney is insisting he will not make any
substantial changes to his strategy and is seen by Fine
Gael TDs as having staked his political reputation in
refusing to bow to Fianna Fil pressure. Mr Coveneys
rent predictability plan sets out proposals for socalled rent pressure zones and imposing limitations
increase rents by 4 per cent a year in that period. Mr
Coveney says a lower rate would fail to stimulate
housing supply.
Note of caution
The ESRI has, meanwhile, sounded a note of caution
on the rental strategy, suggesting greater rent
certainty could negatively affect supply, especially
from small investors.
We need rental supply across the board, and the
danger of bringing in measures like rent certainty is
that it can have a negative impact on supply, the
institutes Kieran McQuinn said.
saying it favours a 2 per cent threshold. It is also
concerned that the scheme will initially be confined to
just Dublin and Cork city and wants it extended to
Galway, Limerick, Waterford and commuter areas
outside the capital. Under Mr Coveneys plan, all local
electoral areas in the country will be assessed from
next March to see if they qualify for rent caps. He has
offered to bring this forward to February as a
compromise to Fianna Fil and it is understood this
was under consideration.
The Dil is scheduled to take the legislation giving
effect to the rental plan today and Mr Coveney wants it
passed by tonight. Fianna Fil sources accused Fine
Gael of banging the table at their party meeting,
while Fine Gael accused Fianna Fil of playing politics
with the rental issue.
If we said 6 per cent, they would have asked for 4,
said a Government source.
Pregnant mother 'had to view
men exposing themselves to

her and her son' in homeless
accommodation
Newly released documents give an insight into the conditions in which
homeless families are living.
December 15, 16
Image: Shutterstock/altanaka
/Photo Text content

ENTIRE FAMILIES SQUEEZED into hotel rooms,
children exposed to violence and drug-taking, mould,
damp, bed bugs, scabies, blood-stained mattresses, rats
and abuse.
The situation facing many homeless adults and families
living in emergency accommodation in Dublin is dire,
newly released documents show.
TheJournal.ie has obtained documents released under the
Freedom of Information Act that detail the complaints and
issues of people living in homeless emergency
accommodation in Dublin throughout the year.
The complaints are sent to the Dublin Regional Homeless
Executive (DRHE), which manages homeless services in

Dublin.
They include many instances involving families with
young children staying in privately operated hotels and
B&Bs.
There are now at least 1,026 homeless families with 2,110
children in Dublin alone, the vast majority of whom are in
this type of accommodation.
The documents paint a stark picture of homelessness in
Dublin and the effect it is having on children and families.
For data protection reasons, all names and locations of
residents and establishments are redacted in the
documents.
The documents in many cases also outline responses and
reports of officers designated to inspect the issues raised.
Complaints
In one complaint dated from January, residents state that
they have been pricked by a needle while in their room in
their accommodation.
When an officer inspects the room, they find the needle of
a syringe has been lodged into the seam of the mattress,
with the tip of the needle protruding outwards.
The response of the officer inspecting a room.

Source: DRHE via FOI
Another instance from June outlines very serious issues

raised by a pregnant woman living in emergency
accommodation in Dublin city centre with her child, who
is diagnosed with autism.
The complaint comes via a Focus Ireland Homeless Action
Team (HAT) worker who is assisting the family.
The woman in question states that there is mould and
damp in the bedroom and an infestation of insects under
the dampness on the ground.
The familys accommodation is next door to a single
persons unit. The woman alleges that she has experienced
a lot of serious anti-social behaviour as a result of this.
While she was waiting to be let into her accommodation,
the HAT worker states:
During this time, the customer has encountered a number
of anti-social behaviour issues. She has had to view men
exposing themselves to her and her son, women urinating
in front of them and prostitution.
In yet another serious instance, a letter sent by a solicitor
on behalf of their client outlines conditions in her
accommodation.
The solicitor's letter to the DRHE

U
U
U
The woman in question has two children, one of whom is

blind and the other who suffers from a developmental
delay. She is also pregnant with a third child.
The solicitors letter outlines how the woman and her
children have been exposed to needles, rodents and
general filth while at their accommodation.
Families
The documents date from 4 January to 30 September. In
that time the complaints to the DRHE around homeless
accommodation numbered 175 (coming from both
homeless people and accommodation staff, manager, etc).
There are multiple accounts of:
Children suffering with asthma due to mould and
improper heating in the rooms
Families suffering from scabies
Children being kept awake by pubs and clubs
U
U
adjacent to their rooms

Inadequate cooking and cleaning facilities and
Significant overcrowding
One complaint from January appears to come from a
doctors surgery. It states that a mother is claiming the
conditions she is staying in with her family is worsening
her sons asthma. Her daughter is also diagnosed with
scabies.
The letter appearing to come from the doctor's surgery.

The woman also says theres damp in the home and also
slugs etc coming through an air vent.
In another complaint, a social worker writes to the DRHE
pleading on behalf of a vulnerable mother with a toddler.
The social worker states that the mother has no supports,
no cooking facilities and has a history of self-harm and
mental health issues.
In yet another complaint, a mother states that the room
she was given was in terrible condition, stating:
Ive decided to stay at my friends with my child because I
dont feel safe and I cant sleep and cant stop crying.
At one point a Project Estate Officer (who inspects
accommodation and follows up on complaints on behalf of
the DRHE) visits accommodation following a complaint
of:
Accommodation infected with bed bugs bed when they
took off the cover was covered in blood and urine marks.
The officer finds serious breaches of fire safety and the

accommodation to be filthy.
The officer states:
Generally the property and a number of the client rooms
are filthy, this includes floor coverings, woodwork,
bedding, furniture, etc.
There are numerous other complaints similar to those
outlined above.
Response
Responding to the issues raised in the documents, Grainia
Long CEO of ISPCC said that it was deeply concerning
that families with young children felt the need to
complain.
The complaints received relate to children being exposed
to anti-social behaviour, public urination and
prostitution, said Long.
As the national child protection charity, the ISPCC has
been vocal on the unacceptability of this type of
environment for children, and we have warned about the
child protection and child welfare issues that it presents.
The ISPCC is concerned that childrens human rights are
being breached in a number of areas relating to the use of
hotels and B&Bs as emergency accommodation.
Today, the ISPCC reiterates the call we have made to the
State several times over the last year to outlaw use of
emergency accommodation for homeless children from
2018 onwards, said Long.
A spokesperson for the DRHE said all 175 complaints
were fully investigated and were resolved in a timely
manner.
The DRHE ensures compliance with all statutory health
and safety standards for homeless service provision and
notes there is formal policy for providers of emergency
accommodation in terms of standards required, the
spokesperson said.
Our aim is to ensure that all persons who access
accommodation whether in hotels or emergency provision
have a safe, clean and comfortable environment that is
peaceful and respectful of each persons situation.

The Government has previously committed to ending
hotel use to house homeless families by the middle of next
year, however as we reported in July, many experts believe
that will not be possible.
http://www.thejournal.ie/homeless-conditions-3137432-Dec2016/?
utm_source=facebook_short
The Housing Action Plan states that hotels will no longer used by next
year, but is that possible?
Jul 24th 2016,
DURING A DEMONSTRATION in Dublin this week in

support of homeless families who had been told they had
to leave a hotel they had been staying in, one mother
described conditions in which her family lived:
Its awful, its very, very stressful. Im washing [my
baby's] bottle in bathroom water.
Shes got a bad dose of thrush twice since being here
because its not suitable water.
Its very bad for us financially too because we have to eat
out everyday. I go days sometimes skipping meals.
The mothers account was just one of many similar
accounts heard over the past few years of parents living in
cramped, unsuitable accommodation with their families
for long periods of time.

Earlier in the week the Housing Action Plan was launched
to much fanfare, as the government moves to address one
of the most prominent social issues of the past number of
years.
Entitled Rebuilding Ireland, the 114-page document
contains multiple provisions to address the housing crisis
in Ireland.
The plan has an entire section dedicated to addressing

homelessness in Ireland, with one of the key areas of focus
being the number of homeless families currently living in
private hotels of B&Bs.
The document states that by mid-2017, hotels will only be
used as emergency accommodation in limited
circumstances.
From the plan:

used for new presentations.
Our aim is that by mid-2017, hotels will only be used for
emergency accommodation in very limited circumstances.
Homeless hotels
The use of hotels to house homeless people began to
increase significantly in 2014, as existing services
struggled to cope with the rising numbers.
As prices rose in the private rental market and supply
dwindled, the number of families presenting as homeless
began to increase as the number of families leaving
homelessness decreased.
This led to a clog in existing accommodation services,
which werent equipped to deal with the number of people
now presenting.
There are a very small amount of homeless shelters in
Ireland that are purpose built for housing families.
Typically, homeless families would be sheltered in B&Bs
privately owned places of residence that local authorities
(like Dublin City Council) would lease out on a permanent
basis.
When the crisis started to get worse about three years ago
and these all filled up, they started using hotels to house
people, Mike Allen, director of advocacy with Focus
Ireland, told TheJournal.ie.
Environment Department figures show that there were
344 homeless families living in emergency
accommodation in July 2014. By this time last year, that
number had nearly doubled to 657.
As the numbers kept rising, local authorities had no choice
but keep checking families into hotels, putting a huge
strain on their finances.
Now theyve got long-term arrangements with hotels
where they block book rooms to get better prices, said
Allen.
The problem was felt most acutely in the Dublin region,
which contains the vast bulk of the homeless population.
In April 2014 there were 184 families residing in
commercial hotels in the Dublin region. Latest figures for

this year (June), show that that number has nearly
quadrupled to 682 families.
What was meant to be a temporary measure became a
long-term reality for many families living in a lot of
cases for months or years in cramped conditions with no
access to proper cooking or cleaning facilities.
I think theres unanimous agreement in Ireland that this
isnt a good solution, said Allen.
U
U
The Plan
The Housing Action Plan aims to all but end the use of
hotels by next year through a number of measures
involving building and acquiring new houses and
increased rental support schemes.
In terms of housing, the plan has two approaches to
bringing more units on-stream:
An expanded rapid-build housing programme (which aims
to deliver 1,500 units).
A Housing Agency initiative to acquire vacant houses
(which aims to deliver 1,600 units).
Rapid-Build Housing was first floated last year as a quick
and relatively inexpensive way to address the

homelessness crisis through building modular homes.
Modular homes can take a number of different forms, but
are based around the principle of stacking individual
modules together to form a house. This means they can be
produced off-site in factory conditions, and quickly
assembled on-site.
Criticism over the cost-effectiveness of modular housing
and how long the units will last has arisen since they were
first announced.
Despite commitments last September to build 500
modular housing units, to date just 22 have been built at a
site in Poppintree, Ballymun in north Dublin.
RT reported in March that in total these units cost about
4.2 million to build, putting the cost of each unit at about
190,000.
Despite this, the Action Plan states that 200 units will be
built by the end of the year, 800 by the end of 2017 and
another 500 in 2018.
They have a credibility problem in terms of delivering
rapid-build housing, said Mike Allen.
We dont have any evidence to believe that they can deliver
it this time.
There is no mention in the plan of how any of the issues
that face the previous rapid-build housing programme will
be addressed in the next build.
Housing Agency
The second part of the plan to end the use of commercial
hotels involves housing agencies acquiring vacant
properties to be used as social housing.
The Housing Agency is a government body set up to
support housing functions in local authorities and the
Environment Department.
The Action Plan states that the agency will immediately
begin acquiring vacant homes from the investment or loan
portfolios of banks and other financial institutions to be
used as social housing.
This will deliver 1,600 new housing units by 2020, the
plan states, and alleviate the need to use hotels forms of
accommodation for families.
Its very clear in the report that they will only be buying
these housing units if theyre empty, said Mike Allen.
In our experience, when weve looked at buildings which
are owned by financial institutions they are not empty,
they have leased them out.
Allen said that problems could arise out of the houses
being occupied, but that the plan to acquire the units had
been thought out.
Its not just made up, there is a definite plan there, he
said.
However, while he commends parts of the plan, Allen
questions the timeline of getting the families out of hotel
accommodation by next year.
Another aspect of it is the use of the Housing Assistance
Payment (HAP), which is paid on behalf on tenants to
landlords.
The plan states that this will be used to move families out
of homeless accommodation and into private rental
accommodation.
However, while Allen states that this has helped get
homeless for people, the success of the measure relies on
the supply of houses being there. If there arent enough
houses available, it will be impossible to move people.
Its not just a question of price, its also a question of
whether these units actually exist. he said.

Its hard to see the escalation theyre hoping for until new
housing supply come on, and thats not going to happen
for another 18 months.
In terms of the mid-2017 target to end hotel usage, Allen
said:
Its very to see all those bits adding up in time.
Lets hope they do. But when you look at the figures
theyre pointing in the right direction
My advice to Minister for

Housing Simon Coveney
Posted: May 16, 2016 in Housing, Simon Coveney, Uncategorized
1
The new Minister for Housing has an opportunity to end the
homeless crisis and start to fix our broken housing system. This will
only be achieved if he abandons the failed policy consensus that has
dominated government thinking for the last three decades.
Simon Coveney is a serious politician. He has a reputation for
knowing his brief. He has also demonstrated an ability to build
alliances with disparate interests.
He will need all of these skills if he is to undo the damage of
decades of bad housing policy.
The new Minister is also clearly ambitious, considered by many as a
future party leader and even Taoiseach. His political future now
hinges on his success or failure in his new department.
That future is now dependent on the Minister making a simply
choice. Will he remain within the framework set out by his
predecessor in Social Housing Strategy 2020? Or will he be bold and
chart his own policy course?
The signals from Government buildings are conflicting.
The housing section of the Programme for Government is deeply
disappointing. The targets and timeframes for social housing
delivery remain unchanged. So too does the excessive reliance on
the private sector to deliver 80% of the social units over the next
five years.
Where new ideas have made it into the Programme they are
couched in works like explore, examine and consider rather than
definite commitments for action.
But there are signs that change may be afoot.
Minister Coveney has described the crisis as a national emergency.
He is the first Minister to do so. He has also said that the crisis
needs a comprehensive response suggesting that the response to

date has been less than comprehensive.
But he, and the thousands of families living at the rough edge of the
housing crisis, doesnt have much time.
Last week the Department of Environment released the latest
homeless figures. Almost 6000 people, including 2000 children are
homeless in the state.
In 2008 the number of people without a home was 1394. When Fine
Gael took office in 2011 there were 2348 people homeless across
the state.
Last week also saw the publication of the Daft.ie rent report. Rent
inflation is soaring at 10%, rents have now exceeded their boom
time peaks.
The figures confirm what many of us warned, that Alan Kelly and
Michael Noonans 2015 rent certainty measures had no positive
impact whatsoever and in some cases made matters worse.
So what must Minister Coveney do? What are the key policies
changes that we need to see in his Housing Action plan that is to be
published by August?
The plan must focus on two key challenges stopping the flow of
people into homelessness and increasing the supply of affordable
and stable social, rental and owner occupier housing.
To achieve these objectives he needs immediate actions and more
medium term proposals.
Rent certainty linking rent reviews to the Consumer Price Indexmust be a priority. Raising Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance
Payments levels alone will not halt the growing numbers of people
being forced out of the private rental sector.
Greater protections for tenants living in repossessed buy-to-let
properties, proper regulation of investment funds who are
purchasing distressed mortgage books, and reform of the mortgageto-rent scheme must also be immediate priorities.
Minister Coveney should combine these moves with a more
thorough reform of the personal insolvency service and greater
profesionalisation of the private rental sector. The first is contained
in the programme for government. The second isnt even
mentioned. Both are required.
However the single most important policy intervention that Minister
Coveney must pursue is a major social housing programme. The
claim made by Alan Kelly and repeated by Minister Coveney, that
Social Housing Strategy 2020 is the biggest social housing
investment in the history of the state is simply not true.
Investment in social housing has fallen from 1.1bn a year in the
early 00s to a low of 585m in 2014. Under the Governments
current strategy that figure will rise to approx. 800m for three
years only to be cut to 400m for the next three years.
This is in fact one of the lowest levels of direct state investment in
social housing in the history of the state. The numbers speak for
themselves. In the 1950 the state built 50,000 council houses. In the
1970s they build almost 70,000. Under Alan Kellys plan the total
number will be somewhere in the region of 12,000 over 6 years.
And here is the fatal flaw. Almost 80% of the social housing units
contained in Social Housing 2020 are not social houses at all. They
are private rental properties subsidised by the state under schemes
such as Rent Supplement, Rental Accommodation Scheme, Housing
Assistance Payment or the Leasing Initiative.
More than any other policy, this overreliance on the private rental
sector first introduced by Fianna Fil in the 1980s and continued by
every Government since- is at the heart of our housing system
failure.
Investing in real social housing development, on the scale of the
1950s and 1970s will not only tackle the homeless and social
housing crisis. It will benefit the private renter and first time buyer
by reducing demand and with it rents and property prices.
If Minister Coveney is serious about social housing he will also need
to shake up the cumbersome procurement process with slows the
development process down. And he will need to change the way we
think about public housing to focus on greater income mix and
better estate management.
Simon Coveneys political mettle is about to be tested like never
before. As Minister he can change the direction of housing policy in
the state. Whether he does will be revealed in August when he
publishes his Housing Action Plan.
Tackling the housing crisis

requires political will
Posted: May 2, 2016 in Housing, Irish Government, Politics
0
Emily is nine years old. She will soon have spent a full year of her
young life living in a hotel. She is one of almost 2000 children across
the state who will sleep in emergency accommodation tonight.
It will cost 36,000 to keep Emily and her mother in that hotel for 12
months. 100 for every night they spend cooped up in a small room,
living out of suitcases.
Emilys mother is unable to cook for her daughter. Emily has to do
her homework stretched out on a hotel bed. When she is done she
cant go out to play, the corridors are off limits on health and safety
grounds.
Her mother is left feeling ashamed. She thinks that she is letting her
daughter down. Emily is confused, tired and sad.
Elsewhere in the hotel, staff and guests are asking why it is taking
so long to form a government. Surely after 50 days a deal can be
done.
Back in her small room Emily asks her mother why it is taking so
long to get a home. Surely after 270 nights a house can be found.
But Emilys mother cant find a landlord that will accept the Housing
Assistance Payment. The Council has no houses, there are 20,000
families on the list and the wait is 10 years long.
So every morning Emilys mother leaves the hotel, drops her
daughter to school, travels to work, collects her daughter from
school and returns to that small cramped hotel room.
She is exhausted, at her wits end, wondering if she will ever be
housed.
It should be a national scandal that so many children are living like
Emily. Tragically it is becoming normalised.
Next week it is likely that a new Fine Gael minority government will
be formed. The indications are that that government will include a
new stand alone Department and Minister for Housing.
On taking office the new Minister should take a moment and reflect
on Emilys story. The conditions of her daily life are not just a
scandal, they are a screaming alarm bell telling us all that our
housing system is broken.
The growing number of homeless families is not some quirk of the
housing market. It is the direct result of decades of failed housing
policy pursued by successive governments.
Homeless service providers have been shouting this fact for years.
They have been warning that a failure by the state to invest in large
scale social housing by local authorities would result in a social
emergency.
Previous Ministers refused to listen. A failing policy consensus
prevailed. As a result Emily and hundreds of other homeless children
are paying the price. The social emergency that was warned of is all
around us.
The new Minister for Housing has a very simply choice. Will she
continue on the well worn path of her predecessors or will she
accept that the system in broken and fundamental policy change is
needed.
If she is open to change then I would respectfully suggest the
following steps.
Step 1: Declare a State of Emergency. If we dont admit the scale of
the problem then how can we hope to solve it.
Step 2: Tear up everything in Alan Kellys Social Housing Strategy
2020 except the multi annual housing targets. A social housing plan
that depends on the private sector to deliver 80% of its 100,000
units is doomed to fail.
Step 3: Double capital investment in local authority and housing
association social housing. Use whatever is the most efficient
funding source revenue, borrowing, SPVs. If necessary negotiate
an exemption for social housing investment from EU spending rules
with the European Commission for the duration of the emergency.
Step 4: Prioritise the immediate purchase of properties to meet
housing targets in year one. Use Compulsory Purchase Orders if
necessary to get vacant units back into stock or keep housing list
rental tenants in rental properties that are being repossessed by

banks or sold onto vulture funds.
Step 5: Apply the same fast track procurement process for standard
social housing as that used for the Ballymun rapid build houses. This
would cut project times by up to a quarter bringing on new build
units within 12 months rather than two years plus at present.
Step 6: Introduce emergency legislation to give tenants in private
rental properties greater protections when the properties are
repossessed or sold to vulture funds.
Step 7: Amend the Mortgage to Rent Scheme to make it a more
attractive option for both lenders and housing bodies and apply
greater pressure to banks, backed up with threats of legislation, to
meet ambitious targets.
Step 8: Amend the Housing Assistance Scheme to allow recipients to
remain on the Councils primary housing list.
Step 9: Introduce rent certainty, linking rent increases and
decreases to the Consumer Price Index and adjust rent
supplement/housing assistance payment rates to current market
rents.
There will be lots of people who will give the new Minister for
Housing lots of reasons why any or all of these steps cant be taken.
But before she allows her desire for change to be neutralised by
those with a vested interested in the status quo the Minister should
ask herself one question.
If Emily were her granddaughter would she not move heaven and
earth to get her out of emergency accommodation and into a secure
and appropriate home? Of course she would.
Emily is homeless because of political failure. The only thing the
new Government and their Minister for Housing needs to help Emily
is political will. Once you have that, moving heaven and earth is
childs play.
Jul 19th 2016,
THERE HAS BEEN a 37% increase in the number of

homeless children over the last six months.
New figures from the Department of the Environment
provide a snapshot of the homeless situation in Ireland
this month. The stats show that there were 2,206 children
living in emergency accommodation during the course of a
week in June 2016.
Thats up from 1,616 children who were living in a similar
situation in a week in December.
The count was taken during the week of 20-26 June and
shows that 1,078 families were living in emergency
accommodation. Six months previously that figure was
775.
The figure for adults in emergency accommodation was

3,625 in December. This has now risen to 4,152, a 14.5%
increase over six months.
The figures also demonstrate the extent of the homeless
problem is Dublin, an area which accounts for more than
two-thirds of the national figure.
The figures come as the government today announced a

planned 5 billion spend on social housing over the next
five years along with other measures to fight
homelessness.
These include the phasing out of hotels for emergency

accommodation and increased rental supplements.n to tell
you that that cant actually be achieved.
Homelessness Data
Official homelessness data is produced by local authorities

through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System
(PASS). PASS was rolled-out nationally during the course
of 2013.
The data produced captures details of individuals in Statefunded emergency accommodation, arrangements that
are overseen by local authorities. For example data on
domestic violence refuges is available through Tusla the
Child and Family Agency. Data on asylum seekers
accommodated in direct provision, is available from the
Reception and Integration Agency.
The lead local authorities for homelessness in each region
provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify
the number of people utilising State-funded emergency
accommodation on a regional and county basis.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community &
Local Government Homelessness Report October 2016
es/homeless_report_-_october_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report - September 2016
es/homeless_report_-_september_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Report - August 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homel
ess_report_-_august_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report - July 2016
ess_report_-_july_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report June 2016
ess_report_-_june_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report May 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/
files/publications/files/homeless_report_-
_may.pdf
Homelessness Report April 2016
files/publications/files/homelessness_rep
ort_april_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report March 2016
files/publications/files/homeless_report__march.pdf
Homelessness Report February 2016
files/publications/files/homeless_report__february_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Report January 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publica
tions/files/homelessness_report_january_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Policy Statement

files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHo
using/Housing/FileDownLoad
%2C32434%2Cen.pdf
Homelessness Performance Report Quarter 2 2016

Dublin
files/publications/files/performance_repo
rt_q2_2016_-_dublin.pdf
Social Housing Strategy 2020
files/publications/files/social_strategy_d
ocument_20141126.pdf
Local Authority Regional Performance

Reports
Q2 2016: Dublin, Mid East, Mid West, Midlands, North
East, North West, South East, South West, West
Q1 2016: Dublin, Mid East, Mid-West, Midlands, North
Q4 2015: Dublin, Mid East, Midland, Mid-West, North
Local Authority Regional Financial

Reports
night without agreement over the issue of rental caps and
the Government's new housing strategy.
government and its 'confidence and supply' arrangement
confirmed in May
TDs to tell them their rent strategy just won't do. Get your
TDs number here
Enda Kenny threatens to

drop rental strategy
Taoiseach says Government will withdraw plan unless
Fianna Fil accepts rent cap
Wed, Dec 14, 2016, 09:21 Updated: about 14 hours ago
Vivienne Clarke, Fiach Kelly

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the Government will

withdraw its rental plan unless Fianna Fil accepts a 4
per cent cap on rent increases.
Mr Kenny told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that
the principle outlined by Minister for Housing Simon
Coveney must remain in the plan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fianna Fil had proposed
halving the 4 per cent cap the Government is seeking to
place on rent increases in Dublin and Cork city over the
next three years.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has said the 4 per
cent cap is not negotiable.
Mr Coveney and Fianna Fil housing spokesman Barry

Cowen are meeting on Wednesday night in an attempt
to reach agreement on the strategy.
Fianna Fil has been demanding changes to the
strategy, which was announced on Tuesday by the
Minister, in order to secure their support for it.
The party is also adamant the relief should be offered
in other areas of the country.
Mr Coveneys position is that the entire strategy would
be undermined if the 4 per cent figure is changed and
he would be unable to bring the plan through the
Oireachtas.
However, he said he is willing to bring forward an
assessment of areas outside of Dublin and Cork to
ascertain if they qualify for rent caps.
Speaking on RTs Today with Sean ORourke, Mr
Coveney said: If Fianna Fil want to take it on, then so
be it.
Political sources say they expect the parties to reach a
compromise in order to allow the policy pass through
the Oireachtas and take effect in the new year, despite
disagreements between them.
U
U
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Rent control talks break down without agreement

rent issue
rent cap
Government sources, however, said Mr Coveney is

preparing to face down Fianna Fil on the issue.
Mr Coveneys rent predictability plan will apply for
three years and would mean landlords could only
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1,300 in Dublin or Cork city now could only see it rise
to some 1,470 by 2019.
Not rushed
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Coveney said the rent
proposals had not been rushed as there was a threemonth consultation process.
We will now have to work with all responsible parties
because there are many families under huge strain. We
need to take proactive action, he said.
The Minister said it would be politically popular for
him to only focus on the plight of tenants in the
strategy, but without landlords there would not be a
functioning market.
In order to have balance, the Government has to try to
take into account the maintenance of both sides of the
market.
There were lots of things [Fianna Fil] looked for that
theyre getting in this legislation.
The Minister said the time to look at incentives for
landlords was at budget time.
Mr Coveney said he would work with the Minister for
Finance to put in place a working group to examine the
possibility of tax incentives for landlords.
He said he wanted to stabilise the rental market and
pointed out that 88 per cent of landlords own only one
property.
If we cut off supply we will be having this same
conversation next year, if Im still in this job.
He said among the issues of concern to Fianna Fil was
the inclusion of other parts of the country in the rent
cap.
We will work to make that happen, he said.
Cumbersome
Earlier, Mr Cowen said his party had genuine
concerns about several aspects about the
Governments rental strategy.
He said the methodology of the Ministers strategy was
cumbersome.
The current model is limited in where it applies to. We
want Galway and Limerick and other large population
centres around Dublin to be included, he said.
The Offaly TD also said he was not satisfied with the 4
per cent rent cap.
He said that the current rent levels were abnormal and
an increase of 4 per cent was too much.
He told Newstalk Breakfast that Fianna Fil had
proposed a 1 to 2 per cent cap.
There is no doubt that these proposals are a step in
the right direction, when the opportunity presents
itself, we will seek to make amendments, he said.
Mr Cowen said tax incentives should have been
included in the strategy.
Talks between the Government and Fianna

Fil on measures to deal with rising rents
broke up late last night without agreement.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney said that
the Fianna Fil party position has made it
impossible for the Government to bring
forward legislation on the issue.
Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's

Calculus
December 15, 16

line?
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimespolitics/coveneys-rental-plan-enda-kennysleadership-six-months-of-new-politics
Fianna Fil has accused the Government of
intransigence.
The issue is the most significant
disagreement between the Government and
Fianna Fil.
After the talks both sides agreed that the
working group to look at tax incentives for
landlords should begin its work in the New
Year, however differences remained on other
key issues
Throughout the negotiations Mr Coveney said
the proposed 4% limit on rent increases in
the rent pressure zones of Dublin and Cork
city was not negotiable.
The limits are being introduced in these cities
because they meet two designated criteria:
that annual rents have risen by at least 7% in
four of the last six quarters; and that the
average rent is above the national average in
the past quarter.
However, it is understood the main issue in
the dispute was the criteria for other areas to
qualify for a rent limit to be imposed.
Fianna Fil wants Galway, Limerick, Waterford
outset.
The party also believes the proposal to speed
up the process to assess these areas from
mid-January does not go far enough.
It wants new criteria put in place but the
minister believes that the proposal was
fundamentally flawed
Last night he said it seemed political
considerations were more important to
Fianna Fil.
This morning, Mr Coveney said the parties
have now moved beyond the issue of the 4%
rent limit
Speaking on RT's Morning Ireland, the
minister said: "What Fianna Fil focused on
last night is that they said they could live
with the 4% as long as we got more areas
into rent pressure zones.
"What I have said is that we are going to
bring more areas in but we have to do that
on an independent assessment as opposed to
the basis of politics. I am a minister here who
has to implement this legislation and to make
it work for the years ahead."
He said he would not make decisions for
political convenience "knowing it is the wrong
thing to do".
Mr Coveney said he has offered a
compromise; to look at cities like Galway and
Limerick and other local areas to make
decisions in the new year about having other
rent pressure zones. He said it is not legally
possible to do so before then.

The minister defended the 4% limit, saying:
"It is based on what is happening
internationally. If you look at other countries
who have introduced rent limits, 4% is based
on a modest rate of return so if people invest
in the market they can have an increase."
He went on to say he has to take a holistic
view of the whole market to make sure it
functions and to make sure for both landlords
and tenants it works effectively.
"It is about protecting tenants in this report. If
I do it in a way that undermines the business
propositions of landlords then they will leave
the market and we will make the situation
worse."
three years.
issues.
outset.
appropriate.
increases.
Fil.
city.
2019.
zones.
supply.

pay rent.
the same time,
rising.
benefits.

back to the market.
nationwide.
affordable housing.
accelerated rate.
certainty
certainty.
index.

something."
looked at.
The latest Residential Tenancies Board rent

month.

quarter this year.
levels.
working well.
tenants."

nowhere to go.
"runaway train" .
helped somewhat.
Index.
make no changes.
situ.
get accommodation."
this.
ten areas.
couples.

payments.
little impact.
homelessness.
alike."

owning a home.
threshold annua lreport 2015 Provide homes for
vulnerable people who are homeless or at risk of
becoming homeless
The private rented sector is the most expensive and most
insecure form of housing in Ireland, with unaffordable
rents and insecure tenancies.
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/thresholdannualre
port2015.pdf
Simon Coveney plays hardball with Fianna Fil

over rent cap
Tensions with Fianna Fil tackled as Minister for Housing
attempts to call their bluff
Fianna Fil tried to undo house that

Simon built
Housing Minister Simon Coveney looked set for a victory of

sorts last night over his rent cap proposals after an
embarrassing climbdown by Fianna Fil,
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Simon Coveney
The party had tried to push the Fine Gael-led Government
into a corner over its plans to tackle spiralling rents that
are fuelling the housing crisis.
Coveneys long-awaited strategy for the rental sector was
launched on Tuesday and included lengthy explanations
about rent predictability.
It seemed he had managed to haul his rent plan across the
line by getting his Cabinet colleagues on board despite
Fine Gaels history of opposing rent-control measures and
strong hesitations from Finance Minister Michael Noonan.
Except there was one matter: Fianna Fil.
How quickly things change in politics. By Tuesday night,
Fianna Fil was determined to get its mark on the plans.
But it went further. Michel Martins party wanted the rent
cap limited to 2% as opposed to the Governments
proposed 4% annual increase limit. It said areas beyond
Dublin and Cork City must be included, such as Limerick
and Meath. And some type of tax incentive for landlords
must be assessed, the party declared.
By yesterday afternoon, Coveney was fuming, his plan
unravelling. Fianna Fils Barry Cowen was privately giving
out that Coveney had kept him and Fianna Fil in the dark
about the 4% rent cap. The minister made no secret of the
fact he thought Fianna Fil, whose support the
Government relies on, was playing politics with the
strategy.
A standoff ensued. The horsetrading began. And

amendments from the Government as well as from Fianna
Fil for the rent strategy legislation were being drafted by
both sides yesterday evening.
One minister told the Irish Examiner: We are not folding
on this. We are sticking with 4%. Months of work went into
getting that figure. They are just playing politics with this.
At one stage, Government sources were suggesting they
were prepared to let the whole rent strategy collapse and
give up on it if Fianna Fil didnt back down. He [Mr
Coveney] will pull it. And they [Fianna Fil] will be to
blame.
For years, rents have been out of control in the capital.
Prospective tenants are having to queue up outside
properties, competing for leases.
Increasing portions of peoples incomes are going towards
rents. Coveney said this week that the average monthly
demand in Dublin is 1,500. Families living in Dublin and
Cork City are unable to save for a mortgage and are
caught in a rent trap, paying landlords more every year as
rates are hiked up at an uncontrollable pace.
It was about time something was done. Coveneys

intervention is admirable, but is the 4% cap on rent
increases too much? Rates are already sky high, charities
warn.
Of course, the other issue is that strict rent controls will
scare away investors or landlords and then, ultimately,
worsen the crisis.
Coveney fired off a letter to Fianna Fil yesterday stating
that he was not for turning. Fianna Fil, meanwhile, was
floating the idea, through amendments, of agreeing to
higher rent increases if landlords carry out significant
refurbishments on properties.
The rent legislation is set to be debated and voted on in
the Dil today. But it remains to be seen if this increasingly
rocky minority Government can find a compromise so that

tenants, ultimately, get some relief
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has strongly defended the
Governments controversial rental strategy which has
been deemed far too limited in scope and scale.
Mr Kenny came under fire in the Dil from both Fianna Fil
and Sinn Fin after the Government announced it would
still allow landlords increase rents by 4% per year in areas
where rents have been spiralling out of control.
Mr Kenny said a decision to set the cap at 4% one of the
main elements Fianna Fil have major difficulties with
was made for a number of specific reasons.
The Taoiseach claimed a lower limit could have resulted in
a spike in rents when the controls are lifted.
He said that landlords needed a reasonable rate of return
on investment to avoid storing up a sudden upward
correction for tenants after three years.
He pointed out that the Government had previously
backed a 4% per annum cap on a rolling five-year basis.
Mr Kenny added: The level we have chosen is 20% lower
than this countrys long-run annual rent increases over
seven decades.
He added that the maximum allowed inflation in rental

pressure zones will be less than half of the current rate of
annual rent inflation nationally.
It is below the allowed rental inflation in a number of
other countries where rents are indexed, including
Germany, where rents may be increased by a maximum of
20% over a three-year period; New York, where increases
of 7.5% per annum are allowed until maximum rent is
reached; Sweden, where rents can go beyond an agreed
price ceiling up a maximum of 5%; and Switzerland, where
rents can be increased to ensure there is a return, with
nominal rates of return of approximately 6%, Mr Kenny
said.
But Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said the
announcements around rent are far too limited in scope
and scale.
Mr Martin said the proposal to only impose the caps in the
rent pressure zones of Dublin and Cork was too
restrictive and too limited.
The boundaries of the cities do not take account of the
suburban conurbations contiguous to the cities of Cork,
Dublin, Limerick and Galway.
Mr Kenny said that an assessment would be carried out by
the Residential Tenancies Board before February and he
was confident that these areas could be extended.
But Mr Martin said his party is not satisfied with the
capacity of the Residential Tenancies Board to deal with all
of this.
He added that the more action we take in the legislation
over these two days, the better in terms of bringing
certainty, clarity and timeliness to the interventions that
are being proposed.
Sinn Fin president Gerry Adams described the rental
measures as ill-thought-out.
I appeal to the Taoiseach to do the right thing, the proper
thing: introduce rent certainty, not rent punishment, and
link rent increases to the consumer price index. That is the
only solution that will adequately tackle this crisis, he
said.
Rent control set to be passed by Dil

Elaine Loughlin, Juno McEnroe, and Eamon Quinn
The Governments controversial rent control measures

look set to pass through the Dil today after Simon
Coveney faced down a backlash from Fianna Fil.
Crunch meetings continued late into the night but the

housing ministers measures to allow landlords increase
rents by up to 4% looked set to remain in place.
Fianna Fil had lobbied strongly to reduce this to 2%.
However, in a slight concession to the opposition the
scheme is likely to be expanded to Galway, Limerick,
Waterford and the commuter belts around Cork and Dublin
early in the new year.
The proposals will now be debated in the Dil today before
it breaks for Christmas.
Simon Coveney had threatened to pull the rent control
measures if Fianna Fil would not accept the plan to
impose a cap on rental increases of 4% in so-called rent
pressure zones.
The Taoiseach backed Mr Coveneys plans and said there
was no question of reducing the 4% cap on rent increases.
At a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party Enda
Kenny told TDs and senators that the limit would not be
adjusted and it was 4% or nothing.
But one minister last night told the Irish Examiner he
would have difficulty supporting the legislation that will
guarantee landlords get 12% in increased rent over three
years.
Junior jobs minister John Halligan, of the Independent

Alliance, might seek a free vote on the rent legislation.
I personally think there should be a [rent] freeze over 12
months until we analyse why rents have gone this way.
Siptu also called on Mr Coveney to reconsider his plan as
they said it does not address the issues of security for
tenants.
From early in the day Mr Coveney ruled out any
negotiation around the 4% rent cap and maintained it had
already been negotiated.
The 4% in my view is important, if you look at where we
want inflation to be its about 2% and to offer people
a margin of 2% above increases in the cost of living is a
very modest margin.
He said he would not support an amendment to bring the

cap down to 2% adding that if Fianna Fil insisted on this
the legislation would not get through the Dil before
Christmas.
And if Fianna Fil want to take that on themselves so be
it.
There are things we can do in relation to some of the
Fianna Fil queries, he said referring to broadening out to
areas outside Dublin and Cork.
The deadlock was discussed at meetings of both the Fine
Gael and Fianna Fil parliamentary parties last night.
Fianna Fil called for other electoral areas to be
immediately designated rent pressure zones, beyond
Dublin and Cork.
TDs Sean Fleming and John McGuinness both warned how
rents had shot up in Portlaoise and Kilkenny respectively.
Fianna Fil TDs and senators also feel aggrieved they were
bounced into Mr Coveneys rent strategy and were given
little details about the plan before it went public earlier
this week.
Speeding up assessments of areas for rent caps was more
important than getting a lower rate agreed, some
members afterwards told the Irish Examiner.
However Michel Martin told his party that no progress
had been made and members were also told that there
was a 50/50 chance of agreement being reached.
Meanwhile the Economic and Social Research Institute
(ERSI) has said it was not particularly enthusiastic about
the Governments proposed rent controls and favours
boosting housing supply, through an aggressive site tax
instead.
Unveiling its latest quarterly outlook, research professor,
Kieran McQuinn said fast-tracking a site tax would help
boost a lot of supply and take out of the equation
another bubble in land prices.
Fianna Fil would be willing to let landlords rise rents by up
to 5% if they could show they carried out significant
improvements to a property.
Although the Government had proposed a 4% limit on rent

hikes in areas where rents have soared out of control,
Fianna Fil claimed this was too high and wanted it
reduced to a cap of 2%.
But in proposed amendments to the Planning and
Development (Housing and Residential Tenancies) Bill
2016, Fianna Fil argued that in some circumstances,
landlords should be allowed to increase rents further.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney held talks with Fianna
Fil housing spokesman Barry Cowen last night in a bid to
get support for his proposals to have them passed before
the Dil plans to rise for Christmas today.
Mr Cowen submitted a list of proposed amendments
before the lunchtime deadline yesterday. Among them was
an amendment to have the number of rent pressure zones
increased. The Government had identified Cork and Dublin
as so-called rent pressure zones due to the
unsustainable increases.
Fianna Fil had requested that Galway City, Waterford City,
Limerick City, and the commuter belts around Cork and
Dublin also be included.
Perhaps one of the most contentious issues for the party is
the decision to place an annual cap of 4% on rent
increases in areas where rents have spiralled. Mr Cowen
had argued this rise should be capped at 2%.
However, if landlords can prove that they have made
substantial changes and improvements, they could rise

rents by as much as 5%. This was in contrast to the
Government bill which exempted landlords who carried
out significant improvements from the cap.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) will produce and
publish a classified list of defined substantial changes in
the nature of the accommodation provided under the
tenancy, the amendment read. It said the RTB would set
the different levels of increases. The amendment said the
rises, on top of the 2%, would be set a between 0.002%
and 3% depending on the substantial change
classification.

increases
THIS PRICK: WHO IS A TD IN THE DIAL, WOULD GAIN AND
BENEFIT FROM THIS BILL STRAGEDY BECAUSE HE IS A

LANDLORD, FIXING AND CAPPING HIS RENT PRICES, NEWS
HE IS ONLY CONCERNED FOR HIMSELF AND WHAT HE CAN
GROW ON HIS PROFIT LANDLORD SCHEME OUT OF IRISH
TAX PAYERS MONEY, BILDEBERG MAN ROTHSCHILDS MATE
AND HIS BRITHER PATRICK COVENY WHO USES HORSE
SHIT FOR MEAT THESE COVENEY BROS ARE CORRUPT
GREEDY PIGS DRAFTING THEIR OWN LEGAL BILSS AS
LANDLORDS SOME OF THEM ARE TDS IN THE DIAL, THIS IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND TREASON,

far too high.
2002.
whatever they want.

a permanent basis.
"Major anti-climax"
levels.
affordability."
through the House.
http://www.newstalk.com/Rent-increase-limits-to-be-introduced-inpressure-zones-Dublin-and-Cork
Tnaiste downplays rise in

homelessness figures
Frances Fitzgerald described the 35% rise year on year as a
"slight increase"
24 Nov 2016
THIS FAT OLD COW HASNT A FFOGGY DEW ABOUT

HOMELESS, SHE SELLS REFUGEE CHILDREN AS A PROFIT,
LIVING IN LUXUARY AND DRAFTING ILLEGAL BILS ON
CHILDREN AND WATER PROTESTERS WHO SPEAK UP TO THE
LIKES OF THIS CORRUPT MEAN COW,

Christmas.
for people.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen

http://www.newstalk.com/Tnaiste-plays-down-rise-inhomelessness-in-Dublin
Minister says new housing

strategy will learn from
mistakes of the past
Simon Coveney has refused to commit to the introduction of
rent control measures amid "unsustainable" price rises
o LinkedIn
The Minister for Housing has said he is determined to

learn from the mistakes of the past with the government's
new housing strategy.
A new report has indicated that in the best-case scenario,
rents could rise by 19% in Dublin - and 14% outside of the
capital - by the end of 2018.
A new strategy for the rental sector is due to published within
a month; however Housing Minister, Simon Coveney has sofar refused to say if it will include measures to control rising
rents.
He said the current level of rent inflation is unsustainable but
warned the government will not introduce policies that could
make it less attractive to build new properties:
I am determined to ensure that if we are going to add 50,000
houses to the social housing stock in Ireland, we are not going
to do what was done in the seventies and eighties, said
Minister Coveney.
He said the strategy at the time saw social housing centred in
certain areas of cities while other locations saw only private
developments.
That is a recipe for social disadvantage but it is also a recipe
for political unrest, understandably, as people feel they are
locked out of progress and opportunity, he said.
Lecturer in housing at DIT, Lorcan Sirr said rents still have the
potential to rise by as much as 25% nationally.
That is a huge rise. If you think that the average rent in Dublin
is 1,707 - add 25% to that and we are getting to levels where
it becomes totally unaffordable for people, he said.
He said high rents are fuelling higher wage demands from
workers and warned the government has a lot to address
within the new housing strategy:
DIT housing lecturer,
Lorcan Sirr
The latest figures from Focus Ireland show that 736 families
with 1389 children have become homeless in Dublin in the first
9 months of 2016.
The charity has called on the government to ensure the new
housing strategy includes measures to help stabilise rents in
the short-term.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy Mike Allen said the new
strategy must include measures to stabilise rents in the shortterm while also protecting tenants when banks step in to
repossess properties.
Focus Ireland is committed to working with the Government
to tackle this crisis but we do not shy away from saying more
can be done and more must be done now on this serious
issue, he said.
We need clear targets and timelines for delivery of homes if
we are to end the nightmare of homelessness for all the
families and children around the country who are living
through this trauma every single day.
http://www.newstalk.com/Minister-says-new-housingstrategy-will-learn-from-mistakes-of-the-past
Eoin Broin TD: 'Minister

Coveney failed struggling
renters yesterday'
Simon Coveney has given landlords increased level of returns while
failing to provide tenants with certainty or security, writes Eoin Broin.
December 15, 16
Eoin Broin
YESTERDAY, SIMON COVENEY launched his strategy for

the private rental sector. The big question in the build up
to this launch was would it deliver any meaningful
improvements in the lives of struggling
renters? Unfortunately the answer is no.
The Minister had an opportunity to provide renters with
some real relief from rising rental costs. However instead
he chose to potentially hit renters in Dublin with a 4,500
price hike over the next three years. Renters in Cork will
be hit with a bill for 3,200. The rest of the country,
including the Ministers own hometown of Carrigaline, will
remain at the mercy of the market.
Creating rent pressure zones
The creation of rent pressure zones in Dublin and Cork
is the only big idea in the 40 page document. The rest is
stuffed with re-announcements of proposals made public
over the last few months.
In areas deemed to be in rent pressure zones, rents can
only be increased by a maximum of 4% a year for the next
three years. For the privilege of living in a rent pressure
zone tenants will be guaranteed rent increase of 12% over
the next three years.
This will continue to heap pressure on struggling renters,
and lock low income families and single people out of the
rental market. Plus they will suffer rent reviews on an
annual basis, and not every 24 months as is currently the
case.
The picture for the three quarters of a million people living
in the private rental sector is bleak. Gone are the days
when renting was the preserve of the transient low income
worker or the away-from-home student. Increasingly, it is
where low and middle income families and single people
spend long periods of their lives.
In the capital city, where one in four households rent, the
cost of renting is now out of control. In Dublin the average
rent is 1,500 per month while new-lets are approaching
2,000. Across the rest of the country the picture is not
much better.
Poor regulation causes homelessness
Source: Shutterstock/GongTo
Despite its dramatic growth, the private rental sector is

badly regulated. High rents, insecure tenure and poor
standards are all too common. Renters may have
accommodation but rarely have a home.
The result has been a dramatic increase in family
homelessness, up 200% in two years as lower income
renters are squeezed out of the market by those with better
jobs and higher incomes. Working families are now paying
between 40% and 60% of their disposable income on rent
pushing them into in-work-poverty and locking them
out of the first time buyer market.
Tenants rights remain very weak even after the
Residential Tenancies Act reform of 2004. The grounds on
which a landlord can serve a Notice to Quit are too broad
and make legal evictions too easy.
Standards remain patchy. A recent NOAC study found that
55% of rental properties inspected by local authorities in
2014 did not meet minimum standards. Unfortunately the
inspection regime itself is poor with some councils
inspecting no rental properties at all. We do welcome the
commitment made by the Minister to introduce new
regulations governing standards in rental accommodation.
However he must ensure that local authorities are
adequately resourced to do so.
Accidental landlords dominate
With 65% of landlords owning only a single property and a
further 17% only two, our rental market is dominated by
accidental landlords. These are people who thought
renting was a passive investment requiring little effort or
cost.
Now 71% of them have to top up their rental income to

meet their mortgage payments. Ironically our poorly
regulated rental market is bad for many landlords too. Tax
treatment of landlords is complex and treats large nonresident investment trusts more favourably that resident
landlords.
The bottom line is that our private rental sector is broken
and Simon Coveney had a chance to start the job of
putting it right. He could have set out a vision for a private
rented sector that provides tenants with rent certainty,
security of tenure and quality housing in exchange for
reasonable returns to landlords for the professional service
they provide.
Rent certainty
The Minister missed an opportunity to introduce rent
certainty. Sinn Fin has tabled legislation linking rents to
the Consumer Price Index three times in recent months. It
has been blocked by Fine Gael and Fianna Fil.
If the Minister had introduced a better proposal for
achieving the same aim Sinn Fin would have welcomed it.
His argument that limiting rent reviews to affordability
will reduce investment in the rental sector is bogus, and he
has produced no evidence to support this argument.
The truth is that rental yields are at historic highs and
even with the CPI index linked to rent certainty, landlords
will make a return. Halting the spiral of rent inflation was
the litmus test of Minister Coveneys strategy, not just for
Sinn Fin, but for the tens of thousands of renters
struggling to get by.
Minister Coveney failed to tackle the security of tenure
issue. Extending leases from four years to six years doesnt
go far enough. The Residential Tenancies Act needs to be
amended to limit the grounds for issuing Notices to Quit,
and to provide for tenancies of indefinite duration. Longterm stable tenancies are good for tenants and landlords,
and help to build sustainable communities.
Taxing landlords
There is also a need to reform the tax treatment of

landlords. Mortgage Interest Relief is provided at different
levels to different categories of landlords. Real Estate
Investment Trusts have even more advantageous tax
arrangements, in some cases allowing them to avoid
almost all of their tax bill.
This costs the taxpayer millions in lost revenue annually.
We welcome the Ministers inclusion of a Sinn Fin
proposal that in advance of Budget 2018, Minister Noonan
needs to review the way in which Government taxes
landlords. Where tax reliefs remain in place they must be
designed to deliver a more professional, secure and
sustainable rental market.
Our rental sector will need to expand further
This can be done in a number of ways. Firstly by providing
more social and student housing, freeing up properties in
the rental sector and easing demand. The same can be
achieved by providing greater affordable housing for first
time buyers.
Better use of existing vacant stock, particularly in high
demand urban areas, is also crucial and will require
greater government investment that provided for in
Budget 2017. Local Authorities and housing bodies should
enter the affordable rental market in mixed tenure estates,
such as that proposed in ODevaney Gardens.
Private developers will go where the investment returns
are greatest but Government policy must not be led by
these concerns. Developer-led housing policy has failed in
the past and it will fail again in the future.
Renters will be deeply disappointed that Simon Coveney
and his colleagues chose not to break with decades of such
policy failures. He has launched a strategy for the rental
sector that will provide landlords with increased level of

returns while failing to provide tenants with real rent
certainty and robust security of tenure.
The rent row explained:

What it means for
renters, landlords,
Coveney and the minority
government
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
Renters and inset, Simon Coveney (left) and Barry Cowen
An unprecedented crisis is facing the

minority government today after Fianna Fil
refused to back Housing Minister Simon
Coveneys plan to tackle the rental crisis. A
Dil debate for 10am has been cancelled as
both sides refuse to compromise.
Independent.ies Political Editor Kevin Doyle takes a look
at what happens now
'It will be a trial and error situation no matter who wins the game
of brinkmanship.' Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
For renters:
Over 700,000 renters have been left in limbo by the row
between Fine Gael and Fianna Fil. Already Threshold has
received calls from tenants whose landlords have tried to
hike rents in advance of a rent cap being introduced. The
advice is to hold tight and see what happens over the next
24 hours.

not change
For landlords:
The good news is that the one area where the two parties
reached agreement was that there should be some sort of
tax incentives for landlords. However, that wont
happened until at least 2018. Finance Minister Michael
Noonan is to set up a working group to look at the issue
next month with any measures to be announced in
Octobers budget. On the issue of rent caps, landlords in
Dublin and Cork city will be on tenterhooks. Fine Gael and
Fianna Fil agree these areas should be designated as
Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) and be subject to a rent
increase cap for the next three years. The dispute is over
cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford as well as certain
towns in Meath, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow. Fianna Fil
want them immediately designated as RPZs but Simon
Coveney says this cant be done without further research
on current prices.
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen Photo: Tom Burke
For the Government:

The Government has withdrawn plans to debate
legislation which would have given effect to the rental
strategy in the Dil this morning. The move is a drastic
one but Simon Coveney felt he had no option, telling
Independent.ie that Fianna Fil were trying to make a
farce of it. The Dil is due to close for its Christmas
holidays at 10pm tonight. A compromise will have to be
reached early in the day or the plan falls.
For Fianna Fil:
Fianna Fil believe they are on the side of tenants in the
large cities outside Dublin and Cork as well as the
commuter belt. Their compromise was to allow the annual
rent cap be set at 4pc despite arguing it should be as low as
2pc. Unless Mr Coveney gives some movement on RPZs
then Barry Cowen is unlikely to budget. Its a dangerous
game because many renters will believe that some form of
deal would be better than doing nothing at all heading into
Christmas week.
For Simon Coveney:
This is high stakes for everybody involved but particularly

Housing Minister Simon Coveney. This is his baby.
Months of work have gone into it. He had to convince the
Department of Finance that some form of intervention was
warrant and then had difficulty bringing some of the
Cabinet on board but the resistance from Fianna Fil is
unprecedented. If the minister cedes too much ground to
the Opposition party he will be seen as weak. If he refuses
to budge the plan could collapse altogether. Its a
tightrope. A win for Mr Coveney would significantly boost
his chances of being the next leader of Fine Gael. A loss
could cause irreparable damage and hand the initiative to
rival Leo Varadkar.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personalfinance/property-mortgages/the-rent-row-explained-whatit-means-for-renters-landlords-coveney-and-the-minoritygovernment-35296390.html
Rent plan collapses,

plunging government into
crisis
Simon Coveney says Fianna Fail is
'messing with lives'
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
Housing Minister Simon Coveney. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
Fianna Fil will not back Housing Minister

Simon Coveney's rental strategy, plunging
the minority Government into an
unprecedented crisis.
1
A Dil debate on the plan has been dramatically pulled

from today's agenda, with Mr Coveney accusing Fianna
Fil of "messing with people's lives".
The dispute centres around the designation of towns and

cities as 'Rent Pressure Zones' (RPZs).
Mr Coveney had proposed that Dublin and Cork City
would immediately become RPZs, meaning that landlords
would be restricted to hiking rents by a maximum of 4pc
Speaking to the Irish Independent after the talks collapsed
Mr Coveney said: "I am not going to allow them to make a
farce of the legislation."
It is understood that Fianna Fil's housing spokesman
Brian Cowen demanded that the cities of Galway, Limerick
and Waterford added to the list of RPZs, along with some
commuter belt towns.
Warning Coveney's rentcap plan will 'hit

investment and new
home supply'
Michael Cogley Twitter

EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
1
Minister Simon Coveney
Government plans to cap Dublin and Cork

rents will discourage big landlords from the
market here, potentially hampering the
supply of new homes.
Housing minister Simon Coveney's scheme to tackle
rents may have unintended consequences for the supply of
new houses, stockbroker Goodbody has warned.
Analyst Dermot O'Leary said the scheme, to introduce rent

caps in high-demand areas across Dublin and Cork would
"reduce the motivation" among investors to enter the Irish
private residential sector.
The minister's plan to limit rent increases to 4pc per year
on dwellings in "Rent Pressure Zones" (RPZs).
"From an investor's perspective, the motivation to enter
the Irish private residential sector is reduced by this policy
and should have knock-on negative implications for new
supply," said Mr O'Leary in a note.
"In the context of the attempt to entice large-scale
institutional investment into the sector, this is a
retrograde step."
Mr Coveney's plan to impose the caps for three years came
under immediate attack from Fianna Fil, which
complained about a lack of consultation in the lead-up to
its publication.
Areas that are designated as RPZs must have an average
rent registered with the Residential Tenancies Board
above the national average - and rising at a year-on-year
rate of 7pc for four out of the last six months.
While new and "substantially renovated" properties will be
exempt from the plan, Mr O'Leary believes that will also
have an impact.
"Turnover of the stock is likely to reduce as tenants hold
on to their property.
"Given that properties that have recently been
'substantially refurbished' are exempt, there are likely to
be many disputes about this definition among landlords
and tenants," he said.
Davy analyst David McNamara said the threat of further
State intervention may spook investors.
"The optics of further Government intervention in the
market is obviously negative in terms of investment, but
Ireland is not unique in an international context in
introducing rent controls," he said.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personalfinance/property-mortgages/warning-coveneys-rentcap-
plan-will-hit-investment-and-new-home-supply35294507.html
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen. Photo: Tom Burke
Initially he also wanted the 4pc rent cap halved but

ultimately said his party would live with the 4pc figure if
Mr Coveney moved on the list of RPZs.
However, the Housing Minister took a substantial political
risk and refused to budge, meaning the talks ended in
deadlock. Mr Coveney said he has the full backing of
Taoiseach Enda Kenny for the move.
"I think what has happened is just extraordinary. There is
a lot of politics going on. They are messing with people's
lives," he said.
A senior Fianna Fil source claimed they were "backed
into a corner". "We were prepared to reluctantly move on
the rate but he wouldn't give on the other areas."
Mr Coveney argued that further study by the Residential
Tenancies Board would be required on the areas listed by
Fianna Fil before they could be designated as RPZs.
He offered "assurances" that this would happen as quickly
as possible in the new year and that decisions on Galway

and Limerick could be fast-tracked in January, followed by
Waterford, Meath, Kildare, Louth and Wicklow before the
end of February.
But Fianna Fil sources said: "That's a ridiculous scenario.
You might as well put a big billboard in all those towns
saying 'put rents up now because controls are coming in a
few months'."
The breakdown came just hours after Mr Coveney was
close to being feted for his work on the rental strategy at a
Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.
The minister gave a presentation to TDs and senators in
Leinster House and received "unanimous" support for his
uncompromising position with Fianna Fil.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told a private meeting of Fine Gael
TDs and senators that renters will be left in a "perilous
position" unless legislation passes through the Dil today.
Fianna Fil were said to be annoyed by what party sources
described as reports of the "pumped up" atmosphere in
Fine Gael.
Mr Cowen was last night consulting with the party
hierarchy about their next move, while the Housing
Minister said he is available for fresh talks if Fianna Fil
are willing to work with his proposals.
"I find it very frustrating. They support the vast majority
of the measures. It's just this one issue around the
qualification criteria for Rent Pressure Zones," the
minister said.
A third issue raised by Fianna Fil was the potential for tax
incentives for landlords to encourage supply in the market.

Rent Pressure Zone?

country.
covered?
approach?
reasonable return."
providers
1
Housing Minister Simon Coveneys approach to calming the rental
market is not without its merit. However, the lack of New Politics
contained means it will be watered down. Photo: Gareth Chaney
'New Politics?' Supposedly a new era has

dawned where government policies are
teased out in intricate detail and a consensus
view is achieved with cross-party support.
That's the theory - not the practice.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's approach to calming
the rental market is not without its merit. However, the
lack of 'New Politics' in play means it is on the brink of
collapse.
Coveney is well intentioned. He says he has done his
research, got his expert advice, afforded interested parties
their say and their views were considered. He wants to
bring in a 4pc rent-hike cap in Dublin and Cork.
2
Coveney's rent plan is

flawed - but it's a start
Editorial Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
14/12/2016 | 02:30
Housing Minister Simon Coveney
This is the season when children take part in

nativity plays and we celebrate kind-hearted
inn-keepers and cosy mangers where a child
can be brought into the world, in the
certainty of security and shelter. The latest
figures on homelessness in Dublin are a
challenge to our spirit of goodwill.
There were 5,146 adults and children in emergency
accommodation last month, a 35pc increase in the year.
So we need to be doing much better. Yesterday, Housing
Minister Simon Coveney attempted to do just that with a
series of measures to ease upward pressure on rents. Some
weeks back, Mr Coveney set himself an ambitious task of
having no family in a hotel room through homelessness by
the middle of next year.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/coveneys-rentplan-is-flawed-but-its-a-start-35292811.html
FG can cap rent increases ... but Noonan would not dream of restricting
interest rates on banks. I suppose it's easier to bully the little guy again ..
FG has form on this after all.
do you seriously think that a 4% increase is a handicap to landlords. its
400% more than they would get if they put money on deposits in banks .
its possibly more than investors could get buying govt bonds in most of
Europe.
I actually agree with fianna fail on this
4% seems too generous
especially coming after the large hikes over the past 2/3 years
ECB interest rates at 0.25%. vast majority of rental properties bought
from banks at 60% discounts . 2 to 4% increases per annum will fall on
taxpayers to increase rental supplements from welfare . this govt is
operating a pyramid scheme of housing where the taxpayers and citizens
are the victims and the corporate vulture funds and the new developers
are the winners.
Minister Simon Coveney presents his Action Plan for Housing and
Homelessness. Photo: Doug O'Connor
Privately, both sides were saying "this was

not the one" to bring down a shaky minority
Government just days from the Christmas
break.
Publicly, both sides clung obdurately to their 'not-an-inch'
stances over the new strategy for the rental sector.

From Housing Minister Simon Coveney's point of view, he
simply had to stand his ground and not flinch in this
strange game of chicken. The lack of choice very probably
helped him - he just had to win.
Absolutely stupid idea.
As yearly tenancies end landlords will seek vacant possession and set
new much higher rents for incoming tenants thus deepening the crisis
and only those who can afford to pay the higher rents will be able to find
accommodation.
The problem is that the Government has failed to make provision for
additional rental accommodation in Dublin and Cork.
Minister Coveney is "TALKING" about 'Build to Rent' developments,
and the fast-tracking of 'Repair and Leasing' schemes but has done very
little or nothing to advance those schemes.
In the meantime, people are getting desperate to find somewhere to
rent.
Another ill-conceived law which will have to be modified again in 6
months time when all the other areas of Dublin and Cork decide to
'catch up' with these so-called "rent pressure zones".
Only markets can dictate rents. Landlords will always find a way to avail
themselves of the highest rents that the market can offer. Legislation is a
waste of time and taxpayers' money.
Supply could be immediately be improved by providing large, barrackstyle, on-campus, accommodation for third level students. Demand
could be tempered by increasing interest rates to give a better return on
savings and making it less economical to indulge in "buy-to-let". I'm
sure that there are many more tweaks that could be made to improve
supply and cool demand.
Aback of the envelope calculation tells me

I've spent close to 45,000 on rent in the
past five years.
In that time I've moved apartment twice for cost reasons,
swapped the south side of Dublin city for the north side
and continuously cohabited. I consider myself pretty lucky
to have been in a position to up sticks and relocate, to have
shared my home with good people and to be able to afford
the sky-high prices.
So everything I write hereafter comes from someone who
was more than frustrated when Simon Coveney failed to
announce any real measures to tackle the rental crisis last
July.
Covney ' s plan does nothing to help supply ... FG sat idly by as vulture
funds bought property on the cheap and then he accuses FF of playing
with people's lives.
supply takes time and we have no time
Houses apartments owned by NAMA and TDs In The Dial, Simon is
One of Them, This is the key to TDs and Landlord Corruption and
Greed, Beware of The Enemies Here,
Lands owned by NAMA and Tds Too, All homes built by the state and
retained by the state Government is the future
The private developers can then build their mansions and pay top
dollars for the land,
Fianna Fil is to demand that 'Rent Pressure

Zones' are extended beyond Dublin and
Cork to other major cities and commuter
towns.
The party is set to play hardball with Housing Minister
Simon Coveney over his rental strategy, arguing his
proposals to limit rent increases in the two main cities to
4pc annually "won't fly".
They also want tax incentives for landlords to be
introduced as part of the package.
The development threatens the stability of the minority
Government as Finance Minister Michael Noonan has
ruled out any new tax measures before October's Budget
and Mr Coveney has already said he is "not going to be
able to be flexible" in terms of the 4pc figure.
In a statement issued after the Fianna Fil frontbench met
last night, their housing spokesman Barry Cowen said they
had "genuine concerns" with the plans "limited
geographical scope".

are included from day one," he said.
Mr Cowen described their position on the rent increase
cap of 4pc as "not satisfied".
It is understood that the party would prefer a figure of 2pc
- but this is likely to be vehemently opposed by the
Finance Department, which is sceptical about the
Government intervening in the market.
Read more: FF to try block Rent Pressure Zones being
limited to Dublin and Cork
Read more: All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure
Zones' answered
Speaking at the launch of the plan, Mr Coveney said he
would require Cabinet approval.
"I hope Fianna Fil will help us get this done before
Christmas. I think that's needed," he said. He added it
would be "very unhelpful" to announce measures and not
implement them immediately.
"Because then you do have unintended consequences
where a market wants to react before a designation
actually comes in," said Mr Coveney.
Asked whether changes could be made, he replied: "I have
approval from Government now for this strategy, not a
different one. We're not going to be able to be flexible in
terms of changing a whole series of the recommendations
or the numbers here."
The resistance from the Opposition party comes after Mr
Coveney faced criticism at Cabinet level from his
leadership rival Leo Varadkar for failing to fully engage
with other ministers before announcing his plans.
The Irish Independent understands Mr Varadkar told
yesterday's Cabinet meeting he was annoyed by the lack of
consultation. His department oversees the rent
supplement and Housing Assistance Payment schemes.
Sources said while he gave the strategy his full support, he
raised concerns "about a couple of points". One of these
was that landlords in commuter-belt areas could put up
rents in the short-term as a result of the move.

He also asked what would happen in Dublin and Cork at
the end of the three-year period.
Separately, Mr Noonan is said to be concerned about the
impact of interference in the market.
city won't benefit from any cap on their

rents, it has emerged.
An analysis of data from the Residential Tenancies Board
(RTB) shows that households in parts of Kildare, Meath,
Wicklow and Galway city paying more than the average
annual national rent and hit with steep hikes over the last
18 months will not get any protection from unscrupulous
landlords.
This is because it is only households in both Cork and
Dublin city that will benefit from the measures announced
under the Government's 'Strategy for the Rental Sector'.
This is despite the long-awaited strategy promising to
develop a "viable and sustainable" sector which would
provide "security" for households.
Part of the package includes limiting how much rents can
be increased in designated 'rent pressure zones' - but these

cover just Dublin and Cork cities and will not be extended
to other areas until at least March.
The proposal, expected to become law by the end of the
year, limits annual increases to 4pc in these cities for a
period of no more than three years, if certain criteria are
met.
Read more: All your questions on the new 'Rent
Pressure Zones' answered
The criteria includes a requirement that annual rent
increases have been at 7pc or more in four of the last six
quarters, and where the rent levels are already above the
national average of 973 per month.
The scheme was announced as part of a broader package
on rents by Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who said
that "dramatic rent inflation" was hurting families.
"Our rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords
or the country," he said.
"We need a strong and viable rental sector as a long-term
tenure of choice for families and as a secure investment
environment for landlords.
"Dramatic rental inflation puts families under pressure
and damages our national competitiveness and stability in
the investment environment.
"We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate shortterm pressures and we need to address the long-term
causes by delivering increased supply."
An analysis of rental data from the Residential Tenancies
Board shows that families living in many areas hit with
crippling rent hikes in recent years will not benefit.
Families renting in Salthill in Galway, paying an average of
almost 1,000 a month and hit with hikes in the last 18
months, will not be protected by the new measures. Four
towns are affected in Kildare; Kill, Maynooth, Naas and
Sallins. In Meath, families in Ashbourne, Dunboyne,
Ratoath and Stamullen will not benefit, nor will those
living in Wicklow town and Delgany in Wicklow.
More than 20 towns saw rent hikes of more than 20pc in
the last 18 months, including Monivea in Galway, where

they rose 49pc, Bailieborough in Cavan, where they
increased by 29pc, and Kenmare in Kerry where they
increased by 24pc, also lose out.
They won't benefit as rents are below the national average.
The most recent report from the RTB shows that rents
continue to rise, and grew by 2.3pc in the last quarter of
this year.
Read more: Mortgage arrears fall but thousands remain
in a debt straitjacket
The Government hopes that legislation to allow Dublin
and Cork be designated as rent pressure zones will be
introduced before Christmas. A spokesman for the
Housing Department said that areas experiencing pressure
could be added to the list from March following an
analysis by the RTB.
"The situation is worse in Cork and Dublin cities and other
areas will be included as soon as possible," he said, adding
that the process would take a "number of weeks".
Areas in Dublin and Cork could also be de-designated if it
was found that rents were not rising in line with the
criteria, or monthly payments were below the average, he
said.
The Government's plan for the rental sector will restrict
increases in Cork and Dublin to 4pc per annum for the
next three years. It could also be expanded to other cities
as well as the Dublin commuter belt.
But some tenants are already being hit with increases of
up to 40pc after the Government outlined its plans for a
rent cap.
The country's biggest housing charity, Threshold, said it
received a flurry of calls from anxious tenants yesterday
who were contacted by landlords seeking significant
increases before the new rules come into force.
Property Industry Ireland director David Duffy said there
was a danger that landlords could seek to boost incomes
by other means.
"There is a danger if you limit income that people will look

for alternative sources and therefore always a danger that
rent controls will bring about other payments," said the
former ESRI property economist.
"Generally rent controls are not in favour with economists
because they can badly impact supply and quality of
buildings in the market, and can have the effect of not
helping the people they are designed to help."
The new rules are contained in the Government's Strategy
for the Private Rented Sector which provides for Dublin
and Cork to be designated as 'Rent Pressure Zones' for the
next three years, with other urban areas maybe following
early next year.
But among the main concerns are fears that landlords will
consider other means to boost their income, including:
Passing on the Local Property Tax or service charges,
traditionally paid by the owner. This could add 1,500 to
2,500 a year.
Imposing an administration charge to cover the cost of
advertising the property, checking references and meeting
the prospective tenant.
Letting the property, but imposing an additional charge
for a car parking space.
Demanding key money, or a fee to take possession, as
sometime applies in the retail sector.
Imposing an under-the-counter charge to help secure the
property for the prospective tenant
Threshold Dublin services manager Stephen Large said
that, in the absence of legislation, there was a concern that
landlords would simply demand higher rents. Some had
already done so.
"The initial setting of rents involves landlords setting them
in line with market rates. We have to ensure it [an
increase] can't be front-loaded. The longer it drags out, the
more risk there is of that," he said.
"It seems a lot of people are contacting us where a rent
review hasn't been done and is now being sought.
Surprised
"One lady said she had been hit with a 40pc increase.
We're dealing with 20pc, 30pc and 40pc rent increases
every day."
Tom Dunne, head of the School of Surveying and
Construction Management at DIT, said he was not
surprised that some landlords were imposing price hikes
in advance of the introduction of the new controls.
"Normally, in the Budget, the date [when a measure
applies] is made clear... there is a lack of clarity," he
added.
The Irish Property Owners Association, which represents
5,000 landlords, said it had sought legal advice amid
concerns that property rights were being breached.
1
Institutional landlords
hold the key to resolving

Ireland's housing crisis
Paul McNeive
PUBLISHED
08/12/2016
1
Simon Coveney. Photo: Douglas OConnor
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is due to

announce his strategy for the rental sector
this month. It will have far-reaching
implications for tenants, landlords, the
property market and the State. Government
interventions have a habit of causing
'unintended consequences', sometimes
making matters worse (eg. the windfall tax
and increased incentives for buyers when

there is little supply), but there are signs
that Minister Coveney has a good grasp of
the issues.
The residential property market is not functioning
properly. There are lots of would-be buyers and tenants,
but they can't afford the prices or rents that make
development viable, particularly in Dublin. So, the same
dead hand of high taxes and levies that is preventing the
supply of homes for sale, is preventing developers, and
institutional landlords, from building units to let.
Sustainable markets need to be well-balanced. With the
current market out of kilter, any more wrong moves,
especially under the heading of rent control, could kill off
any interest from landlords and set back prospects of
solving the problems. I am encouraged to see the minister
has identified the lack of supply of rental units into the
market as the crux of the issue. Furthermore, last week, in
response to Sinn Fein's Secure Rents and Tenancies Bill,
the minister said it is essential that any measures taken to
address rents do not jeopardise supply, and that Sinn
Fein's proposals would be "disastrous in the medium to
long term". So far, so good.
While trying to keep small/amateur landlords in the
market is important, the real solution will be to get
institutional landlords, such as REITs and pension funds,
developing and holding rental investments for the long
term. These large-scale commercial landlords provide
security of tenure, so all of the disruption caused by
amateur landlords requiring vacant possession when
selling their properties is avoided.
By and large, professional landlords are not developing
now. A radical solution, a version of which appears to be
on Minister Coveney's mind, would be to incentivise
institutional landlords to develop large-scale blocks on
publicly-owned land. That might be land owned by the
state, through local authorities, or Nama, and a great
example would be the former Irish Glass Bottle site in

Dublin 4.
Such a scheme could see the land being provided to the
developing landlord on a licence or long lease, with say
20pc of the rents going to the State. The institution would
then have an option to buy out the freehold interest in,
say, 15 years. I suspect institutional landlords would be
happy to develop on such a basis and receive a yield of
perhaps 6pc. This could see between 5,000 and 10,000
units being provided in Dublin fairly quickly, which would
take a lot of the hysteria out of the market.
Crucially, this type of investment requires large amounts
of capital and it must be invested for the long term. That is
another reason why more attempts to control rents will
undermine development. Investors need to see potential
for growth, or they just won't invest.
Another issue is social and affordable housing. While few
will say it, there is a stigma attached to social housing, and
some investors and tenants will not locate next to the
social units within a scheme. In reality, social housing
occupiers are being squeezed out of developments by the
affordable housing sector, due to the severe shortage of
supply in the middle of the market. I would drop the term
'social housing' and bring back the term 'affordable
housing' to apply to all units in a scheme that are rented
through the State sector.
An ongoing issue for Ireland is the problem staff working
for overseas companies locating here have in finding
accommodation. We must address this quickly if we are to
sustain growth and attempt to capitalise on Brexit.
There are initiatives in the 'Rebuilding Ireland' plan that
will help. Budget 2017 improves mortgage interest relief
for landlords and will provide other supply stimuli.
However, to be a success, Minister Coveney must provide
further incentives to landlords to stimulate new
development for the rental sector.
Landlords and developers
out in force at Allsop sale

Donal Buckley
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
1
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's proposed introduction of rent
controls didnt deter bidders at Allsops auction last Tuesday
More than 27m was generated from the

sale of 165 properties at two auctions during
the last 10 days. Allsop generated 156 of
these sales, worth a combined 25m.
Its top price of 1.275m was achieved for an unfinished
2.14 acre housing estate, Garristown Orchard,
Garristown, north county Dublin. It comprises eight
substantially completed houses with planning permission
for a further 10 houses. Three bidders competed with 23
bids to a price that was 51pc over its 850,000 guide price.
A south Dublin crche sold for 725,000, or about

40,000 over its 685,000 guide. Located at Block M,
Loreto Abbey, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, the
353 sq m (3,805 sq ft) property is let to Giraffe Childcare
for 70,000 a year, suggesting an initial gross yield of
almost 9.65pc.
Despite the Government threats of rent control, some
multi-unit Dublin and Galway properties attracted strong
competitive bidding and three of them sold for around
750,000 each. A mixed-use building at 41 Arran Quay,
Dublin 7, sold for 754,000, or about 154,000 over its
guide. Extending to 310 sq m (3,336 sq ft), it includes 40
sq m (430 sq ft) of ground-floor offices and three twobedroom apartments.
An even stronger price of 758,000 was achieved by 44
North Circular Road, Dublin 7, which attracted 181 bids
from ten bidders and sold for 68pc over its 450,000
guide price.
Located near the Phoenix Park and O'Devaney Gardens, it
generates 79,000 in rents, suggesting a gross yield of
10.4pc. The end-of-terrace, three-storey house is designed
in an eye-catching Tudor style and its accommodation
comprises nine flats ranging in size from 19 sq m (205 sq
ft) to 46 sq m (495 sq ft).
In Galway, the vacant Cottage Bar, 76 Salthill Road Lower,
along with three overhead apartments sold for 805,000,
or 340,000 over its guide price. It extends to 530 sq m
(5,715 sq ft).
A west Dublin warehouse sold for 484,000, or well over
double its 190,000 guide price. Located at Unit 292
Beech Road, Western Industrial Estate, Park West, Dublin
12, the 994 sq m (10,700 sq ft) property comprises twostorey office accommodation with warehouse
accommodation to the rear.
Contrasting tales of two Drogheda, Co. Louth, pubs were
seen when one sold for almost double its guide after
attracting 29 bids from four bidders, while the other failed
to attract even one bid.
A mid-terrace property, the successful 91-93 Georges

Street sold for 240,000, or 110,000 over its 130,000
guide, as its 970 sq m (10,451 sq ft) and long street
frontage offers development potential. The former Nolans
Bar, Cord Road, Drogheda, extending to 260 sq m (2,798
sq ft), failed to sell with a 190,000-200,000 price tag.
Some bids were made after the close of sale, while other
unsold lots will be offered for sale online today.
On December 8, Sherry FitzGerald's auction generated
more than 2m in sales from nine properties. The most
valuable lot was a 16.4 acre quarry at Killyvanny,
Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan, which sold under the hammer for
370,000, or 120,000 over its 250,000 guide price. It
came with some quarry equipment and was considered by
auctioneer Des O'Malley as a punt on the recovering
construction industry. Two Dublin suburban business
units also sold. Unit 6, Turvey Business Centre, Donabate,
achieved its 180,000 guide price. Extending to 239 sq m
(2,572 sq ft), its accommodation includes offices, a
showroom and roller shutter doors. Unit 18, Northwest
Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15, which had a
200,000 AMV, sold after auction. Extending to 538 sq m
(5,790 sq ft), its accommodation includes two floors of
offices as well as warehouse space.
http://www.independent.ie/business/commercialproperty/landlords-and-developers-out-in-force-at-allsopsale-35294129.html
Irish rent controls to cap increases is

major
December 15, 16
Ireland's government proposed temporary controls on residential rents on
Tuesday to limit annual increases in the two largest cities to 4 percent, but
may have to lower the cap and apply it more widely to win support in
parliament.
While Ireland was left with a surplus of houses after a 2008 property crash,
supply has since failed to come anywhere close to matching demand in the
fast-recovering economy, sending rents back above their peak in the "Celtic
Tiger" years.
Average rents rose by 11.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, a survey
showed last month, marking the fastest rate of annual inflation in over a
decade with rents in some areas of Dublin now 10 percent above their 2007
peak.
"We're putting a bridle on the horse that has almost been out of control for the
last two years," Housing Minister Simon Coveney told a news conference.
"This is a really tricky area to get the balance right."
Under the plan, Dublin and Cork city fall under the category of "rent pressure
zones", or areas where annual rents have risen by 7 percent or more in four of
the last six quarters. They will be the first areas where the three-year caps
kick in.
To encourage supply, which Coveney said was beginning to gain momentum,
new housing units and renovated vacant units are excluded with rents instead
determined by the market rate.
However the minority government does not have enough seats in parliament
to enact legislation on its own and requires the cooperation of the main
opposition party, Fianna Fail, which will meet later on Tuesday to finalise its
position.
"The 4 percent is extremely high... It's off the table. The other issue is that it is
not acceptable that this is restricted to Dublin and Cork," Thomas Byrne, a
member of the Fianna Fail frontbench, told Newstalk radio.
The lack of supply and resulting price rises have been identified by the
government as a risk to its attractiveness to foreign investment, particularly as
it tries to win business from firms considering leaving Britain as a result of
Brexit.
The proposals will impact Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) with
exposure in the main residential markets. Shares in Irish Residential
Properties (I-RES), Ireland's largest private landlord, closed 2.5 percent lower
at 1.16 euros.
"This strategy will provide headwinds for the development of the much needed
'build-to-rent' sector in Ireland and is unlikely to encourage fresh investors into
the market," Goodbody analyst Colm Lauder wrote in a note. (Editing by Tom
Heneghan and Adrian Croft)
4 percent limit proposed for new "rent pressure zones"

Cap may have to be lowered to gain parliamentary support
Costs damaging Dublin as it chases Brexit business (Adds quotes from
opposition party whose support needed)
By Padraic Halpin
DUBLIN, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Ireland's government proposed temporary
controls on residential rents on Tuesday to limit annual increases in the
two largest cities to 4 percent, but may have to lower the cap and apply
it more widely to win support in parliament.
While Ireland was left with a surplus of houses after a 2008 property
crash, supply has since failed to come anywhere close to matching
demand in the fast-recovering economy, sending rents back above their
peak in the "Celtic Tiger" years.
Average rents rose by 11.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, a
survey showed last month, marking the fastest rate of annual inflation in
over a decade with rents in some areas of Dublin now 10 percent above
their 2007 peak.
"We're putting a bridle on the horse that has almost been out of control
for the last two years," Housing Minister Simon Coveney told a news
conference. "This is a really tricky area to get the balance right."
Under the plan, Dublin and Cork city fall under the category of "rent
pressure zones", or areas where annual rents have risen by 7 percent
or more in four of the last six quarters. They will be the first areas where
the three-year caps kick in.
To encourage supply, which Coveney said was beginning to gain
momentum, new housing units and renovated vacant units are excluded
with rents instead determined by the market rate.
However the minority government does not have enough seats in
parliament to enact legislation on its own and requires the cooperation
of the main opposition party, Fianna Fail, which will meet later on
Tuesday to finalise its position.
"The 4 percent is extremely high... It's off the table. The other issue is
that it is not acceptable that this is restricted to Dublin and Cork,"
Thomas Byrne, a member of the Fianna Fail frontbench, told Newstalk
radio.
government as a risk to its attractiveness to foreign investment,
particularly as it tries to win business from firms considering leaving
Britain as a result of Brexit.
Properties (I-RES), Ireland's largest private landlord, closed 2.5 percent
lower at 1.16 euros.
"This strategy will provide headwinds for the development of the much
needed 'build-to-rent' sector in Ireland and is unlikely to encourage fresh
investors into the market," Goodbody analyst Colm Lauder wrote in a
note. (Editing by Tom Heneghan and Adrian Croft)
FF warns 4% rent cap will

lead to 12% rise over three
years
SF, Labour, Social Democrats and AAA all object to
Coveneys proposals to ease crisis
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, 20:41
Sarah Bardon
Sinn Fin TD Eoin Broin said the proposals would see the average rent
increase to 2,314 in Dublin and 1,628 in Cork over the next three years
Fianna Fil is to seek to change the Governments

rental strategy insisting it cannot support proposals to
impose a 4 per cent cap on all rent increases.
The party held two meetings yesterday to discuss the
measures announced by the Minister for Housing
Simon Coveney.
Several members raised concern that the cap would see
increases across the board in Dublin and in Cork and
may see rises elsewhere in the country.
The measures would allow for rent increases to be
capped in Dublin and Cork at 4 per cent per year over a

three-year period.
The party is worried this may lead to an automatic 12
per cent increases in rent across the board.
Others insisted that the rent certainty measures should
not be limited to the two main cities.
The party said the same difficulties are being
experienced across the country and any rent relief
cannot be focused on two areas.
It is understood some members argued that the 4 per
cent should be reduced to two per cent, while others
insisted rents should be frozen as they are.
Fianna Fils support is necessary to ensure the rental
package is passed due to the confidence and supply
arrangement agreed between the two parties.
Mr Coveney had sought to have the legislation passed
by the Dil and Seanad by next week, when the Dil
breaks for its Christmas break.
However, it has been met with widespread opposition
from political parties across the Houses.
Sinn Fin, Labour, the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People
before Profit and the Social Democrats have all
objected to the measures contained in the package.
Sinn Fins housing spokesman Eoin Broin said the
proposals would see the average rent in Dublin
increase to 2,314 and 1,628 in Cork over the next
three years.
Mr Broin has sought the assistance of Fianna Fils
housing spokesman Barry Cowen to form a joint
approach to amending the proposed legislation.
The two are due to meet today to discuss if they can
table amendments to the package.
Mr Broin said the core issue is a guaranteed rent
increase of 12 per cent over the next three years.
He added: This will continue to heap pressure on
struggling renters and lock low-income families and
single people out of the rental market.

Low and middle-income families and single people
simply do not have this money. They cannot afford
Labour leader Brendan Howlin said his party had
sought progress on rent certainty when in Government
but Fine Gael resisted.
Mr Howlin said the party was in an isolated position on
this, insisting it has no real grasp of the nature and
scale of the problem.
The amendments were to be given to opposition TDs
last night and will be debated over the next three days.
It will then be debated in the Seanad next week in an
effort to ensure rent certainty measures are provided in
January.
However, with such strong opposition from all sides it
is a very tight timeframe to have it passed.
The Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said
commuter towns including Kildare and Wicklow must
be included in any solution.
Ms Murphy said areas including Leixlip, Celbridge and
Maynooth in Kildare and Bray and Greystones in
Wicklow are on a par with Dublin City and County
rents.
She said: I would hope that Minister Coveney has
taken a thorough review of the rental markets across
the country and will therefore recognise the need to
implement more nuanced measures than simply
targeting two big cities.
Those measures must tackle the problem of
exorbitant rental prices in the areas which are most
affected.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ff-warns-4-rent-cap-will-lead-to-12-rise-over-threeyears-1.2904929#.WFBqf1t8PmM.twitter
Strategy for the Rental Sector.
Network protest today at civic

centre demanding action on
housing & homelessness crisis
Sinn Fin expresses

serious concerns
about controversial
Government
Planning Bill-
Broin
8 December, 2016 - by Eoin Broin TD
Sinn Fin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Broin TD has

expressed serious concern about the consequences,
unintended or otherwise, of a controversial government
planning Bill that has just passed second stage in the Dil.
Deputy Broin said
Sinn Fin agrees with the government on the need to increase
supply of all forms of housing. We are open to reforming the
planning system to achieve this. However the Planning and
Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 in
its current form does not accomplish this. The controversial Bill
has the potential to compromise good planning decisions,
undermines Local Authorities, exclude citizens from the
planning process and impede the building of sustainable
communities.
The centrepiece of the Bill is a proposal to fast track housing
applications, of 100 units or more, to An Bord Pleanla. The
Minister is effectively bypassing the local authority and
weakening the county development plan. This is a profound
change to our planning system. During second stage debate on
the Bill I outlined a more transparent and democratic way in
which large planning applications could be processed more
speedily.
Sinn Fins concerns were echoed in a statement from the Irish
Planning Institute that states: These provisions could
encourage applications which do not comply with Development
Plans and fundamentally alter the relationship between local
communities and planning authorities, damaging the credibility
of local government and the planning system as a whole.
I am also very concerned with aspects of the proposed
environmental impact assessment screening process. While
there is a need for such a process I am concerned that what is
proposed does not comply with International and European
legal requirements such as the Aarhus Convention and the EIA

directive.
The proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act aimed
at strengthening tenants rights are exceptionally weak. We
know that a large number of families presenting as homeless
are in that situation because of buy to let landlords or banks
serving a notice to quit when selling the property. The
Ministers original proposal would only have covered 0.56% of
landlords. The Bill as amended in the Seanad only covers 5.9%
of landlords. The vast majority of families at risk of
homelessness because their landlords are selling their
properties will get no extra protection from the Bill. If this
measure is to mean anything it must be available to all tenants.
rental sector reform doc here.
Coveneys rental strategy
faces resistance from within

Fine Gael
Noonan and Donohoe among those opposed to
interventions in the rental market
Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 01:00
Fiach Kelly
Minster for Housing Simon Coveney is expected to launch his strategy on the
rental sector within the next fortnight. Photograph: Bryan OBrien
Differing views are emerging in the Government over a

planned strategy on the rental sector, with senior
figures understood to be against making major
interventions in the market.
The contrasting opinions come against a backdrop of
data and indicators which Government figures say
point to potential significant movement in the
construction sector over the coming years.
This includes a higher number of planning permission
applications and a higher than anticipated take-up of a
Government scheme designed to fund small
infrastructure projects in an effort to speed up
development.
The 200 million local government infrastructure fund
will be directed towards building access roads and

other local infrastructure that may be lacking in certain
areas, thus holding back the development of lands. It is
understood that demand for the scheme is four times
higher than can be accommodated.
Minster for Housing Simon Coveney is expected to
launch his strategy on the rental sector within the next
fortnight, possibly as early as the end of this week.
Market
It is understood, however, that senior figures within

Government, including Minister for Finance Michael
Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal
Donohoe, do not favour moves that will dramatically
affect the rental market.
U
U
U

rent issue
rent cap
A number of Government sources said that, given the

level of State interventions in the housing sector over
the past two years or so, it may not be desirable to
make further dramatic, market-altering moves.
It is claimed that the emerging indicators point to
increased supply from 2017 and that this would help
solve the housing and rental crisis.
The changes already announced to increase housing
supply should be allowed do their work, some sources
said.
One proposal already tabled by Mr Coveneys
department has been rejected for inclusion in the plan.
As previously reported in The Irish Times, the scheme
would see a payment for middle-income families to
subsidise the cost of high rents.
It was proposed that payments would be aimed at
households with a combined income of up to 55,000

as a temporary measure but it is understood to have
met with objections from the Department of Public
Expenditure and has been dropped.
Tenants rights
There will be proposals around strengthening the

rights of tenants and landlords, and Mr Coveney has
already announced that he plans to proceed with a socalled affordable rental model.
This would see purpose-built housing units which are
typically let at 70 per cent of market rents. He also
favours build-to-rent projects where long-term
investors, such as pension funds, are encouraged to
provide large-scale developments specifically for
rental.
Another concern is that tenants who came under a
previous plan whereby rents can only be increased
every two years could face steep rent rises next year.
The previous scheme, announced by the Labour Partys
then minister for the environment Alan Kelly, took
effect from 2015 and is due to last four years. It means,
however, that tenants who benefited from a rent freeze
from 2015 could face steep rises next year.
Government figures are also wary that any pre-emptive
flagging of the measures in Mr Coveneys new strategy
could affect the market and could tempt landowners to
make changes before the policies kick in.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-s-rental-strategy-faces-resistance-fromwithin-fine-gael-1.2892918#.WEUqMg8nifs.twitter
New proposals to prevent

landlords using loopholes to
evict tenants
The AAA-PBP will bring the motion to the Dil today.
December 15, 16
A BILL WHICH would provide greater security for tenants

from eviction will be brought to the Dil today by AntiAusterity Alliance-People Before Profit TD Ruth
Coppinger.
The proposals would ban eviction on the grounds of sale,
which the party says will provide greater security for
tenants.
They reference recent figures published by housing charity
Threshold, which show a large number of tenants calling
in worried about an impending sale of their rental home.
AAA-PBP add that the bill is crucial because, in the case of
Coppingers Dublin West constituency, almost a third of
homeless cases referred to her relate to tenants being
evicted because the landlord is selling the home.
A statement from the party said: The Bill will seek to ban
what Threshold have called termed dubious terminations

such as on the grounds of sale by landlords, banks or
receivers it will mean sales can take place only with the
tenants in situ.
The Bill will also provide for compensation for tenants
should a landlord decide to evict them to use a property
for a family member. This can act as a disincentive for
landlords if they are simply using this loophole to evict a
tenant in order to raise rent.
It also provides for greater tenure for tenants by making
leases indefinite after a period of two months and giving
greater notice time of a year for the ending of a lease for a
long-term tenant.
The AAA-PBP add that that use of legal reasons for the
termination of leases has been used to evict tenants only to
replace them with new tenants at higher rents.
It is a major driver of homelessness, they add.
Coppinger recently held a press conference alongside a
group of tenants from Tyrrelstown who are facing eviction
from their home.
One resident detailed how he was facing a 28% increase to
the rent for his home, and feared the landlord was trying
to force him out.
Martin Malinovsky received notice of the increase from
the property owner European Property Fund on 28
October. The rent of his home will rise from to 1,600 on 1
February 2017.
He said today he believes that this is an effort to push him
out of his home so that the landlord can sell the property
vacant.
28% is an absolutely massive raise, he said. How could
the landlord be allowed to raise it so much?
The AAA-PBP conclude their statement by criticising
Minister Simon Coveneys new rental proposals, which will
cap rent increases in designated zones of Cork city and
Dublin city and county to 4% a year over a three-year
period.
Coveneys bill ignored tenure for tenants, the AAA-PBP

said.
Their bill will give tenants security, they concluded.
Being brought forward for the first stage today, the Bill
will be heard again on the first day of the Dails return
during AAA-PBP Private Members time on January 17th.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fil are in disagreement over how to

deal with the rental sector
The Government's plan to deal with rising

rents will not debated in the Dil today.
Chief Whip Regina Doherty told the Dil this
morning the new agenda for today does not
include a debate on the plan.
However, Labour leader Brendan Howlin then
put forward a motion that the debate be held
as planned.
This motion was defeated after Fianna Fil
joined the Government in voting against it.
The Dil has now adjourned until 11.33am to
allow the Oireachtas Business Committee to
meet to see if agreement can be reached on
whether to proceed with legislation on the

Government's rental strategy.
the Fianna Fil party position had made it
intransigence.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin this morning
criticised the Government's stance, but said
his party wants to be constructive and
engage.
He told the Dil: "I don't believe the bill
should have been pulled there was no need
for that."
He said to bring in legislation on rent
certainty in the last days of the Dil was
reckless.
However, he said there was a need to see if
there was space to have the debate, adding
that tomorrows sitting should not have been
cancelled.
Mr Martin proposed a short adjournment to
see if agreement could be reached to address
the bill.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin criticised the
bill, which he said was to have been debated
and the legislation enacted before Christmas,
affecting thousands of tenants.
PBP-AAA Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett said all

of this would be scuppered because Fianna
Fil and Fine Gael are rowing over how much
landlords will get.
Sinn Fins Eoin Broin described the
proposal as a very bad one which will hurt
renters, and said Fianna Fil recoiled from it
when it heard negative media and tenant
reaction.
He said the debate should be held today.
Mr Coveney, however, insisted that he cannot
proceed with legislation on rent certainty
without knowing what the outcome would
be.
Responding to criticism of the delay, he said
the Government had flagged for many weeks
that it would announce key changes to the
private rental sector and seek to enact
legislation this week.
Mr Coveney said putting forward a bill
without knowing what the outcome would be
would mean he would have to implement
legislation that did not make sense and was
not legally sound.
Fianna Fil and minority Government at
odds
Fianna Fil.
After talks yesterday both sides agreed that
the working group to look at tax incentives
for landlords should begin its work in the New
key issues
the past quarter.
outset.
Fianna Fil.
rent limit

thing to do".
worse."

over Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at least
30 politicians who must declare they earn more than
2,600 a month in rent.
marketin Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record
homeless.He has had to declare he owns a rental property
in Hartys Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.
the biggest landords in the country has admitted the
rental market in this country is reaching its limit.
READ MORE:https://www.scribd.com//Housing-Minister-SimonCoveney-is-
That's why rents so high in Dublin ministers making more money.
ROB THE POOR. GIVE TO THE RICH. ???THIS GOVERNMENT. IS
CORRUPT ANOTHER RISING NEEDED ?
The Sovereign Person Vs The Corporate Artificial Person Created By

Maritime Admiralty Law...
We were never told that government ( described as the republic of
Ireland) was a corporation, a fictitious person
Over the years government, through its public school system, has
managed to pull the wool over our eyes and keep US ignorant of
some very important facts. Because all facets of the media (print,
radio, television) have an ever-increasing influence in our lives, and
because media is controlled (with the issuance of licenses, etc.) by
government and its agencies, we have slowly and systematically
been led to believe that any form/appellation of our names is, in
fact, still us: as long as the spelling is correct.
WRONG!
We were never told, with full and open disclosure, what our
government officials were planning to do and why. We were never
told that government ( described as the republic of Ireland) was a
corporation, a fictitious person. We were never told that
government had quietly, almost secretly, created a shadow, a
STRAWMAN for each and every IRISH MAN and WOMAN, so that
government could not only control the people, but also raise an
almost unlimited amount of revenue so it could continue not just
to exist, but to GROW. We were never told that when government
deals with the STRAWMAN it is not dealing with real, living, men and
women.
We were never told, openly and clearly with full disclosure of all the
facts, that, we have been unable to pay our debts. We were never
told that we had been pledged (and our children, and their children,
and their children, and on and on) as collateral, mere chattel, for the
debt created by government officials who committed treason in

doing so. We were never told that they quietly and cleverly changed
the rules, even the game itself, and that the world we perceive as
real is in fact fictional -and its all for their benefit.
We were never told that the STRAWMAN -a fictional person, a
creature of the state -is subject to all the codes, statutes, rules,
regulations, ordinances, etc. decreed by government, but that WE,
the real man and woman, are not. We were never told we were
being treated as property, as slaves (albeit comfortably for some);
while living in the land of the free -and that we could, easily, walk
away from the fraud.
Hibernia Forum - a right wing think tank

The Hibernia Forum was launched in October 2015 by Eamon
Delaney, Cllr. Keith Redmond, and Cormac Lucey. The group support
free market capitalism and are hawkish on the state of government
finances.Funding for the group is said to come from "entrepreneurs".
Delaney is an author and journalist with Independent News & Media
(hence his OTT attack on Gerry Adams in last Saturday's Dindo) and
is the first cousin of Richie Boucher, chief executive of the Bank of
Ireland. In 2011, in a column in the Sunday Independent Delaney
argued that the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking

the "right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate opponents
into silence.Redmond is a dentist and Fine Gael councillor for HowthMalahide. He describes himself as a libertarian.Lucey is a lecturer not to be confused with Brian - and commentator who served as an
advisor for former Tnaiste, Minister for Justice, and Progressive
Democrats leader Michael McDowell.Interestingly, former UCD
economics lecturer Moore McDowell (brother of Michael) is on the
group's academic board. Also on this board is Sam Bowman of the
U.K. libertarian group the Adam Smith Institute.Other individuals
associated with the group include businessman and commentator
Aaron McKenna, Fine Gael members Joe Lawlor and Conor McWade
(ex-PDs), and former Fianna Fil members Aidan Brophy and Sarah
Ryan.
The Hibernia Forum was launched in October 2015 by

Eamon Delaney, Cllr. Keith Redmond, and Cormac Lucey.
The group support free market capitalism and are hawkish
on the state of government finances.
Funding for the group is said to come from
"entrepreneurs".
Delaney is an author and journalist with Independent
News & Media (hence his OTT attack on Gerry Adams in
last Saturday's Dindo) and is the first cousin of Richie
Boucher, chief executive of the Bank of Ireland. In 2011, in
a column in the Sunday Independent Delaney argued that
the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking the
"right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate
opponents into silence.Redmond is a dentist and Fine Gael
councillor for Howth-Malahide. He describes himself as a
libertarian.Lucey is a lecturer - not to be confused with
Brian - and commentator who served as an advisor for
former Tnaiste, Minister for Justice, and Progressive
Democrats leader Michael McDowell.
Interestingly, former UCD economics lecturer Moore
McDowell (brother of Michael) is on the group's academic
board. Also on this board is Sam Bowman of the U.K.
libertarian group the Adam Smith Institute.
Other individuals associated with the group include
businessman and commentator Aaron McKenna, Fine Gael
members Joe Lawlor and Conor McWade (ex-PDs), and
former Fianna Fil members Aidan Brophy and Sarah Ryan.
Rent caps proposal to be scrapped if Fianna Fil won't

agree
Rent caps proposal to be scrapped if Fianna Fil

won't agree
Fianna Fil has tabled a Dil amendment looking to lower the annual
cap to 2%.
14/12/2016

proposal for rent caps, if Fianna Fil doesn't agree to
its proposals.
He has told a meeting of Fine Gael TDs that the
proposed 4% cap on annual increases will not be
adjusted.
Fianna Fil has tabled a Dil amendment looking to
lower the annual cap to 2%.
But at the private meeting tonight Enda Kenny has
refused to consider lowering the cap, and says the
plan will be withdrawn unless the 4% cap is accepted.
How was An Taoiseach not elected by the people? There was a
general election where Enda Kenny was elected by the people and
will of the elected representatives elected Enda Kenny Taoiseach.
Democracy at its most pure.
FG - The Landlords Party. All about making sure landlords
are guaranteed rent rises.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, in there about security of
tenure.
Yet you'll get the Anitras and Blossoms of this world
complaining about that, yet defend FG to the hilt.
Amazing.
Dil debate on rent caps postponed

15/12/2016
The Dil debate on the government's new housing strategy

has been postponed - amid signs the scheme could be
abandoned.
TDs were due to start debating Simon Coveney's new plan for
rent caps in high-pressure areas in a few minutes' time.
But just minutes before the debate, TDs were told the
legislation had been pulled off the Dil schedule.
Last night Enda Kenny told Fine Gael TDs that the scheme
would be withdrawn unless Fianna Fil gave its backing to a
4% annual cap.
A spokeswoman for Minister Coveney had said the door
remained open for talks, but the Dil debate on the plan has
now been delayed.

Earlier: Plans for a cap on rent increases could be scrapped
this afternoon - just two days after being published.
Fine Gael is set to abandon the idea unless Fianna Fil
agrees to set the cap at 4%.
Fine Gael says it wont back down from its plan for a 4% cap
on rent increases in Dublin and Cork. It says if the cap goes
any lower, landlords will be scared off.
But Fianna Fil says 4% is too high - and has arranged a Dil
vote for this afternoon, on lowering it to 2%.
And last night Enda Kenny - told Fine Gael TDs that unless
the cap stays at 4%, the plan will be scrapped entirely.
One possible compromise is that the 4% limit could remain - in
exchange for an agreement to extend the rent caps to Galway,
Limerick and Waterford straight away.
As usual we have a government that eventual is made to

see a problem and then either addresses the symptoms or
ignores the obvious because of political ideology or dogma.
rent control has only now become an issue because there
simply is not enough properties available to rent. demand
is far outstripping supply. The obvious solutions have
been totally ignored. On the one hand we have more

people having to rent because of repossessions, on the
other we have the government through NAMA in control
of more property than at any point in the states history.
Surely the first two obvious actions would be to solve or
remove the repossessions issue and utilise the property
still under the control of NAMA
this is not rocket science, not economically unviable nor
'messing with the market'.
A simple cost analysis of how much it is going to cost the
state in legal costs during repossession hearings and
appeals, and then the subsequent cost of housing families
that have to vacate repossessed homes is what is required.
what does it cost the government to provide alternative
housing for these families in 'emergency accommodation'
(usually B+B's or cheap hotels) as compared to what it
might cost to enter into a joint ownership scheme where
the banks debt is bought by the government and this paid
back over time, or indeed an outright purchase of the
property and rent charged with the possibility of the now
tenants being able to buy their home back at a later point
while at the same time the government making a modest
profit, My guess would be to pay to keep these families in
their own homes would most likely be as cheap or cheaper
than providing alternative accommodation
NAMA still has hundreds of homes on its books. Why cant
these be released to the rental market now and sold off
later once sufficient housing stock has entered the rental
market.
Rent control does work, its worked very successfully in
Germany since the early '80's, but it only works well when
there is a fairly stable housing market. Telling landlords
that they can continue it increase rents (as if they weren't
going to do that anyhow) is not a solution.
This scheme wont fix a thing, it wont increase the amount
of rental properties, it wont reduce the number trying to
rent and it certainly will not increase the number of first

time buyers of new homes.
The government could easily reduce taxation for landlords
in return for lower rents.
the government could remove or significant reduce stamp
duty and other costs on new properties or redeveloped
properties destined for the rental market.
The Irish govt....producing more fudges than Cadbury's.
Shur it'll be grand, the ones that can't afford rocketing
rents can always live in cardboard boxes.
Can anyone tell me how this country with a tanking
economy in the 1930s managed to build so much social
housing, most of it still occupied? Imagine the state of
affairs if they were not built and allowed the tenements to
fester?
He is a Total leech. Along With His Other FG Cronies and FF

All liars and Snakes
Bless his cotton socks the poor little crater! How detached
from the real world can you get, when homeless people
are dying in the streets from the cold, while others (the
lucky ones?) are getting frostbite from sleeping rough!
Another overpaid, ignorant buffoon, sheltered from reality
by all his wealth, and who has no idea of real hardship or
poverty.The only chill is the one that runs down the spine
when the mere thought of him running the country enters
the mind!
Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions is now available below:

I asked him for an update on the Garda investigations into the Flood
Mahon and Moriarty Tribunal Reports Dec 13th 2016
Beware of Housing Minister Simon Coveney he is

Targeting the most vuneable Irish people who are
homeless through no fault of their own, he is is a
Greedy Corrupt Corporate bilderberg
membership, devious and evil and Commodity
Landlord who would sell his own Mother out

Coveney is a Greedy Corrupt
Landlord and a Traitor To Irish
Citizens of Ireland 2
https://www.scribd.com/document/334283250/Housing-MinisterSimon-Coveney-is-a-Greedy-Corrupt-Landlord-and-a-Traitor-To-IrishCitizens-of-Ireland
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides over
Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at least 30 politicians
Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing marketin
Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record levels in Dublin. While
thousands of Irish families are homeless.He has had to declare he
owns a rental property in Hartys Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.
biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental market in
this country is reaching its limit.
Very dark time's we live in, makes me feel so ashamed of my own

country, and our so-called politicians passed the bill to make
evictions even easier, in the late hour's of last night.while people
have their eye off the ball at this busy time.
I really have no word's for this.
Broke my heart to see this, and god love them, when people are out
in these area's for a Christmas night out, a drink etc , all in happy an
great from, I bet their laughter ecos in their ears. Just shocking and
very very sad indeed.
21st of January 2017 will be the first National Demonstration
organised by the people for the people
We are:
Grandparents
MothersFathersSons and daughters Together we all unite for the first
time in the new year to show that we the people have certainly not
gone away
Many many thousands of Irish people from all across the land are
suffering at the hands of the corrupt government but the people are
standing back up for what's right
We have all seen what the government are for and that certainly is
not for the Irish people
The time is to rise up and let us once again show these shower of
criminals the power of the people
Can't wait and hope to see many many and more of you there
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

ARE ALREADY PRIVATISING OUR
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Dr Rory Hearne, Researcher & Author of Public Private

Partnerships in Ireland: failed experiment or the way forward?
(2011)
Fears about the privatisation of public water provision was a
central motivating factor behind the Right2Water protest movement
but concerns about the privatisation of water are held by many
other political and civil society groupings. The recently published
Expert Commission on Water Services Report highlighted a
widespread public concern about the potential privatisation of Irish
Water. They stated that public responses to their consultation
expressed concerns that water charges, and metering of domestic
households, could eventually lead to privatisation. The Report
notes that this was sometimes set in the context of wider
concerns about privatisation of public services, and the
commodification of water. However, it is widely known that various
public and private interests have been preparing the ground for the
potential privatisation of the Irish public water system. In this article
I provide evidence that should concern all those worried about the
potential privatisation of Irish public water. This centres on the ongoing implementation of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the
provision of public water infrastructure in Ireland. These PPPs are
a form of creeping privatisation that makes the full privatisation of
our public water system a real possibility in the future.
This creeping privatisation or outsourcing of key parts of the

public water infrastructure system has been going on for almost
twenty years through PPP projects. These PPPs involve private
companies providing, operating and managing water and wastewater treatment plants for some of our largest cities and towns.
Worryingly most of these private companies are global
corporations leading the way in water privatisation internationally.
They now control water and waste-water treatment infrastructure
such as the Dublin Ringsend Waste Water Treatment Plant,
(treating waste water from over 1.7 million people), the
Bray/Shanganagh plant (serving a population of 248,000), Sligo
(serving 80,000), Waterford (180,000), and plants in Cork,
Tipperary, Offaly, Meath, and Donegal, amongst others.
According to Dail records there are, in fact, 115 of these PPP
contracts to Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBO), water and
waste-water treatment plants across 232 sites in Ireland. The
contracts are worth a massive total of 1.4bn and most are set to
run up to 2030. It is estimated that Irish Water (previously the local
authorities) are paying out 123 million per annum to the private
companies to cover the operation/maintenance/repayment costs of
these PPP contracts.
Drawing on figures from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Dail
records, and information gathered from the websites of private
water companies, I have compiled information on the twenty
largest water/waste-water treatment plant PPPs in Ireland. The
value of these, at 680 million, is almost half the value of all the
water/waste-water PPPs. This information is presented in the table
below[i].
Table 1 Details of the 20 largest Water/WasteWater PPP
Projects in Ireland, 2015
MEDIA-WRAPPER-START-1
Public Private Partnerships introduced in 1999 in Ireland

PPPs were first introduced in the delivery of public infrastructure
(schools, motorways, social housing, water treatment plants etc) in
Ireland by the Fianna Fail and the PD Government in 1999,
following lobbying by IBEC and the Construction Industry
Federation. Pilot PPP projects were developed in the delivery of
motorways (toll roads), schools, rail (the LUAS), and water and
waste-water treatment plants. New PPPs were developed in these
sectors through the early 2000s and extended to include social
housing regeneration projects.
PPPs are different from public delivery of infrastructure. For
example, in 'traditional' public water and waste-water service and
infrastructure delivery, treatment plants would be designed and

planned in-house within the local authority (and if they required
additional finance, also by the Department of Environment), and
then either directly built by public labour or, in recent decades,
contracted out to a private company to build. Then the
infrastructure was taken and managed by the local authority. By
contrast DBO (or DBOM as they are also referred to) PPPs involve
the outsourcing of the entire process, including design, operation
and maintenance of the infrastructure, to commercial private water
corporations, for contracts usually lasting twenty years. Some
PPPs also include the use of private finance to fund the
infrastructure (referred to as DBOF PPPs).
In the various National Development Plans in the 2000s Irish
governments outlined how they aimed to increase PPPs to 15 per
cent of all public capital investment by the end of that decade. In
2012 the C & AG showed that PPPs to the value of almost 8bn
had been developed in Ireland, mainly in Schools, Roads and
Water/Waste water sectors (figures show that, excluding
water/waste water, 2.3bn has been spent on PPPs, and there is
4.1bn outstanding in commitments to be paid to PPP projects).
Ten ways PPPs are privatisation
A major issue of debate and concern about PPPs has been their
role in the privatisation of public infrastructure and services.
Governments, civil servants and local authorities have been
arguing from the start of PPPs that they are not a form of
privatisation as there is no asset transfer or disposal of assets.
For example the DOE stated in 2010 that, A fundamental principle
of DBOs in the water services sector is that, while the
infrastructure is operated under contract to the water services
authority, it remains at all times in the authoritys ownership.
However, the evidence and research (detailed in my book Public
Private Partnerships in Ireland, which was based on my PhD
research) into the practical outcomes of PPPs in Ireland and
across the world proves conclusively that they are a disturbing
form of privatisation through outsourcing.
In the early 1990s, particularly in the UK and Latin America, PPPs
were promoted by governments, in response to growing public
opposition to privatisation, as a new method of public infrastructure
and service delivery that did not appear as privatisation. But PPPs,
as I will show, actually continue the privatisation and
neoliberalisation of public services. They were strongly promoted
by New Labour in the UK, and by key international institutions,
such as the EU, IMF, OECD and the World Bank.

In the following sections I show ten ways by which PPPs are a
form of privatisation of the public water/waste-water system and
lead to a further embedding of privatisation, marketisation and
commodification processes within the public water/waste-water
system.
1.PPPs mean loss of control to global water corporations
Firstly, there is the loss of control over public water and wastewater infrastructure from accountable public agencies (local
authorities) to global commercial corporations. Analysis of the data
in Table 1 shows that, of these 20 largest PPPs, 90% (18) of the
companies were foreign multinationals or Irish subsidiaries of
foreign multinationals. This represents a major loss of control over
our public water infrastructure. This is nothing short of privatisation.
When control over public infrastructure is transferred from the
public sector to the private sector, it should be classified as a form
of privatisation. The following section provides an overview of
these private companies.
Veolia Water Ireland has seven of the largest 20 PPP contracts
(35%), at a value of 120 million. These include the two large PPP
water treatment plants (Clareville in Limerick and Barrow
Abstraction, Kildare) and waste-water plants in Castlebar,
Donegal, Mullingar, Wicklow and Dungarvan. But on its website,
Veolia explains that it operates many more treatment plants across
the country. It states that their operating contracts provide waterrelated services for a population equivalent of close to 1,000,000
people in the Republic of Ireland operating more than 30 plants
within Ireland, encompassing wastewater, potable water and
sludge treatment. Veolia Water Ireland is a subsidiary of the
French multinational company, Veolia, which is the largest private
water company in the world. Veolia has global revenue of 24bn
and manages 4,245 drinking water plants and 3,300 waste-water
treatment plants globally. It also has the contract to operate the
LUAS and various private waste collection services. Veolia Water
(Ireland) also has non-domestic water metering and billing
contracts with a number of county councils.
The company with the next largest share of these 20 largest PPP
contracts was Aecom, with five projects (25% of the projects valued at 99million) including the Balbriggan /Skerries
Wastewater Treatment plant, the Rush/Lusk Wastewater
Treatment plant and the South Tipperary treatment plant. Aecom
(formerly Earthtech Irl) is a multi-billion (revenue of 17.4bn) US
multinational engineering corporation. But it combines financing,

design, building, and, as it states a global network of experts
delivering water and energy, building iconic skyscrapers, planning
new cities, restoring damaged environments, asset management,
cyber security operations, education, healthcare, transport. They
are a complete government infrastructure delivery corporation.
Aecom has approximately 95,000 employees and is listed on the
new York stock exchange.
Next up is Celtic Anglian Water (CAW), which has three projects
and operates the largest waste-water treatment plant in the
country, the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works, which
provides secondary and tertiary treatment for a population
equivalent of 1,700,000. The contract value is 250 million and
runs up to 2022. In 2001 CAW was the first private company to be
awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of a Water
Treatment Plant in the Republic of Ireland. It also runs the Galway
County Non-Domestic Metering System (including debt recovery,
billing etc) a contract valued at 10.8 million running up to 2018.
CAW is a subsidiary company of Anglian Water Group, one of the
largest private water companies in England where water is
privatised. Anglian made an operating profit in the UK of 452.6
million for 2014/15.
2.PPPs involve privatisation of policy making
Secondly, PPPs involve the loss of control over public
infrastructure and governance through the privatization
(outsourcing) of the process of policy making including the macrolevel analysis of the effectiveness and appropriateness of PPPs as
a general policy, the design of frameworks for implementation, and
down to the micro-level assessment of Value for Money for
individual projects and the design and planning of the
infrastructure. One of the major private companies given
responsibility for such processes by the Irish state is
PriceWaterHouseCooper (PWC) consultants, one of the big four
global auditing, procurement and accountancy firms. PWC have
played a central role in advising Irish government Departments to
develop PPPs in water and waste water infrastructure. The
Department of Finance appointed PWC in 2001 to review the
effectiveness of the PPP method and, unsurprisingly, they
recommended further expanding the PPP programme. They also
outlined the policy framework required to increase the rate of
implementation of PPPs in Ireland. PWC were also commissioned
by the Department of the Environment in 2001 to develop a
framework for PPPs to be advanced in Ireland in the roads, water

and waste sectors. PWC also carried out the report in November
2011 for the Department of Environment which advised how Irish
Water should be set up (for which PWC were paid a tidy sum of
180,000). They are also involved in evaluating PPP projects on
behalf of local authorities and government Departments to assess
if they are value for money (VFM). The result of their Value for
Money (VFM) Public Sector Benchmark calculation provides the
justification if infrastructure is to be procured through PPPs or the
public sector method. PWC have also been involved in bidding for
water privatization across the world, most notoriously in India
(where the World Bank was found to have unethically supported
them).
There is a clear conflict of interest here as the same private
company which promotes PPPs internationally and is set to gain
financially from the expansion of PPPs is being used by
government and local authorities to advise on the continued use of
PPPs and crucially, assess if PPPs provide VFM or not.
3.No meaningful ownership or control held by the state in
PPPs
Thirdly, while the state claims they still have the ownership of the
infrastructure, the reality of PPPs is that when the infrastructure is
managed, maintained and operated by the private sector in long
term contracts, there is in fact no meaningful ownership or control
by the state. The private sector controls the day-to-day operation
and thus has control over the knowledge and management of the
infrastructure, so in terms of real control and power the private
operator holds it.
This lack of control and the embedding of permanent private
control and profiteering is shown by the experience of the Dublin
(Ringsend) waste-water treatment plant. Local residents have
suffered persistent foul odour problems emanating from the plant
due to inadequate design and equipment failure in the plant. There
has been an on-going dispute between the responsible local
authority, Dublin City Council, and the private operator, Celtic
Anglian Water (CAW), over the extent of the problems and who
should pay for them. CAW argued that DCC would have to pay for
any changes as they would be outside the PPP contract. In the
end, DCC paid CAW 35million to address the problem.
This contradicts the theory of PPPs where they are supposed to
provide a cost benefit to the state by transferring the cost of
dealing with unforseen problems such as this (referred to as risk)
over to the private sector. This case shows that as the private
company now controls the project and thus has the core
knowledge and skills, it can define the issue, the problem and the
cost of rectifying it. It can effectively hold the state to ransom and
force the state to pay significant additional amounts to get any
changes made. That is unless the state is prepared to sanction
and fine the company, or at least stand up to and demand lower
costs from it. But the Irish state has shown that it is unwilling to do
this because it doesnt want to stop future companies engaging in
PPPs. Its part of the price of having a business friendly economy.
The state (the Irish public) keeps picking up the tab and
subsidising the private corporations.
4.When upgrading of infrastructure required PPP contracts
will continue to go to private operators
Fourthly, what will happen in future years when upgrading, or
capacity extension is required in the treatment plants, or new
measures to meet new environmental quality standards outside of
the original contract are required and thus renegotiation of the PPP
contracts? The private operator will hold the control and knowledge
and will be able to charge the state significant premiums to make
changes. The case of the West-Link toll road demonstrates this
point. When the public sector required changes to the service, it
had to pay over half a billion euro to purchase the PPP contract
from the private operator so that it could undertake the required
changes. Furthermore, who is likely to get the new contracts for
upgrading infrastructure? A new private company or the state
itself? The problem with the PPPs is that the private operator
effectively holds a form of monopoly position and thus it is likely to
get it. The is shown by the fact that CAW was awarded a further
DBOM contract to upgrade the Sligo Plant by Irish Water in April
this year.
5.PPPs make private outsourcing of our public water/waste
water infrastructure permanent and full privatisation more
likely
Fifthly, what will happen when it comes to the end of the PPP
contract life in fifteen to twenty years time? Will the plants, as the
state claims, revert back to public ownership when the contract
ends? This is very unlikely if we continue down the PPP
outsourcing path when we have run down and further diminished
the capacity of local authorities to manage our water and waste
water infrastructure. It is more likely to stay in the control of private
operators into perpetuity. This shows how PPPs make private

outsourcing of our public water/waste water infrastructure
permanent and thus are likely to lead to a continued and
deepening privatisation and contracting out.
This is also shown by the fact that DBO PPPs appear to be the
only option being made available to (and preferred by) local
authorities (now Irish Water) and there is no longer a public sector
alternative being made available. Thus PPP privatisation is the
only option for upgrading and providing new water services
infrastructure. The 2010 Department of Environment Report on the
Value for Money for Review of the Water Services Investment
Programme 2007-2009, states this explicitly:
in the case of water services infrastructure, the DBO model is the
preferred procurement route in the case of works involving the
provision of treatment plants subject to completion. This review
also recommends deepening private involvement further by
involving private finance in the future in relation to some large
scale projects.
Therefore existing PPPs lay the foundation for the further
development of PPPs in this area as is shown by the trend towards
the increased use of PPPs over time. Getting private companies
into design, build, operate and manage the water/waste water
infrastructure is thus the thin edge of a wedge that opens up the
potential for complete privatisation.
The private companies themselves highlight this as they use their
existing contracts to try get more PPPs. Veolia explains how they
leverage the experience, stability and geographical coverage of
their existing 20-year PPP contracts in order to offer present and
future customers a cost effective outsourcing solution. While CAW
is even more bold in their ambitions stating that they aim to
become the leading water and waste water service provider in
Ireland. Is that not the complete private corporate takeover of the
public water infrastructure system?
Ultimately these DBO PPPs make it even more straightforward
and easier (and thus more likely) to privatise water/waste water
infrastructure in the future because the only public aspect
remaining to be privatised is the official ownership of the
infrastructure. It is only a Ministers signature away from the sale
and complete transfer to the private sector.
6.PPPs commodify and marketise public infrastructure
Sixth, PPPs also commodify and marketise this public
infrastructure by creating a new market in the provision of public
water/waste-water infrastructure, through the conversion of the

entire process of the provision of public water/waste-water
infrastructure into a contract which is a tradeable asset or
commodity. They thus open up public infrastructure and assets as
income generating opportunities for the private companies.
For example, EPS, one of the Irish private water companies that
has two waste-water PPP contracts (and an annual turnover
nearing 70 million) explains how they have been at the forefront
of the development of the Irish water market through successive
National Development Plan cycles and they have nurtured a
market leading share of the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) market in
Ireland. Similarly Celtic Anglian Water refer to the public
infrastructure as an asset. CAW explains that it operates in the
development of water and wastewater assets - providing water
supply, wastewater treatment, plant operation and maintenance
services. So these private water companies are quite clear how
PPPs are a marketisation or market-creating process of
commodifying public water/waste water infrastructure.
And make no mistake about it, water/waste-water infrastructure
provision is a massive potential market. There are approximately
973 public water supplies and approximately 500 waste water
treatment plants in Ireland. That means that based on 115 DBO
contracts, approximately 20% of our waste water treatment plants
are already part privatised/outsourced. And given the need to
upgrade treatment plants to meet environmental quality standards
major investment is required into the future in treatment plants.
You can also add upgrades and improvements required for the
entire water treatment network on top of that. We can see
therefore how this whole area is a potentially very large and
lucrative future market for the private water companies. And this
requirement to upgrade this infrastructure such as water and waste
water treatment plants is being eyed up as a big opportunity for
profit by many companies. The Irish Times reported earlier this
year that The Denis OBrien-owned industrial services
group Actavo is likely to seek more work from State utility Irish
Water as the State utility moved ahead with plans to renew the
Republics water treatment and supply systems, Actavo would bid
for contracts to work on the various projects that this is likely to
involve.
7. Water infrastructure becomes commodities traded on
financial markets-no democracy
Seventh, further marketization takes place as the PPP contracts
themselves are a tradeable commodity on financial markets. PPP

contracts and companies are bought and sold for profit all the time
on financial markets and international asset markets, between
various private equity investors, hedge funds, and corporations.
They are often loaded with debt from other companies and then
asset sweating is undertaken whereby the new owners (financial
speculators) dont invest in the project but extract as much profit as
possible (through, as I later explain, reducing quality of service,
workers pay and conditions, increasing user charges, increasing
the cost charged to the state etc).
As I wrote in my book this also has implications for the democratic
provision and accountability of public services: "The process of
buying and selling public assets as internationally traded
commodities could have significant implications not just for the
provision of public services and infrastructure, but for the
democratic control by national governments over the services for
which they have the responsibility to provide to their public."
8.PPPs do not provide Value for Money as profits extracted by
private sector
Eighth, PPPs are also a deeper form of privatisation than simple
public asset sales because they involve the on-going subsidisation
of private corporations by the state and the public (through
contract fees, tolls, user charges) for decades through the PPP
contracts. Thus PPPs provide huge profits to the private
corporations. Take Veolia Water Ireland, for example, it increased
its revenue from 36.6 million in 2014 to 40.3 million in 2015.
Their profit was 0.8 million in 2015 and 1.2 million in 2014.
Financial data for CAW shows that in 2015 it had 30.1 million
turnover and made 4.4 million in profit (in 2014 it made 6.6mil in
profit). Thats just two companies and based on Dail figures private
water/waste water companies are receiving a revenue of at least
123 million a year from the Irish tax payer.
This profit extraction is a key part of the explanation of why PPPs
are actually more expensive than traditional delivery. How can they
provide VFM when huge profits are being extracted? This is a
significant additional cost that is not included or measured in the
VFM calculations. This asset grab by private corporations is a
loss of resources and value for the Irish public as they have to pay
for this profit, which does not exist to the same extent in traditional
public procurement (provision) of water/waste-water infrastructure.
Dr. Vandana Shiva has written about this in relation to the
privatisation of Delhis water supply in India through a PPP water
treatment plant operated by Ondeo Degremont (a subsidiary of

French company Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Water Divisionthe
water giant of the world):
Suez is not bringing in private foreign investment. It is
appropriating public investment. Public-private partnerships are, in
effect, private appropriation of public investment. But the financial
costs are not the highest costs. The real costs are social and
ecological. Interestingly, Ondeo Degremont constructed (and is
possibly still operating) Corks largest waste-water treatment plant.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has found that PPPs are 813% more expensive than traditional public procurement. Reeves
(2011) found that for a number of water based PPPs the initial
estimation of VFM under PPP was revised downwards from 9.5
per cent to 0.8 per cent (of whole-life cost under traditional
procurement) following consultation with stakeholders including
trade unions. In another case Reeves (2013) shows that after
consultation, estimated VFM was revised from 2.3 per cent in
favour of PPP to 2.25 per cent in favour of traditional procurement.
These revisions were attributable to a number of shortcomings in
the original VFM analyses including the omission of relevant costs
including: (i) costs incurred following the re-deployment of existing
labour if PPP was adopted; (ii) transaction costs; (iii) and the costs
of monitoring and supervising the PPP contract over the 20 year
period.
There is another democratic deficit at the heart of PPPs which
links to their inability to prove they provide Value for Money. The
Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) VFM calculation (often carried out
by pro-PPP companies like PWC) is not available for public
analysis due to commercial sensitivity. Yet this is the key
evidence that justifies PPPs- but we cannot see it. Therefore there
is no evidenced way of showing these projects actually are value
for money.
9. PPPs involve reduction in workers pay, conditions and
rights.
The ninth way in which PPPs are a form of privatization is the
reduction in workers pay, conditions and rights. A key method by
which PPPs are used to reduce costs is through such a reduction
in the conditions and pay of employees. As with other forms of
privatisation and outsourcing PPPs have been associated with a
degrading of workers conditions and, in particular, a tendency to
refuse trade union recognition. For example, in 2013 it was
reported that an employee in the Shanganagh PPP Waste Water
Treatment Plant was dismissed 'for trade union organised activity.

Workers there organised a strike as the employers refused to
recognise the trade union and there were other issues around fair
pay for hours and shifts worked. The private operator of the PPP
plant is SDD Shanganagh Water Treatment Ltd, which is a joint
venture between the Irish construction company, Sisk, and
Spanish companies Dragados and Drace. However, the workers
were, in fact, employed by a separate subcontracted agency. Thus
we see how PPPs further the process of the casualisation and
downgrading of workers conditions and undermine and reduce
hard-fought rights and conditions of public sector employees such
as trade union recognition and collective bargaining. Through
PPPs it is the state (which, of course, should be protecting and
promoting workers rights) that is playing a central role in driving
down workers conditions.
10.PPPs support water charges and furthers privatisation
The tenth and final way PPPs support privatisation is their
promotion and support for user charges such as water charges
and the way in which this furthers the privatisation process within
the water system.
The introduction of user fees/charges for public services has been
central to the neoliberal policy agenda which is about convincing
the public to accept that they have to pay for public services
through user fees, even if they were previously paid for from
general taxation and were free at the point of delivery.
PPPs have already facilitated the introduction and intensification of
this policy through the introduction of user fees for toll roads. The
Irish state has supported this process of profiting from PPPs. In
one of the interviews in my research a senior civil servant working
in a Central Government PPP unit told me that it has to be a quid
pro-quo that the private sector gets profit, while it might cost more
for the user. There has to be profit, otherwise it doesnt work.
Indeed, the Irish government has promoted the unlimited potential
for the development of PPPs funded by user fees. Assistant
Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mary Doyle,
speaking at the 3rd Annual PPP Policy Forum (2007) explained
that, since Ireland is the home of the entrepreneur there is no limit
on any projects that can be undertaken by PPP where they are
funded entirely by using charges. The roads, schools, waste and
water/waste-water sectors demonstrate how, because the private
sector required an income stream (profit) as the basis of its
involvement, the use of PPPs necessitated, the commercialisation
of, and private-capital control over, public resources and assets. As

a representative of the Department of Environment explained to
me in an interview:
The private sector may be able to generate additional revenues
from third parties, thereby reducing the cost of any public-sector
subvention required. Additional revenue may be generated through
the use of spare capacity or the disposal of surplus assets
Through the application of these income-generating mechanisms,
PPPs facilitate the implementation of a central neoliberal policy
objective of creating unlimited market opportunities for the private
sector within public governance, services and infrastructure
(Bourdieu, 1998; Brenner and Theodore, 2002; Harvey, 2005;
Whitfield, 2006).
And, as we see more and more PPP contracts made by Irish water
this increases the financial commitment to PPP companies and,
thus in the future, an argument could be made for introducing
and/or increasing water charges in order to pay for these contracts
with PPP companies. A revenue stream will be required to pay the
private operators. Thus PPPs open up the argument and
requirement for the introduction/increase of water charges and the
introduction of water charges opens up, and provides, the revenue
stream to pay private operators. PPPs and water charges are,
therefore, a mutually reinforcing process as the introduction of one
leads to arguments in favour of the necessity of the introduction of
the other. And they both provide key steps towards the further
privatisation of the Irish public water system.
Conclusion
Overall then we can see from the evidence presented here the
dangerous amount of power and influence that global corporations
are being given through PPP projects in the water/waste-water
infrastructure in Ireland, and the way in which the state is actively
facilitating this neoliberalisation of water governance. Private
corporations, facilitated by the Irish state, are imposing their
corporate model as the future for government and public service
and infrastructure delivery. It is a dystopian future for citizens
whereby private corporations will provide and profit from (and
speculatively trade on financial markets) all aspects of government
including public services and infrastructure through highly
profitable contracts paid for by nation states and local government.
It is the ultimate privatisation and commodification of all public
goods and infrastructure. This is the neoliberal project laid bare.
What David Harvey describes as accumulation by dispossession.
It is about taking the resources (and assets) away from state public
services and infrastructure which benefit the working and middle
classes and instead funnelling them to the wealthy and private
corporations. PPPs are playing a strategic role in this process of
capturing public services and assets for private investment and
wealth accumulation. The global and EU trade liberalisation rules
and new treaties such as CETA and TTIP also support PPPs by
further obliging national governments to liberalise markets for
services and infrastructure on a global scale.
An excellent article critiquing the impact of PPPs and water
privatisation in India describes the process of privatisation through
PPPs which can also be applied to the Irish case:
But whatever the nuances, although formal ownership continues
to nominally vest with public entities, all these public-private
partnerships are undoubtedly different forms of privatization, with
public bodies ceding varying degrees of control over quantity,
quality, coverage and pricing to corporate bodies. Since the private
party is in the business for profit, water in such privatized utilities is
always viewed, valued and managed in terms of its price.
Whatever the specific form of involvement of private players, water
moves from being a common good to a commodity, with all that
this implies.
The evidence shows, therefore, that PPPs are a complex form of
intensive privatization, marketization and commodification of the
Irish public water and waste-water infrastructure system. Privatesector involvement has not guaranteed a better-quality service and
additionally, the private operators profit maximisation requirements
has resulted in the running down of service quality, workers
conditions and turning the assets into commodities to be profited
from. They ensure big profits for global water and
governance/development corporations and financial investors and
rising costs and ineffective services for public service users, and
the erosion of workers rights. Thus they contribute to the
exacerbation of economic inequality.
The values and ideals of social rights that inform public-sector
values and priorities are undermined by the market ethos of PPP
policy making. Under this process, public service users are
converted into clients and consumers and a revenue stream. All
of this evidence shows how the pursuit of PPPs are an ideological
policy. The evidence does not support the use of PPPs in public
water and waste water infrastructure provision. They are being
pursued principally because of policy makers adherence to (and
belief in) neoliberal privatisiation policies rather than any evidence
based justification.
Remunicipalisation
In recent years governments and local authorities across the
world, in response to the failure of water privatisation such as
increased water charges and poor service delivery by the private
companies, and under pressure from citizen campaigns asserting
the human right to water, have started a process of
remunicipalisation taking water and waste-water services back
into public management. Our public water future: The global
experience with remunicipalisation, a book published last year
shows the growing wave of cities putting water back under public
control with 235 cases of water remunicipalisation in 37
countries, affecting over 100 million people, between 2000 and
2015. The number of cases doubled in the 2010-2015 period
compared with 2000-2010. France, a country that spearheaded
water privatisation and PPPs has lead the way with 94 cases of
remunicipalisation. Also recently a large majority of the Barcelona
City Council voted to end the private management of water and
support the remunicipalisation of the water service in of Barcelona.
Barcelona En Comu, the new citizens movement who holds the
Mayorality of Barcelona, promoted the measure as it was one of
the most popular among citizens in their participatory process
carried out to define the Municipal Action Plan (the plan that guides
city policy). Barcelona En Com, believes that water is a human
right, a basic service and a common good that should be under
public, democratic control.
Slovenia also recently amended its constitution to make access to
drinkable water a fundamental right for all citizens and stop it being
commercialised.
The new article in the constitution reads that Water resources
represent a public good that is managed by the state. Water
resources are primary and durably used to supply citizens with
potable water and households with water and, in this sense, are
not a market commodity.
It was reported in the Guardian that the Slovenian Prime Minister
encouraged the change because: people should protect water
the 21st centurys liquid gold at the highest legal leveland that
Slovenian water has very good quality and, because of its value,
in the future it will certainly be the target of foreign countries and
international corporations appetitesAs it will gradually become a
more valuable commodity in the future, pressure over it will
increase and we must not give in. Slovenia is the first European
Union country to include the right to water in its constitution, while

15 other countries across the world had already done so.
The on-going implementation of PPPs shows that the Irish public
water system has already been part-privatised/outsourced and
without a change of direction and policy it is in danger of being
further marketised and privatised. This lends support to the case
being made for a Referendum that could enshrine the Irish water
system as a public good and human right in the Constitution and
thus provide a constitutional guarantee on the public ownership of
our water. The Expert Commission found that the most commonly
expressed preferred method for confirming Irish Water in public
ownership was by a constitutional amendment, and that the
provision for a plebiscite, as provided for in the existing legislation
did not provide the necessary level of guarantee.
Right2Water has proposed the following wording that could be
inserted into the Constitution to enshrine this:
The Government shall be collectively responsible for the
protection, management and maintenance of the public water
system. The Government shall ensure in the public interest
that this resource remains in public ownership and
management.
The passing of such a referendum is an essential step in stopping
the full privatisation of our public water system and, in particular,
would put a halt to the back door creeping privatisation of through
PPPs in water and waste-water infrastructure and support the
remunicipalisation (taking back into public control) of the existing
PPP water projects.
Sources:
Hearne, R. (2011) Public Private Partnerships in Ireland: failed
experiment or the way forward? Manchester University Press
Available at:
http://www.academia.edu/30178583/Trends_in_historical_develop
ment_of_the_Irish_state_public_services_and_infrastructure
Hearne (2012) http://politico.ie/society/public-private-partnershipsireland-failed-experiment-or-way-forward
Hearne (2009) Origins, Development and Outcomes of Public
Private Partnerships in Ireland: The Case of PPPs in Social
Housing Regeneration Dr Rory Hearne
http://www.combatpoverty.ie/publications/workingpapers/200907_WP_PPPsIn...
Alan Kelly, 28th April 2015, Dail Eireann,
https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2015-04-28a.1222
Comptroller and Auditor General (2016) Briefing Note on PPPs
https://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/pac/corres
pondence/2016meetings/meeting4-21072016/PAC32-R-42-B-(B)--Briefing-Note-on-PPPs-from-CAG.pdf
Comptroller and Auditor General (2011) Annual Report
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2011/report/en/
Chapter6_01.pdf
Irish Times (2008) Report recommends upgrade of Ringsend
waste plant
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/report-recommends-upgrade-ofringsend-was...
Hell Bent on Water Privatisatin in Dehli
(http://newsclick.in/india/hell-bent-water-privatization-delhi)
Oireachtas (2013) Public Private Partnerships Data, July 2013,
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates
%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2013071600112
Reeves, E. (2014) Public Capital Investment and Public Private
Partnerships in Ireland 2000-2014: A Review of the Issues and
Performance
https://www.socialjustice.ie/sites/default/files/attach/policy-issuearticle/4004/2014-11-18-eoinreeves-investmentandppps.pdf
Shiva, V. (2006) RESISTING WATER PRIVATISATION, BUILDING
WATER DEMOCRACY,
http://www.globalternative.org/downloads/shiva-water.pdf
The 2010 Department of Environment Report on the Value for
Money for Review of the Water Services Investment Programme
2007-2009
The Guardian (2016) Slovenia Adds Water to Constitution
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/18/sloveniaadds-water-...
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The publication of the report by the Expert Commission on water

has vindicated everything the Right2Water campaign has been
saying for almost three years. Water should be paid for through
general taxation which is the most socially equitable, economically
beneficial and environmentally sound.
Frustratingly, had an arrogant government and media listened to
our campaign and people in communities across this country, we
would not have wasted 1 billion on water meters and establishing
Irish Water as a commercial entity. Even Engineers Ireland warned
the government back in 2010 that bringing in water charges would
mean "spending 1bn of money we dont have on something we
dont need.
The key findings of the report include:
That Irish people already pay for their water through taxation and
that water funded through general taxation is not free but paid for
by the taxpayer.
Access to adequate clean water for living requirements should not
be determined by affordability.
A referendum is necessary to protect our public water system from
privatisation.
Ireland has one of the highest rates of water availability in the
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world, with water availability per person four times higher than
France and fifty times higher than Israel.
The expert commission has not seen any evidence that Ireland
has particularly high levels of domestic water usage and Irish
people are at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to
comparing water usage among other European countries.
Irish people use between 15-25 percent less water than the UK,
where water charges have been in place since 1989.
Water charges do not result in water conservation unless they
include education and information. Therefore, it can be established
that it is education and information which results in water
conservation, not the charges.
Commercial companies are not paying their water bills with almost
half refusing to pay. Ensuring a comprehensive commercial water
charges regime should reduce dependence on general taxation.
There are no abstraction charges for our natural spring water on
private companies like Britvic (Ballygowan) who pay nothing when
bottling our natural spring water for profit. This should be
addressed.
Metering should only be done on an optional basis.
Group schemes should have an allowance in order to create
equity.
There is a need for investment of 5.5bn in our infrastructure by
2021.
The water charges regime does not have political support or
popular acceptance.
Flat rate charges are regressive and do not address the issue of
conservation. Also, a water charge added to a property tax leads to
unfairness in the system.
The water charges regime was intended to reduce household
consumption of water by a mere 6%, yet the system leaks 41% of
all treated water. The best way to reduce waste is to fix the leaks.
While considerable weight must be given to the opinion of the
European Commission, the definitive interpretation of European
law is a matter for the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Borrowings?
Importantly, the Commission states that because the funding of
domestic water should come from general taxation in public
ownership, it will no longer achieve the off balance sheet
exercise. This will reduce or potentially eliminate the need for
borrowing which inevitably leads to debt and the servicing of that
debt by households diverting money directly into the financial
services sector instead of the water infrastructure.
Leakages
The report says that there are 7% of households using six times
more water than the average household, although Irish Water have
indicated that customer-side leaks contribute to this anomaly.
However, it is estimated that up to 97% of leaks do not come from
the household side of the infrastructure and the report states it
should be noted that water leaks waste not only water but also
energy and public money. Therefore, it makes sense to divert all
money from the domestic metering programme towards a district
metering programme as recommended in the report.
Water Charges
The Expert Commission has suggested that where water is used
at a level above what is necessary for normal domestic purposes,
that the user should pay for this through tariffs. The suggestion is
that an allowance is determined and this allowance could be
regularly reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted to reflect changes
in water use patterns in Ireland.
As stated earlier, the evidence provided shows that Irish people
are not profligate with their water and in fact use less water than
almost any other country in the Europe despite having more water
available to us.
There are also very serious concerns about any allowances being
eroded over time, like bin charges.
Therefore, continuing an expensive water metering programme
with the added costs of highly paid consultants, advertising,
postage, call centres and other costs, for no conservational benefit
would be an extraordinary waste of valuable resources, costing up
to 300m per year and returning potentially nothing.
The government and the Oireachtas sub-committee should accept
the will of the electorate two thirds of whom voted for parties and
individuals who promised abolition. This is now also backed up by
an Irish Times MRBI poll which also says two thirds of the
population want to scrap the charges.
With all of this in mind, it is essential that water charges are
abolished outright.
Funding?
In addressing the funding of water services, the Commission
suggests that the funding requirements which were to be allocated
through domestic water charges are now made through the
exchequer rather than by householders directly.
The current government and the previous government must take
responsibility for the leakages and deteriorated infrastructure that
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Irish people currently have to rely on. In the last three Budgets
alone, tax cuts of 2.9 billion have been implemented. The
beneficiaries of those tax cuts are the top 20% of earners and also
employers. In ensuring our water system is fit for purpose, the
government should immediately:
Cease all cuts to progressive taxation.
Stop the metering programme and wasting money on the vanity
project that is Irish Water.
Increase taxation revenue by implementing the Fiscal Framework
Document set out by the Right2Water Trade Unions in 2015
which could raise up to 10 billion. This would not only fix and
upgrade the water infrastructure, but could also address our
housing and homelessness crisis, along with our healthcare,
education and other underfunded public services.
Media Failure
It is felt that the majority of the Irish media failed in their duty to
facilitate an honest and democratic debate about the Irish
governments water policy.
While a number of trade unions, political representatives and
community groups were attempting to raise real and valid issues in
relation to water charges and their implications locally, nationally
and internationally, a compliant media refused to accept the
arguments put forward and even refused to allow a debate to
ensue.
Even now, faced with all of the evidence which shows that Ireland
is a water rich country and that Irish people do not waste water,
many media outlets refuse to accept the fact that water charges
are economically inefficient, theyre environmentally unsound and
socially destructive.
Furthermore, protesters were and continue to be demonised and
vilified for their stance on water charges, yet this report now
vindicates what they have said all along: that paying for water
through progressive general taxation is the fairest and most
equitable method possible.
As Maude Barlow, environmentalist and expert on water from the
Blue Planet Project and the Council of Canadians said, The Irish
system of paying for water and sanitation services through
progressive taxation and non-domestic user fees is an exemplary
model of fair, equitable and sustainable service delivery for the
entire world.
Right2Water remains committed to its stated objective of the
abolition of water charges and Irish Water.
EWM says Irish campaign to forefront of "European

movement to democratise water"
Funding through progressive taxation best way to secure
human right to water
Ahead of the National Right2Water demonstration set to take place
this coming Saturday (September 17th), the European Water
Movement today said that the Irish Right2Water movement forms
part of "a real movement of people to democratise water
management and achieve the human right to water that no country
in the EU has yet implemented".
The European Water Movement, a network of organisations whose
goal is to reinforce the recognition of water as a commons and
access to water as a fundamental universal right, made a
Submission to the Expert Commission on Water which is available
here.
In a statement issued today (Thursday September 15th), the
European Water Movement said:
"It is clear that the best method of securing access to water, and
securing funds for infrastructural investment, is through general
taxation.
"The European Water Movement views the struggle of the Irish
people to abolish water charges, and to secure a referendum

enshrining public ownership of Ireland's water system, as yet more
evidence of a real European people's movement to democratise
water management.
Ireland's Right2Water campaign, like other campaigns throughout
Europe, is seeking to achieve the human right to water that no
country in the EU has yet implemented. Right2Water is to the
forefront of this growing movement", the statement concluded.
Next week, on Wednesday, 9th November, Joan Collins TD will

move a Bill to hold a referendum to insert into the Constitution an
amendment which would rule out any future privatisation of water,
or water services.
Forty TDs have signed the Bill including Independents4Change,
Sinn Fein, AAA/PBP and a number of independent TDs. A number
of others including the Green Party, the Labour Party and the
Social Democrats have said publicly that they would support a
referendum on public ownership of our water, so the Bill has a real
chance of passing.
Put simply, this Bill will only pass if supported by Fianna Fail.
Therefore we are asking everybody concerned about the
ownership of our water to use every means they can to contact
their local TDs, especially Fianna Fail, by email, letter, phone call
or direct lobbying and demand they support the Bill.
We expect the Government (and possibly Fianna Fail) to argue
that they are waiting for the Expert Commission on Domestic
Water Charges to present their report to the Oireachtas but
public ownership of water is not in the Terms of Reference for the
Commission, so this is a smokescreen.
The government deliberately omitted public ownership from the
terms of reference in full knowledge that the Commission might
actually make a recommendation to enshrine ownership in the
hands of the public. This is something they clearly dont want.
At this very moment in time, any government, including the current
one, could legislate to sell off our public water system.
Furthermore, even if a government did not want to sell off our
water, the EU, IMF or ECB could force the sale in the future like
they did in Greece and Portugal so we have to protect our vital
public water system now!
The devastating impacts of water privatization have been felt all
around the world. In the UK, one in four people are now
experiencing water poverty. In the US, Rome and parts of France,
tens of thousands are having their water shut off. We can prevent
much of this by putting ownership of our water in the Constitution.
There are no TDs in the Dail, even in Fine Gael, who will come out
and argue openly for privatization. But can you take their word on
this? If they dont want water privatization, they can prove it by
simply supporting this Bill next Wednesday.
Here are the details of Fianna Fail TDs:
FIANNA FAIL TD LISTINGS
Carlow/Kilkenny
Bobby Aylward
056 7764726
Carlow/Kilkenny
John McGuinness
056 7770672
087 2855834
Cavan/Monaghan
Brendan Smith
049 4362366
Cavan/Monaghan
Niamh Smyth
042 9666666
087 9982222
Clare
Timmy Dooley
065 6891115
Cork East
Kevin O Keefe
022 25320
Cork North Central
Billy Kelleher
021 4502289
Cork North West
Aindrias Moynihan
026 45828
Cork North West
Michael Moynihan
029 51299
Cork South Central
Michael McGrath
021 4376699
Cork South Central
Micheal Martin
021 4320088
Cork South West
Margaret Murphy OMahony
086 8529275
Donegal
Charlie McConalogue
074 9373131/074 9177282
Donegal
Pat The Cope Gallagher
074 95 21364
087 2238925
Dublin Bay North
Sean Haughey
01 6183695
087 3494888
Dublin Bay South
Jim O Callaghan
01 4758943
Dublin Fingal
Darragh O Brien
01 6183802
Dublin Midwest
John Curran
01 6183792
Dublin South West
John Lahart
01 4939608
Dublin West
Jack Chambers
086 4177335
Galway East
Anne Rabbitte
087 2424704
Galway West
Eamon O Cuiv
091 562846
Kerry
John Brassil
066 7133112
087 2362330
Kildare North
Frank O Rourke
087 2555257
Kildare North
James Lawless
086 8348869
Kildare South
Fiona O Loughlin
045 436792
087 2345160
Laois
Sean Fleming
057 8732692
Limerick City
Willie O Dea
061 454488/ 061 454522
Limerick County
Niall Collins
061 300149
087 2749659
Longford/Westmeath
Robert Troy
044 9334857
Louth
Declan Breathnach
087 2697638
Mayo
Dara Calleary
096 77613
Mayo
Lisa Chambers
094 9250577
Meath East
Thomas Byrne
01 6183310
Meath West
Shane Cassells
086 3399198
Offaly
Barry Cowen
057 9321976
Roscommon/Galway
Eugene Murphy
071 963 3000
Sligo/Leitrim
Eamon Scanlon
071 9197903/ 071 9302537
Sligo/Leitrim
Marc Mac Sharry
086 2674764
Tipperary
Jackie Cahill
087 2820663
Waterford
Mary Butler
087 7425020
Wexford
James Browne
086 8575387
Wicklow
Pat Casey
086 2649483
DRAFT SUBMISSION.
Irish Water should be abolished immediately and a public
enquiry into what all the money they got was spent on.
The responsibility for our water management should lie on
a county by county basis on the County Councils. Water
quality then would be a major election issue in the Local
Elections. All issues relating to both ground water and
surface water should be the responsibility of the County
Councils and a Local Agenda 21 type solution found for all
issues as they arise. All Group water schemes should
remain under the control and management of the Local
Communities.
WATER QUALITY We can find no record of any person or
group ever been convicted of polluting aquifers and all
reports sent to Europe by our government states that we
are in compliance with the Water Framework Directive
regarding our closed aquifers. All reports of pollution in

open aquifers and surface water should be properly
investigated and those found guilty of polluting water
sources fined heavily (in compliance with the Polluter Pays
Principle) and the fine money to be paid directly to the
councils. All water should come from a closed aquifer and
piped directly to the houses with no chemicals added.
WATER CHARGES. Water charges are necessary for us to
comply with the Water Framework Directive/Polluters Pays
Principle. All groups and bodies that does not fall under
the 9.4 exemption should pay for their water. The charge
they should pay should be decided on a County by County
basis and determined by the County Councilors.
Businesses' that use multiple chemicals should be charged
according to the amount of chemicals they use. Our 9.4
exemption should apply to all domestic water and if
agreed by the councilors our 9.4 exemption should also
apply to Organic Farmers. All major infrastructure repairs
etc for example the removal of all the lead pipes should be
paid for through Local Agenda 21 funding and all the
remaining lead pipes should be removed asap. None of our
taxes should be used to fund our water supply and all the
VAT on food should be removed immediately.
Bacterial Infections. An independent group should be set
up immediately headed by Tony Rochford to investigate
the issues raised by Mr Rochford relating to serious health
hazard connected to stagnant water.
Water Meters. All water meters to be removed
immediately from Domestic users properties and all toxic
water meters removed from business properties until a full
investigation on their suspected dangers in compliance
with the Precautionary principle is done.
Water Supply. All water for human consumption is to come
directly from aquifers. The idea of piping surface water
from the Shannon to be scrapped immediately. The open
aquifer in Blessington should be cleaned immediately and
should be used as a back up supply. All water should come
directly from the nearest aquifer.
Now we know for sure that our 9.4 exemption still exists and is part
of the Polluter Pays Principle/Water Framework Directive. Irish Water
cannot charge for Domestic water as we pointed out in our
submission and the way they want to get around this it to claim that
all water over their estimated amount needed for domestic use is
out side the scope of our exemption and as such can be charged for.
Under the EU rules all submissions must be addressed and the fact
that the line """based on their needs""" was in a submission re
domestic water has given them the excuse to put in meters and
charge for water more than the amount they deem is need for
domestic use.
Our submission to the river basin Management Plan is now vital. Our
position on Domestic water is that all water used by domestic water
users is domestic water and as such is covered by our 9.4
exemption. And there is no need for meters
Irelands biggest landlord: I

feel bad for the Irish people
Ires Reits David Ehrlich talks about soaring rents and
increasing supply
Fri, Nov 18, 2016, 06:49
Fiona Reddan
David Ehrlich, chief executive of Ires Reit, says the Irish way of devising
planning legislation needs to change. Photograph: Maxwell Photography
Its just a brief comment, but a telling one.

Be kind, says David Ehrlich, chief executive of Ires
Reit, in parting.
Yes, investors in the residential property investment

company may be pleased with progress but the
double-edged sword of greater returns is greater rents.
And there is a tension in running Irelands largest
landlord at a time when rents are rocketing past Celtic
Tiger highs and having a disastrous effect on society,
as Daft.ie put it recently.
There is also the negative perception of being lumped
in with so-called vulture funds, who come in, buy, and
sell when values recover something he takes
umbrage with.
Were the opposite of a vulture were here for the
long-term, he says.
Were talking at the funds offices, deep in the heart of
Dublins shiny new docklands a place where Googlers
and Facebookers can rent a two-bedroom apartment in
the nearby Marker residence, owned and managed by
Ires Reit, for the not insignificant sum of 2,813 a
month.
Running Irelands largest residential landlord in such a
climate must be an enviable position; residential rents
have rocketed in recent years, and supply is such that
filling apartments is done with ease.
Its a great market, Ehrlich agrees. Weve never seen
rental increases like this in any jurisdiction that were
aware of.
Soaring
Indeed, such is demand that the fund is already getting

calls from people looking to put a deposit down on its
new development of 68 apartments in Beacon South
Quarter in Sandyford, south Dublin.
And The Maple, as its called, which is Ires Reits first
construction, wont be completed until next July.
Meanwhile rents are soaring.
The latest figures from Daft.ie show that rents in
Dublin are now almost 10 per cent higher than they

were in their previous peak back in 2008, as renters
look to commit to renting rather than buying off
plan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ehrlich is not ignorant of the financial difficulties the

situation is causing.
I truly feel badly for the Irish people, he says of
climbing rents.
But, answerable to the Reits investors, hes not going
to put the brakes on just yet.
Background
Ires Reit, an offshoot of Canadian investment group

Capreit, first got involved in the Irish market back in
2014 through Capreits acquisition of 338 apartments
for 42.2 million (or an average of just 124,852 each)
in Smithfield, Inchicore, Sandyford and Tallaght at a
Lloyds auction.
The property fund had an established business in
Canada owning and renting about 48,000 apartments
across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
We saw an opportunity that the Irish economy would
rebound; the housing statistics in terms of supply and
demographics looked very good, things like the highest
birth rate in Europe, recalls Ehrlich.
So that part of it made sense to us but the question
then was what competitive advantage would we have in
Ireland? And the answer was there never was a
professionally managed apartment sector here.
It was the latter point that convinced them.
It wasnt just building a business it was building an
industry.
Critical also was the publication of legislation, in 2013,
which provided for the creation of real estate
investment trusts (reits), with Ires Reit listing on the
Irish Stock Exchange in 2014 and Ehrlich had some

expertise in the area.
Property forms a large part of his background; hes
known as the grandfather of reits back in Canada,
and helped put Canadas reits legislation together in
his previous job as partner at Toronto law firm,
Stikeman Elliott.
He moved to Capreit in 2013 the same time that the
legislation was being put into place here. So, why leave
the law?
I think this was a good opportunity for me. The
challenges are different and Im always one to look to a
new challenge . . . it would have been interesting in
Canada but its even more interesting in Ireland.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/ireland-sbiggest-landlord-i-feel-bad-for-the-irish-people-1.2870230
If the Government were to fall over rents, would you vote

the same way again in another election?
9 341 Votes /react-text
j
j
I
Yes41%
No50%
I don't know8%
Our corrupt politicians just the 3 rd behind Brazilian

politicians
1 in 5 of our politicians is a landlord. Now you know why Simon
Covney (a landlord) can't/won't fix the housing the crisis.
Share if you think this is a disgrace.
It's a scandal. There are 8 registered charities working with the
homeless in Dublin. The government gives them millions but all of it
is being spent on huge salaries. In fact the money they get from the
government doesn't cover the big fat salaries in some cases and a
lot of the work they do is duplicated. The money these charities get
every year is more than enough to house the homeless. Dublin
Simon, the Peter McVerry Trust, Depaul Ireland and Focus Ireland got
a total of 33.6 million in grants from State agencies in 2014, but
spent 35.8 million on staff costs for the 875 people they employed
in 2014.
In 2014, Dublin Simons total income was 12,519,761. It received
6,194,218 from the State. Its average number of employees was
188 at a total cost of 7,420,022, including wages and salaries,
social security and pension.
Its chief executive, Sam McGuinness, was on a salary of 93,338 a
year, with five employees altogether on over 70,000 per annum. In
2014, Dublin Simon also spent 84,980 on motor vehicles.
The Peter McVerry Trust had a total income of 10,656,737 in 2014,
of which 6,842,691 came from the State. It employed 146
employees in 2014 at a cost of just under 8.1 million.
Chief executive Pat Doyle is paid 96,211 (98,382 since June
2016), the same level as director regional health office).

The trust pays a 16 per cent employer contribution to the chief
executives defined-contribution pension scheme.The income of all
senior employees is in line with HSE pay levels.
The Depaul Ireland homeless agency had 213 employees in 2014.
They cost it 6,469,677. Almost all its 9,184,802 income for 2014
came from State agencies.
Four employees there earned over 60,000 each in 2014, with chief
executive Kerry Anthony on between 80,000 and 90,000.
Focus Ireland had an average of 328 employees in 2014 at a cost of
13.82 million, including pensions and social insurance costs. In
2014, State agencies granted it 11.38 million.
Its chief executive, Ashley Balbirnie, was paid a salary of 115,000
plus approximately 5,000 in medical insurance which amounted to
a total of 120,000.
The most recent annual accounts audited accounts available for
Threshold are for 2014 and show that they received 1.3 million in
government grants, while 479,000 was raised through donations
from the public.
1.2 million of this was spent on a staff of 46. In other words almost
all of the money given by the government went on wages.
Several of Fianna Fil's "Final Official" Water Charges

positions are to go on sale shortly.
Traditionally, FF 'Official Positions" were sold exclusively to
bankers and developers but with their new position as
servants of FG,,things are changing.
New Politics dictates that prices be slashed and the down
trodden masses will now be able to fork out a bit of dosh
and jump on the FF merry-go-round.
State to get 280m from

IBRC liquidators
First payout to unsecured creditors of former Anglo Irish
Bank and Irish Nationwide
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, 16:30
Cliff Taylor
Kieran Wallace, special liquidator of IBRC. He announced on Tuesday that

most unsecured creditors are to receive 25 per cent of what they are owed
The State is to receive a 280 million payout from the

IBRC liquidators in the next fortnight, as they make
their first payout to the unsecured creditors of the
former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide.
The joint special liquidators of IBRC, Kieran Wallace
and Eamonn Richardson of KPMG announced on
Tuesday that most unsecured creditors are to receive
25 per cent of what they are owed in an interim
dividend.
The State has a 1.12 billion claim as by far the biggest
unsecured creditor, relating to money it paid to
depositors in the failed financial institutions under the
State guarantee when they were wound up. The
payment will reduce the final total for cash borrowing

by the Government this year.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said the outcome
of the liquidation had so far exceeded expectations
significantly. Anglo and Irish Nationwide were bailed
out by the State at a cost of 35 billion. The amount
raised by the liquidator indicates that this cost will not
rise further and that in time a small amount may be
recouped.
In their progress report published last May, the special
liquidators said they expected that unsecured creditors
would eventually receive between 75 per cent and 100
per cent of what they are owed. Other unsecured
creditors include credit unions who held Anglo Irish
bonds, local authorities and trade creditors.
Statement
The special liquidators said in a statement on Tuesday

there is no further update on the expected dividend
range at the moment. The final outcome, they said, will
depend on the price received for selling the remaining
assets, the level of unsecured creditor claims ultimately
agreed and the outcome of various court proceedings.
All told, at the time of IBRCs liquidation, the group
owed about 5 billion to unsecured creditors.
However, almost 3 billion of this was made of
intergroup borrowings between various units. The
agreed unsecured creditors must be paid in full before
any cash is paid to a group of junior bondholders, who
are owed 285 million.
Losses
Most junior bondholders in the former Anglo Irish

Bank accepted losses as part of a Government offer
which imposed significant losses on their holdings.
However a group challenged the State in the London
courts and retain a claim. These junior bondholders
stand at the back of the queue and are unlikely to

receive anything before a legal battle between the
family of businessman Sen Quinn and IBRC is heard,
in 2018 at the earliest. The Quinns claim the lender,
the Anglo Irish Bank, lent them billions of euro illegally
in 2008 to shore up their investment in the bank.
A victory for the Quinns would see them join the list of
unsecured creditors.
The liquidators were sitting on 2.2 billion of net cash
as of February after selling off most of the groups loan
book.
This is the face of the man who sold 13,500 residential
mortgages to vulture funds .Most of these people have
lost or are now facing the eviction courts while they pay
out unsecured bondholders .They also facilitated Denis O
Brien with massive write downs to buy Siteserve the
company that went on to receive the lucrative state
contract to install water meters .Mothers and Fathers were
left with a choice of whether their children would be better
off without them .Filthy parasites have blood on their
hands .But at least the top execs and banks got big
bonuses .
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/state-to-get280m-from-ibrc-liquidators-1.2904189#.WFBIIlvWG7M.facebook
The current housing crisis is not an

accident
It is the new landlords who are
influencing housing policy, not the needs
of the thousands of people facing
spiraling rents and evictions, writes Rory
Hearne.
THE MINISTER FOR Housing Simon Coveney indicated

last week that he is not going to introduce rent regulation
or rent certainty as it might deter the supply of private
rental accommodation. This shows that it is the new Irish
landlords the wealthy global real estate funds that are
influencing housing policy and not the needs of the
hundreds of thousands of tenants facing spiraling rents
and evictions.
The current housing crisis is not an accident. It is a direct
result of the particular strategy for economic recovery
pursued by successive Irish governments in response to
the 2008 property and financial crash. These policies have
focused on demonstrating to the international markets
that Irelands banking and property crash has been solved
through two things: Irelands bad bank, Nama, being a
success and wound up early, and by the Irish banks
becoming profitable again.
This strategy required firstly, a re-inflation of Irish
property prices (rental prices in particular, plus tacit
government support for future increases in property prices
and rents) and secondly, the attraction of international
property investors and vulture funds to buy up the toxic
loans and assets off Nama and the Irish banks. All other
issues particularly the impact on Irish housing and its
affordability for citizens were not given a priority in
policy. The economy came first. And yet this approach
has left us with a housing crisis which is a social
emergency with major economic implications.
Nama has been the governments key vehicle to attract
international investment by selling off key residential and
development land assets at knock-down prices. But they
also sold key residential property on the basis of future
rising rents and prices.
The influence of REITs
The other key measure introduced by government to
attract international property investment funds was the
low tax regime for Real Estate Investment Trusts
operating in Ireland. In 2013 Michael Noonan made rental
profits arising in a REIT exempt from corporation tax.
This was on top of other existing tax avoidance and
reduction loopholes available to investors (such as the
Section 110).
As the housing crisis developed and worsened in 2014 and
2015 the government found another major argument in
defence of this approach. According to government these
new REIT investors and international global property
funds would play a major role in addressing the supply
crisis in the private rental sector.
But the problem with that approach is that this particular
investor is seeking high returns which requires high
rents which means policies to keep rent affordable, such
as rent regulation, are not seen favourably by them. And
this is what we have seen happen.
In the run-up to last years Budget it was reported that
there was a possibility of rent regulation (which would link
rent increases to inflation) and increasing security of
tenure being implemented. However, following intense
lobbying, including by a major US real estate investment
company, the government instead introduced the two-year
rent freeze which has done little to stem the rising rents.
In a letter to Minister Noonan on 30 September 2015

which was later published by the Irish Examiner, Peter
Collins, the managing director of US real estate
investment company Kennedy Wilson Europe, wrote:
Investors and their funding banks will see the new
proposed regime (some form of rent certainty) negatively .
This will certainly limit and, potentially eliminate, future
investment.
The government doesnt want to change this
From the governments perspective, their policy is working
in attracting in big investors.
Michael Noonan, speaking at the Oireachtas homeless and
housing committee in April this year explained:
This intervention [the favourable tax regime for REITs]
has been successful in encouraging large-scale investment
into the commercial and residential property markets.
There are currently three REITs operating in Ireland
[and] it is estimated that the market capitalisation of the
three REITs is now approximately 2.3 billion.
In 2011, Ireland had one landlord with more than 400
properties, and now there are five. There are two REITs
amongst Irelands biggest 20 landlords. There has been a
27% increase since 2011 in landlords with 20 or more
tenancies since 2011 (926, up from 730).
These big investors are making major profits from
Irelands housing crisis. Kennedy Wilson started investing
in Ireland after the crash and now has 2bn of assets in
Ireland. A representative of the company told the Irish
Times last month that Dublin is the most attractive
property market in Europe. Kennedy Wilson is now one
of Irelands biggest landlords as it has over 1000 rental
units.
Irish Residential Properties REIT (Ires) generated net
income of 5.5 million between July and the end of
September 2016. This compares to 3.6 million for the
same period last year, a gain of 53%. They told the Irish
Times earlier this month that the current housing crisis,
with a deep imbalance between demand and supply in

Dublins housing market means their profit outlook is
very positive.
And global wealth funds from across the world are looking
at Ireland, and Dublins property in particular, as a
potential site for investment. The PWC Europe 2017
Emerging Trends in Real Estate report shows how
government policy has been successful in making Irish
private rental property an attractive global asset. The
report notes that REITs are seen as good investment.
And the private rental sector is a compelling opportunity
because of the limitless demand. And in particular, cities
like Dublin are seen as good investment locations:
One of the biggest changes is the way that residential is
now viewed by institutional investors and their desire to
have at least part of their portfolio in this sector. In
addition to established multi-family markets in Germany,
Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, an institutionally
backed build-to-rent, or private rented sector (PRS), is
beginning in Ireland.
One US investor described the attractiveness of investing
in the private rental sector in Dublin:
The private rented sector in Dublin is a home run, he
said.
The report stated that equity is flowing into Europe from
all corners of the globe and all types of investors and
residential is on the radar and is undervalued because it
gives long-term, stable returns.
There is an alternative
I have shown here how successive government policy has
led to a deeper commodification of Irish housing and the
attraction of investors who expect high returns and thus
high rents and low levels of tenants rights. This is a
disaster for the provision of affordable housing in Ireland
as it is locking in the existing high and unaffordable rents
into the future.
This housing crisis also worsens and reproduces our
already unacceptably high levels of economic inequality.
We now have low income households and younger

generations spending a significant proportion of their low
and moderate incomes on rent which is flowing to the
renter class of the Irish and global wealthy.
An alternative approach is available to government.
Introduce rent regulation and security of tenure which
would provide affordable housing and attract in a different
type of investor the global pension funds and ethical
investment funds willing to take lower levels of guaranteed
returns over a longer term, which would respect, and
expect, high levels of tenants rights. Secondly, the State
must lead in an emergency development programme of
not-for-profit, de-commodified, affordable mixed income
housing provision from social to cost rental to shared
ownership and cooperative housing.
Dr Rory Hearne is a senior policy analyst with the
independent progressive think-tank TASC.
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/rory-hearne-housing-crisis-ireland3081213-Nov2016/
Focus-Ireland-Annual-Report-2014 We supported over 11,500
people in 2014 Focus Ireland Annual Report 2014
https://www.focusireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FocusIreland-Annual-Report-2014.pdf
Focus Ireland Annual Report 2015 Call 1850 204 205 Visit
focusireland.ie Find us on CHY 7220 2015 the worst year for
family homelessness
MEET THE CORRUPT TD LANDLORD FUCKERS NOW

Meet the Td Landlords of the Corrupt Fuckers Sitting and Billing
Draft Bill 4 Themselves in the Dial Force Team FG, FF, Ind what a
Bunch of Waste bags, Fuck Them out Now
https://www.scribd.com/document/334290384/Meet-the-TdLandlords-of-the-Corrupt-Fuckers-Sitting-and-Billing-Draft-Bill-4Themselves-in-the-Dial-Force-Team-FG-FF-Ind-what-a-Bunch-ofWaste-bags
Continued Evictions (Courts Bill

2016) Passes Final Stage in Dail
For the Bill FF, FG, Lab, Independent Alliance, Michael Lowry
Seamus Healy TD Amendment to Formally

Declare a Housing Emergency and Stop
Evictions Defeated by the same parties (see
below)
Question put: That the Bill do now pass.
T
Staon Nl
Aylward, Bobby.
Bailey, Maria.
Barrett, Sen.
Brassil, John.
Brophy, Colm.
Adams, Gerry.
Barry, Mick.
Brady, John.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Buckley, Pat.
Browne, James.
Collins, Michael.
Burke, Peter.
Connolly, Catherine.
Butler, Mary.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Byrne, Thomas.
Crowe, Sen.
Cahill, Jackie.
Cullinane, David.
Calleary, Dara.
Daly, Clare.
Canney, Sen.
Doherty, Pearse.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Ferris, Martin.
Carey, Joe.
Fitzmaurice, Michael.
Casey, Pat.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Cassells, Shane.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Chambers, Jack.
Healy, Seamus.
Chambers, Lisa.
Kenny, Gino.
Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
Kenny, Martin.
Coveney, Simon.
McGrath, Mattie.
Cowen, Barry.
Martin, Catherine.
Curran, John.
Mitchell, Denise.
DArcy, Michael.
Munster, Imelda.
Daly, Jim.
Murphy, Catherine.
Deasy, John.
Murphy, Paul.
Deering, Pat.
Nolan, Carol.
Doherty, Regina.
Broin, Eoin.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Caolin, Caoimhghn.
Doyle, Andrew.
Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Snodaigh, Aengus.
English, Damien.
OBrien, Jonathan.
Farrell, Alan.
OReilly, Louise.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Pringle, Thomas.
Flanagan, Charles.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Fleming, Sean.
Shortall, Risn.
Griffin, Brendan.
Smith, Brd.
Halligan, John.
Stanley, Brian.
Harris, Simon.
Tibn, Peadar.
Haughey, Sen.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kenny, Enda.
Lahart, John.
Lawless, James.
Lowry, Michael.
McConalogue, Charlie.
McEntee, Helen.
McGrath, Finian.
McGrath, Michael.
McHugh, Joe.
McLoughlin, Tony.
Madigan, Josepha.
Martin, Michel.
Mitchell OConnor, Mary.
Moran, Kevin Boxer.
Moynihan, Aindrias.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murphy OMahony, Margaret.
Murphy, Eoghan.
Murphy, Eugene.
Naughton, Hildegarde.
Neville, Tom.
Noonan, Michael.
Cuv, amon.
OCallaghan, Jim.
OConnell, Kate.
ODea, Willie.
ODonovan, Patrick.
ODowd, Fergus.
OLoughlin, Fiona.
ORourke, Frank.
Phelan, John Paul.
Rabbitte, Anne.
Ring, Michael.
Rock, Noel.
Ross, Shane.
Ryan, Brendan.
Scanlon, Eamon.
Sherlock, Sean.
Smith, Brendan.
Stanton, David.
Troy, Robert.
Varadkar, Leo.
Zappone, Katherine.
Question declared carried.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
A message shall be sent to the
Seanad acquainting it accordingly.
Deputy Seamus Healy: I move amendment No. 5:
In page 8, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:
9. Dil ireann formally declares that a housing emergency exists
in the State and while this emergency continues the right of any
person to remain in the dwelling in which the person currently
resides will take precedence over any property right of any other
person
(a) accordingly no court or other authority shall order the removal
of the current occupant of a dwelling, or by its decisions enable
such removal notwithstanding the provisions of any Act currently in
force including the provisions of the Land and Conveyancing Law

Reform Act 2013,
(b) the housing emergency declared in this section can only be
terminated by a vote of Dil ireann, and the Government including
any Minister of the Government are precluded from annulling the
housing emergency without approval in such a vote,
(c) in view of the Housing Emergency declared here, the power of
any Minister of Government to raise the market value threshold of
75,000 for single or multiple dwellings for consideration of
possession of dwellings cases by the Circuit Court by activating or
commencing sections of existing Acts without approval by a vote of
Dil ireann, is cancelled..
Amendment put:
T
Staon Nl
Adams, Gerry.
Aylward, Bobby.
Barry, Mick.
Bailey, Maria.
Brady, John.
Barrett, Sen.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Brassil, John.
Buckley, Pat.
Brophy, Colm.
Collins, Michael.
Browne, James.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Burke, Peter.
Crowe, Sen.
Butler, Mary.
Cullinane, David.
Byrne, Thomas.
Daly, Clare.
Cahill, Jackie.
Doherty, Pearse.
Calleary, Dara.
Ferris, Martin.
Canney, Sen.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Carey, Joe.
Healy, Seamus.
Casey, Pat.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Cassells, Shane.
Kenny, Gino.
Chambers, Jack.
Kenny, Martin.
Chambers, Lisa.
McGrath, Mattie.
Martin, Catherine.
Coveney, Simon.
Mitchell, Denise.
Cowen, Barry.
Munster, Imelda.
Curran, John.
Murphy, Catherine.
Daly, Jim.
Murphy, Paul.
DArcy, Michael.
Nolan, Carol.
Deasy, John.
Broin, Eoin.
Deering, Pat.
Caolin, Caoimhghn.
Doherty, Regina.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Snodaigh, Aengus.
OBrien, Jonathan.
Doyle, Andrew.
Durkan, Bernard J.
OReilly, Louise.
Pringle, Thomas.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Ryan, Eamon.
Smith, Brd.
Stanley, Brian.
Tibn, Peadar.
English, Damien.
Farrell, Alan.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Flanagan, Charles.
Fleming, Sean.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harris, Simon.
Haughey, Sen.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kenny, Enda.
Tellers: T, Deputies Seamus Healy and Brd Smith; Nl, Deputies

Regina Doherty and Tony McLoughlin.
Amendment declared lost.
It Was Left To Seamus Healy TD To

Call A Vote At Second Stage in The
Dail against The Planning,
Development (Housing) And
Residential Tenancies Bill.
(Otherwise Known As The
PRETENCE, Hypocracy and
Continuation Of Evictions Bill)
Missing 157-136= 21
Tellers: T, Deputies Joe Carey and Tony
McLoughlin; Nl, Deputies Seamus Healy and
Catherine Murphy .
Question
declared carried.
For the Motion: FG, FF , Michael Lowry, Finian
McGrath,Dr Michael Harty, Katherine Zappone.

Shane Ross, Sean Canney, Boxer Moran,
Michael Fitzmaurice, Stephen Donnelly, Noel
Grealish
Missing :John Halligan, Joan Burton, Willie
Penrose, Sean Sherlock, Danny Healy-Rae,
(Some FF and FG Deputies were Also missing)
Staonadh (Staon) (Abstain) None (Deputies can effectively abstain
by not voting but this is not recorded)
SEAMUS HEALY TD CALLS FOR AN

END TO EVICTIONS AND FORMAL
DECLARATION OF A HOUSING
EMERGENCY
Government Must End Pretense of Concern
and Hypocrisy
Speech on Planning Development (Housing)
and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016
Video Link
From Official Dil Record 07/12/2016
Deputy Seamus Healy:
In the short time available to me, I will
address in the main the residential tenancy aspects of the Bill. The
Bill is a pretence. It purports to give protection to tenants when
properties in which there are existing tenants change ownership.
Cruelly and grotesquely, it provides that where a landlord can get
20% more money with vacant possession in the sale, the tenants
must leave. It also provides that if apartments are sold in lots of
under 20, the tenants have to go. I understand that this number
has been reduced to under five by a Seanad amendment. However,
80% of tenants evicted from apartments are evicted by landlords
with under five rental properties. In a word, the Bill continues the
cruel system under which tenants are evicted when rental
properties are sold. The Government continues to put the rights of
property owners over the right to home. It is fast-tracking evictions
in the Courts Bill, which is also before this House. The largest single
group among the homeless has previously been in private rented
accommodation. This Bill will ensure that this continues.
I will be proposing the amendment suggested by Focus Ireland, the
homelessness charity. The amendment provides tenants in buy-to-
let properties will continue in residence despite the sale of the

property in all circumstances. Focus Ireland, the leading charity
working with homeless families and those facing homelessness,
says up to 20 families are becoming homeless each month simply
because their buy-to-let landlord has been forced to sell by his or
her bank. This means that 40 children every month are losing their
homes and joining the record 1,200 families who are already
homeless across the country.
Along with escalating rents, these evictions are one of the leading
causes of family homelessness. There are hundreds, if not
thousands, more families waiting to face the same trauma.
According to the Central Bank, there are a further 15,000 buy-to-let
mortgages that are more than two years in arrears. Whether they
know it or not, all tenants in these properties are at risk of eviction.
Other countries have found solutions to this. Just up the road, in the
North, banks that repossess a buy-to-let property are prohibited
from evicting the tenant. We must do the same. If the Focus Ireland
amendment is passed, the grotesque escape clauses in this Bill
enabling eviction of buy-to-let tenants will fall.
I will also be proposing the formal declaration of a housing
emergency by Dil ireann. This would put the right of families to a
home above the property rights of vultures and other landlords.
Landlords and the Minister for Finance would then be unable to
block a halt to convictions and be unable to block a halt to rent
freezes by citing a qualified right to private property in the
Constitution, which is of course subject to the public good. The
Government itself has formally certified the continuation of a
financial emergency as recently as June of this year to enable it to
continue with pay and pension cuts under FEMPI legislation. The
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government,
Deputy Coveney, has said that a housing emergency exists. My
amendment would formally declare that to be the case. The
Taoiseach has asked the European Union to relax the provisions of
the EU fiscal treaty to enable borrowing to build social housing but
he has not declared a formal housing emergency at home. Of
course, the European Union knows the Irish Government is only
going through the motions because a housing emergency has not
been declared. I noted over the weekend that the Minister for
Finance, Deputy Noonan, called on the European Union to give
flexibility under the fiscal treaty at the EU Finance Ministers
meeting. He and the rest of the Government can now show they are
serious by formally declaring the housing emergency. It is time for
an end to pretence and hypocrisy. We must halt evictions for
mortgaged and rented properties as a first step in tackling the
housing emergency.
Committee Stage Of Courts Bill

Adjourned as it is revealed that
State-Owned PTSB has appealed
Hogan Judgement to The Supreme
Court
But No Media Coverage Despite Circulation of
Report and Full-Time Dil Correspondents
Employed???
Government Bill TO FAST-TRACK EVICTIONS (Courts Bill) Adjourned

Government Caught out in double try-on
Government attempted to Appeal Hogan Judgement through State
Owned PTSB appeal to Supreme Court while at the same time
taking Courts Bill designed to overcome Hogan Judgement through
DilCommittee Stage of Courts Bill has been adjourned after
Government found out !
Minister Staunton claimed Minister Noonan knew nothing about
state owned PTSB appeal to Supreme Court!!!!
Explanation
If tenants and mortgage holders could not be evicted in future, the
value of property in dwellings would fall sharply. NAMA would get
far lower sale price for blocks of apartments. Vultures who have
already bought apartment blocks would make far less profit. Banks,
including state-owned AIB and PTSB would be worth far less as their
loan books would fall in value. Under the Eu Fiscal Treaty which
cedes all Irish economic sovereignty, the state debt to GDP ratio
must be progressively reduced. FF/FG/Lab have no intention of
doing this by taxing the huge assets of the Irish rich.(See Irish
Super-Rich Awash with Money in another post on this blog.) Instead
they hope to do it by selling off Irish assets and using the proceeds
to repay debt. Already the Dundrum and ILAC centres are in
majority foreign ownership as are many shopping centres and much
commercial and other property throughout the country. The
government intends to sell off AIB, PTSB, EBS and use the proceeds
to pay down state debt. It also wants to sell off its shareholding in
other banks for the same purpose. Consequently it wants to keep
interest rates on mortgages and loans to small business kept very
high by European standards. It wants the value of bank loan books
kept high by accelerating evictions so that banks can recover
distressed bank loans.(AIB has reduced its bad debts by 18.4bn
since the peak in June 2013 a reduction of 63pc over the three
years.This leaves 10.8 billion of impaired loans on its books to-day).
Government is also accelerating the sell-off of properties owned by

the state through NAMA.
It is in the interest of the Irish Government and the very rich Irish
whose interest it represents to accelerate repossession of dwellings
and the eviction of residents.
The Land and Conveyancing Act 2013, introduced by Fg-Lab, was a
major step in the acceleration of evictions of tenants and distressed
home owners. It transferred the majority of repossession cases
from the slow and clogged-up High Court to the county Circuit
Courts. However a case was taken to the high court against
Permanent TSB by a borrower and the court reluctantly ruled that
the Circuit Court had no Jurisdiction (right to rule) in a whole series
of cases involving commercial property and buy-to-let dwellings.
This judgement known as the Hogan Judgement would slow up
repossessions and consequent eviction of tenants if not altered. The
Government acted quickly through the initiation in the Dil of the
Courts Bill 2016 to restore the jurisdiction to the Circuit Courts
which had been removed by the Hogan Judgement. It was generally
believed that this was the means by which the government intended
to restore the pace of eviction of tenants.
The amendments tabled by Seamus Healy TD (carried below) were
designed to formally declare a housing emergency, to halt evictions
and to resist the intent of government to speed them up.
Amendments were to be given detailed consideration at the
Committee Stage of the Bill on Dec 1, 2016.
However the Committee Stage of the Bill was adjourned because it
was discovered that Government through PTSB, which it owns, was
seeking to speed up evictions by appealing to the Supreme Court to
strike down the HOGAN JUDGEMENT at the same time as it was
proposing the Courts Bill in the Dail for the same purposeThat is speeding up evictions.
For some reason the Government must fear that the Bill alone will
not be effective in this regard. Hence it is attempting to use a twintrack approach.
The government is pretending that it was unaware of the Supreme
Court Appeal though this was reported in Irish Times on November
17.
Department of Finance, headed by Minister Michael Noonan, has a
special banking affairs section. It is not credible that Noonan was
unaware of the Appeal
The majority of the Oireachtas Committee reused to continue to
discuss the Bill and the session was adjourned
Amendments to Court Bill (FastTracking Evictions) from Seamus
Healy TD
Seamus Healy TD has submitted the following amendments for the

Committee Stage of The Courts Bill,2016:
Amendments
First Amendment Formally Declaring a Housing Emergency
Amendment for Committee Stage of Courts Bill,2016
From lines 15 to 22 Inclusive insert new section 1, paragraph 1 of
the Courts Bill,2016:
R
(1)Dil Eireann formally declares that a housing emergency exists in

the state and while this emergency continues the right of any
person including that of landlords
Accordingly no court or other authority shall order the removal of
the current occupant of a dwelling or by its decisions enable such
removal notwithstanding the provisions of any Act currently in force
including the provisions of the Land and Conveyancy Act 2013
The housing emergency declared in this section can only be
terminated by a vote of Dil Eireann and government including any
minister of government are precluded from annulling the housing
emergency without approval in such a vote
and renumber existing sections accordingly
Second Amendment Stopping The State RETROSPECTIVELY
MAKING FLAWED EVICTION CLAIMS LEGAL
From lines 15 to 22 Inclusive delete section 1, paragraph 1 of the
Courts Bill,2016 as set out below
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where proceedings have, before the
passing of this Act,
been initiated in the Circuit Court, being proceedings that
(a) are referred to in a specified provision, and
(b) relate to a property that is not rateable,
and which the Circuit Court would have jurisdiction to hear and
determine if the
relevant associated provision had been in operation immediately
before the
2
proceedings initiation, then the Circuit Court shall have, and be
deemed always to
have had, jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings.
Seamus Healy TD 087-2802199
AMENDMENT TO PLANNING and

DEVELOPMENT (Housing) and Residential
Tenancies ACT (2016)
( government is pretending to protect tenants when buy-to-lets are

sold)
AMENDMENT RECOMMENDED BY FOCUS IRELAND TO MAKE
PROTECTION OF
TENANTS REAL in Sale of Buy-to-Lets
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016
Committee Stage Amendment
________________
New Section 16.

In page 48, after line 37 to insert the following new section
Restriction on termination of tenancies of buy-to-let
dwellings.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 is amended by inserting the
following section after section 34
dwellings.
34A. (1) A Part 4 tenancy may not be terminated by the landlord
on the ground specified in paragraph 3 of the Table to section 34
where the property to which the tenancy agreement relates is the
subject of an existing investment mortgage.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to all tenancies, including a tenancy
created before the coming into operation of this section.
(3) Where, immediately before the coming into operation of this
section, a notice of termination has been served on a tenant in
reliance upon a ground provided for in paragraph 3 of the Table to
section 34, section 34 shall continue to apply to that notice as if this
section had not been enacted.
(4) In this section, investment mortgage means a mortgage which
has been taken out as security in respect of a residential property
that was not at the time of its purchase intended to serve as the
principal private residence of the mortgagee, and is subsequently
the subject of a tenancy agreement..
GOVERNMENT OWNED BANKS

AND OTHER LENDERS SEEK TO
EVICT OVER 2000 FAMILIES
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
More than 2,000 HOME REPOSSESSION Cases listed in the courts
before Christmasplacing stress on families before the festive season
Significant escalation in enforcement orders since the

middle of the summer
Mark ORegan Sunday IndependentPUBLISHED20/11/2016
The rise of family home repossession court cases is set to continue
in the run-up to Christmas, with figures currently at 2,600 a month.
There are 650 family court appearances a week, and experts have
predicted there will be this many into next year.
It came amid claims of a significant escalation in enforcement
orders since the middle of the summer.
The Sunday Independent has learned more than 2,000 cases will
come before the courts in the next five weeks placing stress on
families before the festive season.
New Beginning a group of lawyers providing representation for
those facing repossession said 100 cases on average are being
heard a month in Limerick, with the figure for Cork running at 200.
In Meath, 150 cases are being heard on average each month, with
100 in Tipperary, 46 in Kilkenny, 88 in Mayo, and 83 in Kerry.
Central Bank figures have revealed the number of repossessions of
a primary dwelling home has dramatically increased in the past
four years.
In 2015, 726 homes were repossessed. This compared with 315
dwellings seized by banks and financial institutions in 2014, and 251
in 2013.
In the first six months of this year, 240 homes were retaken by
financial institutions.
Founder of New Beginning Ross Maguire said there had been a
marked escalation in enforcement orders in recent months. He
added: There is a cohort of people in the country who, no matter
what they do, cannot afford their mortgage, and are facing
inevitable repossession.
David Hall, director of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, said
the system is failing families grappling with mortgage debt. He
called on Housing Minister Simon Coveney to declare a national
emergency on the issue.
He said: There are 34,000 cases in arrears of more than two years
and 59,000 between one and two years.
VOTING ON SECOND STAGE OF

COURTS BILL IN DAIL
Bill removes legal obstacles to continued repossession of dwellings
which are not principal private residence of the owner through the
Circuit Court. The Government has also announced that it will
seperately raise the threshold for the market value for such
properties to be considered by Circuit Court from 75,000 to 3
million by Ministerial Order.
These measures cannot fail to increase the number of evictions of

tenants from apartments and houses, increasing homelessness.
This will restore the value of such properties to Vultures, Banks,
Nama. This had been reluctantlydamaged by a Supreme Court
ruling
FF, FG, Labour, Independent

Alliance(Including Finian McGrath)
,INDEPENDENT Dr Harty (Clare), VOTE FOR
COURTS BILL (Second Stage) INCREASING
EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS
VOTED AGAINST:Seamus Healy,Sinn Fein, AAA-PBP, Independents

for Change, Social Democrats, Greens, 3 Rural Independents
(Michael Fitzmaurice, Michael Collins, Mattie McGrath)
DID NOT VOTE: Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Healy-Rae (2)
Bill has now Gone to Committee Stage. A final Vote on Bill in Dail is
expected before Christmas Recess.
Question put:
T
Staon
Aylward, Bobby.
Adams, Gerry.
Bailey, Maria.
Barry, Mick.
Barrett, Sen.
Boyd Barrett, Richard.
Brassil, John.
Brady, John.
Breathnach, Declan.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Brophy, Colm.
Buckley, Pat.
Browne, James.
Collins, Joan.
Bruton, Richard.
Collins, Michael.
Burke, Peter.
Burton, Joan.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Butler, Mary.
Crowe, Sen.
Byrne, Catherine.
Cullinane, David.
Byrne, Thomas.
Daly, Clare.
Cahill, Jackie.
Doherty, Pearse.
Calleary, Dara.
Ellis, Dessie.
Canney, Sen.
Ferris, Martin.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Carey, Joe.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Casey, Pat.
Healy, Seamus.
Cassells, Shane.
Kenny, Gino.
Chambers, Jack.
Kenny, Martin.
FORMAL DECLARATION OF
HOUSING EMERGENCY NEEDED
TO REDUCE OUTRAGEOUS
MORTGAGE RATES
MINISTER NOONAN OPPOSES
MOVE TO REDUCE RATES BY
CITING PROTECTION OF
PROPERTY RIGHTS OF BANKS IN
THE CONSTITUTION
LENDERS CHARGE UP TO 5% INTEREST
WHILE ACCESSING MONEY FROM ECB AT 0%MORTGAGE HOLDERS BEING USED TO BAIL
OUT BANKS
The protection of property rights in the constitution is not absolute.

It is subject to the public good. Governments introduced a formal
declaration of a financial emergency to enable them to confiscate
private property in pensions.But the government is refusing to
formally declare a housing emergency which would enable the
private property rights of banks, vultures and landlords to be
overcome in order to halt evictions.
Now NOONAN has given another reason for the refusal-it could
prevent lenders being allowed to fleece mortgage holders
These huge interest rates are making it impossible for many
householders to escape from mortgage distress which means they
are constantly threatened with eviction
From Irish Examiner 21/10/2016
Dil Report
Mr McGrath(FF) said banks here are being allowed by the Central
Bank to charge borrowers up to 5% when they themselves are
accessing the money at close to 0% rates.
Real constitutional issues will need to be considered as this Bill is
further progressed by the Oireachtas. As it is drafted, the Bill will
clearly impact on the existing property rights of some creditors,
Minister Noonan (FG) said.
SPEECH ON HOUSING AND
EVICTIONS
Seamus Healy TD IN Dil
Listen Live
Seamus Healy TD - HOUSING CRISIS AND

FAILED CLONLARA EVICTION
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class="submessage"><ahref="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AW346vAb0o"
target="_blank">Trywatchingthisvideoonwww.youtube.com</a>,orenable
https://wuag.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/housing-crisis-and-failedclonlara-eviction/
Deputy Seamus Healy: The proposals in respect of social
housing in this budget are grossly inadequate. Housing is a
fundamental right of human beings but shamefully the Taoiseach
has written to the EU seeking permission to borrow the money
required to build social housing. Ireland does not have the
sovereignty to house its own people.
There are 140,000 people on local authority waiting lists and in the
first four months of this year an additional 3,527 have been added
to that figure. This probably underestimates the situation because
people now availing of the housing assistance payments, formerly
rent supplement, are being removed from local authority lists. We
need an emergency house building programme of at least 10,000
houses per year to address this situation. The Governments target
of 47,000 houses to be provided between now and 2021 will fall far
short of dealing with the problem. In 2021 we will be, as we are
today, in a housing crisis. There is an absolute necessity to declare
a housing emergency. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, said publicly in
July that he believed we had a housing crisis. The Minister for Public
Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, signed off on an
emergency measure to ensure that public service pensioners were
deprived of their pensions under the Financial Emergency Measures
in the Public Interest Act 2015 but this Government refuses to
declare a housing emergency which is absolutely necessary to halt
evictions generally and in rented and mortgaged properties. The
Government, through the banks it owns, Allied Irish Banks, AIB,
and Permanent TSB is effectively allowing evictions. It is also

allowing them through other banks, and landlords, including vulture
funds. These evictions are continuing. As a result, many unfortunate
families have been devastated by suicide.
A shocking eviction was attempted last week in Clonlara in County
Clare. I demand that the Minister for Justice and Equality instruct
the Garda to investigate the conduct of security companies at that
failed eviction of a family. Will the Minister establish what security
companies were involved and did those security firms possess an
execution order for taking possession of that family home? Did they
present an execution order to the owners of the property? If they
had no execution order or did not present it to the family, were they
guilty of trespass? Were all the security firms involved in this horrific
event licensed according to the law? Had all the individuals involved
in this attempted repossession legal authority for their actions?
Were all the individuals registered employees of the security firms.
Were children unlawfully detained during that incident? Were all
involved acting on behalf of the Bank of Ireland in which the State
has a significant shareholding? This was a shocking and horrific
attempted eviction. Thankfully, it failed. In a year when we
celebrate the 100th anniversary of 1916, when we promised to
cherish all the children of the nation equally, what would Pearse and
Connolly and the signatories to the Proclamation think of the
eviction battering ram of 2016?
I compliment the family, their friends and neighbours, and the antieviction task force which successfully stopped this eviction. People
power stopped this eviction. People power will force this
Government to stop evictions and to declare a housing emergency.
The sooner the Government does that, the better.
Supply of new houses to fall short

amid surge of demand-ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
INSTITUTE (ESRI)
Irish Examiner By Caroline ODoherty,Senior Reporter
05/12/2006
House building is set to fall even further behind demand based on
new forecasts that put the number of extra homes needed at a
higher level than previously thought.
The Economic and Social Research Institute says that demand for
new homes will grow to more than 30,000 a year within eight years.
Under the Governments current housing plan, a target of 25,000
per year has been set for the coming years but nowhere near that
number has been provided this year and there are doubts that the
figure can be reached next year either.
Population growth, fuelled in part by net immigration which
returned this year for the first time since 2009 and is likely to
strengthen because of Brexit, will be the key driver of demand.
Apart from the challenges for the construction industry, the ESRI
says domestic banks would struggle to provide the necessary level
of credit without affecting safeguards around deposit to loan ratios.
In a report published today, the ESRI warns: Results of our
analysis suggest that in the future the traditional deposit base will
be unable to fund the level of credit required to meet the housing
demands of the economy. This will require significant changes in the
domestic financial sector.
Given the calamitous events of the past decade, a significant
expansion in the lending capacity of the domestic banking sector
will immediately give rise to concerns about the emergence of
another credit- fuelled bubble.
It suggests there may be a case for the entry of foreign banks into
the Irish retail banking sector.
CLARE FM REPORT REVERSAL OF

ATTEMPTED EVICTION AT
CLONLARA
http://www.clare.fm/news/garda%C3%AD-investigate-allegationsassault-following-attempted-clonlara-eviction
CLARE FM WEBSITE
GARDA INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF

ASSAULT FOLLOWING ATTEMPTED CLONLARA
EVICTION
R
18 October, 2016 08:18

General
Garda are investigating allegations of assault following an
attempted eviction in South East Clare.
Its understood the court-sanctioned reposession of a home in
Clonlara on Friday has since been abandoned.
A video of the incident was posted on Facebook in recent days.
The video of the attempted court-sanctioned eviction in Clonlara has
been viewed tens of thousands of times since it was uploaded to
facebook on Friday.
It appears to show a number of men, believed to be from a security
company, being confronted by members of the Anti Eviction
Taskforce.
Its understood the eviction was subsequently abandoned, after
family members gained access to the home, which had been sealed
off with steel shutters.
A senior Garda Spokesperson has confirmed to Clare FM that
members of An Garda Sochna responded to a call-out to the area
to prevent a breach of peace.
An allegation of assault has been made, but no arrests have yet
been made.
Garda are continuing with their investigations.
REPORT ON CLONLARA HOME

SEIZURE BY LIAM DEEGAN ON
FACEBOOK
(Seamus HEALY TD HAS PUT DOWN A
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ASKING
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE FRANCIS
FITZGERALD TO INSTRUCT THE GARDAI TO
INVESTIGATE ALL THE ALLEGATIONS SET
OUT IN LIAM DEEGANS REPORT)
THE LAND OF SHAME AND WHERE BAILIFFS

PLAY HIDE AND SEEK FROM THE LAW
THE CIRCUIT COURT
In another illegal and shameful attempt at an eviction by the Bank
of Ireland, again in County Clare and this time on a mother with
seven children. The mother of seven had been understood to be in
the Circuit court on Tuesday last having an appeal heard and had
arrived home only to find that one or more security companies had
broken into the house.
The possession order had originally been given in the Circuit Court
on the basis of rateable valuation as previously used in civil bills by
the banks. It is not yet clear as to why the Circuit Court dismissed
the families appeal on Tuesday.
Ironically the Circuit Courts are still hearing cases based on rateable
valuation even though it has been ruled that the Circuit Court no
longer enjoys any such jurisdiction due to a judgement given by Ms
Justice Murphy some months ago and added to by having had the
verdict subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal within the last
number of weeks.
CHILDREN LOCKED IN A BEDROOM
The security companies involved immediately moved in to take

possession, having been seen by passers-by to be hanging around
the area earlier that morning. Metal shutters were fitted to the most
of the windows and doors of the property to stop anybody trying to
enter or leave, with the exception of one bedroom window which
remained unfitted with the shutters.
Meanwhile, members of the family have claimed that they remained
locked inside the property unable to access bathrooms and the
kitchen area as security personnel remained in situ with them. Calls
were made for help by the family and as more family, neighbours
and friends arrived at the scene, the situation appeared to turn
nasty with one security man seen to block and assault a man trying
to gain entry into the house to get access to the children locked in a
bedroom by security personnel.
Witnesses allege that the security team had taken chairs and
mattresses from the childrens bedroom leaving them nowhere to
sleep. Two of the children have further alleged that they were
physically assaulted by members of the security team in the
bedroom.
According to eyewitnesses and a video shown on social media sites
and seen by thousands of people, the security operative with grey
hair and clearly seen in the video is alleged to have assaulted a man
attempting to gain entry and can be seen to leave the house to
confront another bystander in the garden. It appeared from the
video that a verbal altercation ensued between the two men, with
the security operative going head to head with the other man in a
very intimidating manner and then seen to back off.
The identity of that particular security operative has now been
established as Kevin Maguire from Carrigaline in County Cork.
Maguire was not wearing any form of identification including any
Private Security Authority issued ID card and refused to identify
himself when asked to by people at the scene. The PSA register has
no record of Maguire as an individual licence holder under that
name.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Maguire claims to work as a
director for Senture Security Limited; however there is no record of
him or anyone of that name on record in the CRO acting as a
company director. Maguires wife Mary is listed instead as a director
of Senture Security Ltd.
Further to that Maguires wife Mary also is named as a director of
Secure Management Solutions Limited with an address in Citywest,
Dublin 24. Maguire, according to his LinkedIn profile has claimed
that he is a director of this company and again there is no record of
him in the CRO listed as holding such a position.
According to sources, Maguire was on the board of management of
Carrigaline Community School from 2012 and was made Chairman
during the period of 2014 to 2015.
SECURITY COMPANIES ON SITE

The primary security company/companies allegedly involved were
named locally and on social media as Nightsafe Security Services
Ltd and Active Security Management Ltd, both with the same
address in Melitta Rd in Kildare town and both owned by ex-soldier
Ross Howard and fellow director Tristan Hogan. Their website has a
Vina Skehan (otherwise known as Vina Horgan) listed as sales
director.
After an initial investigation it was discovered that Horgan-Skehan
who was clearly witnessed to be in attendance at the attempted
eviction is not registered with the Private Security Authority (PSA)
under either of her assumed surnames. Another individual who goes
by the name of John McShera and who is living in Boyle, County
Roscommon was later identified as one of the security personnel
from his Facebook profile and by witnesses on the ground and is
alleged to be unregistered with the PSA under that name.
Another member identified on social media and by witnesses at the
scene was named as Anthony Hobbs from Kerry. Hobbs is alleged to
be unregistered with the Private Security Authority under that
name.
Another individual clearly identified at the scene was named as
Czech national, Roman Fako. Although Fako is registered with the
Private Security Authority, it is understood from sources that
information pertaining to his licence has been passed to the Private
Security Authority.
Other members of the security team have now taken down their
Facebook pages after they were identified by eyewitnesses at the
scene. However ongoing investigations are continuing into
confirming their identities.
NO ID WORN BY SECURITY
None of the security personnel wore any form of PSA issued ID card
and had refused to identify themselves when questioned. Witnesses
have indicated that they will be making complaints to the PSA about
Nightsafe Security Services Ltd and their sister company Active
Security Management Ltd, a company that Horgan-Skehan claims
that she also works for, according to her Facebook page.
THREATS
It is further alleged that Horgan-Skehan when contacted by
telephone by an individual who had been at the eviction attempt
claimed that she has now resigned from the company and that G4S
Security has taken over and that there would be 40 people sent
from G4S to take the house back. No one from G4S turned up at
the site.
On Saturday evening, in a telephone call with an individual who was
on scene, Vina Horgan-Skehans sister had made claimed that
Horgan-Skehan was in hospital and that she was distressed and
suicidal. The sister went on to claim that everyone blocking the
eviction would be held liable if Vina Horgan-Skehan was to commit

suicide.
She also claimed that Garda have all of the names and that arrests
would be made. She went on to state that the Sunday World was
going to do a story on the individuals who were present at the
scene.
However, claims were made by eyewitnesses that Vina HorganSkehan was heard and seen to physically threaten a female
bystander with actual bodily harm and that she (Horgan-Skehan)
had allegedly shouted to the bystander that she would dig the head
off her.
It was further noted and observed that Horgan-Skehan had used
threatening language in a Facebook private message sent to one
individual who had been at the scene and in which Horgan-Skehan
was seen to have threatened an individual with words to the effect
of Get your facts right, the guards will be dealing with you and I
have your address, youll be dealt with.
It is alleged by eyewitnesses that Vina Horgan-Skehan took an
active part in the eviction attempt as seen on the many videos
circulating on social media. It was further alleged that HorganSkehan was seen back at the property later that night (Saturday)
by witnesses who were still on scene.
The directors of Nightsafe Security Services Ltd and a sister
company Active Security Management Ltd were contacted for a
response. A man calling himself Ian refuted any allegations put to
them in regard to their legality of their actions at the scene. He also
refuted allegations made by Horgan-Skehan that G4S were now the
new owners of Active Security Management Ltd. When it was
pointed out that they were using unlicenced operatives in evictions,
Ian refused to engage any further after an initial denial of same
and ended the call.
Nightsafe Security Services Ltd/Active Security Management Ltd has
failed to reply to emails sent to their office.
CONFUSION OVER COMPANIES AT THE SCENE
There was some confusion in the initial stages as to which security
company or even how many security companies was involved. AOC
Specialist Services of Ratoath, Co. Meath were contacted for
clarification as to their role in the eviction. They have not responded
to any telephone calls made to their company.
It should be noted that AOC Specialist Services acting on behalf of
Bank of Ireland employed ex-detective Garda Michael Murphy at a
previous attempt at an illegal eviction in Corofin County Clare some
months back.
Murphy has now lodged an affidavit into the courts claiming that he
was obstructed from carrying out his duty as agent for the bank and
is looking for a committal order against an Anti-Eviction Taskforce
member and the home owner Tommy Collins. This was the
attempted eviction where the security men wore balaclavas and

taped up the registrations of their cars in a misguided attempt to
hide their identities.
Another company named for its part in the latest eviction was
Dwellguard owned by John Murray and based in Ballincollig in
County Cork. Dwellguard supplied and fitted the shuttering on the
family home. Murray was not available for comment at the time of
publication.
Sources have indicated that allegations are now being made that
the some of the security personnel were being paid cash in hand as
they are not employees of some of the companies named here.
These same sources have indicated that they have bought the
matter to the attention of the Revenue Commissioners and the
Department of Social Protection.
The Department of Social Protection now have opened an
investigation into certain named individuals who were part of the
security team.
NAME AND SHAME CAMPAIGN
Meanwhile, anti-eviction activists throughout the country have
vowed to step up the campaign to publically name and shame
companies and individuals actively involved in evictions anywhere in
the country. In a chilling warning, a spokesman for the groups
involved, stated that any companies or individuals who take part in
any eviction attempt on a family home would be named and
shamed not just on social media but in other more visible and public
ways.
GARDAI ON SCENE
According to eyewitnesses, Garda only attended the scene after as
they had received a report of an incident on Saturday but did not
appear to get involved in any real effort to assist the security
companies. Garda left the scene shortly thereafter and did not
return.
Later on Saturday afternoon, family members, neighbours and
friends peacefully removed the security companies occupying the
premises and regained possession of the family home.
THE AUTHORITIES NEED TO GET TOUGH
In what is becoming glaringly obvious, security companies are using
unregistered individuals while hoping not to get caught in the act.
The Private Security Authority need to be seen to be strictly
enforcing the law surrounding the misuse of licences or in many
cases the enforcement of the law on security companies that use
unlicenced people as appears to be the case in this story. It further
appears and is alleged that criminals from other countries are
routinely slipping through the vetting process and are obtaining
licences using false personal details.
The security industry already has a bad name and its about to get a
lot worse. This is a nightmare scenario for any law abiding security
company trying to rise above the severely tarnished image

presented by security companies who have a lot less regard for the
law.
Banks must also be taken to task in regards to their liability in using
unlicenced operators, and legal action needs to be taken against
them accordingly for shirking their responsibility in the matter. It is
now quite clear that the law is being flouted by some security
companies and the banks jointly, and wholeheartedly supported by
a very questionable judicial system operating on the Circuit Court
level.
It seems incredulous that the security industry still has its cowboys
even after the big clean up by the Private Security Authority. It
would make sense for the law abiding security companies to push
the cowboys out of the market and help mop up what is essentially
an important industry mainly populated by decent people just
looking to make a clean living.
Family Home With Several Children

In Clonlara Co Clare : Possession
Recovered
by PEOPLE POWER AND ANTIEVICTION TASK FORCE AFTER
HOUSE SHUTTERED UP
BY SECURITY FIRM EARLIER IN
THE DAY
Congratulations To All Involved
Footage of the events which took place on Friday Oct 14 can be
found by clicking below and scrolling down to view several posts
Patrick Hannon
https://www.facebook.com/banjo.hannon?fref=ts
Homeless at Increased Risk of

Suicide-Official Report-Gerry
Raleigh, Director of National Office
of Suicide Prevention on RTE

Stop Evictions! Stop SUICIDES!
HEART-FELT APPEAL FROM KEN
SMOLLEN-TIRELESS ANTIEVICTION CAMPAIGNER
I was talking to Paddy Healy on the phone earlier today.

Paddy works tirelessly for his brother, Independent TD for
Tipperary Seamus Healy. Both of these men are the only
people who work within the confines of Leinster House and
who are actively calling on the Government to declare an
Official Housing Emergency However, they are alone and
receive little or NO support (you cant be upsetting the
markets).Its unfortunate that in order to make the other
removed from reality elites sit up and take notice, that its
now becoming necessary that members of some family in
Ireland do the unbelievable brave thing of being willing to
speak about a family member who has taken their own life
as a result of being in mortgage distress and facing the
horrifying thought of facing one of the EVICTION Courts. The
death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie close to The Dail
made the elites take notice of the homelessness crisis.The
elites are not interested in attending any of the EVICTION
Courts, and are so removed from reality to think they know
what its like for people in this situation as all of them spout
on about distressed mortgage holders approaching them in
the comfort of their constituency offices.NONE OF THEM have
the faintest idea what so many people are enduring on a
daily basisIm not expecting anyone to come forward to
tell their own story about a family member taking their own
lives as a result of this very hidden crisis, but its a terrible
indictment on our uncaring TDs that I should even have to
ask and all I can do is hope that someone is brave enough
to do so!
Ministers John Halligan and Finian McGrath

,Shane Ross, Boxer Moran, Sean Canney of
the Independent Alliance must Force
Government to HALT ALL EVICTIONS NOW
EVICTION RELATED SUICIDES

CONTINUE
Ken Smollens post on Facebook
It has just been confirmed to me in the last few minutes that the
father of a number of young children who was due to appear before
one of the EVICTION Courts this week has sadly taken his own life.
Out of respect for his family I will not be naming the location.
Suffice to say that our uncaring TDs have more blood on their
hands as they DO HAVE the power to put a stop to the never ending
nightmare thats being experienced by thousands of innocent
victims of the bailed out banks and vulture funds!
May he Rest in Peace-Ken Smollen
GOVERNMENT, FF, LAB, INDEPENDENT

ALLIANCE ARE RESPONSIBLE
But Sinn Fin and Independents for Change
Must Share Some of the Blame
ONLY Ruth Coppinger Dissented from Flawed

Recommendation
The Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessnes

recommended that there be a pause in eviction proceedings until
new debt resolution procedures were in place
Subject to advice of the Attorney General, the Government

should introduce legislation for a moratorium on home
repossessions until such time as the Governments proposals
are in place. AND
The Government should urgently seek flexibility from the European

Commission on the application of the EU fiscal rules to the financing
of social housing
Surprise! Surprise! There is no halt to evictions (even on a
temporary basis) in Minister Coveneys housing plan. Unfortunately
Sinn Fin and Independents 4 Change(Mick Wallace, Maureen
OSullivan) went along with this easily rejected recommendation.
(The same attorney general had advised Alan Kelly against it)
Shamefully, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has written a letter to EU seeking
flexibility under the Fiscal Treaty which would give permission to
Ireland to borrow money to build social housing for the Irish People!
This permission has not been given.
Government has also consulted its own the Attorney General,
Labours M. Whelan but evictions have continued.
Hence, the government can claim to have complied with two
key recommendations of the Committee. But the evictions
and the suicides continue.
The anger at the continued evictions is more than justified.
However, my bother Seamus Healy TD(Tipperary) has repeatedly
called in the Dil for the formal declaration of a housing emergency
and a total halt to evictions. The formal declaration of a housing

emergency is required to overcome the qualified protection of the
private property of banks and landlords in the constitution.
But Government,itself, continues to evict people through banks
owned by state (AIB, PTSB, EBS)
FG, FF, Lab, Ind. Alliance and,

Unbelievably, Independents for
Change and Sinn Fin put those
facing Repossession in the Hands
of The Attorney General who
previously advised that any
significant interference with the
private property of Banks and/or
landlords was a violation of
Constitution!!! In addition the
recommended moratorium on
evictions is only for a few
months!!!!!
(see Evidence of Alan Kelly to the Commission on Constitutional
Obstacles to Solving The Housing Crisis further down)
Recommendation on Evictions
repossessions until such time as the Governments proposals are in
place.
Commission Fails to recommend a formal declaration of a housing
emergency by Government!!!!! This will enable banks an landlords
to continue evictions despite the spin in the Commission Report
Even the Minority Report by Ruth Coppinger TD, Socialist Party, fails
to call for the formal declaration of a housing emergency by the Dil
Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessnes-Majority Report
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/32housinga
ndhomelessness/Final-Report-.pdf
MINORITY REPORT
http://antiausterityalliance.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2016/06/Housing-doc-2.pdf
The Minority Report makes some very good points, particularly
pointing out that the FISCAL TREATY must be broken to enable the
state to invest in housing. But the advocacy of a referendum to
change the constitution on property rights and the right to a home,
however laudable, is not an emergency measure. It is no substitute
for the immediate formal declaration of a national housing
emergency by government to enable legal interference with
property rights in order to implement emergency measures
including a halt to eviction proceedings.
The Majority Report fails to call for breaking of the FISCAL TREATY
in order for the state to build adequate numbers of social houses.
Not alone does it put those facing repossession in the hands of the
Attorney General(a member of the government), Chair Curran(FF)
has explained that the moratorium on evictions would only be a
short term measure for a few months. It would last until
government put in place the governments (inadequate) measures
on debt resolution.
To make things worse, The Fianna Fail Finance Spokesperson,
Deputy Michael McGrath says in the Irish Examiner(18/06/2016)
says that the recommendation to pause repossessions is
unworkable and SOMETIMES KEEPING THE HOUSE IS NOT THE
BEST ANSWER. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr
McGrath said losing the home and starting again may be best for
some people who can no longer afford to remain where they are.
Michael McGrath TD
Independents4Change was represented on the Commission by
Deputies Mick Wallace and Maureen OSullivan. Following the failure
of I4C to support an amendment strengthening the Workers Rights
Bill put down by AAA-PBP, its complete acceptance of the grossly
deficient report is leading to queriess as to where it is headed
politically.
Sinn Fin took the same position as I4C. A piece by Eoin Broin SF
(member of the Commission) in the Irish Independent 18/06/2016
points to no deficiencies in the report and is quite complimentary of
its FF and FG members.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/cowen-detacheddurkan-rambled-but-report-shows-tds-agree-cure-34812099.html
The acceptance of the Fiscal Treaty by Sinn Fin has a particular
significance. The Treaty , in effect,removes the fundamental right of
the government to provide housing for all citizens. How far has Sinn
Fin travelled since Coimhn Caolain TD opposed the Treaty in the
Dil on the grounds that it flies in the face of the 1916
Proclamation in its undermining of Irish sovereignty?
Even after FF through Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath pulled
the rug on the moratorium on evictions recommendation , Eoin
OBroin (SF) wrote in an opinion piece in Sunday Business Post
19/06/2016
The Committee also called on the government to urgently request
flexibility
from the European Commission on the application of fiscal rules for
investment
in tackling the crisisthe strength of the Report lies in the fact that all but one of our 14
members
signed up to the final recommendations.
There is now strong support across the political spectrum for
greater state
involvement in the provision of social housing, the regulation of the
private
rental sector and targeted measures to meet the housing needs of
those most
neglected by past policies
Coming from a professed republican, the request for permission
from the EU to put roofs over the heads of the Irish people is very
strange. The notion of FF, FG who have always favoured the rich,
genuinely working to solve the crisis is at best naive.
Alan Kelly TD (Labour) gave evidence to the Commission on
constitutional obstacles to solving the housing crisis. (The protection
of private property in the constitution is not absolute-it is subject to
right of government to provide for the common good). Kelly was
effectively quoting the Attorney General who continues in the new
government. It is important to note that Brendan Howlin(Labour)
who was also a minister in the outgoing government claimed to
have overcome the constitutional obstacle to confiscating private
property in pensions in the FEMPI ACT by a formal declaration of a
Financial Emergency by Government and the laying of a document
certifying continuation of the Financial Emergency every year.
My conclusion from the evidence of Alan Kelly (below) is that the
outgoing FG-Lab government was not prepared to formally declare
a national housing emergency and to lay the documents before the
Oireachtas. FG-Lab put the rights of property before the common
good. It continued evictions, including evictions by banks it owns.
Evidence to Commission by Alan Kelly (Lab)

TD- former Minister for Housing
Mr Alan Kelly, former Minister, stated that legal
advice on Article 43 had stopped him from introducing
a more powerful vacant site levy, which would have
imposed a fee on developers who refused to build on
unused land. He said that it had also stopped
legislation preventing keeping houses vacant and
laws that would protect tenants from so-called vulture
funds, which invest in undervalued properties and

then profit from selling them: I was not hampered by
political or financial obstacles. I was blocked by the
Constitution. (Advice to Sitting Ministers either comes
directly from the Attorney General or is commissioned
by the Attorney General-PH). Kelly continued: From
the time it is taking to introduce the Vacant Site Levy
in order to tackle land hoarding, to protecting tenants
from eviction in circumstances where their landlord
wishes to sell the property, and many other issues, I
was repeatedly blocked from making provision for
what I believed was the common good by the strength
by which property rights are protected under Article
43 of the Constitution. I believe that we need to
honestly re-examine the balance between the
protected and legitimate property rights of individuals,
as property owners, and the wider needs and common
good of society, including housing needs. As a
society we need to reflect on the desired impact of the
constitution here. I believe that addressing these
issues raises politically and socially important issues
which will have to be debated over the coming years.
Letter To All Members of Oireachtas
Committee on Housing and HomelessnessPaddy Healy Wed 15/06/2016
A Chirde,
I am an activist in a campaign against eviction of homeowners and
tenants in the context of a the national housing emergency as
recently affirmed by Minister Coveney.
Some of those who are having their homes being repossessed are
being evicted by the government which is the owner of a number of
banks including AIB and PTSB
I believe it would be outrageous for any member of the Oireachtas
Committee to agree to the issue of recommendations on housing
and homeless ness which did not call for an immediate halt to all
evictions.
In the case of Banks in majority state ownership no legislation or
constitutional change is required. The government can simply issue
an instruction to the banks it owns. If the bank refuses to comply
the Minister can call a special general meeting of shareholders in
order to put in place directors who will carry out the instructions of
the owners. The Framework Agreement between Government and

Banks is a purely informal, non-legally binding arrangement.
But, of course, all evictions should be banned in this emergency.
This would require emergency legislation which could be completed
in one day.
It would also be important for government to formally
declare a housing emergency and to lay a document before
both houses of the Oireachtas certifying that the emergency
exist. This would prevent landlords and banks blocking the
implementation of the legislation by attempting to invoke
the constitutional protection of private property which is
limited by the necessity to provide for the common good.
I and my allies will hold each member of the Oireachtas Committee
responsible for future evictions who assents to recommendations of
the Committee which do not include the emergency prohibition of all
evictions until the housing and homelessness crisis has been
resolved.
Government is about to lay a document before both houses by June
30 which will certify that a Financial Emergency continues to exist.
This, it believes is necessary in order to protect confiscation of
private property in public service pensions from constitutional
challenge.
Yours sincerely
Paddy Healy
88 Griffith Court, Fairview, Dublin 3
086-4183732
PS I was very disappointed by the decision of the Committee not to
invite The Hub Ireland and Mr Ken Smollen to address you
Your Recommendations will be discussed at a public conference of
anti-eviction activist to be held in Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise before
the end of this month-PH
PRESIDENT HIGGINS TELLS

GOVERNMENT:
IGNORE FISCAL TREATY! BORROW
NOW TO BUILD HOUSES AND TO
INVEST IN HEALTH AND
EDUCATION
Well Done President Higgins!!
He (President Higgins) insists that seeking
access for all to housing, health and education

what he calls values for decent living are
not wild, Bolshevik ideas.
And at a time of low interest rates, there is
opportunity to invest in these services. Better to
spend now when money is cheap, he appears to
suggest, than be overly concerned with sticking
to EU fiscal rules.Paul Melia Irish Independent
17/09/2016
Instead of borrowing the money to build the
houses, Taoiseach ENDA KENNY HAS WRITTEN
TO THE EU SEEKING PERMISSION! IRISH
SOVEREIGNTY-HOW ARE YOU!!!
Seamus Healy TD has repeatedly told the government in the Dil:
STOP THE EVICTIONS: Borrow the money immediately to build the
houses and rescue the homeless! Dont ask the EU. TELL the EU
that the government is doing it, he said.
Italy, Spain, Portugal and other countries are ignoring the Fiscal
Treaty when it suits them. We should do the same!
AS THE BUDGET APPROACHES,

GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THE ADVICE OF
PRESIDENT HIGGINS
From Martina Doyle and the HUB-IRELAND
5349118
PHONE NO
01-
A Sheriff has NO AUTHORITY to

take a property
Even a receiver cannot trespass on
your property
If they do, and you are fearful, call the Gardai, and tell them that
you fear for your safety.
Quote Section of the Section 13(1) of 1 of the Criminal Public
Justice Act, and ask the Receiver/trespasser to leave.
If they refuse, they are committing a criminal offence which can
incur hefty fine or a prison sentence.
Stay in your homes. Fight the banks. We will help you. We are FREE
ANOTHER HUGE TAX GIVEAWAY

BY GOVERNMENT AND Michael
Tommy Cooper Noonan
How did the Government shaft
mortgage holders and taxpayers in
one fell swoop?
The State may well have missed out on huge
tax profits through its sale of distressed
home loans
Stephen Donnelly
Sunday Independent Published 10/07/2016 | 02:30

Questions to answer: Finance Minister Michael Noonan the
Government refused to let people bid on their own distressed
mortgages Photo: Tony Gavin
The Irish Government could be complicit in wholesale tax avoidance
by foreign investment firms, which are generating huge profits in
Ireland off the backs of Irish mortgage holders.
Sarah and Dominic (not their real names) live in Kilkenny
with their two children. They bought their home in 2007.
The shop Sarah worked in closed during the recession she
lost her job and they started to fall behind on their mortgage
payments.
Theyre getting back on their feet now, but with lower
wages, theyre struggling to make full payments. Their
mortgage was with Irish Nationwide, which was
nationalised, so it ended up in state ownership, along with
about 13,000 other mortgages.
Two years ago, the Government sold these mortgages at big
discounts, mainly to US investment funds. The Government
refused to let individual mortgage holders bid on their
mortgages. Sarah and Dominics mortgage was bundled with
about 1,400 others and sold to Mars Capital. According to
finance minister Michael Noonan, this was done with funds
managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
Oaktree is a very large US-based distressed-debt firm that
has bought up many of the mortgages sold by the
Government.
Until recently, we didnt know how big the discounts were
that the State was selling peoples mortgages at. Mars
Capitals newly filed 2015 accounts show they paid 42 cent
in the euro.
Sarah and Dominics mortgage was about 350,000, so Mars
Capital got it for about 140,000 an amount the couple
could have afforded. Instead, they still owe the full 350,000
to Mars Capital and face the prospect of eviction.
It gets better (or worse if you are Sarah and Dominic, or an
Irish taxpayer). Mars bought these 1,400 mortgages for
155m. About half of this was financed by a loan from
Citibank, with the remaining 80m being, presumably, the
funds managed by Oaktree Capital. The 2015 accounts of
Mars Capital forecast that this 80m investment will harvest
almost 400m (net of the Citibank loan) in mortgage interest
and principal repayments (so thats the 80m back, plus
almost 320m extra, less administration costs). And this is
just Mars Capitals first estimate. It assumes a level of nonpayment on the mortgages they bought. But as the Irish
economy recovers and payment rates improve, profits could
become much higher.
In May 2014, Ireland was borrowing 10-year money at 2pc.
Mars Capitals accounts show them earning 14pc on their
80m, just taking into account mortgage interest payments,
from the likes of Sarah and Dominic. Why sell an asset
yielding 14pc when your cost of funds is 2pc? The Irish State
could have given every one of those Irish mortgage holders a
60pc discount on their loan and still have made 14pc per
annum in repayments. Wasnt Nama set up to do this?
However, it gets even better (and definitely worse, if you are
an Irish taxpayer). The funds managed by Oaktree Capital
Management seem to be accounted for in Mars Capital as
notes.
Essentially, the 80m was loaned to Mars Capital, and Mars
must pay it back, plus interest. The interest on these notes is
set at 10pc + variable residual.
In other words, the interest payable on the 80m can be
hiked to soak up any, and all, profit Mars Capital makes.
The accounts of Mars Capital clarify that these notes will
suck nearly all of the profits (interest and capital) from the
company in excess of the Citibank loan. The 2015 accounts
claim exactly 1,000 as taxable profit, while paying millions
in interest on the notes.
This tax-management structure is similar to what is used by
some multinationals based in Ireland. Often, such notes are
registered in an offshore zero-tax location such as the
Cayman Islands, where their note interest payments are
made and accumulate tax-free, and get lent back to the
parent as needed. As such, the profits are taxed neither in
Ireland, nor in the US.
Irish accounting and legal firms provide the expertise to the

multinationals to help them minimise their tax obligations.
So what? Sure arent they providing jobs here? Well yes,
they are.
But if that same expertise is now being used to help foreign
investment firms suck huge profits out of Ireland without
paying tax on them, then were all worse off.
We dont know where are the loan notes of Mars Capital
located. We do know, from Oaktrees US SEC annual filings,
that many of their funds linked with European distressed
debt (ie Sarah and Dominics mortgage), are listed in the
Cayman Islands.
So, if the Mars Capital notes happen to have been issued by
an Oaktree Capital fund located in the Caymans (and we
have no evidence that they are), and if the interest on the
notes is adjusted in a way that leaves Mars Capital with very
little taxable profit (say the 1,000 filed for 2015), then not
only will the State have missed the opportunity to retain
hundreds of millions of euro of value (and maybe spare
Sarah and Dominics family the threat of eviction), it would
also be the case that none of the profits will be taxed in
Ireland.
To be clear tax avoidance is, by definition, legal (as
opposed to tax evasion, which is illegal). There is no
suggestion that Mars Capital, or Oaktree Capital, have done,
or are doing, anything illegal. They are clever investors who
saw an opportunity and took it if they are structuring their
investments to minimise tax obligations, then they are acting
rationally. The Irish Government, however, is not.
If very little tax ends up being paid in Ireland on the Mars
Capital deal, the tax leakage could reach well over 50m.
And this is a very small deal in the scheme of things if
other investment firms have structured their affairs to avoid
paying taxes here, the total missed tax take will be in the
hundreds of millions, conservatively.
Why did the Government not seek assurances from all
foreign bidders that their structures would ensure they pay
fair Irish tax on their Irish-generated profits? If some
bidders organised themselves to move their profits offshore,
did the Irish Government know? Did the investment firms
seeks assurances from the Government that any proposed
off-shoring of profits would be acceptable? Just how
complicit is the Government in what could be large-scale tax
avoidance on profits earned off the backs of ordinary
families trying to recover from the collapse?
Best little country to do business in? I doubt Sarah and
Dominic would agree. Neither would those using our
underfunded public services and infrastructure.
RENT OF HOUSES ROCKETTING

FISCAL TREATY RESTRICTIONS ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND
BORROWING IS THE CAUSE
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has written a letter to EU seeking permission
to borrow money to house our people!!!
THe IRISH PEOPLE must establish ITS OWN

SOVEREIGNTY
A 32-county assembly wielding Peoples Power
is The Answer
At the end of 2015, there were 139,359 or almost 140,000 people
on local authority waiting lists for housing. This is because virtually
no local authority houses have been built for years. Now due to the
restrictions of the FISCAL TREATY, Ireland is not allowed to borrow
money to build social houses. This is despite the fact that
governments can now borrow money ay rock bottom rates. Enda
has written a letter to EU seeking permission to borrow money to
house our people. Irish People have been reduced by FF,Fg,Lab,
Greens to the staus of beggars.
Now over 140,000 people have to seek private rented accomodation
to get a dwelling place!
Thousands of distressed mortgage holders are being driven from
their homes each year. They too must seek rented accomodation.
Massive and growing demand-No additional supply!!!This is driving
the cost of rented accomodation through the roof. The crisis is
rendered even more acute when third level colleges re-open.
The only answer is for The Irish People to establish its own
sovereignty
Stay in your homes-HELP IS FREE!

FROM Martina DOYLE THE HUB-IRELAND ON
Facebook
PHONE NO
01-5349118
#thehubirelandrepealtheevictionbill
Dont suffer in silence.
There is help in hand.
It is FREE.
Stay in your homes.
If anybody tries to charge in our name, they

are scamming you.
Get a receipt
Please share as you never know who might
need our help.
Thank you.
Seamus Healy TD Supports the Call by THE
HUB-IRELAND to Repeal the Land and
Conveyancing Act, 2013
Seamus voted against The Land And
Conveyancing Act (2013)
Seamus Healy repeatedly Called for a Halt to
Evictions and the Declaration of a Housing
Emergencyin the Dil
Irish Times:Minister Noonan Replies to
Seamus Healy on Evictions
Minister says no political interference in bank
decision, but progress being made
Irish Times Thu, Jan 14, 2016

Marie OHalloran
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan: I appreciate that its very
hard on people. I appreciate people have lost their jobs and I
appreciate how upset people are.
Banks have been dealing with the issue of home repossessions
reasonably well, according to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan.
He said this idea of tens of thousands of houses being repossessed
is just not correct.
Mr Noonan said I appreciate that its very hard on people. I
appreciate people have lost their jobs and I appreciate the concerns
and I appreciate how upset people are.
But in a very extreme situation its been handled reasonably well
by the banks.
He was responding to Independent TD Samus Healy who
asked Mr Noonan, as the majority shareholder in AIB and its
subsidiary EBS as well as the majority shareholder
in Permanent TSB, to call a meeting of the boards of the
banks and to instruct them not to repossess family homes.
He said that if the bank directors would not agree to that
then sack those members. You have the power to do that as
majority shareholder.
There are thousands of families in this country, irrespective

of what you say Minister, facing homelessness by these
banks, of which the Government is a majority shareholder.
Mr Noonan said a relationship framework had been agreed by the
Governments predecessors in office that the political side will not
interfere in commercial decisions and they did not want to politicise
the banks.
It would be a very sad day for the country if you were looking for a
loan and your first port of call had to be your local TD rather than
the bank manager.
He said 207 houses were repossessed on foot of court order and
that is not the 10s of thousands of houses thats sometimes recited
on the commentary on this.
He said 121,000 mortgages on private dwellings had been
restructured and the success rate was 86.6 per cent.
So progressively the problem is being solved.
Mr Noonan said statistics from the Central Bank showed that in the
third quarter of 2015 (July, August and September) legal
proceedings were issued in 1,687 cases of private mortgages.
There were 798 cases where court proceedings concluded but
arrears remained outstanding and the court granted a repossession
order in 329 cases.
A total of 422 properties were taken into possession by lenders
during the quarter and 215 were voluntary.
Its a very small amount to go through the system and since the
changes were made by the Minister for Justice and that the money
and Budgeting Advice Service are assisting people before the courts
that will diminish even further, Mr Noonan added.
Government Evicts Families-Statement by Seamus Healy
TD
Jan 18 2016
This government is continuing to evict families from their
homes.
In the Dil last Thursday, I appealed to Minister Michael Noonan to
order the banks he owns to withdraw repossession proceedings in
light of the extreme housing emergency which exists.
The Minister refused. This means that the government has given
the green light to the banks they own, to continue to evict families.
Court Orders for repossession of 47 primary residences were
granted at Clonmel and Nenagh Circuit Courts in the first 3 quarters
of 2015. A further 8 buy-to-lets which also house families were also
repossessed. Banks are now seeking a further 97 repossession
orders for dwellings in Tipp, of which 32 are being sought by AIB,
EBS and Permanent TSB which are owned by the Government
through Michael Noonan (FG) Minister for Finance
Minister Noonan claimed that the issue was being reasonably
handled by the banks. Totally misrepresenting the situation, Mr
Noonan quoted the 208 orders for repossessions for the whole
country for Quarter 3,2015 as representative of the scale of the
problem. COURTS ONLY SIT FOR 1 OF THE 3 MONTHS IN
QUARTER 3!! The Court Service Figures for the whole country for
Quarters 1 and 2 are 586 and 314 respectively.
The proposed Eviction of 97 Tipperary Families Must Be
Stopped Now!
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Senior Minister Alan Kelly (Lab) and Minister of State

Hayes(FG) must now intervene at Cabinet to have a Housing
Emergency Declared and all repossession applications
withdrawn.
In particular they must force Minister Noonan to withdraw the
repossession applications by the banks he owns.
Land and Conveyancing Act 2013
Second Stage
T
Richard Bruton
Joan Burton
Ray Butler
Jerry Buttimer
Catherine Byrne
Eric Byrne
Ciarn Cannon
Joe Carey
Paudie Coffey
Michael Conaghan
Sen Conlan
Paul Connaughton
Ciara Conway
Ciara Conway
Michael Creed
Jim Daly
John Deasy
Jimmy Deenihan
Pat Deering
Robert Dowds
Bernard Durkan
Damien English
Alan Farrell
Frank Feighan
Peter Fitzpatrick
Charles Flanagan
Terence Flanagan
Eamon Gilmore
Brendan Griffin
Dominic Hannigan
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Noel Harrington
Martin Heydon
Phil Hogan
Brendan Howlin
Heather Humphreys
Kevin Humphreys
Derek Keating
Paul Kehoe
Alan Kelly
Sen Kenny
Sen Kyne
Anthony Lawlor
Ciarn Lynch
Michael McCarthy
Helen McEntee
Nicky McFadden
Dinny McGinley
Tony McLoughlin
Michael McNamara
Eamonn Maloney
Peter Mathews
Olivia Mitchell
Mary Mitchell OConnor
Michelle Mulherin
Dara Murphy
Eoghan Murphy
Gerald Nash
Dan Neville
Derek Nolan
Aodhn Rordin
John OMahony
Joe OReilly
Jan OSullivan
Ann Phelan
John Paul Phelan
Pat Rabbitte
Michael Ring
Brendan Ryan
Alan Shatter
Emmet Stagg
David Stanton
Joanna Tuffy
Liam Twomey
Jack Wall
Brian Walsh
Nl
Richard Boyd Barrett
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Tommy Broughan
John Browne
Joan Collins
Niall Collins
Barry Cowen
Sen Crowe
Clare Daly
Pearse Doherty
Stephen Donnelly
Timmy Dooley
Dessie Ellis
Martin Ferris
Luke Flanagan
Tom Fleming
John Halligan
Samus Healy
Michael Healy-Rae
Joe Higgins
Billy Kelleher
Michael Lowry
Pdraig MacLochlainn
Charlie McConalogue
Mary Lou McDonald
Finian McGrath
Mattie McGrath
Sandra McLellan
Michel Martin
Catherine Murphy
Denis Naughten
Patrick Nulty
Caoimhghn Caolin
amon Cuv
Sen Fearghal
Aengus Snodaigh
Jonathan OBrien
Willie ODea
Thomas Pringle
Shane Ross
Risn Shortall
Brendan Smith
Peadar Tibn
Robert Troy
Mick Wallace
Voting was also as above on the Report and Final Stage of the Land
and Conveyancing Bill (2013)
3,041 families up for eviction in court in this

month of July
A grand total of 3,041 families up for eviction in court thi

month of July. Ignoring the mortgage arrears crisis is
fueling homelessness at a horrifying scale. I am tired
contacting all the people who are paid to care. What else
can we do?Martina Doyle, The Hub-Ireland
Limerick 146 and 5.
Dundalk 55 and 52.

Tullamore 19 and 71.
Waterford 34 and 18 and 20 and 70 .
Dublin 57 and 4 and 4 and 55 and 1 and 50 and 59 and 5 and 10 and 2 and 5 and 5
and 8 and 57 and 62 and 2.
Cork 72 and 98 and 32 and 87 and 20 and 5 and 59.
Monaghan 102.
Trim 75 and 80 and 76.
Carrick on Shannon 35.
Bray 125.
Castlebar 78.
Portlaoise 40 and 32.
Naas 9 and 71 and 101 and 16.
Letterkenny 89.
Cavan 39 and 100.
Wexford 43 and 60.
Kilkenny 33 and 40.
Sligo 30.
Roscommon 75.
Ennis 84.
Clonmel 46.
Nenagh 58.
Carlow 41.
Tralee 64.
A grand total of 3,041 families up for eviction, one month = July.
John McManus Business Editor

Irish Times: 23/07/2016
Housing plan looks very like a

bailout for big builders
Its not that the Government cant bring
down house prices, more that they dont
want to
Irish Times Sunday, July 24, 2016, 11:18
When it comes to sorting out the housing crisis, the Government
really has two choices. They can try to bring down the price of
houses to a level people can afford or they can help people buy
houses at their current unaffordable prices.
Affordability is hard to define but for Irish purposes it equates to the
limit put by the Central Bank on how much a bank can lend you,
which is 3 times your gross income. For two people on the
average wage, this is about 245,000. This is not a million miles
away from the average house price in most places other than south
Dublin, but if you are a single-income or low-income family, you are
not buying a house any time soon.
The Government would argue they have done a bit of both with the
action plan for housing and homelessness published this week, but
the true picture will not be clearer until the details of the measures
to help first-time buyers and house builders are unveiled at budget
time. Of the two options, bringing down house prices is by far the
hardest one. Assuming you could actually come up with a way of
doing it that did not borrow from the Khmer Rouge handbook, it
would still be deeply, deeply unpopular.
The losers would include pretty much everybody who has a house.
People would see their positive equity eroded or their negative
equity increased. The precarious buy-to-let sector would be
decimated. Builders and developers would be ruined and the banks
would be bust once again.
Strange though it may seem, a policy that underpins high house
prices is the rational political choice in a representative democracy.
Consequently, you should not expect the measures announced this
week to bring down the price of houses to any significant degree. If
you are in any doubt, you should know that one of the bigger
developers, Cairn Homes, has welcomed the plan. Turkeys dont
vote for certain Christian winter festivals.
Downward pressure
Its not that the Government couldnt bring down the price of
houses. The main levers at their disposal are social housing and
rent controls. These are viable long- term solutions to home
ownership and if they are provided in sufficient quantities at the
right price, they exert downward pressure on prices.
But the targets for social housing set out in the plan will not put a
tooth in the problem. The plan calls for the construction of 125,000
houses by 2021, of which only one in five or fewer will be social
housing built by the Government.
The rest will presumably be provided by the private sector, and we
can take it as read that they dont plan selling these houses for any
less than they are selling them at the moment . They argue they
are not even making money at current prices.
If prices are not coming down and wages are not going up and the
Central Bank wont let banks lend people more than they can afford,
you get the sort of stalemate that prevails in the Irish market. The
Government, to its credit, is trying to solve the problem by
providing a limited amount of cheap housing but the bulk of its
effort seems to be going into subsidising the building industry either
directly or indirectly.
The measures to be announced in the budget in October are
expected to include a 10,000 package for first-time buyers and
other measures to increase the profitability of house-building. At
best, this will allow more people to buy houses at current prices and
also allow more builders to build profitably at current prices. At
worst, it will trigger a jump in prices.
No costing has been put on this part of the plan but if, for
arguments sake, you assumed that half of the buyers of the
100,000 houses that will be built by the private sector got the
money, it would be 500 million over five years.
It represents a massive subsidy for an industry that is
fundamentally uncompetitive because it has overpaid for land and is
now sitting on sites, refusing to develop and playing chicken with
the Government. Those who worship market forces would argue
these builders should all be made go bust and the price of land
should drop, allowing profitable house-building by new entrants. In
a socialist version of this fantasy, the State would then spend 500
million building 200,000 council houses.
It doesnt really matter because neither of these things are going to
happen. It may not be the Governments intention but the housing
plan looks like a massive State bailout for an industry that is being
protected from the consequences of its mistakes. Sound familiar?
2016 irishtimes.com
Eviction Proceedings-No Pause in

Government Action Plan On
FALSE PROMISE TO FIRST TIME BUYERS!
Bonanza for Developers!
Now we Know why the Oireachtas Committee

refused to invite Ken Smollen and THE HUBIRELAND to address it!
Plan is just a pre-election gimmick
The Oireachtas Committee recommended that there be a pause in

eviction proceedings until new debt resolution procedures were in
place

are in place.

temporary basis) in Coveneys plan. Unfortunately Sinn Fin and
Independents 4 Change(Mick Wallace, Maureen OSullivan) went
along with this easily rejected recommendation. (The same attorney
general had advised Alan Kelly against it)
But now government promises to introduce more favourable
resolution procedures for distressed mortgages have been seriously
watered down
The number of people presenting as homeless has doubled in the
last 12 moths
Opposition members of the Oireachtas Committee say the Coveney
Plan for building social houses contains half the investment
recommended by the committee.
The EU have been resisting informal government requests to allow
money to be borrowed by Ireland to build social houses despite the
restrictions of the Fiscal Treaty for months..
NOW Taoiseach Kenny is going to WRITE A LETTER to the EU asking
that Ireland be allowed to borrow money to house Irish people?
(Decisive action that!!!)-Irish sovereignty how are you?
Eoin OBroin (SF) wrote in an opinion piece in Sunday Business Post
19/06/2016
flexibility
investment
in tackling the crisisThe Committee should, of course. have recommended that the
government TELL THE EU THAT IRELAND WOULD BE BORROWING
THE MONEY TO HOUSE IRISH PEOPLE IN THIS EMERGENCY, as
advocated by Seamus HealY TD.
Instead Sinn Fin and Independents 4 Change joined FF and FG in
a shamefully compliant recommendation in the frame work of the
Fiscal Treaty
BONANZA FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS-FALSE PROMISE TO FIRST

TIME BUYERS
Before any extra houses are built, financial supports will be given to
first time buyers in the budget next October (and backdated to today) to help them to purchase houses! But there will be no freeze
on house prices! In the context of miniscule supply this cannot fail
to raise the price of houses. This will be of no benefit to first time
buyers but will provide a bonanza for developers. Others moving
jobs will also have to pay the higher prices!
Developers will also be given publicly owned land at cheap leasing
rates on which to build private houses.
IRISH HOUSING NETWORK-In effect, it looks like this will mean
leasing public land to private developers who will decide whats
affordable. Without secure rent controls and more public housing
this will leave people as vulnerable as they are now, with evictions
and rent hikes commonplace as the markets decide peoples future
for them. This hasnt worked before and it wont work now.
According to Minister Coveney these measures willfix the housing
market!
NO Housing Emergency Formally Declared

Despite verbal recognition of a national housing emergency by
Minister Coveney earlier this year, no formal declaration of a
housing emergency will be laid before the Oireachtas.
Such a declaration would enable the public good to out-weigh the
right to private property in accordance with the Irish Constitution.
Former Minister Howlin explained to the Dil that annual
certification of a financial emergency was necessary to enable
continued confiscation of private property in pensions. Minister
Donoghue has done this recently
The absence of such a formal declaration could enable banks an
landlords to continue evictions even if the government ordered a
pause.
Also, it is at least possible that private owners (including vulture
funds) will be able to block even some of the inadequate
improvements contained in the Action Plan.
My DIT colleage, Dr Lorcan Sirr ( Faculty of the Built Environment)
has pointed out that thousands of dwelling houses are becoming
obsolescent each year, thus reducing the number of houses
available for habitation. Government or local authorities are unable
to intervene unless the building becomes a physical danger to the
public. No account is taken of these obsolescences in the
government targets for housing provision.
The absence of the formal declaration of a housing emergency
enables the owners to resist any interference with their private
property no matter how outrageous their disregard for the common
good!
Misleading Government Spin

People Laughed at Richard Bruton when he said he would create
100,000 jobs but he did it. Simon Coveney will drive the housing
plan in the same way-Brian Hayes MEP(FG) on Today with Sean
ORourke(RTE) 22/07/2016
In fact the government were cutting public service jobs while jobs
increased in private sector. These private sector jobs were created
despite the government austerity policy due to favourable external
circumstances-weak euro, cheap oil, strong demand for multinational exports produced in Ireland. These circumstances are
already changing rapidly and a new world recession will completely
reverse them.
But government politicians never !miss an opportunity to reinforce a
misleading story!
CONCLUSION
Like many previous Plans and Reports this ACTION PLAN is bound to
fail
I believe that the government ACTION PLAN is a combination of a
pre-election gimmick and a bonanza for private developers.
FINAL WARNING TO
GOVERNMENT-HALT EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS NOW!
-KEN SMOLLEN
Next Saturday 25th June, the Standing Together meeting at 1.30

pm in The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise can see real progress being
made in our fight against the bailed out banks and the vulture funds
who have engaged in a hidden onslaught on thousands of decent,
hardworking citizens in our country and their families. There can be
no doubt that in years to come there will be an inquiry into how and
why 3 successive Governments not only allowed the terrorising of
so many of their own people but actually gave this great injustice
their full support. Such an inquiry will undoubtedly lead to proper
justice being meted out to those directly responsible and also to
anyone who helped facilitate this wrong doing!
For real progress to be made it is imperative that all genuine
people, groups, political parties and other determined organisations
must work together. Any division in this very justified campaign will
not only please the very many uncaring TDs in Leinster House; it
will also lead to failure to achieve our ultimate aim. That aim should
be to achieve fairness for our people and a fair and sustainable
solution to the mortgage distress crisis where families should no
longer have to go without some of the basic necessities of life in
order to keep a roof over their heads!

There can be no doubt that many of the people who will attend on
Saturday will be living through this ongoing nightmare every day.
Others attending will simply be aware of the crisis and see the
urgent necessity for a resolution to be found. We can also be
reasonably certain that a number of politicians will also attend, with
most if not all of them being fully supportive of our unified
campaign.
It is for that reason that I urge anyone who intends to be there on
Saturday NOT to bring banners of any kind, and NOT to bring coffins
or coffin lids with slogans written on them. This is NOT a protest
meeting. IT IS a meeting where we must give the Government a
final warning or an ultimatum that they must force the banks who
operate within this jurisdiction to find a fair and sustainable solution
for all mortgage holders, and while that solution is being sought,
that ALL Eviction proceedings in the courts throughout Ireland be
halted. We cannot afford to give them or any of the media who will
be present reason to see us as just a group of disorganised
protesters. We MUST be seen as reasonable people demanding a
reasonable resolution to a hidden and growing humanitarian crisis
that affects probably well over ONE MILLION people in our country!
I have requested that the reporter and camera crew from RTE not
to film or show the faces of anyone in attendance unless they do so
with the full permission of anyone concerned. They have agreed to
this and before any filming or photo is taken of the attendance that
it is done from the back of the room with a warning beforehand.
This is to ensure that we protect the identities of everyone in
attendance. I would therefore ask that anyone who intends to take
photographs or film the proceedings to please adhere to the same
principle as we must not cause distress of any kind to anyone in
attendance.
It is highly likely that the uncaring TDs in Government will call our
bluff as many of them will be of the opinion that there is very little
we can do if they fail to take the necessary and appropriate action
in forcing the banks to engage fairly with their customers and if
they also fail to ensure that there is a moratorium on the Eviction
proceedings in the courts.
This is where I am of the opinion that their thinking is very flawed. I
have no doubt that a properly organised group of people can have a
huge effect on the workings of the courts, solicitors, MABS, the
Personal Insolvency Service and other such Government backed
organisations and all without the need for protest of any kind.
I have discussed such a plan with a handful of people and it will be
openly discussed at Saturdays meeting. I feel that its better that it
not be revealed until then for the simple reason that we dont want
to show our hand before we need to. It will be simple to implement,
does not involve protests, but will require a minimum of about 10
dedicated people in each county that takes part. I believe that

together we can achieve great success by working closely with
people who genuinely want a resolution to this desperate crisis.
On Saturday if we decide to implement this plan, it should be
enough to cause a huge ripple effect that will cause major problems
for the cosy cartel who obviously feel that they will always have the
upper hand. The more people there are per county will result in our
aim in those counties being achieved in a shorter period of time.
Even though Saturdays meeting begins at 1.30pm, I and a number
of other people will be in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise from
11.30am. Its not for me to decide who the seriously committed
people are who will lead the way. That decision must be made by
each individual themselves.
We must have a proper plan in place in order to succeed. As the
saying goes, If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
Finally, thanks everyone for your continued support. I hope to meet
as many of you as possible before the meeting and Im looking
forward to meeting everyone else at the meeting which must
commence at 1.30pm sharp.
Ken
INVITATION TO TDs AND SENATORS-KEN

SMOLLEN
Dear Member of the Oireachtas,

I would like to personally invite you to our third meeting in The
Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday 25th June at 1.30pm
concerning the desperately hidden mortgage distress crisis and the
associated Courts repossession hearings crisis that currently exists
in Ireland.
Unfortunately the number of people taking their own lives as a
result of this hidden crisis continues to grow every day. The vast
majority of these deaths go unreported, meaning that the problem
remains a very hidden and personal one for thousands of people in
Ireland.
This is our 3rd such meeting and again all TDs, Senators and MEPs
are being invited to attend. We appreciate the fact that a number
of TDs and County Councillors attended the two previous
meetings. At the last meeting it was unanimously agreed that all
TDs should again be invited to attend on Saturday 25 th June.
Your personal attendance at the meeting in Portlaoise would be very
much appreciated, when this extremely hidden crisis must be
openly discussed and REAL solutions found.
Since retiring from An Garda Siochana in 2012, I have been
highlighting the mortgage distress/eviction crisis and working
closely with many families in distress for the last few years. It has
been suggested by the many groups who volunteer their help and
support to families in mortgage distress, that its possible there
could be as many as 10 people or even more taking their own lives

every single week.
I have attended many repossession courts throughout the country
to offer my support to the families who are being summoned to the
courts by the banks and many people have told me their own
harrowing stories of hardship and desperation. One case involved a
family who were advised to go into bankruptcy. They raised the
4,000 required for the process by selling the cooker and all of their
furniture. They then removed the radiators from the walls and sold
them. The family, including their 14 year old daughter are now
living in a car in a secluded place close to Tullamore.
It is very clear that the Personal Insolvency arrangement and
services such as MABS are not the solution and are very far from
resolving this crisis. This has led to a number of voluntary groups
coming together in an attempt to offer genuine help to thousands of
people who simply have nowhere else to go.
The meeting in Portlaoise is not a protest meeting. It will be
attended by many families who find themselves in this desperate
situation and by others who are naturally concerned by the
continuing assault on thousands of families by financial institutions.
We are attempting to find possible solutions to the crisis and your
attendance at The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday 25th June
at 1.30pm would be very much appreciated.
Kind Regards, Ken Smollen, 085 143 2898


months!!!!!
Obstacles to Solving The Housing Crisis Below)

are in place.

MINORITY REPORT
http://antiausterityalliance.ie/wpcontent/uploads/2016/06/Housing-doc-2.pdf
on debt resolution.
Michael McGrath TD

politically.
19/06/2016
flexibility
investment
members
greater state
private
those most



A Chirde,
evictions.
in one day.
resolved.
challenge.
Yours sincerely
Paddy Healy
086-4183732

PQ REPLY YESTERDAY TO SEAMUS HEALY TDNOONAN REFUSES TO HALT EVICTION

PROCEEDINGS BY BANKS HE OWNS DESPITE
NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY
ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER COVENEY
ONLY 301 Home Loans Repossessed Last Year By AIB,

PTSB-MICHAEL NOONAN
Repossessions of Home Loans are not frequent amounting to 183
and 118 for AIB and Permanent TSB respectively in 2015-Minister
Noonan
Just as he did in a previous reply on in Jan 2016(Dail Record further
Down), Minister Noonan seeks to minimise the horror facing families
by misrepresentation and omission of key information.
The 301 repossessions of family homes are 301 too many. These
are the 301 cases in which the state owned Banks Only were
granted repossession orders. (See I.T., KITTY HOLLAND further
down)
Noonan omits the no of repossession cases taken by the state
owned banks. Most of these never reach the stage of the issuance
of a repossession order. People are too terrified to appear in court,
of the publicity in small communities, the stress on young children
at school etc. it is common to surrender the house and to go to live
with relations in often overcrowded conditions. Some have
committed suicide due to the extreme stress of the threat of
repossession.
Mr Noonan says he has no role in the matter of repossessions by
AIB, PTSB, EBS. He cites the Framework Agreement with Banks.
This Agreement has no statutory force. Mr Noonan adheres to the
Agreement in order to wash his hands. Mr Noonan does have a role
in evictions. As owner of these Banks on behalf of the State, he
knowingly permits repossession cases to be taken though he can
forbid this.
Please recommend that all repossession proceedings affecting
dwelling houses, owned or rented, be halted immediately
Paddy Healy
PQ as originally Submitted
To ask the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD,
if, in view of the statement by Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney
TD that there is a NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY,
he will insist that Allied Irish Bank and its subsidiary the Educational
Building Society and Permanent TSB, which are in majority State

ownership, desist from seeking repossession of family homes
through the Courts and withdraw all such existing applications
before the Courts and
if these bodies refuse to comply, will he call a special general
meeting of shareholders and use his majority share-holding to
dismiss and replace directors refusing to comply with his instruction
and
if he will make a statement on the matter ?
QUESTION NO: 175
DIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Finance (Deputy
Michael Noonan)
by Deputy Seamus Healy
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 14/06/2016
To ask the Minister for Finance if he will insist that a bank and its
subsidiary (details supplied) which are in majority State ownership
desist from seeking repossession of family homes through the
Courts and withdraw all such existing applications before the
Courts; in the event of the bank and its subsidiary refusing to
comply, if he will call a special general meeting of shareholders and
use his majority share holding to dismiss and replace the directors
who refuse to comply with his instruction
REPLY.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have no role in the day-to-day
running of the banks in which the State is a shareholder. These
institutions are run on an independent and commercial basis and
the details of the formal relationship between my Department and
these institutions are set out in the respective Relationship
Framework Agreements, which can be found via the following links.
AIB: http://finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Allied-Irish-Banks1.pdf
PTSB: http://finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Relationship
%20Frameworks%20for%20the%20Irish%20Banks%20Irish
%20Life%20and%20Permanent.pdf
In relation to the individual institutions referred to in details
supplied Permanent TSB, Allied Irish Banks and its subsidiary EBS:
AIB and Permanent TSB have informed me that they prioritise
keeping customers in their homes. Repossession is a last resort.
and 118 for AIB and Permanent TSB respectively in 2015. In
comparison AIB and Permanent tsb have entered formal
forebearance measures in respect of 29,514 and 28,532 Home
Loans respectively at December 2015.
While there are some differences between the banks referred to,
their processes are similar. In cases where customers do not
meaningfully engage or do not engage at all with the bank, reject
the offer of a sustainable mortgage restructuring solution or do not
prioritise their mortgage payment, both banks are likely to pursue

enforcement through the court process. Its important to note that
the initiation of legal proceedings does not necessarily result in
repossession and both banks seek to engage constructively with
borrowers at all times. Both banks offer a wide range of solutions
and operates multiple engagement channels that facilitate the
maximum possible levels of engagement with customers in
difficulty.
Within the Programme for Government there are several policy
proposals detailed which are being worked on at present. The
objective of these proposals is to accelerate the restructuring of
mortgage arrears cases and keep families in their homes in so far
as possible.
Irish Times Report and Full Dail Record of

Noonan Reply to Seamus Healy TDs Call to
STOP REPOSSESSIONS Further Down
REPOSSESSIONS: NOONANS MASTER CLASSPaddy Healy

SPINNING TO MISLEAD ON REPOSSESSIONS IN THE DIL!
It is No Joke but Tommy Cooper Strikes Again!
State Owned Banks, AIB, EBS,PERMANENT TSB, are seeking
repossession of homes by court order throughout the country.
Seamus Healy TD recently asked Minister for Finance Michael
Noonan in the Dil to instruct these banks to desist from this.
Mr Noonan refused and stated that In a very extreme situation,
the issue is being handled reasonably well by the banks.
In the course of his reply Minister Noonan quoted figures from a
Central Bank report which stated that in Quarter 3(July, August,
September) 207 properties were repossessed on foot of a court
order. The idea that tens of thousands of houses are being
repossessed is just not correct he said.
This statement is entirely deceptive though there is nothing
technically incorrect in it. It is not just that he attempts to minimise
the awful trauma for 207 families which are losing their homes. A
key tactic of the spinner to deceive is the omission of key
information.
Noonans 207 court orders for repossession are for 1 month
only!!! Circuit courts do not sit in August and September.
Hence the Quarter 3 figures are for the month of July only!
The full information provided by the Courts Service and reported by
Kitty Holland in the Irish Times Last November is: Of
the 1,088 court orders for repossession made in the three quarters
of 2015 up to September 30, 758 were for primary homes, 131
were for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. -Irish
Times
Courts Service: Repossession Orders in Circuit Courts 2015
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
There was a huge increase in possessions in the April to June
period. Mr Noonan omits this information, and picks the figure for
Q3 which he then implies is typical though it contains one
month( July) figures only! The reason the Central Bank figure for
Q3 (207) is slightly above the Courts Service figure (188) may be
that the Central Bank figure contains High Court orders in addition
to the Circuit Court orders supplied by the Courts Service.
In time honoured fashion Spinner Noonan, to cover his tracks
claims that it is others who are misrepresenting the situation! The
idea that tens of thousands of houses are being repossessed is just
not correct he said. Additionally, this allows him to suggest that the
repossession problem is really minimal and not nearly as bad as is
being represented.
No journalist or serious person has spoken about tens of
thousands of repossessions. 1,088 orders in the first 3 quarters of
2015 is already a disastrous figure!!!
For example, Kitty Holland, Irish Times Nov 12, 2015. says
: Banks have sought to repossess almost 4,500 homes since the
start of the year up to September 30, the latest figures from the
Courts Service of Ireland indicate-Kitty Holland, Irish Times Nov
12, 2015.
This is in line with the Central Bank Report: During the third
quarter of 2015, legal proceedings were issued to enforce the debt
security on private dwelling house mortgages in 1,687 cases
(Central Bank Report).
Noonan invents the tens of thousands in order to minimize a
problem which is in fact already disastrous-the oldest trick in the
book of the spinner.
STATE DIRECTION OF BANKS IS UNTHINKABLE!-Noonan
The right of human beings to stay in their own homes is a most
important right. The vast majority of people in mortgage difficulty
are entirely blameless for their own predicament. They were setting
up homes at a particular time. They may have had to move jobs or
have been transferred in their job at a particular time. They were
failed by the state and by its organs such as the central bank and
the financial regulator and by the government of the day.
But Mr Noonan believes that there are superior rights and superior
interests and that the vindication of the rights of householders to
stay in their own home is a secondary consideration even if families
must be placed in hotel rooms or hostels and may be dispersed.
Mr Noonan: Notwithstanding the fact that the State is a
shareholder in these institutions, I must ensure that these banks
are run on a commercial and independent basis to ensure the value
of the banks as an asset to the State
Finance Minister Noonan has already made clear his intention to sell
the state owned banks to private investors. Clearly, he is concerned
to maximise the sale value of the banks.

Mr Noonan voted in the Dil to compensate in full international
investors who risked their funds in Irish Banks. Money was
borrowed from international financiers to pay this compensation.
Now Minister Noonan and the FG/Labour Government are using the
banks to collect money originally paid to international investors in
the same banks from the Irish population. Accordingly, Banks are
allowed to charge interest rates to all Irish borrowers which are well
above average rates in other European countries within the
Eurozone. The value of houses in Ireland has now risen. Hence the
huge rise in repossessions between Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of
2015.
The Priority of Government is that the banks be fattened up for
privatisation
Mr Noonan also tries to give the impression that he has no power to
give instructions to state owned banks.
He says: There is a relationship framework, signed by my
predecessors in office, with the banks and the essential component
is that the political side will not interfere in commercial decisions
Many listening may have got the impression that Mr Noonan had no
power to instruct the government owned banks. The old omission
trick! Mr Noonan omitted the words voluntary from voluntary
relationship framework -And he blames his predecessors-Fianna
Fil- as well!
The truth is that Mr Noonan can withdraw from the relationship
framework at any time. He has taken a political decision to
continue to honour it-and to allow the banks to evict Irish families!
He then drags up the notion that stopping state owned banks from
evicting people would lead to people applying to their local TD for a
loan and that the notion of state owned and directed banks was
preposterous! Of course there have been state owned banks in
Ireland for decades and there have been such in other European
countries for even longer. There are well tried mechanisms for
dealing with the problem of people applying to politicians for loans.
Noonan uses the image to cover up the responsibility of the
government for evicting people on the one hand and extorting
money to pay off international lenders from mortgage holders and
small businesses on the other.. Pontius Pilate Lives!!!
Mortgage Arrears Problem is Being Solved ProgressivelyNoonan
Noonan gives the impression that the mortgage arrears problem is
being progressively solved through helpful measures put in place by
his government. The truth is that the problem of the banks is being
solved by repossessing homes and extending mortgages at
exorbitant interest rates for a greater number of years.
Crafty Capitalist Representative
Michael Noonan is a very crafty political representative of
the Irish super-rich, Irish big business and of foreign big

business. He is a master of spinning to deceive. He is
assisted in this by the editorial writers and by the media
political and economic correspondents. It would be simple
for these to expose him but they have a vested in not doing
so!
In fairness Kitty Holland in the Irish Times has accurately
reported the rate of actual repossessions and court
applications for repossession and columnist Fintan OToole
has exposed his Tommy Cooperstyle deception on tax
equity in favour of the very rich.
Dail Record Jan 14/2016 Home

Repossession
Parliamentary Question from Seamus Healy TD

to Minister for Finance Ml. Noonan
R
Deputy Seamus Healyasked the Minister for Finance if he will

insist that Allied Irish Bank and its subsidiary the Educational
before the Courts; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [1426/16]
Deputy Seamus Healy: Allied Irish Banks, the Educational
Building Society and Permanent TSB are in majority State
ownership. They are adding to homelessness and the housing crisis
by repossessing family homes. I am asking the Minister, as the
majority shareholder, to instruct the banks to desist from this
practice.
Deputy Michael Noonan: I would like to thank Deputy Healy for
raising this question. As he is aware, I have no direct function in the
relationship between the customer and PTSB, or AIB and its
subsidiary EBS. Notwithstanding the fact that the State is a
of the banks as an asset to the State.
Decisions taken by the banks are a matter for the board and
management of the relevant institution. The relationship framework
agreements define the arms-length nature of the relationship
between the State and the banks in which the State has an
investment. The banks are therefore entitled to pursue all options
open to them in order to realise the value of their impaired assets,
within the significant constraints imposed by their regulator, the
Central Bank and the law as it applies.
The Government has put in place a broad strategy to address the
problem of mortgage arrears and family home repossessions. The
primary focus of this strategy is to support those home owners in
difficulty with their mortgage repayments and, in so far as possible,

to avoid repossession of family homes. In recent months, the
Government agreed measures to enhance awareness of and access
to the insolvency framework. We expanded the mortgage-to-rent
scheme, making it more accessible. In addition, my colleague, the
Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, also
introduced the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015, which will,
among other things, reduce the normal duration of bankruptcy from
three years to one year.
The Central Bank of Irelands code of conduct on mortgage arrears
also provides protection as it sets out requirements for lenders
dealing with borrowers who are facing, or in, mortgage arrears on
their primary residence. It ensures that borrowers struggling to
keep up mortgage repayments are treated in a fair and transparent
manner by their lenders and that long-term resolution is sought by
lenders with each of their borrowers.
The number of mortgages in arrears continues to fall. There are
almost 121,000 restructuring arrangements in place and the vast
majority of these are working. The figures demonstrate that most
families can, working with their financial institutions, find an
arrangement to make their mortgage commitments affordable.
Active engagement by indebted borrowers with their lenders is key
to achieving sustainable resolutions. I would urge borrowers in
arrears who have not already done so to take that step by
contacting their lender directly, or MABS, for an independent
assessment of their situation and advice on available resolution
options.
Deputy Seamus Healy: There is a tsunami of homelessness in
this country. Last November, the Dublin Homeless Executive
provided figures according to which some 1,425 children in 677
families were in emergency accommodation. The Dublin Simon
Community said that was unacceptable and shameful. Focus Ireland
said that the Government had failed these families. The Master of
the High Court, Mr. Edmund Honohan, criticised the banks and
accused them of hounding home owners to suicide.
[Deputy Seamus Healy: ] He criticised the fast-tracked
repossession regime that the Government has allowed to be
introduced in the courts. These banks are majority owned by the
State and it is open to the Minister to instruct these banks to desist
from repossessing family homes. In Tipperary alone, 100 families
are facing repossession. The Minister should insist that this stop.
Deputy Michael Noonan: Deputy Healy raised the very
important issue of homelessness and the Minister for the
Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly,
brought forward proposals last year that have blunted the edge of
this particular social crisis. Certainly, over the Christmas period
there was less sense of a crisis with homelessness than there had
been earlier in the year. The measures introduced by the Minister,

Deputy Kelly, have been working and, please God, they will continue
to work.
On the wider issue of repossession, which was the topic of the
Deputys notified question, there is some interesting data published
by the Central Bank. During the third quarter of 2015, legal
proceedings were issued to enforce the debt security on private
dwelling house mortgages in 1,687 cases. During quarter three,
there were 798 cases where court proceedings concluded but
arrears remained outstanding. In 329 cases, the court granted an
order for repossession or the sale of the property. A total of 422
properties were taken into possession by lenders in the quarter, of
which 207 were repossessed on foot of a court order. The remaining
215 were voluntarily surrendered or abandoned. The idea that tens
of thousands of houses are being repossessed is just not correct. A
small amount goes through the system. With the changes made by
the Minister for Justice and Equality and with the Money Advice &
Budgeting Service assisting directly people before the courts, I hope
the number will diminish even further. It is the policy of the
Government to put arrangements in place so that people can live in
the family home.
Deputy Seamus Healy: The Minister is the majority shareholder
in these banks and he has obviously given permission to the banks
to repossess family homes. He could equally instruct these banks
not to go down this road and repossess family homes. He could call
an emergency meeting of these bank boards and instruct them not
to repossess family homes. I ask him to do so immediately and if
bank directors do not agree, they should be sacked, as the Minister
has the power to do so as a majority shareholder. This is urgent
and, irrespective of the Ministers comments, thousands of families
in the country are facing homelessness because of banks in which
the State has a majority shareholding. The Minister could give
instructions to stop these repossessions and I ask him to do so
immediately.
Deputy Michael Noonan: There is a relationship framework,
signed by my predecessors in office, with the banks and the
essential component is that the political side will not interfere in
commercial decisions. That is for a very good reason as we do not
want to politicise the banks. It would be a very sad day for the
country if the first port of call for a person seeking a loan had to be
the local Deputy rather than a bank manager.
Deputy Seamus Healy: We are not asking anybody to do that at
all.
Deputy Michael Noonan: There will be no political interference
with the banks. On the question of repossessions, 207 houses were
repossessed on foot of a court order, which does not equate to the
tens of thousands of houses sometimes mentioned in commentary.
There are 121,000 restructured mortgages on private dwellings,

with a success rate of 86.6%. That means the arrangements stick in
just under 87% of cases. The problem is being solved progressively.
I appreciate it is very hard on people and I can appreciate that
people who lost their jobs do not have money. I also appreciate the
concerns and how upset people are. In a very extreme situation,
the issue is being handled reasonably well by the banks
Woman facing return to prison over

refusal
Noonan: home repossessions being
handled reasonably well
Irish Times Thu, Jan 14, 2016, 11:39 Updated: Thu, Jan 14, 2016,
12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
He was responding to Independent TD Samus Healy who asked Mr
Noonan, as the majority shareholder in AIB and its subsidiary EBS
as well as the majority shareholder in Permanent TSB, to call a
meeting of the boards of the banks and to instruct them not to
repossess family homes.
He said that if the bank directors would not agree to that then sack
those members. You have the power to do that as majority
shareholder.
There are thousands of families in this country, irrespective of what
you say Minister, facing homelessness by these banks, of which the
Government is a majority shareholder.

the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.
Government Evicts Families-Statement bySeamus Healy TD
homes.
Stopped Now!
Senior Minister Alan Kelly (Lab) and Minister of State Hayes(FG)
must now intervene at Cabinet to have a Housing Emergency
Declared and all repossession applications withdrawn.
Castlebar Court Anti-Eviction

Protest
https://www.facebook.com/cashin3/videos/
vb.100001246297556/1173381982713334/?
type=2&theater
13/06/2016
We have being contacted by RTE Over the passed few days over the
selling of family home mortgages to vulture funds across the county
When Gerry O Boyle campaigned in the last general election on this
issue the matter was not allowed to be high-lighted. Now it has
come the light with the assistance of Gerry O Boyle. RTE has
decided to do a documentary on corruption of Irish banks and the
cover up. RTE is now expected to do full coverage from Castlebar
Eviction Court on June the 13th
Men in balaclavas evict families for vulture capitalists invited
in by government to feed on the public
Irish Mirror Pat
Flanagan 15:33, 3 Jun 2016 Mass evictions loom after it was
revealed that 46,000 mortgages the equivalent to all the
homes in Drogheda and Dundalk are now in the hands of
vulture funds. The sight of men in balaclavas attempting to
evict families from their homes as gardai stand idly by
confirms that we are living in a very sick state. Tens of
thousands of families face being evicted by the vultures. When a
Government invites vultures into our country to feed on the misery
of families in danger of losing their homes, you know Irish society
has lost its moral compass. The sight of men in balaclavas
attempting to evict families from their homes as gardai stand idly
by confirms that we are living in a very sick state.Ireland is indeed a
warped country which poisons golden eagles and venerates vultures
selling off thousands of distressed mortgages at knockdown prices
while refusing to give homeowners a writedown.
It is perhaps a metaphor for a country in terminal social decline
where the vulnerable are fed to unscrupulous wealth funds who
have not the slightest inkling of concern for their welfare.

There are few more reviled birds then the vulture yet our Finance
Minister is a fan and believes they play a pivotal role in nature.
This is what he actually said: Vultures provide a very good service
in the ecology through cleaning up dead animals that are littered
across the landscape.
The dead animals he is talking about are the tens of thousands of
people whose mortgages have been sold to foreign wealth funds
without them having the opportunity of doing a deal with their
former lender.
Ulster Banks decision to sell 900 home mortgages to vulture funds
at a huge discount could lead to most of the families involved being
evicted from their homes.
This rotten bank is not only heartless, they are gross hypocrites as
they claim they do not do debt forgiveness yet sell off huge
property portfolios to vulture funds at a fraction of their worth.
Ulster Bank is a private company which is in business for profit,
what possible excuse can the State have for selling off thousands of
homes in the middle of the worst housing in our history.
Vulture lover Noonan recently had the gall to claim he put
safeguards in place to prevent the vultures kicking people from their
homes when the mass evictions have already started.
Such protection as vultures give to lambs, said the 18th century
Irish dramatist Richard Brinsley Sheridan. he could have been
talking about our Finance Minister.
The spiralling number of evictions has not come about by accident
but as a result of actual Government policies which specifically set
out to sell off huge property portfolios which could only be bought
by vulture funds.
Around 90% of the States bad bank Namas assets have been sold
to international speculators who have got them at a fraction of their
true worth.
What is even more disturbing is that it appears the gardai are
allowing hooded agents of the vultures terrorise families in the
course of evictions as the Royal Irish Constabulary did for absentee
landlords in the 19th century.
It is something of a sick joke that the country has been losing the
run of itself celebrating 1916 and the beginning of the end of British
rule when our government has handed over the homes, and the
lives, of tends of thousands of families to anonymous foreigners.
Both Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan have taken time out to
actually meet and greet the vultures and invited these scavengers
to our country to feast on Irish families.
To help them digest the financial flesh the law here allows wealth
funds to avail of favourable tax deals which are outside the reach of
the Central Bank.
On the subject of the Central Bank, two years ago the then
Governor Patrick Honohan said he was very unhappy about the sale
of mortgage books to vulture funds and highlighted the
consequences for tenants.
But Fine Gael and Labour were determined that the vultures be fed
and allowed the sell-off which saw property portfolios worth tens of
billions of euro go ahead with massive writedowns.
It is estimated that around 46,000 mortgages the equivalent to all
the homes in Drogheda and Dundalk are now in the hands of
vulture funds.
The newly-created Dublin Tenants Association has called for new
laws to stop vulture capitalists from forcing families out of their
homes.
DTA spokesman Patrick Bresnihan said: This is not a natural
disaster. The reality is government policy has been to facilitate
vulture funds at every turn, without any research into the impact of
international funds on the Irish housing system.
The dreadful situation which families find themselves in is a direct
reflection of the ethos and ideology of the previous government.
Vultures by their nature rarely attack healthy animals, but will prey
on the weak and sick and thats exactly what the Coalition did.
So we shouldnt be too surprised about Michael Noonans love of
vultures its a case of birds of a feather flock together
1,700 homes promised a year ago

not one has been built
Irish Independent June 7,201
Some 1,706 homes were approved in May 2015. Another 134 were
sanctioned the following July, and 890 last January a total of
2,730 across 145 individual schemes.
The Irish Independent asked each local authority to provide an
update on how the projects were progressing. Three Kerry, Offaly
and Wexford failed to respond. The data shows:
No social houses have been built by the local authorities from the
2,730 sanctioned as long as a year ago.
Just 26 are under construction in Donegal, Tipperary and Louth.
Louth County Council said it expects 12 to be completed this month.
Architects and design teams are only now being appointed for
many of the schemes. A significant number have yet to proceed to
planning.
Some units have been purchased Fingal has secured 44, Cork
City another 28 and Louth another eight. But some councils are only
beginning to purchase homes now.
In some cases, including Cork and Galway, the number of units
has been increased, which has resulted in delays as projects must
be redesigned.
Some other projects have also been cancelled or delayed.

In Longford, no work has started on 13 houses approved in
Lanesborough last July. Trial holes are being organised for the site,
the council said.
A land swap is also being organised with the HSE in Meath to
facilitate construction of 19 units in Summerhill, approved in May
2015.
In one case a 3.1m scheme of 20 units at Strandhill in Co Sligo
construction work is not expected to begin until November next
year, 30 months after it was approved.
The minister said special teams would be sent into local authorities
to drive delivery.
Last year, 72 social houses were built, and around 1,160 acquired.
David Walsh Released unconditionally by

High Court 03/06/2016
David had spent 4 days in Cork Jail. David was

convicted of criminal contempt in Waterford
Circuit Court when he insisted on representing
his sister who was up for repossession of her
home.
David has done all those threatened with eviction a great service
Well Done to Waterford the HUB-IRELAND and Noel Brophy!
WOMAN LOSES HOME TO BANK AND

HER BROTHER TO PRISON
Press Release By THEHUB-IRELAND June 2, 2016
The Hub-Ireland DATE: 1-6-2016 PRESS QUERIES: info@thehubireland.com (enter Press Query Subject line) Tel: 01 534 9118
(office hours)
WOMAN LOSES HOME TO BANK AND HER BROTHER TO PRISON
At Waterford Circuit Court on Monday, a woman lost her home and
her brother was taken away to prison after Judge Alice Doyle made
a possession order in favour of the bank and held the home-owners
brother to be in contempt of court.
He was sentenced to two weeks in prison and escorted out of the
courthouse by Garda after voicing his objections to the proceedings
in which the Judge had refused his sister the right for him to
represent her, as is allowable. The home-owner had intended to
defend her home because she believed she had an arguable case
and wished to exercise her right to due process. She wished to
bring certain matters before the Judge for consideration before any
possession order would be given. However, she was unable to afford
legal representation and did not feel able to carry out the role of
representing herself in such an already stressful situation, where
she would be up against the banks professional legal team,
including a barrister. In previous proceedings in the same case, but
in front of a Registrar, her brother had been allowed to represent his
sister.
On Monday, she had signed a Power of Attorney for her brother to
represent her again, but Judge Doyle disallowed the request.
The Hub-Ireland, a voluntary group working to help distressed
mortgage-holders, is extremely concerned at how mortgage cases
are being dealt with by the judicial system generally and for the
personal plight of the woman in this particular case, who has not
only lost her home without being able to present her defence, but
has also had to watch her brother being carried away to prison.
The Hub-Ireland is repeating its call for an end to the Evictions
Courts. Its members have been observing the workings of such
courts throughout the country and have reported many similar
cases where home-owners, who could not afford to employ a legal
team to match the banks one, have their rights to justice severely
compromised as a result. This is wrong and it has to stop, said
Byron Jenkins of The Hub-Ireland. Tonight there is a man in prison
and a woman faces eviction, having lost her home. This is a
personal tragedy for this family, but it also highlights all that is
wrong about how the mortgage-crisis has been dealt with. We again
call on the government and all in the political system to act
immediately to put an end to the barbaric suffering being caused to
good Irish people, whose only mistake was to borrow to put a roof
over their heads.
The Dil will break for summer holidays in a few weeks time, but it
will be a long hot summer for those facing eviction as a result of
political inaction, said Jenkins.
The Hub-Ireland is a voluntary, self-help community organisation
that offers free help, support and information to homeowners who
are in danger of eviction from their homes by mortgage companies.
It has launched a campaign to have the Evictions Courts abolished
and asks for the public to support the initiative. It invites anyone in
mortgage distress to contact them at info@thehub-ireland.com or
phone 01 534 9118.
/ends press release
Please Note: The Hub-Ireland has a number of expert
spokespersons who are available to appear as panelists on radio
and television programs dealing with the issues of mortgage
distress. They are also available to give interviews to print media.
Please contact The Hub-Ireland at info@thehub-ireland.com (enter
Press Query in Subject line) or phone 01 534 9118 during office
hours.
-
Brother of Woman Facing

Repossession JAILED FOR TWO
WEEKS FOR CONTEMPT in
Waterford Circuit Court
SHOCKING INHUMANITY OF EVICTION
SYSTEM
He Had Been Prevented From Speaking on

Behalf of his sister in Court though she had
given him her Power of Attorney
Waterford The Hub-Ireland
In Waterford court today a man who had been given power of
attorney by his sister was denied by justice Doyle the right to
speak on behalf of his sister in opposing the repossession of her
home. When the man Questioned the Judge he was put in contempt
of court. Another man questioned her decision also. He was also
put in contempt. Later both were questioned by garda and brought
back into court. The brother was jailed for two weeks
Earlier,he had handed to the judge the document stating that he
had been given power of attorney by his sister. The judge left the
bench for 10min and came back with a decision that he could not
speak for her in court. She wouldnt allow him question her
jurisdiction in the matter. She put him in contempt and later jailed
him for two weeks
He had repressented his sister 2 months earlier on the same matter
in front of a different judge who had agreed to this procedure
Further Post on Facebook By HUB-Ireland

(A male young man appeared in court to swear the affidavit on
behalf of the bank. The signature on the affidavit was that of a
woman!!!-PH)
WANTED:
We need the ID of this child: this is the young man that came to
court yesterday as a competent witness for the Banks: he was
never sworn in / or gave his name; the only words he uttered from
the back of the courtroom was Yes, after Judge Alice Doyle had
asked did you sign the affidavit for the Banks.
Funny that:: the deponent of the Affidavit was in fact a woman, so
how come??
The Judge then replied; thats good enough for me and granted a
possession Order on a Family Home and Jailed the Brother for two
weeks for contempt for wishing to represent his sister.
The two hooded balaclava wearing individuals entering the Garda
Squad Car are not prisoners!

They are employees of a security company leaving the scene having
failed to evict a householder in Co Clare recently
Stop Evictions Picket on Ennis Banks

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER CLARES TDS
FAIURE TO ATTEND DEMONSTRATION AT
ENNIS BANKS
Clare FM 30 May, 2016

Clares Oireachtas representatives are being condemned for their
failure to attend a demonstration outside Ennis banks this morning.
Groups led by Midwest Right2Change launched the picket in protest
at the repossession of houses by financial institiutions, as well as
the ongoing housing crisis.
As the sun shone down on Ennis town centre this morning, groups
picketing the towns three main banks say the situation isnt so
bright for many people facing homlessneess across the county.
Todays protest, organised by Right2Change, began outside Ulster
Bank in the Height and from there moved on to AIB and then onto
Bank of Ireland.
A small group of public representatives and locals highlighted their
concerns following a recent high-profile attempted eviction in

Corofin.
One of them, Anti-Austerity Campaigner Niamh OBrien says
something needs to be done to stop banks from reposessing homes.
Protestors hit out at Clares Oireachtas representatives for failing to
attend today.
Shannon Sinn Fin Counillor Mike Mc Kee says they need to put
pressure on the Government to deal with the housing crisis.
Limerick City TD Maurice Quinlivan, who represents part of Clare
also attended todays protest.
The Sinn Fin representative is a member of the Dil Homeless and
Housing Committee and he says an adequate Mortgage to rent
scheme would help ease the crisis for some families.
Noonan feeds the vulnerable to the

vultures
Rather than Minister Noonan giving the unfortunate
mortgage defaulter a break, hes been fraternising with their
enemy
Carol Hunt, Sunday Independent, 29/05/2016
1Support: Michael Noonan will be happy with evictions Photo: Tom
Burke
The video footage is shocking. It shows a number of men, hooded,
black scarves covering their faces, attempting to gain access to a
private home. To even the most trusting of observers, they dont
look as if they can be up to any good.
Beside them, the car they allegedly drove up in and which we will
see them later drive off in has no insurance or tax disc displayed
and the registration number is covered over with tape. This is
undoubtedly illegal.
Local men confront them, clearly agitated. Thankfully, there are
gardai present and the traffic violations are quickly pointed out to
them.
Except that, as the video footage unfolds, it becomes disturbingly
clear that the gardai have no intention of noting these offences, that
they are there purely to assist the hooded men in gaining access to
the house. They are on the side of what looks like the bad guys.
Welcome to a modern-day Irish eviction. (There was a doubling in
the number of properties repossessed by mortgage lenders in
Ireland between 2010 and 2013, new research has found.)

This time it fails. The heavy gang leave in their car which still lacks
a visible registration number. This time there was no paperwork
which allowed them to legally enter the property but if members
of the Anti-Eviction Taskforce had not been present to vociferously,
but peacefully, protest, yet another family would have found
themselves homeless by nightfall.
Well, thats what happens isnt it? When you cant pay your debts,
when you fall behind on your mortgage, when the bank lent you
money with no questions or queries beyond how much? and sure,
would you not like a few thousand more? But now, kiddo, its
payback time.
Well, for some people it is anyway. But we know a few things now
that we didnt know back in 2007. We know, courtesy of Ajai
Chopra, that the EU issued an ultimatum to Ireland at the time of
the bailout. We know that the ECB would not allow us to burn senior
bondholders. We know that we are still paying billions in interest
because of this unfortunate mistake.
We know this week, thanks to NTMA chief executive Conor OKelly,
that every worker in the country pays an extra 3,400 in tax every
year compared with just 900 in 2007. We know we were taken for
a ride by banks, the bondholders, and the head honchos in Europe
as well as our own crowd. And we know, as OKelly said, that our
State debt pile of 207bn, 102,000 per employee, is easily the
highest in Europe, by a mile. To be clear he added: Its one of the
highest ratios in the world.
Which may explain why so many people are finding it so difficult to
service 2007 mortgages with 2016 wages (thats if theyre still lucky
enough to be working).
Half the bloody economy is going into a black hole of debt
repayments. The average Irish worker took the hit for all those
bondholders and bankers who were allowed play financial roulette
with no consequences to themselves if they lost everything.
Youd think the Government would feel a little bit sheepish about
that now, wouldnt you? Youd presume that they would go a bit
easy on Joe and Josephine Soap who were unfortunate enough to
need a mortgage when prices were beyond the moon and the banks
were happy to feed the insanity? And youd certainly think that, in
light of our enormous State debt (remember, the highest in
Europe, by a mile!) Michael Noonan would still be in the market for
a bit of debt forgiveness from the EU or IMF.
Youd think, maybe theyd listen to people like those in the AntiEviction Taskforce, The Phoenix Project, Irish Mortgage Holders
Organisation, The Hub and all those other groups working at the
coalface of people who are in despair at the prospect of losing their
homes, and maybe ask the banks to share a bit of the risk, the cost,
the fallout?
But no, seemingly everything is going swimmingly in Noonan Land,

because earlier this month he said we didnt need any deals on
debt, because were in a pretty good place now.
Which will come as news to the hundreds of thousands of people in
the country in mortgage distress particularly if their mortgages
have been sold on to vulture funds at cheap prices not offered to
them terrified to answer their doors in case its the bailiff with a
crowd of hooded men and a few gardai backing them up.
It will also come as news to people like Fr Peter McVerry, whose
Trust last Friday appealed to the Government to do more for people
at risk of becoming homeless and particularly the dangers that the
vulture funds bring with them.
Michael Noonan is a fan, seemingly. Of vulture funds. I know, thats
hard to believe, but then some people have hard necks. They can
afford to.
Fine Gael TD Catherine Byrne got terribly upset when David Hall, of
Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO), called Mr Noonan a
vulture [fund] lover at an Oireachtas Housing and Homelessness
committee meeting recently.
After a face-to-face meeting with the minister, Hall said: He was
very clear about his love for vultures. We had a very robust
exchange in relation to it the self-confessed predators. They
circulate for five years, they suck an asset dry and they move on.
Last week Ulster Bank announced that it would be selling over
2,900 of its customers mortgages to vulture funds.
Of those, 900 are family homes, the others, one presumes, are
rental properties. (Most evictions in Ireland actually arise when
people cant pay escalating rents, as opposed to mortgages.)
According to the recent report by the Debt and Development
Coalition Ireland (DDCI) our Government wholeheartedly embraced
vulture funds, which pretty much tells you everything you need to
know about their attitude to Joe or Josephine mortgage problems.
Or families like my friend Danielles, who have just been given a few
months to leave the home they have rented for 10 years.
Their landlord is sorry, but the mortgage has been sold on to vulture
funds and all he can do is commiserate and say that they were
exemplary tenants.
Like many other families in similar situations, they havent a hope of
finding affordable accommodation near their jobs and childrens
schools.
An EU-wide report headed up by NUIG academic Padraig McKenna
also found that there were relatively high numbers of evictions
(including illegal evictions) in the [Irish] private rented sector.
According to the DDCI report, the arrival of vulture funds means an
increased likelihood of people being evicted from their homes.
Well, duh as my kids would say; it shouldnt take an academic
report to deduce that.
The people evicted will probably end up in hotels at the States

expense but hey, the vulture funds and Minister Noonan is happy
so thats all right so.
Groups like the Anti-Eviction Taskforce look set to have their work
cut out for them in the immediate future.
Welcome to the new politics, and old-style land repossessions.
KEN SMOLLEN, THE HUB IRELAND BRIEF

DEPUTIES AND SENATORS AT LEINSTER
HOUSE AT INVITATION OF SEAMUS HEALY TD
CALL FOR STOP TO EVICTION PROCEEDINGS

IN COURT, FORMAL DECLARATION OF
NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY BY DAIL
REPORT ON BRIEFING BY KEN SMOLLEN
18/05/2016
Claire Byrne Live on Housing and

Homelessness
http://www.rte.ie//sh/claire-byrne-live30003252/10576915/
Listen to First 30 minutes on Housing and
Homelessness
Housing is national emergency says

Simon Coveney, Minister for
Housing
Why does he not formally lay a certificate to this
effect before the Dil?
Because then there would be no constitutional prohibition to
stopping evictions and compusorily purchasing the property of
vulture capitalists in order to ease the housing crisis
-
Why Cant State Just Borrow 10 billion at

very low interest rates to begin Building
50,000 publicly owned houses immediately
as advocated by David McWilliams Below? He
claims the loan would be self-financing at
much lower than current rents!
ANSWER? HINT -Read the provisions of the Fiscal Treaty!

David McWilliams IRISH INDEPENDENT 11/05/2016
Easy for the State to Build 50,000 houses ??
Lets examine how the State could involve itself in financing a

housing trust using the international financial markets to massively
reduce housing costs in Ireland.
Currently, the markets will finance any good opportunity. When
interest rates are zero, the obvious thing to do is borrow for
infrastructural projects and housing is the most significant
infrastructural development that one can think of right now.
Lets look at the numbers.
Builders will tell you that building costs are around 120/130 a
square foot. For a large scheme, this could be lower and could move
towards 100.
Now lets say that the average unit in Dublin or any urban centre in
Ireland is 1,400 square feet. This means that the average building
cost of a house/apartment of this size is 140,000. Add to this VAT
of 13.5pc and we get 158,200.
Now on top of this there are professional fees for architects and
surveyors and the like. These could be 12pc of the contract price
plus 23pc VAT. So this is close to 19,000 on top of this price,
bringing the 140,000 initial cost, up with all the fees and taxes to
around 166,000.
Then on top of this are development levies which are the costs per
unit that are added by the council to pay for new roads, water pipes
and sewage. These are typically 9,000 per unit. So we are now up
to 175,000 per unit.
Now we have the cost of the build with all the charges and taxes
before we talk about site cost.
In 2011, Dublin probably had enough houses to deal with the
population. However, there should have been 60,000 built since to
keep up with population growth but only 8,000 have been built, so
we have a shortfall of around 50,000 for the sake of argument.
Imagine the State was to build or fund the build of 50,000 houses.
At 175,000 each, this would cost 8.7bn. This is a big number but
the Irish State can borrow for 10 years at 1pc, according to
Bloomberg yesterday. Therefore, the State could issue a Housing
Executive Bond, which it could sell to Irish residents who are sitting
on 94bn of deposits in the Irish banking system. Servicing this
debt would cost 87m per year.
Traditionally, countries dont pay back the principal of their national
debts, they simply roll it over.
So it would be prudent to suggest that we would do the same for
this Housing Executive Bond.
Now we have a situation where the total annual cost of 50,000 units
is 87m. This means that the annual cost per unit is 1,740. The
implication is the rent that would be needed to be charged per unit

per year to pay the cost of this build, funded by a Housing Executive
Bond, is 1,740 per year. Lets round this up to 2,000 per unit per
year, to include maintenance.
So total rental cost of a new house or apartment is not 12,000 per
annum, as is the case right now, but 2,000 per annum or 38 a
week.
This is feasible. You have seen the numbers. The major cost omitted
is the site cost and this is where we come into the land issue.
At a density of 60 units per hectare, this would mean about 833
hectares of development land, or about 2,000 acres, is needed.
There are 28,000 acres in Dublin in total but just one bank, Ulster
Bank, put a portfolio of 1,850 acres of development land up for sale
this year. So the development land portfolio of just one bank could
almost cover this total city requirement! Now we are talking.
The State could simply CPO this land at cost and be done with it.
You could add the repayment cost of this land to the annual rent.
This would bring up the annual cost of the rent needed to cover
everything to 3,000 per year or a quarter of present average rent
paid.
Thus, the great Irish housing crisis is solved for less than 60 per
week for a family of four in return for a new house, fixity of tenure
and peace of mind!
Thats how its done in proper countries. The choice is ours.
Lets join the 21st century and stop gouging each other for the basic
right of a roof over our heads.
Unlike the lads on the Magic Bus, these are the numbers, no one is
smoking funny stuff, just seeing things clearly through the haze of
vested interests and inertia.
Problem solved.
Organised by former garda Ken

Smollen, this is yet another meeting
attended by many groups who are
at the coalface of the mortgage
crisis. And a crisis it is
PUBLISHED08/05/2016 | 02:30 Sunday Independent
Vulture funds circle as mortgage crisis exacts its toll of suffering
Thousands of homeowners left at the mercy

of the banks bear a burden of daily fear and
uncertainty, with many contemplating
suicide, and some acting on those feelings,
writes Carol Hunt
My name is Sandy and I am in mortgage distress, says a woman

at the back of the room. She clears her throat and continues: It
was my little secret, because I told nobody, I was too ashamed. My
friends didnt know, my family didnt know. I felt I had failed and I
had made a huge mistake. She pauses, I catch her eye and then
look away, embarrassed.
Were in the Hotel Killeshin Portlaoise. There are over 300 angry,
frustrated and emotional people here all united by a common goal
of stopping the evictions.
Organised by former garda Ken Smollen, this is yet another meeting
attended by many groups who are at the coalface of the mortgage
crisis. And a crisis it is.
According to Smollen, as well as the 100,000 mortgages currently in
distress, there are another 200,000 in danger of slipping into
difficulty.
Plus, there are many small businesses and farms on the brink of
insolvency. Extrapolate that to include families and that is over a
million people affected, he says.
These are not accidental landlords or developers rescued by Nama.
These are people who cannot pay back Celtic Tiger-size mortgages
in a post-crash economy. Consequently, they are faced with eviction
by their banks and, increasingly, by vulture funds.
They are ordinary people, most of whom have never asked for
anything or fallen into debt before and they are shocked and
sickened at the sudden realisation that they may find themselves
homeless.
These are the people for whom debt is seen as a sacred obligation,
a moral duty.
If they dont pay what they owe, the economy as we know it will
collapse and moral hazard will ensue.
Or so we are told.
So why isnt mortgage debt front-page news? Why isnt it an issue
garnering the same attention as those damned water charges?
Shame, is the simple answer. People are sometimes quite literally
dying of shame at the thought that their friends and neighbours
will find out their dirty little secret.
Sandy wasnt given the option of choosing to get her problem off
her chest by sharing it with others in the same situation. She didnt
decide that she was going to be brave and f**k the begrudgers.
She had been outed by her local newspaper, who put details of her
indebtedness on the front page.
Its obvious that the indignity and disgrace she feels still rankle.
People will be too ashamed to come out and protest, she insists.
But there were some who disagreed with her.
One elderly man stands up and admits: The only wish myself and
my wife have is that we can die in our own home Am I suicidal?
he asks us as he clings to the microphone. Yes, I am, he answers

bluntly. Its a companion of mine. Every morning I wake up and
think of it.
He looks around at the sea of emotionally distressed faces. We
need to tell our stories, he insists. There are so many, many
people in similar situations. We need empathy we need a hug. We
need to work with everyone, but, he warns with the tired voice of a
man who has seen much betrayal and hurt, put your faith in no
one.
Ciaran Doyle explained that his mortgage was sold to vulture funds
without his knowledge. Smollen recalls how one woman said she
would rather set fire to my house and set myself alight in it than
hand it over to the moneylenders.
Martina Doyle from The Hub Ireland (a voluntary organisation which
helps people in mortgage distress) explains how the Land and
Conveyancing Reform Act 2013, which gave clarity and comfort to
the banks, has led to the so-called eviction courts and needs to
be immediately repealed.
Her organisation gets phone calls of desperation from a mother or
father panic-stricken as to where they are going to go, the single
person who feels they have no rights, as they are on their own, the
elderly couple who are frightened to death of the knock at the door
that will drag them out in front of their neighbours.
Examples are given of how the eviction courts can intimidate such
vulnerable people most of whom are totally unused to courts of
any kind.
There is a huge misconception in the public arena that these
people just dont want to pay their mortgages and are freeloaders.
Anyone who thinks that, she says, just needs to come to The Hub
for just one day and listen to the calls we take.
But still these people, in despair and anguish, are told, a debt is a
debt is a debt. They borrowed money from a bank and they are
therefore legally and morally bound to pay it back. Unlike say, the
well-heeled speculators who found themselves in Nama.
Earlier this month, it was revealed by Michael Noonan that Nama
has written off debts totalling 1.5bn owed by just 80 debtors to the
agency.
Noonan explained that the debt is only written off where all of the
underlying assets have been realised, there are no further assets to
be realised nor any additional recourse available to Nama to recover
borrowings from the debtor.
Which is the same situation that would apply to most of the
ordinary people in unsustainable mortgage debt that I have met up
and down the country. And yet it doesnt.
Why one rule for one group and a much harsher one for the other?
Because, bluntly, when debt is racked up by governments,
corporations, banks, or by privileged insiders, it can always be
renegotiated or written off. Thats how the system works. Its only
when debts are owed from the poor to the rich that issues such as
moral hazard are introduced.
Only then does debt become a sacred obligation. Its a way of
keeping the cash/power flowing upwards. Its also a way of keeping
people in their assigned places.
In the past, precautions were taken to protect debtors from
unscrupulous lenders. Yet today it is creditors who are protected at
the expense of debtors, corporations at the expense of citizens,
banks at the expense of nations.
Theres no political will to solve this issue, said one man at the
Killeshin Hotel last week. Because there are no votes in it. Unlike
the water charges, people are too ashamed to protest.
He may be right. An invitation was issued to every TD and senator
in Leinster House. Five attended none from the last government
parties. We know that people are going to die [due to debt] he
added.
Another man spoke passionately and bitterly of debt-related
suicides occurring daily as he urged people to act now before there
are further deaths.
You may think this is emotionally charged exaggeration, but a
recent survey by the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO)
found that of 488 people aged between 29-70 who are in debt
(questioned by clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy), 44pc said
they felt depressed all or most of the time; 31pc have had suicidal
thoughts in the past four weeks; 22pc had active plans to kill
themselves and 45pc indicated harmful levels of alcohol abuse.
Now, just think of the thousands of people in mortgage distress in
this country and you can begin to imagine the depth of human
suffering in our midst.
So what can we do? This week, we heard promises about putting
pressure on banks to offer sustainable solutions to those in
mortgage distress and there are suggestions for a new court to deal
with arrears; but, judging by the numbers at risk and the distress
involved, this will not suffice.
Certainly we need people to be offered split mortgages, term
extensions and long-term interest rate reductions.
But for many families, what is needed is debt-forgiveness. And
quickly. But the banks who brought the country to its knees
through their reckless lending and were rewarded for doing so with
billions of our euro wont play ball.
They are so confident of their power that they are currently
swindling variable-rate mortgage-holders with high interest rates.
They are selling off homes to vulture funds at a cost not offered to
the now homeless occupiers. They are doing pretty much as they
please.
The new Government is making noises about putting manners on
them. But for many families in mortgage distress, it may already be

too late.
@carolmhunt
The Hub Ireland: http://www.thehub-ireland.com/ Phone: 01 534
9118
IMHO https://www.mortgageholders.ie/contact/
Phoenix Project Ireland 1850203040
Samaritans 116 123.
Aware 1800 80 48 48.
Pieta House 01 601 0000
Sunday Independent
-
NO COMITTMENT TO STOP EVICTIONS IN FFFG DEAL FOR GOVERNMENT

Protect the family home and introduce additional long term
solutions for mortgage arrears cases.
This is so vague that it could mean nothing.
There is no comittment to declaring a housing emergency
FF-FG DEAL on Minority Government

Securing Affordable Homes and Tackling Homelessness
Significantly increase and expedite the delivery of social housing
units, remove barriers to private housing supply and initiate an
affordable housing scheme
Retain mortgage interest relief beyond the current end date of
December 2017 on a tapered basis.
Increase rent supplement and Housing Assistance payment (HAP)
limits by up to 15% taking account of geographic variations in
market rents, and extend the roll out by local authorities of the HAP,
including the capacity to make discretionary enhanced payments.
Improve supports and services for older people to live
independently in their own home, including a provision for pension
increases.
Provide greater protection for mortgage holders, tenants and
SMEs whose loans have been transferred to non-regulated entities
(vulture funds).
GREAT ANTI_EVICTION MEETING Took Place Saturday, April
30 IN PORT LAOISE
MEETING HAS GIVEN FG-FF 6 weeks to END
EVICTIONS Listen at Links Below
Port Laoise Anti-Eviction Meeting-Proceedings Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYkC_QrkZZoPort
Laoise Anti-Eviction Meeting-Proceedings Part 2
v=UX_2e8dPQLw&feature=youtu.be
Arrival of Vulture funds set to fuel

evictions, report reveals
Irish Times Colm Keena
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 3, 2016, 01:00
The arrival of vulture funds in the Irish property market means an
increased likelihood of people being evicted from their homes,
according to a report published today.
The funds that have bought into the Irish commercial and
residential property market, mostly by way of buying loans from
State-owned institutions, will want to see big yields on their
investments, which in practice means squeezing debtors hard.
The report entitled, From Puerto Rico to the Dublin Docklands,
Vulture Funds and Debt in Ireland and the Global South, by the
Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (DDCI), said that while
there is little research yet available on the effect of vulture fund
involvement in the European property market, research from the US
indicates an increased likelihood of people being thrown out of their
homes.
DDCI is a coalition of Irish development, faith-based and solidarity
groups concerned about the effects of debt on developing countries.
It is chaired by Sorley McCaughey, advocacy and policy officer with
Christian Aid. The report was written by Dr Michael Byrne of the
UCD School of Social Justice.
Distressed debt
Hedge funds or private equity funds that invest in distressed debt
vulture funds originally invested in sovereign debt but since the
financial crisis in 2008 have moved into buying loans linked to the
property market in the US and Europe.
The Irish Government, according to the report, has wholeheartedly
embraced vulture funds and their entry into the Irish market could
not have occurred were it not for two major public banking
institutions, the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), and
the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC).
Nama is the public entity that acted as Irelands bad bank for
property loans issued by Irish banks, while the IBRC, which is now
in liquidation, took over the collapsed Anglo Irish Bank and Irish
Nationwide.
Locals priced out

The report says that these two institutions sold assets under time
pressure and did so at high discounts. Because the loans were sold
in large bundles or portfolios, local investors were priced out. The
two institutions sell big, they sell quick, and they sell cheap,
according to the report.
This created a context which not only favoured vulture funds, in a
sense it meant that only vulture funds had the financial fire power
required to play this extremely high stakes game. The fact that the
Irish financial system is in crisis means it was very hard or
impossible for domestic actors to obtain credit to invest in Irish real
estate.
The creation of a direct link between Irish property and the
international financial system, via the vulture funds, exposes the
Irish economy and society to the possibility of sharp shocks
caused by events very much outside the control of the Irish political
or regulatory system, according to the report.
Global vulture funds, most of them US-based, are snapping up
distressed debt linked to European property, most especially in the
UK, Ireland and Spain. Global groups such as Cerberus, Lone Star
Capital, and Blackstone, are among the top investors here.
2016 irishtimes.com


information.
Kitty Holland in the Irish Times Last November is: Of the 1,088
court orders for repossession made in the three quarters of 2015 up
to September 30, 758 were for primary homes, 131 were for buy-
to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. -Irish Times

Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.
12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation
Fil- as well!

so!

Repossession

3
Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he

will insist that Allied Irish Bank and its subsidiary the Educational
matter. [1426/16]
practice.

options.

to work.
the family home.
immediately.
all.


refusal
12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
shareholder.

the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.
homes.

Stopped Now!
This can be done by government decision and does not require
legislation.
Seamus Healy T.D.
18/01/2016
Tel 087 2802199
Dail Record of Reply by Michael Noonan to Seamus Healy TD on
Repossessions (Jan 14) is carried below together with article by
Kitty Holland and other material from the Courts Service
Homelessness is an Emergency-Minister
BUT GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO EVICT FAMILIES THROUGH
BANKS IT OWNS
293 families and aprox 600 children have

become homeless in the first 3 months of this
year in Dublin Alone
From FOCUS IRELAND
85 families became newly homeless in Dublin in March and were

referred to our family services.
These latest figures mean that 293 families and aprox 600
children have become homeless in the first 3 months of this year
alone in the capital.
These latest figures come following a record total of 125 families
became homeless in Jan and 83 in Feb this year in Dublin.
The number of families and children in homeless emergency
accommodation at a national level at a point in time as of the end of
February has shot up by a staggering 112% in the last year from
429 families with 938 children in Feb 2015 to a current total of 912
families & 1881 children.
These shocking new figures come just ahead of the Dail sitting
today and there is also a joint Meeting of the Cross Departmental
Team on Homelessness and the National Homelessness Consultative
Committee.
We are very worried that despite all the talk about homelessness
the caretaker Government has taken no new actions to tackle this
worsening crisis since the Dail first sat over a month ago on March
10th.
Tackling the housing and homeless crisis must be at the heart of

any new Programme For Government, and we previously issued a
five point plan setting out the key elements which should inform
such a programme. These demands include calling for a cast iron
commitment to end family homelessness with a firm target date to
achieve this and also a commitment to build 40,000 social homes
over the next 5 years.
We must remember that while the horse-trading to form the new
government is taking place more than 3 families have become
homeless every single day so far this year. Todays joint meeting is
a positive development to discuss some pressing issues. However, it
is important to stress that there are a range of measures which can
be put in place while we wait for the new government to be formed
to ensure that they are not starting from scratch on putting
together a plan to tackle the housing and homeless crisis.
Some of these urgent actions Focus Ireland is calling for include:
Firm action to provide greater security for tenants in buy-to-let
properties as 27,492 of these properties are more than 90 days in
arrears. The Dail can easily fast-track amendments to current
legislation to provide this vital protection for tenants as we wait for
a new government to be formed.
Taking action to raise rent supplement so it reflects market rents
as this will help to keep families and individuals in their current
homes and prevent them from becoming homeless.
To confirm what action is required to ensure NAMA delivers more
social housing.
You can read more about this here:
http://bit.ly/300familieshomeless
-
HOMELESSNESS UP 50% AS
SOUTH DUBLIN CO COUNCIL
DECLARES HOUSING EMERGENCY
The number of people accessing emergency shelters
across the State was up by almost 50 per cent in
February, compared to the same month last year,
according to the latest figures on homelessness.
The figures, from the Department of the Environment,
show there were 5,881 people in emergency
accommodation in February, which represents a yearon-year increase of 49 per cent. Among them were
1,881 children, which represents an increase of 101 per
cent.
Simon Communities of Ireland spokeswoman Niamh
Randall said the figures were shocking and
demonstrate that existing measures to tackle
homelessness are failing.-Irish Times 14/04/2016
Open letter to Alan Kelly Dont

blame the housing crisis on the
Constitution
Edmund Honohan
Master of the High Court
PUBLISHED03/04/2016 | 02:30
Sunday Indepenent
In an open letter to Alan Kelly, the environment minister, the Master
of the High Court Edmund Honohan says the Constitution cannot be
used as cover for political inaction on the housing crisis
Dear Minister Kelly,
It is appropriate that you have, in this centenary year, called for a
debate about property rights in the Constitution. Faced with
repeated assertions about how the right to property is legally
watertight, politicians need to recover control which they have
ceded to the lawyers. To do so they need to understand that the
position is a lot clearer than they have been led to believe.
Echoes of 1916: The Constitution in effect provides that the State
may expropriate private property if the Oireachtas decides that to
do so is for the common good. Road widening is a good example.
Option A. At the moment there are long waiting lists for housing and
the private rental market is unable to provide dwellings at
affordable rents.
Consequently, if the Oireachtas is of the view that the State should
itself (or its local authorities) provide public housing in the
Common Good, the State can (and probably, legally, should) decide
not to wait the two/three years needed to build social housing but
instead to immediately acquire houses now in private hands.
If the owners of these refuse to sell, acquisition can be by
compulsory purchase with full compensation assessed by the
arbitrator.
It so happens that there is a stock of such housing which has
recently been bought by vulture property investment funds from
Anglo, Irish Nationwide, Nama etc. at knockdown prices.
Compensation for these funds would be that they would be repaid
the price they paid for the housing portfolios. That is the extent of
their Constitutional entitlement.
Option B. On the other hand, the Oireachtas might be concerned to
enhance tenants rights at the expense of the landlords. Rent
controls and the like are also a form of expropriation if their effect is
to rewrite contracts already operational. And the common good
rationale for such interference with contracts is not as clearly
unarguable as with Option A.
Option A wins hands down and the timing is right.
Cue now the lawyers alternative analysis: that the Constitution
enshrines marketplace rules; that the Supreme Court will determine
what is the Common Good. Publish the Attorney Generals advice to
the Government and have a fully informed debate.
But given that the Supreme Court has already decided, in 2000,
that the provision of affordable housing is an objective which is
socially just and required by the common good, what we do about
it now is a political decision, not a legal one.
The Constitution cannot be used as cover for political inaction.
Sunday Independent
Dail Debate: Government Knowingly and Deliberately
Causing Homelessness-Seamus Healy TD
The outgoing Government, knowingly and
deliberately, created and caused homelessness. I say this because
the State owns Allied Irish Banks, Permanent TSB and the
Educational Building Society. The Minister and current caretaker
Administration are allowing these financial institutions to evict
people from their homes. They can stop such evictions by telling the
banks to stop causing homelessness. No legislation is required to do
so because the Government, through the Ministers for the
Environment, Community and Local Government and Finance, could
issue a simple directive to stop financial institutions from making
people homeless.
The National Asset Management Agency which is owned by the
State is creating homelessness by evicting people and selling
residences and apartments to vulture funds that are engaging in
evictions. The State could also stop this practice by issuing a simple
instruction to NAMA. I reiterate that the State is deliberately
creating homelessness and should stop doing so immediately.
I will refer briefly to the Tnaistes reference to the housing
assistance payment. The HAP scheme is an outrageous rip-off of
tenants, most, if not all, of whom must pay differential rent to their
local authority and a top-up to their landlord, which is often as
much as 50 per week. The scheme should be stopped immediately.
If we are to address the homelessness and housing crisis, the
Government and the new Dil must declare a housing emergency
immediately. Otherwise, we will not be able to deal with the
problem. The Government should also take up the offer made by
the credit unions to provide between 5 billion and 8 billion to help
address the housing problem.
Deputy Mick Barry:
I agree with the points made by Deputy
Seamus Healy. I will make several points about the scandal that
recently unfolded on the Eden estate in Blackrock in Cork city where
tenants in 35 apartments received letters earlier this year
terminating their leases and giving notice to quit. Many of them had
lived in the properties in question for years. The letters were issued
by Grant Thornton, the receiver in charge of 127 apartments on the
estate, which was appointed by the State-owned IBRC in November
2010. This is the latest chapter in the saga of Anglo Irish Bank and
the Irish Nationwide Building Society.
KPMG has been the Government appointed liquidator of IBRC since
January 2013. As instructed by the Fine Gael-Labour Party
Government, the liquidators only interest is in maximising the
financial return to the State from the carcases of Anglo Irish Bank
and the Irish Nationwide Building Society and it has no regard for
the social impact of doing so. In this sense, it is an even more
heartless and anti-social arm of the State than NAMA.
As of January 2016, IBRC had netted 2.1 billion from sales such as
those envisaged on the Eden estate. This sum has not been used to
address the housing crisis because most of it has been ring-fenced
for distribution among IBRCs creditors which include Anglo Irish
Bank subordinated bondholders. Some of the money is intended to
be used for payment in full of certain employee and pension claims
prior to the date of liquidation. Does this include pension payments
to former members of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide
Building Society management such as Mr. David Drumm and Mr.
Michael Fingleton?
NAMA (Really the Minister for Finance) Worsening Crisis

Through Sale of Homes to Vulture Funds.
Government also evicting Families through Banks it Owns
McPeake Auctioneers (Tyrellstown in Irish Times March 16)
The supply into the market from the builders is much lower than
the market needs, and that is because of a number of reasons.
The first is that the control of sites into the market is being
controlled by a much smaller pool of players. The big developers
who were there all ended up in Nama or a financial institution.
The financial institutions have all now basically all sold off their
loans and Nama is selling off the balance. All of those loans have
gone basically to these venture capital funds.
Its a problem thats been created, in particular, Namas
desire to do away with Nama, to be able to say Namas now
gone, isnt that great, but what youve really done is
transferred the whole stock of development land and a
considerable number of private residential properties, that
may be rented or may not be rented, into the hands of
people outside the country.
High Court Master, Edmund Honahan, urges State to
nationalise repossessed homes

The Master of the High Court has called on the Government to
nationalise repossessed homes and buy-to-lets that banks have
sold to speculators and investment trusts and use them as social
housing.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/propertymortgages/high-court-master-urges-state-to-nationaliserepossessed-homes-34282536.html
BANKS IT OWNS
Its no Joke But More Tommy Cooper than Penn and Teller!
Irish Times Report on Dil Discussion Further Down
information.
to September 30, 758 were for primary homes, 131 were for buyto-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. -Irish Times
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.

12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation

Fil- as well!
so!

12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
shareholder.
the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.

homes.
Stopped Now!
legislation.
Seamus Healy T.D.
18/01/2016
Tel 087 2802199
BANKS IT OWNS
information.
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.
12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation

Fil- as well!
so!
Repossessions of Dwellings by Court Order-From Courts Service
(Q2)April to June 2015
Residence
buy-to-let
other
Total
383
97
106
586
(Q1)Jan march
233
29
2015
52
314
Q3 (July to September)
142
5
41
188
Q3 Central Bank
207 (properties)were
repossessed on foot of a court order.
Q1,Q2,Q3
758
131
199
1088
The data, released to The Irish Times, also shows 1,088
repossession orders were granted by the courts in the first
nine months of the year, almost 70 per cent more than the
644 granted in the same period last year and 350 per cent
more than the 240 granted in the period in 2013.
Of the 1,088 orders made, 758 were for primary homes, 131 were
for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. Kitty Holland
Irish Times Nov 12
These cases (court orders) in the statistics are not the only
cases in which a financial institution is foreclosing. The vast
majority of mortgages contain a foreclosure clause which becomes
operative, without the need for a court order, if there is any failure
in payment of instalments.
Accordingly, only figures supplied by the credit institutions would
disclose the overall number of properties being recovered or sold
by credit institutions.-Statement From Courts Service August
6,2015
Noonan in Dil Jan 14
Central Bank. During the third quarter of 2015, legal proceedings
were issued to enforce the debt security on private dwelling house
mortgages in 1,687 cases. During quarter three, there were 798
cases where court proceedings concluded but arrears remained
outstanding. In 329 cases, the court granted an order for
repossession or the sale of the property. A total of 422 properties
were taken into possession by lenders in the quarter, of which 207
were repossessed on foot of a court order. The remaining 215 were
voluntarily surrendered or abandoned.
Ml Noonan On the question of repossessions, 207 houses were
repossessed on foot of a court order(in 2015-ph), which does not
equate to the tens of thousands of houses sometimes mentioned in
commentary. Jan 14
More than 7,000 dwellings targeted by

lenders up to 2015, says Courts Service
Thu, Nov 12, 2015, 01:00

Kitty Holland
Some 889 applications for repossession were refused by the courts
so far this year. Photograph: Getty Images

Banks have sought to repossess almost 4,500 homes since the start
of the year, the latest figures from the Courts Service of Ireland
indicate.
These are in addition to the 7,100 dwellings lenders had already
moved to repossess by January 1st, 2015.
The figures, covering the first nine months of the year, show lenders
lodged 4,440 civil bills for repossession across the States 26 circuit
courts.
Some 3,638 (82 per cent) of these are for primary homes, 89 (2
per cent) are for buy-to-lets with 713 (16 per cent) for other
dwellings.
However, the number of bills lodged is down compared with the
same period last year when 6,420 bills were lodged, indicating a
possible levelling off in repossession activity by the banks.
for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings.
Dail Record Jan 14
Home Repossession
matter. [1426/16]
practice.
options.

to work.
the family home.
immediately.
all.

refusal to hand over her home to
bank
Claire Knowles was lawfully jailed for
contempt of court order, High Court judge
rules
Mary Carolan
Irish Times Dec 15
Claire Knowles (56) of Castlejane, Glanmire, Co Cork, who will
remain on bail until Wednesday evening after which time she will
return to Limerick Prison unless she has purged her contempt of the
possession order. Photograph: Collins Court
A High Court judge has ruled a woman was lawfully jailed for
contempt of a court order requiring her hand over possession of her
home to a bank.
Mr Justice Richard Humphreys told Claire Knowles she may remain
on bail until 7pm on Wednesday after which time she will return to
Limerick Prison unless she has purged her contempt of the
possession order in the interim.
Ms Knowles was jailed by a judge at Cork Circuit Court on
December 8th for contempt of a court order of January 2014
requiring she hand over possession of her home near Glanmire, Co
Cork, to Bank of Ireland.
She was freed on conditional bail on December 10th pending the
outcome of the inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution, into the
legality of her detention.
Giving his decision on Tuesday having heard arguments by Ms
Knowles and the State, Mr Justice Humphreys said he was bound by
other court decisions concerning Article 40 inquiries and, in all the

circumstances, must rule the detention is lawful.
He will give a written judgment outlining his reasons for that
decision at a later stage.
The contempt application was brought by solicitors representing
Bank of Ireland arising from a mortgage taken out with ICS Building
Society on Ms Knowles home at The Pines, Castlejayne Woods,
Glanmire, Co Cork.
An order for possession of that property was made by the Circuit
Court in January 2014 and the High Court dismissed an appeal
against that order in July 2014. Ms Knowles later got an order from
the Master of the High Court extending the time effectively for a
second appeal.
Attachment and committal proceedings were brought last October
against Ms Knowles for contempt over her failure to hand over
possession and were adjourned to December 8th when Cork Circuit
Court directed her detention in Limerick Prison.
Ms Knowles was freed on conditional bail on December 10th
pending the outcome of the High Court inquiry, initiated the
previous day under Article 40 of the Constitution, into the
lawfulness of her detention.
In his decision today, Mr Justice Humphreys commended Ms
Knowles for the manner in which she presented her case but said
his hands were tied by various rulings which meant he could not
direct her release.
Among arguments advanced by her to support her claim that her
detention was invalid, she argued there was an error in the title of
the committal warrant in that it was in the name of ICS when it was
lawyers representing BOI who sought her committal. She also
argued she was wrongly refused an adjournment of the contempt
application so as to allow her try and get legal representation.
Remy Farrell SC, for the governor of Limerick Prison, argued the net
issue in the Article 40 inquiry was if Ms Knowles was denied an
opportunity of getting legal representation, and it was his case she
was not.
The transcript of proceedings in the Circuit Court showed Ms
Knowles chose to proceed without legal representation after clearly
considering matters over the lunch break on December 8th, he said.
The Circuit Court judge had made the jailing order after Ms Knowles
refused to give an undertaking to leave her home and she was
manifestly in contempt, counsel said.
On that date, the transcript of the hearing referred to counsel for
the bank saying Ms Knowles was still in the house and she was in
flagrant breach of the order.
The Circuit Court judge warned Ms Knowles she was at strong risk
of going to jail, should get legal advice and the case would not be
adjourned unless she undertook to abide by the court order to leave
the house.
It was very clear what she had to do and legal advice would not
have altered that. It seemed clear Ms Knowles later decided to
represent herself as she was entitled to do but she must take the
consequences of that.
The Circuit Court judge had said he did not believe she was serious
about getting out of the house, he would jail her and refuse a stay,
given the brazen contempt.
In her arguments, Ms Knowles said she is being turned into a
criminal out of civil litigation and these are not ordinary times.
She said the banks had had months to get their paperwork in order
in her case but had failed to do so until much later and then used
the name of a non-entity in these proceedings. Lawyers for the
bank were unable to answer her when she had raised points about
the delay in amending the title of the case, she added.
She also said she had been refused legal aid for the Circuit Court
proceedings as she did not know how to get it and was given an
hour to do so.
I was given no choice, she said.
NEED HELP? PHOENIX PROJECT

FREE OF CHARGE SERVICE www phoenixproject ie
Helpline: 1850 20 30 40
Phone: 057 8636830
Email: support@phoenixproject.ie
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/thedebt-doctors-there-s-a-black-cloud-over-a-lot-of-people1.2463335#.Vmw231bKiG0.mailto
Claire Knowles, Resisting Eviction, Released On Bail by High
Court as large number of supporters attend court
PLEASE,Could a Legal Team Offer to Represent Her Pro Bono
Publico?
It is grossly Unfair That She Should Be Forced to Represent Herself.
Be there again NEXT MONDAY!
From Irish Times Breaking News

A woman jailed for contempt of a court order directing she hand
over possession of her Co Cork home to a bank has been freed on
bail by the High Court.
Claire Knowles (56) was jailed on Tuesday over her failure to
comply with orders obtained by Bank of Ireland over the property at
The Pines, Castlejayne Woods, Glamire.
She was brought to Limerick Prison where she was held until she
was brought before the High Court on Thursday for an inquiry into
the legality of her detention.
The inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution, was sought on her
behalf by anti-eviction campaigner Ben Gilroy, who said he had
assisted Ms Knowles in previous court cases relating to the
repossession.
Following a hearing, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys ordered her
release on her own bail of 100, with a condition she stay away
from her home, pending full determination of her legal challenge.
She is to come back to court next Monday.
The judge ruled the governor of Limerick Prison was obliged to go
behind the reasons for her detention. To do that, the governor
would have to apply to make Bank of Ireland a notice party in this
case, the judge said.
In those circumstances, the judge adjourned the inquiry to allow
that occur. In the meantime, he granted bail to Ms Knowles who
was supported in court by a large number of people.
Earlier, Remy Farrell SC, for the prison governor, said his client had
no relationship, legal or otherwise, with Bank of Ireland.
He could not compel witnesses to attend court or provide
documentation in order to justify the reasons for committing her to
prison, counsel said.
Ms Knowles told the court she was too traumatised to make the
case because she had been in Limerick Prison and wanted Mr Gilroy
to do it for her.
The judge ruled it was established case law only the person
detained could make the arguments before the court or could
employ a qualified lawyer to do so.
Following an adjournment to allow the judge consider the law on
representation in such cases, Ms Knowles said she was a little more
composed and would present it herself.
Support Release of brave Claire Knowles From Jail Tomorrow

High Court 10.30 tomorrow Thursday Nov 10
Jailed for Refusing to Hand Over Her Home to Bank Of
Ireland
Inquiry on legality of womans detention for contempt ordered
Claire Knowles jailed over contempt of direction to
hand over possession of home to bank
aIrish Timesbout 4 hours ago Updated: about 3 hours ago
Mary Carolan
A High Court judge has directed an inquiry into the legality of the
detention inLimerick Prison of a woman for contempt of a Circuit
Court order directing she hand over possession of her home to a
bank.
Ben Gilroy, of Direct Democracy Ireland, applied on Wednesday to
Mr JusticeMax Barrett for the inquiry following the imprisonment the
previous day ofClaire Knowles (56), who lives with her son at
Castlejayne, Glanmire, Cork.
During the application, Mr Gilroy said there was huge confusion
over possession orders made by the Circuit Court, an apparent
reference to conflicting High Court decisions of November and May
last concerning the Circuit Courts jurisdiction to hear certain
repossession cases.
Suffered difficulties
He said Ms Knowles suffered difficulties including depression after
the possession order was made in January 2014, and the Master of
the High Court later agreed to extend time for her to appeal that
possession order.
Ms Knowles has no recollection of getting a letter of demand of
November 2009 and there were issues about a signature on that, he
added.
In an affidavit, Mr Gilroy said he is a friend of Ms Knowles. He said
the warrant detaining her was invalid as it was in the name of ICS
Building Society and, as far as he was aware, the governor and
company of the Bank of Ireland had applied to the Circuit Court to
reconstitute the proceedings by substituting the governor and
company of BOI earlier this year.
Ms Knowles is in dispute with ICS, he said. On November 10th, the

Master of the High Court extended time for her and her son to
appeal the Circuit Court possession order of January 20th, 2014.
When a further extension was sought on December 2nd, the Master
granted an additional 72 hours, he said.
Notice of appeal
Ms Knowles did serve her notice of appeal on December 2nd, he
said.
He said the plaintiff bank in the Circuit Court proceedings appealed
the Masters order, and the High Court on Monday last dismissed the
appeal and affirmed the Masters order of November 10th.
Mr Gilroy said Ms Knowles previously appeared before Judge
Donagh McDonagh at the Circuit Court on October 27th. The judge
said he had no jurisdiction in the Circuit Court possession
proceedings, refused to make an order for attachment and
committal, and adjourned the matter to December 8th when Ms
Knowles appeared before Judge ODonnabhain.
A friend of Ms Knowles who was present had given a written
account stating the judge warned Ms Knowles she was at risk of jail
and should get legal representation. She was unable to do so and
was refused an adjournment to get a lawyer, the account stated.
Described as brazen
It was also stated, when her case was called, Ms Knowles began
reading from a prepared statement but was interrupted by the
judge who made the committal order. It was stated she continued to
read the statement and the judge said she was in breach of the
order and described her as brazen.
Mr Justice Barrett said he would direct an inquiry under Article 40 of
the Constitution into the legality of Ms Knowles detention and order
she be produced in court on Thursday morning for that inquiry.
Dublin child homelessness figure

doubles to 1,400
Kitty Holland:Shameful:Dublin
Simon has described the figures as
unacceptable and shameful, while
FOCUS IRELAND said they showed
Government action has so far
failed to halt the constant flow of
families becoming homeless.-Irish

Times
Olivia Kelly: But the deal is a far cry from the proposal by
ALAN KELLY, Minister for the Environment, to link privatesector rent increases to the consumer price index for four
years. The measures wont make a dent in existing rents,
and its far from certain that they will make renting a viable
long-term option.-Irish Times(further down)
Kitty Holland:IRISH TIMES

Saturday, November 14, 2015,
01:00
There are now more than 1,400 homeless children in Dublin more
than twice as many as a year ago, the latest figures show.
Data published last night by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
show that during the week of 18th to 25th October there were
1,425 children in 677 families in emergency accommodation.
This represents a 109 per cent increase in the number of homeless
children since October 2014, when there were 680 children in
Of the total, 975 children in 461 families are in hotels, while 450
children in 216 are in supported homeless accommodation.
Shameful
Dublin Simon has described the figures as unacceptable and

shameful, while Focus Ireland said they showed Government
action has so far failed to halt the constant flow of families
becoming homeless.
Sam McGuinness, Dublin Simon chief executive, said he was
alarmed at the numbers. With no measures to stop the ever
rising flow of people into homelessness over the past year, we are
now faced with the very shameful situation where 1,425 children
are forced to lay their head in inadequate accommodation, scared
and vulnerable, without a safe home to look to this Christmas.
He said rent certainty measures announced by the Government this
week were inadequate, as rents remained unaffordable for the
poorest families dependent on rent supplement.
Mike Allen, director of advocacy with Focus Ireland, said the plan to
freeze rents for two years was welcome but added a rise in rent
supplement levels was necessary to keep poorer families in their
homes.
Cumulative impact
The families which became homeless in October did so primarily as

a result of the cumulative effects of rising rents over the last two
years, linked to a freeze in rent supplement, said Mr Allen.

Even if the Governments package does has the effect of slowing
down rents it will make no difference to the families who will
continue to lose their homes because of the cumulative impact of
rent rises over the last two years while the Government took no
action.
A spokeswoman for the DRHE, which manages homelessness
services in the capital, said month-on-month the provision of
emergency accommodation for families was being increased.
In addition the executive was working to ensure 500 modular
homes would be delivered next year to provide temporary
accommodation for homeless families. National homelessness data
for October are to be published by the Department of the
Environment over the weekend.
2015 irishtimes.com
Irelands rental crisis: Will new

measures help?
Olivia Kelly
Irish Times Saturday, November 14, 2015, 01:00

After months of inter-Coalition wrangling, and years of escalating
rents, the Government has come up with a solution to Irelands
rental-accommodation crisis: landlords can raise rents only every
two years instead of every year. As showpieces go its hardly
dazzling. But is it enough to make a difference?
There is a bit more to the package that the Government is calling its
new deal for tenants. There will be increased notice periods both for
ending a lease and for increasing rent. The long-promised depositprotection scheme, whereby tenants deposits would be held by the
Private Residential Tenancies Board rather than by a landlord, will
be set up.
But the deal is a far cry from the proposal by Alan Kelly, Minister for
the Environment, to link private-sector rent increases to the
consumer price index for four years. The measures wont make a
dent in existing rents, and its far from certain that they will make
renting a viable long-term option.
At other times this may not have mattered quite so much. Ten years
ago one in 10 households lived in privately rented accommodation.
Now its one in five, and another 10 per cent live in rented social
housing. Numbers renting are even higher in urban areas: a quarter
of Dublin city homes are privately rented. Historically, most Irish
people have viewed renting as a temporary measure, a stopgap
between leaving the nest and having the wherewithal to buy your
own place.
Even with so many more people renting, this perception hasnt
changed. A report late last year by the economic consultancy DKM
on the future of the private rented sector, commissioned by the

Housing Agency, showed a low appetite for long-term renting.
Almost three-quarters of renters planned to leave the rental market
this year or next. Just 17 per cent saw themselves as lifelong
tenants, and for most of those it was not because they wanted to
but because they had to. The majority in this category cited an
inability to afford a house as the main reason they had continued to
rent.
Separately, a large group of the population rent from landlords with
State assistance, and they dont seem to want to stay as privatesector tenants either.
We dont know for certain how many people want a council house.
The last national assessment of need, completed in 2013, showed
that just under 90,000 applicants were on local-authority waiting
lists. Dublin City Council had 16,000 on the list at the time; last July
the figure had increased to almost 21,600. More than 100,000
applicants are now likely to be waiting.
And these are just the people who have had their need for a council
house approved; many more are skittering around the eligibility
threshold and would like the stability of a council house in effect a
home for life, something the private rental sector certainly does not
guarantee.
What all these figures show is that almost nobody living in private
rental accommodation, supplemented or not, wants to be there.
And its easy to understand why.
The high cost of renting and the inability to control and predict that
cost in the medium or long term is a major drawback. Rents have
been rising steadily since 2013, particularly in Dublin. The rises
havent been minor: rents in the capital went up by 9.2 per cent in
the year to the end of June, and rents across the State went up by
5.8 per cent, according to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.
This means that the average Dublin renter, who had been paying
1,275 a month for a house or 1,152 for an apartment in the
summer of 2014, is now paying 1,387 for a house and 1,260 for
an apartment. Rents for houses outside Dublin increased from 656
to 695 in the year, and for apartments from 623 to 660.
Why has this happened? Its a simple equation of supply and
demand. To give the short version of the housing boom and bust:
we spent a few years building too many houses (more than 93,000
in 2006), many of them in the wrong places, then spent a few years
building far too few (8,301 homes in 2013) anywhere.
Things improved a little last year: 11,016 homes were completed,
but thats fewer than the number the year records began, 1970,
when 13,887 houses were built. The 11,016 built last year are just
over half what the Housing Agency says is the minimum needed to
meet demand.
Theres an inevitable trickledown effect. Without enough homes for
sale, would-be buyers keep renting. More people renting in a

market with fewer homes pushes up rents. More people renting who
in a normal market would have the money to buy pushes it up even
further.
Real solution
At the end of the chain are people who cant afford to rent
anywhere, and for whom social housing isnt available.
The only real solution is to build more. Construction 2020, published
in May 2014, was the Governments first response to this need. To a
large degree it was a strategy for strategies, recommending the
setting up of taskforces and working groups.
The recently announced Budget 2016 has more solid housingconstruction measures. Four thousand houses are to be provided
next year under the first phase of an initiative to build 20,000
homes on sites controlled by the National Asset Management
Agency by 2020. About 90 per cent will be in the Greater Dublin
Area, and three-quarters will be starter homes.
This weeks housing package also included an initiative aimed at
kick-starting the construction of 7,000 more affordable homes in
Dublin and Cork. Developers will receive rebates on construction
levies where a scheme has more than 50 homes and where houses
are priced at less than 300,000 in Dublin and 250,000 in Cork.
These initiatives should help to speed up supply, but building houses
takes a couple of years on average, so this doesnt alleviate the
immediate pressures on the rental market.
Thats where the new deal should help. The two-year rent freeze
gives private tenants breathing space to muster a deposit towards
their own home if they so wish or to find a better deal if measures
to increase supply and reduce prices work.
One announcement this week could bring a glimmer of hope to
tenants reliant on State support. Tax relief will be introduced to
encourage landlords to rent their properties to tenants in receipt of
social-housing supports such as rent supplement. These landlords
will be able to claim 100 per cent tax relief, up from the current 75
per cent. This carrot is more likely to yield results than any of the
Governments rent-regulation sticks.
The Government also hopes to boost the market by making
apartment construction more appealing to builders. Its guidelines
on apartment standards enforceable by ministerial direction are
to be issued early next year.
Apartments for hipsters

Here the Government is following the example of Dublin City
Council, which has put forward the notion of smaller apartments for
renters only described by one councillor as apartments for
hipsters. With 63 per cent of renters aged under 34, and
multinational firms that the Government is so eager to attract
saying that they cant find accommodation for their workers, there
may be a case for allowing these smaller units.

Another form of rental provision, which is likely to prove more
popular, is the idea of public housing. This would involve having
private developers and investors build housing on council land,
combining social rental with private rental.
Two schemes put forward in the Budget seem similar in intent. One
is the concept of an affordable-rental scheme, for which 10 million
from the sale of Bord Gis has been set aside to fund a pilot project.
This will be aimed at people whose incomes are above the threshold
for State rental assistance but who cannot afford private rents.
The other, for social-housing tenants, involves a new form of publicprivate partnership in Dublin. In the new scheme, sites stay in the
ownership of the State, and the developer receives payments for 25
years, after which the houses or apartments return to State
ownership.
These are positive moves that could stave off a similar rental crisis
in future. But they are unlikely to help people who right now cant
afford, or cant find, a place to rent.
2015 irishtimes.com
Alan Kelly (Labour) Backs Down on Rent Control.

Government plans to solve Irelands rental crisis could see
landlords hike rents immediately, will not prevent future
rises, and risks marking the return of low-quality bedsits to
the market.
Threshold chief executive Bob Jordan said the charity has
alerted officials to concerns rent would be inflated during
the review period a view shared by housing expert Dr
Lorcan Sirr, who said landlords will frontload rises because
they will not be able to next year. Irish Examiner Nov 7
Kelly had sought that rent increases be pegged to the cost of living.
But Minister Noonan(FG) backed by 25 Landlord TDs, and American
developers Kennedy Wilson forced him to bend the knee and
retreat.
Landlords can only increase the rent every two years now rather
than every year as before. Landlords must get three local examples
of rents to justify an increase.!!! This will make almost no
difference.In a situation where there is no competition between
landlords due to shortage of accomodation,landlords can simply
raise the rent by double the yearly increase every two years! AND
WORSE STILL, THE LANDLORD CAN HIKE THE RENT BEFORE THE
NEW LAW COMES IN.The Dil Sat All Night to Bail Out the Banks
bondholders, but there is no urgency to protect tenants!
And, of course, Alan is preparing to take water charges from your
pay or welfare cheque.
Focus Ireland Spokesperson said:However, we are highly
concerned it will fail to stem the constant rising flow of 70 to 80

families becoming homeless in Dublin alone very month. The
measures are far from a convincing response to the scale of the
problems we are facing, he added.
Housing Crisis is Due to the Restrictions of the EU Fiscal
Treaty and by PROHIBITION by the FG/Labour Government
of Local Authority Borrowing for House Building Purposes to
comply with these restrictions.
This policy leaves Government completely at the mercy of private
developers. US investors Kennedy Wilson advised Mr Noonans
officials(before Budget) by letter that investment in property here
could be eliminated if rent controls were introduced Irish
Examiner Nov2 2015
Therefore local authorities, which are currently debarred from
accessing Housing Finance Agency loans, due to concerns about its
implications for the national debt, need to be given permission to
borrow again for social housing provision Dr Michelle Norris, UCD
Government found it more Important to give away 750 million in
tax relief including 100 million to the Super-rich rather than allow
local authorities to borrow 750 million for housing purposes
THE HOUSING POLICIES of THIS GOVERNMENT and THE
PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAVE LEFT THOSE IN NEED OF
SOCIAL HOUSING IN A STATE OF VIRTUAL TOTAL NEGLECT
(I have brought together below articles by DR Rory Hearne, Dr
Michelle Norris and Fintan OToole on the housing crisis)
The housing crisis is due to the implementation of a policy under
which the ability of the rich to make profits out of housing provision
and the opportunity for the rich to pay low taxes on their incomes
and assets to the to the state, are prioritised over the need of all
citizens to have security of tenure in an adequate dwelling. The Free
Market IDEOLOGY to which Fintan OToole refers is being deployed
by governments and economists to justify this prioritisation.
The implementation of these pro-rich policies is enshrined in
legislation and EU treaties. Why cannot Local authorities borrow
money to fund a social house building programme? As Dr Michelle
Norris UCD attests (below)local authorities, are currently debarred
from accessing Housing Finance Agency loans, due to concerns
about its implications for the national debt.
Under capitalism, borrowing by the state to provide assets that will
endure for 100 years or more makes perfect sense. But FF,FG and
Labour supported an EU Fiscal Treaty which places restrictions on
state debt irrespective of human need. This leaves these parties
with three options in order to provide housing:
a) IMPOSE SERIOUS TAX INCREASES on INCOME AND ASSETS OF
THE SUPER-RICH
b) Leave the Provision of Housing to the Free Market
c) IMPOSE NEW TAXES ON the Majority of the Population
It is not surprising that governments of the rich opt for a

combination of b) and c)
KEY QUOTES FROM ARTICLES BELOW
It is a national emergency and without a significant shift in policy
the crisis will only worsen. At the current rate of families becoming
homeless there will be more than 6,000 children in emergency
accommodation by 2017. This is deeply traumatic for children and
their families. It is arguably a breach of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child.The current crisis results from decades of
housing policy that followed the private free-market approach
which treated housing primarily as a commodity and speculative
investment asset-Dr Rory Hearne, Tasc .
And still, after all weve been through, 75 per cent of the
Governments promised social housing is to be built (supposedly)
by the private sector.There is an almost obsessive fear of stating
the obvious that a large proportion of people will never be
decently housed by the market. Those citizens need a State thats
not afraid to clear the ground of narrow ideology and build on the
foundations of real human needs. That might involve relearning
another forgotten word republic. Fintan OToole Irish Times
Columnist
borrow again for social housing provision. This is the only realistic
method of raising sufficient finance for and delivering a social
housing programme on the scale required to meet current needs. A
relatively small amount of public borrowing for this purpose could
have enormous social benefits and cut spending on rent
supplements.-Dr Michelle Norris UCD
Rory Hearne: The STATE MUST INTERVENE IN THE HOUSING
MARKET
Last Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 05:15
The Irish housing system is in an unprecedented crisis. This is
visible in escalating rents, economic evictions, mortgage arrears,
repossessions, waiting lists, substandard accommodation and the
growing numbers of those unable to buy a home.
Rights of the Child.
The current crisis results from decades of housing policy that
followed the private free-market approach which treated housing
primarily as a commodity and speculative investment asset.
This continues today with the crisis being analysed as one of
demand outstripping supply and discussion focused on how to

incentivise the property industry to build more housing stock.
However, during the boom there was plenty of supply and still prices
rose to unaffordable and unsustainable levels contributing to the
crash. This is because price is determined not simply by demand
and supply but also by profit seeking, costs of investment, and
government regulation.
Developers can and do sit for decades on land or leave property
derelict until they consider it profitable to commence building. Right
now there is 2,233 hectares of undeveloped zoned land in the wider
Dublin region which could provide 102,500 new housing units.
The basic problem with a free market approach to housing is that
the private market only caters for a demand that can provide a
profit. If you cant provide a sufficient profit, as is the case with
many low income households, then you dont count. The current
crisis is not just a once-off market failure it is the modus operandi
of the private housing market. Predominantly free market or
neoliberal housing systems like ours are characterised by persistent
boom and busts, affordability problems, and exclusion.
That is why the state must intervene to protect people from the
market. It could do this in two ways which would fundamentally
address the crisis. Firstly, there is an immediate need for rent
certainty (where rents cannot be increased beyond a certain index
such as inflation) and improved tenant protections in the private
rented sector. Rent regulation exists in many European countries
(who incidentally have plenty of supply).
There is no constitutional impediment to such a measure, as Article
43.2.1 of Bhunreacht na hEireann states that the right of private
ownership ought to be regulated by the principles of social justice
and the State may, delimit by law these rights for the common
good. The introduction of rent certainty, as with other measures, is
clearly a political choice and the Constitution should not be hidden
behind as an excuse for inaction.
Secondly, a State Homes and Housing Agency should be formed to
deliver a historic social, rental and affordable house building and
refurbishment programme of well-planned, sustainable, and mixed
communities. This would be a partnership between local authorities,
government departments, housing associations, NAMA and
the Housing Finance Agency. It would have access to land, finance
and institutional expertise. It should have 1.5bn of annual capital
funding from the state. The current allocation of 500 million to new
social housing building in the Capital Investment Plan is inadequate
as it will only provide 1400 new units nationally next year with
fewer than 300 of those in Dublin City.
The Agency could build on the 30 hectares of land that Dublin City
Council is currently being forced to sell off through a Public Private
Partnership because it does not have the finances to build on it
itself. It could redirect into social use the 4.5billion NAMA plans to
invest with various vulture funds on high end office and apartment
developments. A Housing and Homes Agency could draw on finance
from the European Investment Bank. It could also compulsory
purchase vacant and derelict buildings and take over buy-to-lets in
arrears and convert them to low cost rental housing.
As it currently stands the 20,000 units the government has outlined
NAMA will provide in order to address supply will not be social units
but are to be delivered on a commercial basis and are more likely
to be sold to international investment funds rather than as starter
homes. Indeed NAMAs promotion of and involvement with global
wealth funds in the Irish property market must be questioned as to
how it is benefitting the Irish housing system. It is facilitating the
trend where housing is increasingly becoming a global investment
asset for the wealthy 1per cent.
Problems in our housing system are affecting economic
competitiveness, contributing to rising deprivation, inequality and
poverty, and lowering educational and employment prospects of
those affected. The 2008 crash should be a stark warning that a
rising property market is not necessarily a good thing. The housing
system will only be fixed when policy treats housing in the first
instance as a home, a social necessity and a human right, not a
speculative investment asset or commodity.
Dr Rory Hearne, Senior Policy Analyst, TASC Think-tank for Action
on Social Change
2015 irishtimes.com
Fintan OToole: Opposition to social housing is matter of
ideology not economics
Fintan OToole Irish Times : Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 04:00
Fellmongery is the preparation of animal skins for tanning. A pollard
is an animal that has had its horns removed. In 1949, official
statistics still listed Irelands principal products as including
fellmongery, laces, pigs heads, pollard and snuff.
Yet in that same year, 1949, my mothers family moved into the
Dublin Corporation house where I would later grow up. A poor,
primitive, backward economy could build social housing on a large
scale for people who lacked decent homes.
And the rich, developed, globalised Irish economy of 2015 cant.
In the late 1940s, when my family was housed, Ireland was still
recovering from the drastic economic effects of the second World
War. The average industrial wage was 5.59 a week for men and
2.97 for women.
In real terms, thats less than a third of average industrial wages in
1998 before the Celtic Tiger bubble. Fewer than a third of
households in 1949 had more than four rooms to live in. More than
60 per cent of households had no piped water supply. Nearly half
had no sanitary facilities only 255,000 houses had a flush toilet.

And yet the State could build social housing.
Health and education
Infant mortality was about a hundred times higher than it is now.
Kids still died in large numbers from pneumonia, TB, whooping
cough and diphtheria. Male life expectancy at birth was less than 65
years.
People were badly educated in 1950, a grand total of 4,500
students sat the Leaving Certificate exam and the number in all our
universities combined was 7,900. The entire output of Irish
broadcasting was seven hours of radio a day. There were just
43,000 phone lines in the State, only a third of them domestic.
The Irish economy, dominated by agriculture and food production,
was a paltry thing: total exports in 1949 amounted to just 61
million.
Almost all of this went to the UK as raw product the characteristic
Irish export was a live cow in the hold of a cattle boat. In order of
scale, the leading Irish exports in 1949 were cattle, horses, fresh
hen eggs, ale/beer/porter, chocolate crumb, dead turkeys and
tinned beef. This makes tinned beef our leading manufacturing
export.
The estate I grew up in, Crumlin in southwest Dublin, was built by
the local authority, Dublin Corporation, with funding from the
central government. The process actually started in the 1930s,
during the Great Depression: 250 acres of south Crumlin were
acquired by compulsory purchase in 1934 and the building of over
3,000 houses began more or less straight away.
The project was far from perfect. The houses were too small
most, like the one I grew up in, had just two bedrooms for big
(often extended) Irish Catholic families. (Our household, by no
means untypical, had three adults and five children.) Services and
facilities were slow to follow.
But the rent was affordable and the houses were a hell of a lot
better than what most people had before.
My mother had been living (with seven other people) in what was
essentially a one-room cottage in the Liberties; my father grew up
in a little hovel off the Dublin quays.
The market never had and never would give them a decent place
to live the State did so instead. For all the problems, people in
Crumlin had a secure roof over their heads and the chance to build
a good community. We had homes.
Why could the State do this in the hungry 1930s and the postwar
1940s but not now?
Not because we cant but because, as Enda Kenny put it last week,
interference in the market must be avoided. The desperation to
avoid the simple conclusion that government should build houses

for people who need them is about ideology, not resources. Fine
Gael, in particular, seems incapable of understanding housing as
anything other than a market.
Free-market ideology
It is striking that the decline in the building of social housing in
Ireland follows directly from the rise of so called free market
ideology in the Thatcher/Reagan era. In the mid-1970s, social
housing made up a third of all new houses. The shift in which that
proportion dropped to just 5 per cent was as disastrous
economically as it was socially the property bubble could not have
inflated without it.
by the private sector.
There is an almost obsessive fear of stating the obvious that a
large proportion of people will never be decently housed by the
market. Those citizens need a State thats not afraid to clear the
ground of narrow ideology and build on the foundations of real
human needs. That might involve relearning another forgotten word
republic.
2015 irishtimes.com
From Dr MICHELLE NORRIS UCD Letter to Irish Times
Sir, Fintan OToole (Opposition to social housing is matter of
ideology not economics, Opinion & Analysis, October 20th) in part
answers his own question when he asks why the State could afford
to fund a major social house-building programme during the
hungry Fifties when there was no free secondary education and
many of the social welfare benefits available today did not exist.
Relatively low spending on most other public services facilitated
levels of public investment in housing which were the highest in
western Europe at this time.
Growing spending on social welfare and health, particularly during
the 1970s, is one of the reasons why spending on social housing
was cut back. Therefore, unlike its counterparts in the inter-party
government of the 1950s, the current Government faces the
challenge of concurrently funding a social house building
programme and a comprehensive system of benefits and public
services.
However, the other part of the answer to the question raised by
Fintan OToole sheds light on how the current Government can meet
this challenge. High levels of social housing delivery were possible in
the 1950s because the funding method spread out the costs of
provision and kept them affordable for government. At this time
social housing was funded by very long-term loans, which were
repaid using a mix of central government subsidies, tenants rents
and the proceeds of domestic rates.
This funding model collapsed when domestic rates were abolished in

1978 and after that the exchequer paid for social house building in
lump-sum grants. The latter arrangement was less affordable
because the costs of provision were paid up front rather than spread
out over a long period, which helps to explain why insufficient
numbers of social houses were built even during the Celtic Tiger
period.
This lesson has been partially taken on board by policymakers and
in recent years loan finance had been provided for social housing
provision by non-profit housing associations by the Housing Finance
Agency, which borrows on capital markets and from EU institutions
for this purpose. The agency currently has some 500 million
available for lending to this sector at a fixed interest rate of 3.25
per cent.
However, despite great work by some housing associations, it is not
realistic to think that this sector, which delivered 25 per cent of
social housing prior to the bust, has the capacity to meet the full
scale of current housing needs, at least in the short term.
supplements.
Local authorities were traditionally the main providers of social
housing in Ireland, and Fintans OTooles article eloquently
describes the huge contribution which council housing made to
improving the lives of his own family in the 1950s.
I agree that they have to play a central role if we are to solve the
current housing shortage. However, I disagree with his assertion
that achieving this is a matter of ideology; an affordable method of
resourcing this work has to be put in place as well. Yours, etc,
Dr MICHELLE NORRIS,
School of Social Policy,
Social Work and
Social Justice,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4.
Speaking on Today With Sen O'Rourke last Friday, Fine

Gael MEP Brian Hayes while demanding answers from
Gerry Adams about the Brian Stack murder made the
preposterous statement that
"we weren't part of the conflict in this Republic".
Brian Hayes is utterly STUPID or a BLATANT LIAR. Or both.
Hayes (who once tried to join Sinn Fin) is part of a party
who were in power when the British security services
armed and sent their loyalist UVF proxies across the
border to set off car bombs in Monaghan and Dublin
during rush hour on 17th May, 1974 killing 33 people, the
highest death toll in a single day of the Troubles and
injuring almost 300.No-one has ever been charged with
the bombings. A campaign by the victims' families led to
an Irish government inquiry under Justice Henry Barron.
His 2003 report criticised the Garda Sochna's
investigation and said the investigators stopped their work
premature. (Wonder why?) It also criticised the Fine
Gael/Labour government of the time for its inaction and
lack of interest in the bombings. The report said it was
LIKELY that British security force personnel were involved
but had insufficient evidence of higher-level involvement.
However, the inquiry was hindered by the British
government's refusal to release key documents. The
victims' families and others have continued to campaign
for the British government to release these documents.
Brian Hayes is continuing the Fine Gael policy of doing
NOTHING to find out the truth about this atrocity. Brian
Hayes is happy to turn a blind eye to the British army's
dirty war in Ireland. Fine Gael are as subservient to the
British now as they were in 1974 when the present
Minister for Foreign Affairs's father Oliver J. Flanagan was
part of the Fine Gael/Labour government that FAILED to
investigate the bombings or hold the British to account.
Like father, like son.
With weasels like Brian Hayes and his party in power don't
expect the TRUTH about the bombings to be found any
time soon.
For even lower quality stuff check out our Fitzy, Harris and
Donohue even cheaper brands
Are you Sick of the Corruption and Greed yet?

f you want to help alleviate this and other issues facing the people
of Ireland, then please read, sign and share my petition, 'IRELAND'S
CITIZENS AND ANCIENT HISTORY AT RISK' via email, Facebook and
Twitter.
In 2010, due to spiraling debt, the Republic of

Ireland applied to the EU for financial
assistance, with the government agreeing to

an 85 billion euro (120 billion dollar) bailout
from the European Union and International
Monetary Fund, at which time they instituted a
four year austerity program of increased taxes
and spending cuts, that even today
dramatically effect health, emergency and
police services. (click on red links below)
Terminal cancer mum only received a hospital
bed when she rang radio station
Over 8,000 left on hospital trolleys in April
Record number of Dublin families became
homeless in January
Nearly 1,800 nurses needed to fill vacancies
in health system
Hospital job freeze to save funds will cost lives,
Harris is warned
Action by health minister urged after
ambulance service review
Capital is one of the areas worst hit by garda
cuts as crime soars
Living in fear: Garda cutbacks are deeply felt
in rural Ireland
That said, what if one more doctor, nurse or
garda could be hired, one more hospital bed

made available, one more ambulance put into
service, that could save just one life or prevent
one murder, rape or assault?
According to an article in the Irish
Independent, Irish heritage sites worth about
700m as tourist attractions, meant 166.6
million in tax revenue. Obviously, any loss in
taxes translates to funds being unavailable to
address the foregoing issues.
Since the advent of modern archaeology,
archaeologists have attempted to piece
together the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
history of sites and monuments in Ireland, with
limited success, this despite the fact the
inhabitants of the period left hundreds of
historical records that are quite literally carved
in stone.
Petroglyphs: Solving the Enigma (Short Film)
Over the past 9 1/2 years Ive authored three
papers on the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
rock art of Ireland, the UK and France. Based
on a preponderance of evidence, the symbols
comprising the panels simply depict the
earthen and stone monuments constructed

during that period. In short, the panels are
maps, which give us an insight into the
evolution of the sites and aid in locating
heretofore unknown sites.
However, the two prevailing schools of thought
are that the art is either abstract, or the motifs
depict visions by shamans while under altered
states of consciousness, neither of which has
ever been tested, nor can they ever be tested
and are, therefore, irrefutable conjectures.
Only unrefuted refutable conjectures deserve
any confidence at all. (Anthony G. OFarrell,
Professor Emeritus, Maynooth University)
In stark contrast, the map hypothesis can
readily be tested by non-invasive geophysical
survey and is, therefore, a refutable
conjecture.
Sadly, the panels of art; which deserve to be
protected just as any other ancient artifact, and
the sites they depict, are being lost at an ever
alarming rate due to erosion, landowners
expanding their fields and developers.
Even if this discovery only contributed a 10%
increase to tourism in Ireland, revenue that is

sustainable for centuries, that comes to an
additional:
70 million ($79 million) per year in overall
revenue
16.66 million ($19 million) per year in tax
revenue
Multiply that by 9 1/2 years, that comes to:
665 million ($750 million) lost in overall
revenue
159 million ($179 million) in lost tax
revenue
Despite the fact that the ministers of Arts,
Heritage and Gaeltacht have been made
aware of the foregoing, most recently Minister
Heather Humphreys, the DoAHG has
repeatedly dismissed the matter out of hand.
Tell Minister Humphreys to protect the
citizens of Ireland by protecting its history
and our world heritage.
Kurt D. Springs
PhD. (Anthropology) SUNY at Buffalo
Adjunct Professor, Manchester Community
College
Adjunct Professor, University of New

Hampshire-Manchester
Abdelhadi Ewague
PhD. (Archaeology) Cadi Ayyad University,
Morocco.
Professor, High school Fayssal Ibn Abdel Aziz.
Agadir. Morocco
Member in Center of the Studies and
Searches on the Moroccan Space
Julio Amador Bech
PhD. Anthropology and Archaeology
Full Time Professor Universidad Nacional
Autnoma de Mxico
Emilia Pasztor
PhD. Archaeoastronomy
Archaeologist, Istvan Turr Museum Baja,
Hungary
Michael P. Bletzer
PhD. Archaeology (SMU, Dallas, TX, USA)
Jornada Research Institute, New Mexico, USA
What can one say not a lot really
When will we learn what government
Agendas are really about its time to
Wake up
No homes for 2,470 of our children - UN report

shames our country
HOW many times does the Government have to be reminded that
the number of homeless children in Ireland is a crisis that must be
tackled with the utmost
IRISHEXAMINER.COM


Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing market
in Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record levels in
Dublin. While thousands of Irish families are homeless.
biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental market
in this country is reaching its limit.
It is the responsibility of TDs to register rentals when their

share of annual rent exceeds 2,600 a month. But Irish
politicians dont have to admit they have rental properties

eight properties.


the biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental
market in this country is reaching its limit. properties


eight properties.
Michael Healy Rae is one of the biggest political
landlords
Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, a rental apartment in Killarney,
Kerry, houses in Kenmare, Castleisland and Killarney,
and student accommodation in Limerick.
Mc Guinness rents out three properties in Dublin, three
in Kilkenny, a property in Limerick, a property in

TDs own rental property they are leasing out to
tenants.
However, the figure could be much bigger. 52 new TDs
are still to record their land and property interests with
the Oireachtas registry before January 2017.
Independent he had never seen a rental market such
as the one now in existence in Ireland, which has such
an imbalance between supply and demand.
The average rent in Ireland is now above 1,000 per month

and in some parts of the capital it has reached beyond
2,000 a month.
increase from a year earlier when the company
charged 1,250 per month.
, he said.
built.
and Nama.
Limerick.

Clara, Co Offaly.
Macroom, Co Cork.
Citywest in Dublin.
11: Pat Deering: 1 rental property in Rathvilly, Co
Carlow.
12: Chief whip Regina Doherty: 2 properties:
One in Ashbourne Business Park and City Campus in
Limerick.

16: Independent Noel Grealish: 2 properties and land:
He let out a house in Galway and a apartment in Dublin.
He also owns a 8,800 sq ft commercial unit in Briarhill,
Galway.
Road, Dublin 4.
Dublin.
inDublin.


Minister
May 17, 2016

market in Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record
homeless.

News Top News

rental sector strategy
Dec 13, 2016
Housing Ministers Simon Coveney and Damien English today
published the Strategy for the Rental Sector, part of the
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homeless.
The Strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings
of Security, Supply, Standards and Services which will address
both immediate and long term issues affecting the supply, cost
and accessibility of rental accommodation.
An Expert Group is also being established to explore the
opportunities for developing a viable cost rental model for
Ireland and a larger and more dynamic not-for-profit and
Approved Housing Body sector. The group will examine the
experience of other countries and develop a roadmap to grow
Our rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords or the
families under pressure, damages our national competitiveness
and stability in the investment environment. We need to tackle
the consequences and alleviate short term pressures and we
need to address the long term causes by delivering increased
supply.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4p9BR-qmkE
Simon Coveney hopes to welcome up to

12,000 refugees to Ireland in the next
two years
Aug 21, 2016
"In 2 Years Ireland will be welcoming 10,000 - 12,000
Refugees... Next Year ERSI is projecting we will have net
immigration of 10,000. That figure combined is more than all of

the houses completed last year. Unless we have a dramatic
ramping up of supply (of housing)... we are going backwards
quickly."
Simon Convey is a traitor who needs to be given a ride on a C17 and air dropped over Mogadishu with a chute and a letter of
introduction.
Simon Coveney Fine Gael, Minister for Housing, Planning and
Local Government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKsNL5BsTlc
Landlords of Leinster
House declare interests
Shane Ross
PUBLISHED
19/04/2015
3
Leinster House
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams receives a

pension from the Queen of England. The
ghosts of nationalists past must be haunting
his Donegal holiday home.
The last republican standing in Limerick, Fianna Fail's
Willie O'Dea, is a director of - and a shareholder in - a UK
company called 'Union Jack Oil'. The party's founder,
Eamon de Valera, must be rotating in Glasnevin cemetery.
Ten Labour Party TDs (one-third of the parliamentary
party) are landlords or landowners. James Connolly would
have imploded.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/shane-ross/landlords-of-leinsterhouse-declare-interests-31153379.html
Irish Independent
Evictions of tenants
to be blocked in
cases where homes

sold
02/12/2016

indicated he is prepared to stop landlords
selling 10 or more units and evicting tenants.
The move is being suggested as a
compromise after Opposition TDs and
senators tried to set the figure at five houses
or apartments.
The Planning and Development (Housing)
and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 had
proposed that a landlord who wants to sell 20
or more units in a development had to allow
tenants to remain in their homes.
However, following an amendment proposed
by senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Colette
Kelleher and Lynn Ruane, the number was
reduced to five.
The 'Tyrrelstown amendment' arose after a
large number of tenants living in a
development in west Dublin were served
notices of eviction after their homes were
purchased by a so-called "vulture fund".
However, at report stage in the Seanad on
Tuesday night, the Bill was changed and the
number reduced from 20 to five.
The Bill returned to the Dil yesterday where
Mr Coveney described the section of
legislation as "significant".
"This amendment was the subject of much
debate in the Seanad and the original figure
of 20 dwellings was reduced to five on foot of
a report stage amendment tabled by the
Opposition.
"I am in the process of taking advice on this
change and may need to come back to the
House on it if it makes sense to do so," Mr
Coveney said.
"I do not believe we should try to bring small
landlords into this category because we will
disincentivise people staying in the landlord
market if we do that.
"That is why we had suggested, in the
changes proposed, that the figure should be
10 rather than five, but we can discuss that
on committee and report stages."
Sinn Fin's Eoin Broin said the threshold of
20 was too high because "it means the vast
majority of people who are currently at risk of
homelessness, or who are in emergency

accommodation because they were made
homeless as a result of a property being
repossessed by a bank and the landlord
giving notice to quit, will get no additional
protections".
"The minister knows that landlords who have
20 properties or more represent about 0.56pc
of landlords and 15pc of tenancies. It would
be great for those people but the other 85pc
are left out," he said.
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen did not address the
issue of the 'Tyrrelstown amendment' during
his Dil speech yesterday but his party
allowed the reduced figure pass through the
Seanad.
Ruth Coppinger of AAA-PBP said the minister
should respect the Seanad decision as his
original figure of 20 would only cater "for a
tiny number".
She said 70pc of tenants live in properties
owned by a landlord with four properties or
fewer.
http://www.msn.com/enie/news/other/evictions-oftenants-to-be-blocked-incases-where-homes-sold/ar-
AAl2oBz
Coveney to bring housing

planning Bill to Cabinet
Councillors concerned about proposals in Bill giving
powers to An Bord Pleanla
Tue, Sep 27, 2016, 01:02
Sarah Bardon
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney: plans will mean developers will hold
initial informal discussions with councils, to be completed within a maximum of
nine weeks. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
New legislation will allow planning applications for large

housing developments of more than 100 homes to be
made directly to An Bord Pleanla rather than to local
councils. Minister for Housing Simon Coveney is to bring
the draft heads of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions)

Bill 2016 to Cabinet today.
Housing and Planning Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/20152016/0087/16087.pdf
A Guide to Planning Enforcement in Ireland

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/Fil
eDownLoad,31564,en.pdf
Department of Housing, Planning, Community
and ... at the disclaimer document on the Irish
Statutes ... SI 135 of 2007
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/pla
nning_and_development_regulations_2001__2015_unofficial_consolidation_annotated_17_12_2015.p
df
Irelands Housing Crisis. ... Initially under Part V of the
Planning and Development Act 2000 up to 20% of
developments
Housing crisis has become part of Irish vocabulary

in the last couple of years. But what are people
talking about when they use the phrase?
Are they talking about rising rents? The increase in
homelessness? The growing number of house
repossessions? The lack of construction?
Unfortunately, Irelands housing crisis does not
involve a single issue, but represents a confluence
of problems that have been growing under the
surface for many years, and each issue
exacerbates the others.
I will look at the issues individually, examining the
background, the keys figures, the causes and the
suggested solutions.
Background
Our housing system is based on a three pillar

system; home ownership, private rented
accommodation and social housing.
Home Ownership
The majority of the Irish population own their

homes rather than renting or receiving
accommodation from the State. According to the
National Economic and Social Council (NESC), 71%

of the population were home owners in 2011, with
19% renting on the private market and 9% renting
from a local council or approved housing body.
The NESC noted that home ownership was heavily
promoted by Government policies such as
mortgage interest relief and local authority loans.
The ECB economist Klaus Regling suggested that
the Irish were obsessed with home ownership.
Many historians say this was as a result of our
colonial past and having to pay tithes to English
landlords. Others says that owning property was
seen as a form of financial security or a future
pension plan.
Whatever the reason for our obsession with
owning property, it is becoming clear that we will
not be able to maintain such high levels of home
ownership into the future. This is partly due to a
lack of availability of housing, and partly because
of the strict mortgage controls which have made it
harder to get a loan to buy property.
Private Rented Sector
The number of people residing in the private

rented sector has doubled in the last five years,
from 10% of the population to over 20%.
This is due to two things: first, people are finding it
harder to buy property and are therefore renting
for longer periods.
Second, the Government has to a certain extent
privatised its social housing programme. The
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009
recognised social housing as now including
housing supports which the Government provides.
Housing supports include rent supplement, the
Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental
Accommodation Scheme. All of these involve the
Government paying to cover the rent for a claimant

who is renting on the private market.
Social Housing
Local authorities are the main providers of social
housing for people who cannot afford to buy their
own homes. Local authority housing is allocated
according to eligibility and need. Rents are based
on the households ability to pay.
If you qualify for social housing you will be put on a
housing waiting list. However, there has been a
chronic shortage of social housing.
Currently there are in excess of 100,000 people on
the social housing waiting list, with some people
waiting in excess of ten years.
1) Lack of Supply
Statistics
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Data from the Housing Agency shows that we need

to build a minimum of 21,000 houses a year in
order to meet demand.
However, figures from the Department of
Environment indicate that we are only building
about 11,000 houses a year. We will be about
4,000 housing units short of the estimated 7,000
units that need to be built in Dublin this and every
year for the foreseeable future.
The lack of supply is being demonstrated in other
ways:
There are over 100,000 people on the social
housing waiting list currently
There are 4,000 homeless people
Monthly rents in Dublin are just 2.3% lower than
they were at the height of the boom
It was recently reported that there are currently no
houses or apartments available for purchase in
Dublin city centre.
Problems
Initially under Part V of the Planning and

Development Act 2000 up to 20% of developments
above a certain size had to be set aside for social
and affordable housing.
However, Chief Executive of Threshold, Bob Jordan
argues that:
Unfortunately there were too many get-out

clauses in that legislation and the net
result wasnt 20% or anywhere near it, it
was more like 6%.
Ireland currently only has 9% of its housing supply
as social housing or local authority housing, while
England, for example, has 17%.
In the case of local authorities, there is almost a
total lack of new supply because of borrowing
constraints, and the fact that building costs are not
covered by the differential rent.
Jordan argues that we fell behind in house building
as a result of the recession.
Part of the bail-out programme was

reducing capital spending and
unfortunately housing took a massive hit
spending on social housing went down by
80%. The output of social housing went
down by 90%, and that continued for
seven years until recently. So we have had
almost a lost decade in which virtually no
social housing has been built and
obviously were paying the price for that
now.
2) Rising Rents
Taking into account inflation, rents in Dublin are at

almost the same levels as they were during the
height of the boom.
In the last year alone rents in Dublin have
increased on average by 9.3%.
However Jordan says that this masks what people
on the lower end of the market are facing.
50% of people coming to Threshold face a

rent increase of 200-400. To put this in
perspective, such a rent increase means
that a family on low income is expected to
find an extra 3,000-4000 a year just to
stay in their homes.
According the Threshold there has been a rise in
economic evictions, where people are forced to
leave their accommodation because they cant
afford to pay the rent any more.
Background
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act

2015 amended the main legislation covering
tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
Under Part IV of the 2004 Act you have security if
you reside in a property for more than six months
and you abide by the terms of the agreement, such
as paying rent and not acting in an anti-social
manner.
This security lasts until the tenant has been
residing for four years, after which time the clock
reset.
The landlord can terminate the tenancy for one of
the following reasons:
The landlord wants to sell the property within the
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next 3 months
The property is no longer suited to the needs of the
occupants
The landlord or a family member wants to move
into the property
Vacant possession is required for substantial
refurbishment of the property
The landlord intends to change the use of the
property
The 2004 Act provided that the landlord could only
increase the rent once a year, with 28 days notice,
and not more than the market level of rent for a
similar property in the area.
This legislation only covered a tenancy in the
private rented sector, and did not include renting
from an approved housing body or renting when
the landlord was also living on the property, among
others.
The Amendment Act modified the reasons for
terminating a Part IV tenancy. Where the property
is going to be refurbished the landlord must
include a copy of the planning permission, and
specify the name of the contractor and the dates
on which the works will be carried out.
If selling the property, the landlord must give a
signed statement that they intend to enter into an
enforceable agreement to transfer their whole
interest in the property for full consideration.
Where previously the maximum amount of notice
given for termination of a property any time after
four year was 112 days, the notice now increases
incrementally between 4 and 8 years. 224 days is
the new notice period for tenancies which have
existed for 8 or more years.
The Amendment Act put in place a temporary
provision to allow rent increases only once every
two years, and requires the landlord to give 90
days notice of an increase. It required that notice

be in writing, and include three examples of similar
properties in the area with the rent level sought.
It replaced all mentions of the private rented
sector with the rented sector in order to include
publicly owned rented buildings under the scope of
the legislation.
It also provides for a deposit retention scheme,
where deposits will be held by the Private
Residential Tenancies Board rather than the
landlord.
Problems
The Private Rented System

isnt fit for purpose
Until recently the private rented sectors was seen
as a place where people stayed for short periods of
time. They were students, or people saving to buy
a home or to move on to local authority housing.
While in the past renting was perceived to be
transient, there are an increasing number of people
who will be renting for the foreseeable future.
Unlike other countries where many people rent
long term or for the entirety of their lives, the Irish
system is built to be temporary. This is reflected in
the legislation, where definite security of tenure
only lasts four years.
Additionally, the Irish market is characterised by
landlords who only own one property. They often
buy these properties to increase their assets and
try to cover their mortgages through rent.
Currently two out of three landlords own only a
single property.
These amateur landlords are often ignorant of the
law or they will disregard it altogether. They do not
have economies of scale. Where something goes

wrong they are not familiar with the legal process
to pursue tenants for unpaid rent, damage to the
property, or where the tenant refuses to leave the
property despite being legally evicted.
These difficulties make landlords more likely to
leave the market in the long term, and to simply
sell their property when it becomes profitable.
Therefore, the market is unstable for both landlords
and tenants in its current form.
There are problems with the

quality of the housing
We saw two high profile scandals where large
blocks of housing turned out not only to be
substandard quality, but also dangerous.
While we have legislation in place which is
supposed to require minimum standards for
property being rented, it is hard to enforce.
If a property does not meet the standards the
tenant is supposed to refer the case to the local
council. The council will inspect the property
(which may take a while to happen depending on
their backlog) and if repairs are to be made they
will leave an Improvement Notice outlining the
required changes.
If the landlord does not carry out these works, the
housing authority may issue a Prohibition Notice,
directing the landlord not to re-let the property
until the breach of the regulations has been
rectified.
If the landlord does not abide by the prohibition
they then may be taken to court.
As a result of this long drawn out process not many
landlords are held up for renting sub-standard
accommodation.
Threshold suggest that properties should have to
be certified as meeting the minimum standards set

out in the legislation prior to being let.
Rent supplement limits do not

match the cost of renting
Government have not raised rent supplement
limits since 2013. They argued that increasing the
amount of money provided would only push up
rents further.
However, this has resulted in a rent supplement
limit of 950-1,000 for a family in Dublin when
the average rent is over 1,300.
Currently, rent supplement will not cover the rent
of 95% of properties.
It is even more problematic when you consider that
under the law you are not allowed to top up your
rent supplement.
Therefore, those who were already on the margins
of the housing system have been pushed even
further out.
The Government may reconsider limits now that
there is a two year rent freeze.
3) Homelessness
As of 30 November 2015, there are nearly 4,000

people who are homeless in Dublin, according to
the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE).
According to Cathal Morgan, the Director of the
DRHE, the biggest change in the homeless
situation has been the number of families
becoming homeless. There has been a 105%
increase in families becoming homeless since the
start of the year. On average 60-70 families
become homeless every month.
Previously those who became homeless were
referred to as the mad, sad and bad: people who
became homeless due to mental health and
addiction issues, relationship breakdown or a

history of institutionalisation.
However, due to rising rents, the increase in home
repossessions and the lack of supply of affordable
housing, there has been a growing number of
families who have ended up in emergency
accommodation.
Problems
There are a number of different

bodies responsible for dealing
with homelessness
Morgan argues that part of the reason there has
been a lack of building of social housing is that
there is no one body in charge of housing policy or
the construction of housing.
At the moment we have different

institutions responsible for different
elements of it. The Department of the
Environment is the lead department. It has
a housing division. The Housing Agency is
there as well, which is kind of a support to
the Department and to local government
as well. And then you have local
authorities and you have housing cooperatives and you have voluntary housing
bodies as well. And then you have the
private rental system. So that to me
doesnt suggest coherence.
Cathal Morgan on the need for a long term housing
strategy
The lack of social housing

means that a large number of
families are being placed in

hotels
Of the 705 families who are homeless, 500 are
currently living in hotel rooms which are being paid
for by the State.
Morgan argues that not only is this financially
inefficient, but it also have negative consequences
for the families.
If youre in a hotel you cant cook for

yourself, youre eating out all the time,
youre making arrangements to send your
child perhaps ten, twelve miles to school.
So theres a lot of hidden costs We cant
deny the psychological and the physical
aspects of being in homeless services are
quite substantial for the households.
Homeownership and Rental- What Road
is Ireland On? No. 140 December 2014
http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_reports/en/140_
Homeownership_and_Rental.pdf
Published on Tuesday 13th December 2016
Ministers Coveney and English launch rental

sector strategy
Housing Minister Simon Coveney speaking at the launch of the

Strategy for the Rental Sector in the Government Press Centre
Housing Ministers Simon Coveney and Damien English today published
the Strategy for the Rental Sector, part of the Rebuilding Ireland: Action
Plan for Housing and Homeless.
The strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings of
An expert group is also being established to explore the opportunities
for developing a viable cost rental model for Ireland and a larger and
more dynamic not-for-profit and Approved Housing Body sector. The
group will examine the experience of other countries and develop a
roadmap to grow new capacity for delivering cost rental options.
Our rental sector is not delivering for

tenants, landlords or the country. We need a
strong and viable rental sector as a long
term tenure of choice for families and as a

secure investment environment for
landlords. Dramatic rental inflation puts
families under pressure, damages our
national competitiveness and stability in the
investment environment. We need to tackle
the consequences and alleviate short term
pressures and we need to address the long
term causes by delivering increased supply.
Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning, Community
and Local Government, and Mr. Damien English T.D. Minister of
State with responsibility for Housing & Urban Renewal today (13
December 2016) published the Strategy for the Rental Sector,
following Government approval of the comprehensive and
ambitious plan at todays Cabinet meeting.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney said, Our rental sector is
not delivering for tenants, landlords or the country. We need a
strong and viable rental sector as a long term tenure of choice for
families and as a secure investment environment for landlords.
Dramatic rental inflation puts families under pressure, damages our
national competitiveness and stability in the investment
environment. We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate
short term pressures and we need to address the long term causes
by delivering increased supply.
The development and publication of a Strategy for the Rental Sector
delivers on a commitment made under the Rebuilding Ireland:
Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which was published in
July 2016. The development of a viable and sustainable rental sector
that can provide choice, quality and security for households and
secure, attractive investment opportunities for landlords has never

been more important. The Minister announced that he is
introducing with immediate effect a rent predictability measure
that will moderate the rate of rent increase in those areas of the
country where rents are highest and rising quickly. The measure is
based on the concept of Rent Pressure Zones; these are areas
where annual rent increases have been at 7% or more in four of the
last six quarters and where the rent levels are already above the
national average. In these Rent Pressure Zones rent increases will be
capped at 4% per annum for the next 3 years. The measure will be
introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local Authority
areas and in Cork city. Rent pressure zones will be designated for a
maximum 3 years, by which time new supply will have come on
stream and pressures will have eased somewhat in these areas.
The Strategy also contains a number of measures to support supply
by encouraging new investment and bringing unused capacity to the
market. Measures include Build to Rent developments and the
accelerated roll out of Repair and Leasing and Buy and Renew
Initiatives.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is core to delivering on a daily
basis the services that meet the needs of both tenants and
landlords. The strategy puts forward a number of measures that will
broaden and strengthen the role and powers of the RTB to more
effectively provide key services to tenants and landlords."
The Strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings of
Security bringing greater tenure and rent certainty to landlords
and tenants;
Supply maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging
investment in additional supply;
accommodation; and
Services broadening and strengthening the role and powers of the
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to more effectively provide their

services and empower tenants and landlords.
Accelerating Dispute Resolution timeframes by reducing time for
appeals from 21 to 10 days and by providing for one person
tribunals in certain cases; allowing the RTB to hold more tribunals.
Developing a One Stop Shop within the RTB to improve access to
information for tenants and landlords.
The RTB will introduce a voluntary landlord accreditation scheme
to support landlords in accessing best practice and promoting a
comprehensive understanding of the statutory obligations.
Reducing risk and increasing security for both landlords and tenants
is essential to the development of the residential rental sector as an
attractive tenure choice for tenants and as a safe and viable
investment choice for a range of investors. The strategy includes a
range of measures aimed at enabling a shift towards secure and
long-term tenancies which serve the interests of both landlords and
tenants. Measures include;
Effective Termination Procedures - changes to RTB procedure will
be introduced to reduce the time taken to repossess a property
when a tenant is not complying with their obligation to pay rent.
Changes to the obligations of institutional landlords where multiple
units are being sold - the sale will be subject to the existing tenants
remaining in situ.
Encouraging long term letting by providing for unfurnished lettings
where leases are 10 years or more.
Minister Coveney also announced the establishment of an Expert
rental model for Ireland and a larger and more dynamic not-forprofit and Approved Housing Body sector. The group will examine
the experience of other countries and develop a roadmap to grow
The actions on standards for rental accommodation as set out in the
Strategy will ensure that an effective regime of quality assurance is

in place for the rented sector. Tenants will be reassured that the
properties they are renting are safe, efficient, durable and
comfortable. Landlords will be made fully aware of their obligations
through a consistent and uniform shared service approach by local
authorities.
under the headings of Security, Supply, Standards and Services.
Timelines for the various actions are included, with immediate
enactment being targeted for the rent predictability measure via the
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill
2016 which commences Committee Stage in the Dil today.
A Package to deliver Rent Certainty

and Housing Supply
uesday 10th November 2015
Introduction
This integrated housing package, agreed by Government, is a
comprehensive set of measures to deal with the problems currently
being observed in the Irish housing market. Since taking office,
Government has been dealing with the fallout of the property
collapse. Now, as the recovery takes hold, a new set of problems has
arisen in the market that require Government action, particularly in
relation to the private rental sector and in relation to the lack of
supply of housing in areas where it is needed. The package also
contains important measures which will help tackle the on-going
issues in relation to the increasing numbers presenting as homeless,
and help those most vulnerable to falling into homelessness to find
accommodation.
The Government has already taken several measures to improve
outcomes, such as launching a 3.8 billion Social Housing Strategy
which will deliver 35,000 new social housing units and an additional
75,000 new social housing tenancies by 2020. Government has also
introduced other measures to stimulate the supply of housing, such
as the introduction of a Vacant Site Levy in 2019 and other
measures provided for in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act.
The measures set out below are an integrated and appropriate set
of changes to the sector which are designed to give certainty to

tenants in relation to their rent, to better protect tenants in their
homes, provide clarity to both tenants and landlords as regards
their rights and obligations, and to stimulate the supply of housing
provision in areas where it is needed.
There is no doubt that these changes will be of substantial benefit to
the 700,000 or so people now living in the private rented sector in
Ireland. As the numbers renting have doubled from just over 10% of
households to over 20% of households in less than a decade, these
measures are an appropriate and timely set of policy changes which
recognise the more important role which private renting now plays
in the Irish property market.
Ultimately, the rapid increase in rents seen in recent years is being
caused by a mismatch between levels of supply and demand for
rental accommodation where it is needed. This package includes a
considerable number of proposals to increase the number of
housing units being delivered at affordable levels. When taken
together with the on-going implementation of the Construction 2020
Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy, a comprehensive
framework is in place to deliver more homes for those who need
them.
1. Measures to Improve the Private Rented Sector
Approximately 1 in 5 Irish households, living in approximately
320,000 properties, is now renting their home in the private sector.
One third of those households are in receipt of State rental support.
This represents a doubling in size of the private rented sector
between Census 2006 and Census 2011. Further analysis shows that
the social rented sector in Ireland (i.e. rented from a local authority
or Approved Housing Body), relative to most other EU countries,
makes up a small percentage of housing tenure. Social housing in
Ireland makes up 9% of households, as compared to 15% in France,
22% in Germany, 31% in the Netherlands and 20% in the UK. One of
the effects of this is that there is a considerable reliance on the
private rented sector for the provision of social housing in Ireland.
By any standard, this is a rapid change in the structure of Irelands
property market, which in the context of the on-going market
conditions, and taken together with the lingering effects of the
property collapse, strengthen the argument for measures to be
taken to provide for a better functioning and more stable rental

market. Rental levels have increased significantly since 2012, and
are now increasing in Dublin by 9.2% per year, 10.1% per year in
Wicklow, up to a high of 14.4% per year in Co. Meath, and by close to
or greater than 10% per year in most other large urban centres
across the State (Daft.ie Q2 2015 Report).
The most recent data from the PRTB shows that in the second
quarter of 2015 rents were 7.1% higher nationally than in the same
quarter of 2014. These annual rates of increase were driven mainly
by the Dublin market. Annual growth in rents for the market outside
Dublin was more subdued; in the 12 months to end of Q2, 2015,
rents there were higher by 5.8%. The latest PRTB stats show that
rents in Dublin were only 3.5% below where they were at their
highest in 2007. They are likely to have closed the gap even further
since then.
In terms of supply, with a projected residential unit completion in
Dublin of 2,700 units for the year to end 2015, compared to a supply
requirement of roughly 7,000-8,000 units per year, there is clearly a
lack of delivery of sufficient supply, which is putting upward
pressure on rents.
The average rent in Dublin is now 1,262 per month while the
average monthly rent outside Dublin is 677. The average monthly
rent nationally is 878. The issue of rapidly rising rents is particularly
acute in Dublin but it is also an issue in other cities and, increasingly,
in the commuter areas adjacent to Dublin as tenants who can no
longer afford to rent in the city looks to the commuter counties for
affordable accommodation.
Housing affordability is measured by the proportion of household
income that is spent on mortgage or rental payments. According to
the National Statement of Housing Supply and Demand 2014 and
Outlook for 2015-2017, published by the Housing Agency in July
2015, as a general guide a rent set at below 35% of net income is
deemed to be a sustainable rent. Data from the NESC Report on
Homeownership and Rental in Ireland indicates that while the
amount of household income spent on housing has increased for all
tenure types, this increase has been most pronounced in the private
rented sector. The report Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector
commissioned by the PRTB and carried out by DKM Economic
Consultants found that a single person on average earnings of
36,000, paying a (lower than average) monthly rent of 957 for a 1
bed apartment in Dublin, would be allocating 41% of net income to
the cost of renting. On this basis, renting as a single person in the
Dublin market is not generally affordable and has not been so for
some time. For households earning below the average income there
is clearly an affordability issue in the main cities, most notably
Dublin, as competition from medium and high income households is
squeezing them out of the market and there is an inadequate supply
of housing at rents these lower income households can afford.
While the ultimate cause of the rapid increase in rents is the lack of
supply of suitable accommodation, and while appropriate measures
are also set out in this package to deal with the issue of supply, it will
be some time yet before that supply comes on stream. As the supply
of housing is very inelastic in the short run, measures in the rental
market are required to deal with the situation currently being
observed. A package of measures is set out below to deal with the
twin issues of rapidly rising rents and insufficient supply of housing
in the right areas. Measures are also proposed that will significantly
improve the legal protections for tenants and to substantially
increase tenants awareness their rights.
Measures are also set out below which will directly help vulnerable
families either already assessed as being homeless or at risk of
homelessness to find accommodation.
The Government is determined to tackle these issues in a forthright
and determined manner, and to take the action which is now
required to deal with the problems in the Irish rental market.
1.1 Measures That Will Benefit Tenants
A package of legislative measures is being introduced to provide for
greater rent certainty and also improved operation of the sector,
including through the role of the Private Residential Tenancies
Board, to the benefit of landlords and tenants alike. The following is
a summary of the measures involved, which will be given effect
through Committee Stage amendments to the Residential Tenancies
(Amendment) (No. 2) Bill which has completed its passage through
the Dil and is awaiting Committee Stage in the Seanad. The aim is
to have the legislation passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas as
early as possible in the current session.
Extended Period for Rent Reviews
The primary measure proposed is to amend the Residential
Tenancies Act so that from enactment of the necessary legislation,
rent reviews for all tenancies will take place every 24 months rather
than every 12 months as currently is the case, subject to a sunset
clause which will revert the period to 12 months in 4 years time.
This will involve no change to the fundamental mechanism for
determining rents under the legislation, which is by reference to
market rent, yet will provide the tenant with a longer period of
predictable rent.
Example 1: Deirdre and Anthony, a young couple with two children,
renting a 3 bed house in Dublin, signed a lease in April 2014, at a
rate of 1,200 per month. The landlord may increase the rent every
12 months, so in April 2015, the landlord increased the rent to
1,300 per month. Deirdre and Anthony are worried that the
landlord will increase the rent again in April 2016. The landlord had
planned on increasing the rent to 1,400 per month. With this
change, the landlord cannot increase the rent until April 2017.
Deirdre and Anthonys rent is frozen for 2016 at 1,300. Deirdre and
Anthony save 1,200 in rent as a result.
Example 2: Rachel, a lone parent with one child renting a 2 bed
apartment in Galway, signed a lease in December 2014, at a rate of
800 per month. Rachel is worried that the landlord will increase
their rent in December 2015. The landlord planned on increasing
the rent to 875 per month but, with the enactment of these
measures, cannot increase the rent until December 2016. The rent is
frozen until December 2016 at 800 per month. Rachel saves 900
in rent in 2016 as a result.
Example 3:
Michael and Stephen, a couple renting a 2 bed house in Cork, signed
a lease in March 2015, at a rate of 900 per month. Michael and

Stephen were worried that their landlord would increase the rent in
March 2016 to 1,000 per month. Now, Michael and Stephen do not
need to worry about a rent increase until March 2017.
Example 4: Larry and Mary, a couple living in Dublin, with their 3
children, rent their 3 bed house for 1300 per month. Their last rent
review was in September 2013. Upon enactment, Larry and Marys
landlord can initiate a rent review at any time, as it is more than two
years since their last rent review. However, once the other measures
in relation to rent reviews outlined below are brought into effect,
their next rent review will have to respect the new requirements
involved.
Other Measures to Improve the Rights of Tenants:
In addition to the primary measure set out above, the Government
will substantially improve the rights of tenants in the private rental
sector, through the following measures:
Longer Notice of New Rent
The current requirement for a landlord to give their tenant a
minimum of 28 days notice of new rent is to be extended to a
minimum of 90 days, giving tenants a longer period to find new
accommodation, if necessary.
Form of Notification of New Rent to Tenant
In future, a landlord, when notifying a tenant of new rent, will have
to provide the notification in a particular format, which will include
providing information to the tenant in relation to the dispute
resolution procedures that a tenant can pursue through the PRTB,
where necessary, and specifying supporting information that will
need to accompany the notice, including information in relation to
the rents of 3 other similar dwellings in the area.
Notification of Rent Increases to the PRTB
In addition to notifying the PRTB of an increase in rent within 1
month, as is currently required, landlords will be required to also
provide additional supporting documentation, including a signed
statement by the tenant that they have been made aware of their
rights and supporting documentation in relation to market rent for 3
similar dwellings in the area.
Longer notice period for tenancy terminations
Building on the current legislative position, whereby the period of
notice of tenancy termination increases according to the length of
the tenancy, up to a maximum of 112 days notice for tenancies of 4
years or more, further graduated increases in the notice period are
to be introduced, up to a maximum of 224 days for tenancies of 8
years or more, as follows:
8 or more years 224 days
Strengthen protections for tenancy terminations
In order to guard against unscrupulous landlords evicting tenants by
falsely declaring that the property is needed for a family member, or
that it is going to be sold etc., measures are being put in place to
better protect tenants from such behaviour. These measures
involve:
i) a landlord having to explain in a written statement to the tenant
why a property might no longer be suitable to their accommodation
needs having regard to the number of bed and the size and
composition of the household;
ii) a landlord having to make a statutory declaration as to their
intention to sell a property;
iii) a landlord having to make a statutory declaration that the
property is needed for his or her occupation or that of a family
member.
Confirmation of tenancy additional information to landlords and
tenants
While the PRTB currently sends an acknowledgement of a tenancy
registration to the landlord, in future, both landlords and tenants
will be notified of tenancy registration and the notice will also advise
both parties of their rights and obligations and of the dispute
resolution procedures that are available through the PRTB.
Sharing information with Revenue Commissioners

In order to support further compliance in the sector, the notification
from the PRTB to the landlord and tenant confirming a tenancy
registration will also state that the PRTB routinely discloses
information to the Revenue Commissioners.
Deposit Protection Scheme
Under this scheme, landlords will lodge tenancy deposits with the
PRTB at the same time as they are registering their tenancy. The
PRTB will hold these deposits for the duration of the tenancy.
If the landlord agrees, the deposit will be repaid to the tenant at the
end of the tenancy. Where there is no agreement between the
landlord and tenant on how the deposit is to be repaid, the parties
may apply to the PRTB for dispute resolution.
1.2 Measures That Will Benefit Landlords
Measures are being introduced to make it easier for landlords to
deal with tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour, or those who
refuse to pay their rent.
Enforcement of PRTB Determination Orders
Landlords have consistently called for more and faster enforcement
by the PRTB in order to deal primarily with cases of rent arrears and
anti-social behaviour. The relevant legislation will be amended so
that PRTB Determination Orders can be enforced in the District
Court rather than the Circuit Court, reducing costs and case
processing times.
Validity of Notices of Termination
The legislation will also be amended to address an issue of key
concern to landlords regarding Notices of Termination so that,
where there is a dispute between a landlord and a tenant, a minor
error in the Notice of Termination does not have the effect of
invalidating the notice and causing a dispute resolution case to fall.
1.3 Measures That Will Help Tenants in Need of Support
Tax Incentive for Landlords who take HAP/RAS/RS Tenants
A tax relief scheme will be introduced to incentivise landlords to rent
their properties to tenants in receipt of social housing supports such

as rent supplement payable by the Department of Social Protection
and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), payable by certain local
authorities.
The scheme will operate on the basis of providing a 100% interest
deduction for landlords as an expense against rental income
(increased from the current 75% limit applicable to residential
lettings), where they commit to providing accommodation for those
in receipt of the above payments. The accommodation would need
to be available for a minimum period of 3 years and the tenancy
would have to be registered with the Private Residential Tenancies
Board (PRTB)[1].
The increase in the deduction (from 75% to 100%) would be
provided to the landlord on a retrospective basis after the three
year period has ended and where necessary certification is provided
to confirm that the terms of the scheme were met.
The legislation to provide for this change will be brought forward by
the Minister for Finance at report stage of the Finance Bill, 2015.
Increasing the homeless HAP Pilot limits by 50%
The maximum rent limits applying to properties that can be
accessed by people assessed as being homeless in Dublin are being
increased to 50% over rent supplement limits. This means that a
homeless family in need of a 3 bed in Dublin will now be able to find
accommodation to the value of 1,500 per month.
Example: A family with 3 children is assessed as being homeless and
placed in emergency accommodation. They are in need of a 3 bed
home, which has a regular rent supplement limit of 1,000 per
month in Dublin. Before this package, the homeless family could
only access private rented accommodation to the value of 1,200
per month (1,000 rent supplement limit + 20% under Homeless
HAP uplift). Now the family can rent accommodation up to the value
of 1,500 per month and the landlord can gain the additional tax
incentive, laid out above, if they are eligible. This increases
substantially the number of properties available to be accessed by
homeless families.
Affordable Rental
Affordable rental schemes operate on the premise that a provider of
housing receives some form of subsidy or concession from the State
for the provision of dedicated rental accommodation in return for
which the rent charged is pitched below market rent typically 7080% of the market rent. The overall objective of an affordable rental
programme would be to provide long-term affordable residential
accommodation for low to moderate income key-worker
households in urban areas of high demand. A model for an
affordable rental pilot project will be developed and launched in
early 2016.
2. Measures to Support Increased Housing Supply
A major contributing factor to the current rental crisis is the lack of
sufficient construction activity in the Dublin and Cork regions,
causing a lack of sufficient supply and putting pressure on rental
levels. Action is required to increase the number of new homes
under construction in Dublin and Cork, particularly in relation to
units which are required at below certain price points.
In addition, a range of factors arising from the housing downturn
are holding back the activation of existing planning permissions at
the more affordable price levels urgently required, notwithstanding
the progress made by the Government under the Urban
Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 in reducing costs arising from
Part V obligations and by local authorities in reducing their
development contributions
While the policy, funding and legislative measures being taken by
Government and local authorities under Construction 2020, such as
the Vacant Site Levy which takes effect in 2019, will begin to have
wider effects in reducing costs and improving affordability in the
housing market from 2018 onwards, a more immediate initiative is
required to encourage supply in the interim.
In particular, the Government has noted the analysis undertaken by
the Dublin Housing Supply and Co-ordination Task Force (DHTF) and
other local authorities, which confirms that there are a significant
number of houses and apartments for which planning permission

has already been granted in Dublin and Cork, where the issue is
most acute, but on which construction activity is not occurring.
Latest figures show that for the first 9 months of 2015, Dublin house
completions were at 2,057 units; down 14% on first 9 months 2014
(projected end-year output of some 2,700 units, as compared to a
projected supply requirement of approximately 7,000-8,000 units).
In addition, much of the new housing supply coming on stream is
costing in excess of 300,000 which is a price level that is beyond
the reach of new house purchasers.
Therefore, the Government has decided to bring forward supply
related measures designed to enhance the viability of construction,
in the locations of greatest need and at price points people can
afford.
In addition to the primary measure of a targeted development
contribution in Dublin and Cork for housing delivered at certain
price points, a number of other measures to stimulate facilitate the
provision of housing supply are set out below.
These measures include changes to planning guidelines on
apartment standards, support by ISIF for the delivery of housingenabling infrastructure, measures to maximise the potential of
Strategic Development Zones (SDZs) and measures by NAMA to
finance the delivery of 20,000 residential units by 2020.
Taken together, these provisions are designed to speed up the
delivery of housing supply, which will help alleviate the situation in
the rental market and increase the number of affordable homes.
2.1 Targeted Development Contribution Rebate
To enhance supply at prices people can afford a once-off initiative
will be put in place to kick-start increased supply of new housing
construction at more affordable prices under 300,000 in Dublin
and 250,000 in Cork.
The initiative will provide for the following;
Accelerate delivery of up to 7000 more affordable homes in Dublin
(the 4 local authority areas) and Cork (city and contiguous suburbs),
where there is a significant mismatch between predicted demand
and the current market response in terms of supply;
Establish an Exchequer funded Infrastructure Fund to meet the cost
of the rebates so that the local authority would not be at the loss of
development contributions revenue which they require to deliver

local infrastructure investment programmes on roads and services
and parks and amenities for newly developing or regenerating
areas;
Rebates will apply to developments where a project plan is
submitted to the relevant local authority indicating that the
development is for more than 50 units commenced after the announcement of
this package, and completed and sold in 2016 and 2017;
units, within appropriate floor areas, will be priced under 300,000
in Dublin and 250,000 in Cork.
Once homes are sold in line with the agreed project plan and price
points, a rebate would be payable from the Infrastructure Fund in
2017 and 2018 to developers subject to meeting agreed price points
and delivery targets and quality assurance, tax compliance and
limits on construction costs as a proportion of the sale price.
The initiative comes on top of reductions of 26% in development
contributions in the Dublin area, legislative changes to allow this
reduction to be applied to existing planning permissions, reductions
in Part V obligations (estimated at c. 10,000 per unit) and proposed
changes to the apartment planning conditions in Dublin City (which
will lead to an estimated average cost reduction of 20,000 per unit).
Arrangements will be finalised over the coming weeks with the
relevant local authorities with a view to the scheme being launched
before year end, at which stage full details of the application process
will be published. Provision will be made within the scheme to cover
any developments which commence from 11 November 2015, and
will otherwise meet the qualifying criteria, within the initiative.
2.2 Planning Guidelines on Apartment Standards
There are very few apartment schemes being developed at present
in the key urban areas and good quality apartment development
has a key role to play in meeting housing needs while avoiding
urban sprawl.
Therefore, the Minister will use his powers under the Planning and
Development Acts to issue guidelines on apartment standards which
will set a consistent national approach and ensure that planning
authorities do not seek requirements above the national standards.
These new guidelines, to be published by early December, will build

on the floor areas set in 2007, following detailed research and deal
with specific issues such as number of lifts per number of
apartments, car parking provision, provision of dual aspect
apartments (apartments with windows facing on more than one
side) that are not specifically addressed in the current guidelines.
The approach will also allow for variation in relation to meet the
needs of certain categories of dwellings housing for older people,
students and to allow for some level of studio apartments in
managed build to let developments.
The focus of the changes will be on ensuring a consistent approach
that enhances practical aspects to viability for investment in
apartment development generally rather than a reduction of
standards.
2.3 Supporting Infrastructure Delivery
As part of the cross Governmental action to deliver sustainable
housing supply in the future, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
(ISIF) will support the delivery of housing-related enabling
infrastructure in large scale priority development areas. This
support is in order to kick start the development process, provided
such financing can be done on the basis of appropriate risk and a
commercial return for the risks taken. Proposals will be assessed on
a project by project basis.
2.4 Strategic Development Zones
In line with Action 24 of the Governments Construction 2020
strategy, review of the existing arrangements for Strategic
Development Zones (SDZs) has been undertaken with input from
stakeholders. Following on from this, it is proposed to introduce
new legislative provisions which would allow An Bord Pleanla to
approve alterations to SDZ planning schemes without the proposer
having to start the process again. In particular, the aim will be to
facilitate changes to some site configuration or phasing, where there
was no change to the overall objective of the scheme.
2.5 Supply of Units through NAMA
The Minister for Finance has already indicated in Budget 2016, that
in line with the NAMA Act, he asked the NAMA Board to review the
residential sites under its control and to estimate what it could

deliver on a commercial basis, in terms of residential units, over the
next five years consistent with NAMAs mandate to deliver the best
financial return to the taxpayer. In response, NAMA is aiming to
fund the delivery of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020.
This initiative is designed to maximise the return that NAMA can
generate on behalf of taxpayers from funding the development sites
under its control. NAMA is currently carrying out a detailed, site-bysite, bottom-up review of the residential sites controlled by its
debtors and receivers and estimates that 90% of these units will be
in the Greater Dublin area. About 75% of these units will be houses,
mainly starter homes.
THE WAITING LIST for social housing is much longer

than the government has previously disclosed, according
to new figures released by Fianna Fil today.
Figures from each local authority in the country show that
there are just over 130,000 households who have applied
for and are on the social housing waiting list and not the
89,000 the government has claimed.
Fianna Fil says this number is from 2013 and there has
been a surge of 45% nationally since then.
However, the Department of Environment has disputed
the Fianna Fil figures claiming its analysis is more
comprehensive, rigorous and accounts for potential

duplication on some housing lists.
The new figure of 130,008 was complied from data Fianna
Fil collated from 28 of the 31 local authorities that
responded to Freedom of Information requests.
The scale of this problem is far greater than the
government would have you believe, Fianna Fils
environment spokesperson Barry Cowen said today,
describing the situation as a scandal.
It is my contention that they have been economical with
the truth from their perspective and the cat is out of the
bag. The real figure is 130,000 applications on the social
housing waiting list.
In Roscommon the housing waiting list has increased
157% from 252 to 648 while in the Taoiseachs
constituency of Mayo there has been a 100% surge from
1,479 to 2,965.
Heres a full breakdown of the figures provided by each
local authority to Fianna Fil:
*Denotes that this local authority did not respond to

Fianna Fil and figure is drawn from national average
of 44.99%
In Dublin city there has been a 30% increase from 16,171
to 21,015. While in both Galway city and county there has
been an increase of over 80%.
Cowen said that in many cases the figures include joint
applicants and families. The Laois Offaly TD estimated
that the actual real number of people in need of social
housing could stand at 300,000.
He said in some cases families have been waiting up to

seven years on a social housing waiting list.
The governments own analysis is that of those in need of
social housing, 44 per cent are single person households
and 30 per cent are single adults with a child or children.
Fianna Fils Robert Troy said he had never come across a
problem as big as this in his 11 years as a public
representative.
I can honestly say that I have never witnessed anything
like the number of representations that I am getting on a
daily and weekly basis in relation to the area of social
housing.
In its social housing strategy published last November, the
government committed to responding robustly with a
roadmap that will accommodate 90,000 households, the
entire Housing Waiting List, by 2020.
This includes the provision of 35,000 new social housing
units and providing housing support through the private
rental sector for 75,000 households.
Apples as oranges
Environment Minister Alan Kelly

Source: Hugh O'Connell
In response to queries, a spokesperson for Environment

Minister Alan Kelly said that Fianna Fil was
counting apples as oranges and claimed that the 2013
figure of 89,000 is a result of a comprehensive analysis
that removes duplicates.
This is a detailed analysis which removes duplicates
(people on multiple housing lists) Another assessment will
be carried out next year and every year after that,
something Fianna Fail never did.
Peoples circumstances regularly change which is why the
analysis needs to be comprehensive and carried out on a
yearly basis.
The 2013 summary of social housing needs involved local
authorities contacting households to confirm their
continued requirement and qualification for social housing
support.
The spokesperson took issue with what it says was a
snapshot of housing need in any given county at a point
in 2015.
While these figures are of course subject to on-going
fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and
new households applying for housing support, to say that
the 2013 figures differ from what is currently on file in a
local authority is erroneous because it does not compare
like with like.
To take a snapshot of housing need in any given county, at
a point in time in 2015, and compare it to the 2013 data,
which was compiled as a result of rigorous analysis will
have methodological weaknesses which could distort the
overall picture of need. The 2013 figures do not include
duplicate entries and those already in local authority,
voluntary and co-operative housing or the Rental
Accommodation Scheme, and as such are the most
accurate that are available.
The Department said it intends to increase the regularity
of social housing assessments and conduct them annually
from 2016 onwards.
Supreme Court gives clear statement that

legislators need to act now, courts for code of
conduct on arrears
Mon, Jul 20, 2015, 07:00
A judgment involving Irish Life and Permanent PLC put final nail in the coffin of
the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears as a consumer protection measure
The recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of

Irish Life and Permanent PLC and Dunne and Irish Life
and Permanent PLC and Dunphy puts the final nail in the
coffin of the Central Banks Code of Conduct on Mortgage
Arrears (CCMA) as a consumer protection measure in
repossession proceedings.
Paul Joyce on the origins of the mortgage

crisis
Dec 18, 2015
v=Ma0WuAAhv4k
FAQ New regulations on residential

mortgage lending
https://www.centralbank.ie/pressarea/press-releases/Documents/FAQ%20
%20New%20regulations%20on
%20residential%20mortgage
%20lending.pdf
The Mortgage Crisis
As can be seen from the above graph, the amount

of mortgage cases in arrears of over 90 days has
been gradually decreasing.
Paul Joyce, Senior Policy Analyst with FLAC (the
Free Legal Advice Centres), suggests that this is
partly due to improving financial circumstances
over the past twelve months, which are allowing
people to start making mortgage payments again.
Additionally, the banks have been working with
people to put together alternative repayment
arrangements. The most common repayment
arrangements include temporary interest only
payments, term extensions on the loan, arrears
capitalisation and temporarily reducing the
payments.
However, the amount of accounts in arrears of over
two years has not budged.
Joyce says that while there are some solutions
that have been found the longstanding
intractable mortgage arrears cases are not being
solved.
There has also been a steep increase in housing
repossession orders granted by the courts.

In 2013 the number stood at just 244. However, in
the first nine months of 2015 that number was
more than four times as large, standing at 1,088
orders granted.
Joyce argues that the only reason the orders
granted before 2015 werent larger was because
the banks didnt want to repossess homes which
were in negative equity where more was owed on
them than they would have sold for.
Problems
The alternative payment
arrangements arent
necessarily sustainable
When a borrower falls into arrears, the lender is
obliged to make every reasonable effort to agree
any alternative repayment arrangement.
In theory the lender should take into account your
personal circumstances, your overall indebtedness,
your current and future repayment capacity and
your previous repayment history. However there is
no way of knowing whether the bank undertook a
full assessment.
The bank then decides if it wants to offer you an
alternative repayment arrangement. It is not
required to offer any particular option.
The fastest growing alternative repayment
arrangements is capitalisation of arrears. This
involves a new, higher payment because there is a
greater principal amount and more interest needs
to be repaid. Obviously this is problematic as it
involves the borrower or borrowers paying a
greater amount than when the problem arose in
the first place.
Joyce says its quite telling that one in every four

capitalisation of arrears cases is not meeting the
terms of the arrangement.
There has also been an increase in split
mortgages. This is where you split the amount
owed in your mortgage in two e.g. instead of a
100,000 mortgage you have two 50,000
mortgages. The second part is parked in a
warehouse until a certain point.
This has the advantage of being more affordable in
the short term, as you dont have to pay as much
interest. But there is a large capital balloon
payment that will have to be faced in the future.
There are a lack of fair

procedures in the mortgage
process
j
j
The mortgage resolution process, as set out under

the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, should
go as follows:
Where a borrower defaults on their payments the
bank will write to inform them of the default and to
give them a specified period during which to pay.
Where an account has been in arrears in excess of
31 days the bank will them examine the mortgage
to see whether it is sustainable and offer an
alternative repayment arrangement. The borrower
can suggest an alternative but they only have
power to accept or reject the arrangement the
bank has offered.
The bank can initiate legal proceedings if:
1 They deem your mortgage unsustainable
2 They offer an alternative repayment
arrangement and you dont accept it
3 They deem you non-cooperating
If you mortgage is unsustainable or you reject the
alternative repayment arrangement then the bank
can initiate legal action after three months. If they

deem you non-cooperating, which includes not
replying to letters, failing to provide information
within a reasonable amount of time, or not
contacting the bank when you were in arrears for
more than three months, then they can take legal
proceedings immediately.
However, a recent Supreme Court decision has
made it clear that even the above rules are not
binding on lenders apart from the moratorium on
legal action.
This creates a situation where there is no defence
to repossession in legal proceedings except to
argue that you dont owe any money or that it is
not your property.
And while you can appeal a decision by the lender,
they are not required to provide you with the
information of what arrangements they considered
and why they made a particular decision in your
case.
Joyce says You have a right to appeal but how do
you appeal when you dont know the basis upon
which the decision was arrived at? You would never
get away with this in a court. And yet, in this
private engagement between lender and borrower
it seems that fair procedures can be shortchanged.
Your mortgage can be sold on

to a vulture fund
While there is very little legal protections when you

have a mortgage with one of the banks, there is
little or no protection where your mortgage is sold
to so-called vulture funds. Such vulture funds are
not regulated by the Central Bank and therefore
are not subject to any of the rules under the Code
of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears.
Banks can sell on their mortgage portfolios to

these funds. The borrower will still owe the
remaining amount on the loan, but may be subject
to increased interest rates which cant be
challenged by taking a case to the Financial
Ombudsman.
When asked how it can be legal to have your loan
sold on to a different entity, Joyce explained that
when there is a clause allowing it in the mortgage
agreement.
Unfortunately the problem is when you

enter into a mortgage agreement you
agree to all of these things without
necessarily knowing half The terms and
conditions always authorise the lender to
sell that loan on to an entity of its choice.
By signing all the paperwork you tacitly
agree to that.
Currently the Sale of Loan Books to Unregulated
Third Parties Bill 2014 is before the Oireachtas. The
Bill would require the funds to comply with the
Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
The mortgage crisis is driving

homelessness
Part of the increase in families becoming homeless
is due to the parallel increase in the number of
repossessions of houses, the majority of which are
primary homes.
Additionally, a large proportion of landlords bought
property during the boom and ended up renting
out the property in order to pay their mortgages.
This has lead to a scenario where if a tenant
cannot afford to pay their rent or to pay a rent
increase this can have the knock-on effect of
causing the landlord to be unable to pay their
mortgage.
The law surrounding repossessions of property
where a tenant is already residing is murky. Often
there is a clause in the mortgage agreement
between the lender and the borrower which allows
them to force a tenant out to get vacant
possession of the property.
So where a borrower fails to pay their mortgage
this can have the effect of making their tenant
homeless.
Its harder to get a mortgage

The new mortgage controls require the mortgagee
to provide 20% of the mortgage upfront as a
deposit, subject to exceptions. You will not be given
a loan of more than 3.5 times your income (or
shared income if you are borrowing with another
person).
The creates two distinct problems. The first is,
given how expensive rent is currently, it is hard for
anyone to save up the amount required for the
mortgage deposit.
Second, according to the CSO, the median Irish
income is 28,500. So if you have a couple who are
both earning this average income they would only
be able to get a mortgage to the value of just
under 200,000. But the median house price in
Dublin is 400,000.
The Central Bank has said they will reconsider the
lending controls in November of this year.
Conclusion
As we can see, all of the problems are inextricably

linked.
The lack of supply has lead to increased
competition between renters and therefore an
increase in rents. Homelessness is mostly being
driven by the increase in rents, which has resulted

in people being economically evicted. The
mortgage crisis is causing families to become
homeless, and tenants are being evicted by banks
where properties are being repossessed.
But all of these current and pressing issues also
mask a number of underlying problems that
existed in the system even before the recession.
We dont have a funding model which
ensures the supply of housing: While the
recession and the cut in funding for building social
housing are a large part of the problem were
seeing today, even before the bail-out programme
we were not producing enough social housing.
Local authorities were not getting enough money
from the differential rent being paid by tenants to
fund, or even maintain, the social housing stock.
We also relied heavily on private investors to
provide us with housing under Part V of the 2000
Act, but this failed to produce even half of what
was required.
We need to find a way of funding the production of
housing that is politically feasible, but doesnt rely
completely on private interests.
Our social model is subject to market cycles:
The Governments opposition to raising the rent
supplement shows that they are sensitive to the
market and the sudden swings in the cost of rent.
And as a big player in that market, the
Governments decision to change the amount of
rent supplement offered can influence the cost of
rent.
This negatively effects Government when were
doing well economically and the cost of property
increases. It also negatively effects Government
when more people are reliant on social welfare and
they therefore have to pay out more. Right now we
have the worst of both worlds.

We have an outdated private rented sector:
The private rented sector has doubled in five years,
and before the end of this decade it is quite likely
that one in four Irish people will be residing in
rented accommodation.
However, we currently dont have security of
tenure, and we also dont have a way of ensuring
good quality, affordable housing.
Our focus should be on keeping people in
their homes: Paying to put families up in hotels is
not only expensive, it also causes health and
psychological problems for those families.
We need to figure out a long term strategy to avoid
another homeless situation similar to the one we
have currently.
The mortgage process leaves borrowers at
the mercy of lenders: The legal process
surrounding mortgages does not provide borrowers
with any clear information as to what to expect
from their lender, and what their rights are.
Overall, there has been a lack of joined up
thinking, or a coherent policy which addresses all
of the areas. We dont have one specific housing
body. We dont have a clear way of funding the
housing system. We dont have a way of ensuring
that everyone will have affordable and good quality
housing. Ultimately, the lack of a strategy or plan
for the future has resulted in the housing crisis
which we are experiencing.
RENTS NATIONWIDE HAVE risen by 10% in comparison

to the same period last year.
According to the latest Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
rent index, Dublin rents have bypassed Celtic Tiger prices.
Rents in the capital are now 3.9% higher than the 2007
peak.
Increases were not confined to the Dublin region, but also
occurred in other parts of the country.
The report shows the market is not slowing down, despite
measures by the last Government to put a two-year freeze
on rises.
On an annual basis, nationally, rents were 9.9% higher
than in the second quarter in 2015 up from 869 to
956.
Rents for houses across the country were 9.3% higher
annually in second quarter up from 850 to 929, while
apartment rents were 11.7% higher than in the same
quarter of 2015 up from 908 to 1,014.
Dublin market
The Dublin market is up by 9% from 1,251 to 1,364.
Dublin house rents were up by 7.5% from 1,388 to 1,492
and apartments in the capital were higher by 9.8% up
from 1,246 to 1,368.

The index shows the surge in rents has spread outside of
Dublin, with the average rental price jumping from 669
to 740.
Again the performance differed by property type. Monthly
rent for houses outside Dublin increased by 9.9% from
688 to 756, while apartments outside Dublin
experienced an increase of 12.7% 647 up to 729.
When comparing rent prices for the first half and second
half of 2016, rents in Dublin grew by 4.5%.
The director of the RTB, Rosalind Carroll, said there was a
slowdown in rents in the previous two quarters, but the
rate of growth in rents is increasing again, particularly in
the Dublin market.
Carroll said there are a number of drivers pushing rents up
nationwide.
Adding to the underlying supply and demand imbalance is
the return of net inward migration as confirmed by the
Central Statistics Office last month (+3,100) for the first
time since 2009.
The Central Bank will publish the findings of the first
review of its controversial new mortgage lending rules in
November,
Professor Lane, who succeeded Patrick Honohan as head

of the Central Bank, said earlier this month the rules
would be reviewed this summer.
However, it was only yesterday in his first public speech
addressing the Institute of Directors spring lunch at
Dublins Shelbourne Hotel he offered more clarity
around when the results of the review would be known.
I expect the first review of the mortgage rules to be
published by November this year.
"This review will be based on an analysis of the evidence
provided by data on the first year of the operation of the
rules, while taking into account other factors that may
have influenced the mortgage market during this period,
he said.
The lending rules, introduced last year, call for first-time
buyers to hold a deposit of 10% of the first 220,000 cost
of a home and 20% of the remainder of its value.
The timescale of the review means that mortgage
applications will continue to be measured against the new
rules for much of this year.
Again, yesterday, Prof Lane said the review could result in
an altering of the rules, but they could either end up being
tightened or loosened.
The Central Bank is open to tightening or loosening the
calibration of these rules in response to the evidence; still,
the value of stability in a rules-based framework means
that the evidence threshold to justify adjustments to these
rules is significant, he said.
He said earlier adoption of such tools as the new
mortgage rules would have mitigated Irelands boom/bust
economic cycle of the last decade.
He said the bank is firmly committed to deploying such
tools on an ongoing basis, with periodic reviews.
Ahead of the publicaton of the Central Banks first
quarterly bulletin of the new year, on Tuesday, Prof Lane
said that Irish GDP likely grew by 6.5%-7% in 2015 and
should grow by 5% in 2016.
He also stressed a need for more transparency at the
bank; saying it will shortly begin publishing minutes from
its monthly management/Commission meetings.
The minutes will be published six weeks after each
meeting, with those relating to Prof Lanes first meeting, in

December, due to be made public early next month.
The bank will also start publishing staff salary structures
and pay scales on an annual basis and is promising more,
as yet unannounced, transparency issues.
I am conscious more needs to be done to build the level
of trust among the public that the Central Bank will take
the correct actions to safeguard financial stability and
protect consumers.
"At a basic level, we believe that people will be more
confident that we act independently and in the public
interest if they have greater insights and understanding
about what is going on inside the bank, Prof Lane said in
his speech.
He said the regulator also plans to carry out reviews of the
health insurance sector and strengthen the consumer
protection code relating to variable rate mortgage holders.
We will also increase our firm-specific engagement with
low-impact firms, including intermediaries and debt
management firms, Prof Lane said yesterday.
The Central Bank is also set to hire 150 new staff this
year, taking its total workforce to around 1,650.

offered to fast-track the designation of Rent
Pressure Zones outside of Dublin and Cork,
Independent.ie understands.

not change
Video by: RTE

Fil.
by Mr Coveney.
Coveney accused of taking

100,000 selfie over PR
strategy
FFs Barry Cowen hits out at cost of Rebuilding Ireland
communications plan
Thu, Dec 8, 2016, 08:58
Marie O'Halloran
Resident Carol Wolfe greets Simon Coveney on announcing approval of the

regeneration scheme for ODevaney Gardens, Dublin on Wednesday.
Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has been accused of

taking a 100,000 selfie with the creation of a website
for the Rebuilding Ireland programme, established to
tackle the housing crisis.
Simon Coveney announced last night on Pat Kenny show that he is

not going
to bring in Rent certainty linking rents to the Consumer Price
Inflation.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-accused-of-taking100-000-selfie-over-pr-strategy-1.2897741?mode=sample&authfailed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews
%2Fpolitics%2Fcoveney-accused-of-taking-100-00-selfie-over-prstrategy-1.2897741
The essence of the problem we have in Ireland

today regarding housing is the conflict between the
need of Ireland's youth to have housing so that they
can get married and have children, and so ensure
the survival of our race - and the desire of the
landowner and landlord classes to enrich
themselves from that need.
Appointing a landlord as housing minister shows
which side of that conflict this rgime has decided
to gun for. The only result of this criminal policy can
be the further decline of the Irish population, and
the further flooding of Ireland with immigrants to
make up for the loss.
http://irelandtodaynews.com/index.php/housingminister-simon-coveney-is-a-landlord/
The Government's plan to limit rental prices in key
'Pressure Zones' in Cork and Dublin has been cautiously
welcomed by some tenant groups and criticised by
landlords.
Minister Simon Coveney has unveiled plans to limit rent
increases which he wants to turn into law before Christmas.
Both cities will be designated as rent Pressure Zones with
landlords only permitted to increase payments by up to 4% per
year over the next three years.
The Property Owners' Association (IPOA) has called on the
Government to review its decision - it argues that the rent
control measures will "further deplete the supply of properties
as property owners withdraw units" as they will not be able to
afford to manage or maintain properties.
The statement adds that "rather than playing politics, face
reality and listen to the practitioners in the sector and
encourage supply."
"Gross interference in the role of the private rental sector,
impose further restrictions on periods of time that rent can be
increased and amounts of the increase which is not fair or
equitable and moves to a point where the landlord is being

forced out of the provision of accommodation for tenants as a
result of interference," it continues.
The group believes that increased State interference in the
market will lead to less investment in rental properties. The
group described rent control as a "death knell for the private
rental sector."
Landlords TDs call rent

controls
Minister Simon Coveney hopes to have these measures
introduced before Christmas...
IMPACT leader organiser and Secure Rents campaign

spokesperson Joe OConnor also criticised the measures.
While the Secure Rents campaign acknowledges that
Minister Coveney has shown a willingness to move on rent
predictability for Irelands 750,000 tenants, we believe these
specific measures are not in themselves sufficient to assist
renters across Ireland.
Talk about a conflict of interest. I shall watch with a keen eye.
Worse still he is a Bilderburger and so a traitor.
This despite Rents being at higher levels than the excesses of the
Celtic tiger.
Dublin rents have bypassed the Celtic Tiger peak and reached an
all-time high
This despite Irelands largest landlord feeling sorry for Irish tenants.
Ireland
Its a great market, Ehrlich agrees. Weve never seen rental
increases like this in any jurisdiction that were aware of.
It also looks as if there will be no protection for tenants whose
properties are in receivership
despite legislation in this area promised as far back as 2013.
My question is where is this long promised legislation to protect
tenants who are paying their rents
but whose landlord is in receivership and how high does Coveney
want rents to go before he acts.
Why must Rents and House price increases be higher than the
normal cost of living ?
This...
That's fvcking disgusting. What a putrid little banana republic

we have here. Politicians are a fvcking scourge and this is just
the latest example of such a scourge.
apping rental growth at the rate of inflation will result in less
construction of new homes, which will ultimately damage us
more. If the state wanted to make housing affordable it must
tackle the supply issue under three simple headings:
When you buy a new apartment in Dublin, 40% of the price tag
will be taxes.
More than half of households who will live in central Dublin will
be carless, yet developers are required to spend big money
excavating basement car parks.
Building heights in our capital city are effectively capped at 4
storeys, making new residential development unprofitable for
small, expensive patches of land. This 4 storey cap is enforced
by An Taisce, David Norris and the Irish Georgian society, i.e.
people who are wealthy enough to never be forced to spend
half their lives travelling from Kildare.
But of course for the moment it is not in the interest of

government parties to reduce the cost of housing because the
tax payer is still heavily invested in nama assets. So the
government will simply come up with optical illusions that they
are tackling the crises with these silly schemes. The fact is up
until the recent election Labour party candidates were
opposing residential development that they felt 'wasn't right
for their area'. While talking out the other side of their mouths
about increasing rent allowance.
"While the so-called pressure zone measures will seek to

curtail the excessive rent increases projected for both Dublin
and Cork, were greatly concerned by the apparent exclusion
of other high pressure areas."
He added that the group is concerned about rapidly rising
rents in Limerick City and Galway City.
The Secure Rents campaign is a partnership between a
number of union groups including IMPACT, Mandate Trade
Union, and SIPTU.
The Dublin Tenants Association has cautiously welcomed
Simon Coveneys measures to regulate rent increases but
added that they do not believe that they go far enough.
Under Pressure
The Minister for Housing is hoping caps on rent increases for
Dublin and Cork could be in place before the end of this week.
The Pressure Zones are areas where annual rent increases
have been at 7% or more in four of the last six quarters - and
where rent levels are already above the national average.
Photo: Doug OConnor


Rent Pressure Zone?
country.
covered?

approach?
reasonable return."
providers
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/coveneywrites-letter-to-fianna-fil-offering-to-change-rent-plan35294199.html
Rental increase limits are to be

introduced in Dublin and Cork
Dec 13, 2016
The Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney has brought his new
rental strategy to cabinet today
New figures show the level of homelessness in Dublin

has shot up by over a third in the past year.
The latest report from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
has revealed there were a total of 5,146 adults and children in
emergency accommodation last month - a 35% increase in the
last year.
The figures surrounding homeless families in the city make for
even starker reading - with 1,026 families in homeless
accommodation including hotels, a 45% increase on last year.
Homelessness charity, Focus Ireland said 67 families who
became newly homeless in October were referred to its family
services in Dublin.
The organisations Director of advocacy, Mike Allen said the
Christmas.
The number of children without a home has more than
doubled over the same time period - from 916 to 2,110.
Mr Allen said the report details much higher figures than
previous years and the numbers keep on going up.
It is hugely worrying. It has been so cold over the last few
days, he said.
for people.
The Taoiseach says the latest number of people homeless in
"You have to do something about it - and we're doing
something about that in a very serious way, over the five
different pillars of the housing action programme."

The Dublin Region Cold Weather Plan commenced operation
at the start of the month and will be subject to on-going
review, he said.
increased demand during cold weather.
He said the Civil Defence will also provide an extra 20 beds
and said the nightly emergency accommodation capacity for
single adults in Dublin now stands at 1,800.
While there has been progress in terms of moving families out
of homelessness - Focus Ireland supported 230 Dublin
families into secure homes this year - Mr Allen said more
people are losing their homes all the time and the numbers
keep on going up.
The charity said constantly rocketing rents and a growing
number of buy-to-let homes being either repossessed or sold
is causing a constant rise in the homelessness numbers.
Focus Ireland renewed its call for urgent action from the
Government to stem the level of evictions, particularly from
buy-to-let landlords to stem the homeless crisis.
There are over 15,000 buy-to-let landlords who are in arrears
by over 2 years, said Mr Allen.
Banks and financial institutions are repossessing these
homes and evicting the tenants at a rate of 100 a month.
We are calling on the Government to outlaw this practice and
ensure that that where banks repossess such properties they
sell them on with the tenant still in place.
Focus Ireland relies on donations at this time of year more
than ever to raise vital funds for its work.
You can support the charitys Christmas appeal by donating at
focusireland.ie or 1850 204 205.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v6rUW-v2cM

Minister Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning,

Community and Local Government, and Minister Damien
English T.D. Minister of State with responsibility for Housing &
Urban Renewal today published the Strategy for the Rental
Sector, following Government approval of the comprehensive
and ambitious plan at todays Cabinet meeting.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney highlighted Our
rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords or the
families under pressure, damages our national
competitiveness and stability in the investment environment.
We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate short term
pressures and we need to address the long term causes by
delivering increased supply.
The development and publication of a Strategy for the Rental
Sector delivers on a commitment made under the Rebuilding
Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which
was published in July 2016. The development of a viable and
sustainable rental sector that can provide choice, quality and
security for households and secure, attractive investment
opportunities for landlords has never been more important.

The Minister announced that he is introducing with immediate
effect a rent predictability measure that will moderate the rate
of rent increase in those areas of the country where rents are
highest and rising quickly.
The measure is based on the concept of Rent Pressure
Zones; these are areas where annual rent increases have
been at 7% or more in four of the last six quarters and where
the rent levels are already above the national average. In
these Rent Pressure Zones rent increases will be capped at
4% per annum for the next 3 years. The measure will be
introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local
Authority areas and in Cork city. Rent pressure zones will be
designated for a maximum 3 years, by which time new supply
will have come on stream and pressures will have eased
somewhat in these areas.
The Strategy also contains a number of measures to support
supply by encouraging new investment and bringing unused
capacity to the market. Measures include Build to Rent
developments and the accelerated roll out of Repair and
Leasing and Buy and Renew initiatives.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is core to delivering on a
daily basis the services that meet the needs of both tenants
and landlords. The strategy puts forward a number of
measures that will broaden and strengthen the role and
powers of the RTB to more effectively provide key services to
tenants and landlords.
Strategy introduces Rent Pressure Zones

to provide rent predictability in areas of
unsustainable rental inflation.
L
L
The strategy sets out a range of measures under the headings

of Security, Supply, Standards and Services which will
address both immediate and long term issues affecting the
supply, cost and accessibility of rental accommodation.
Security bringing greater tenure and rent certainty to
landlords and tenants;
Supply maintaining existing levels of rental stock and
encouraging investment in additional supply;
L
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accommodation; and
Services broadening and strengthening the role and powers
of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to more effectively
provide their services and empower tenants and landlords.
Accelerating Dispute Resolution timeframes by reducing
time for appeals from 21 to 10 days and by providing for one
person tribunals in certain cases; allowing the RTB to hold
more tribunals.
Developing a One Stop Shop within the RTB to improve
access to information for tenants and landlords.
The RTB will introduce a voluntary landlord accreditation
scheme to support landlords in accessing best practice and
promoting a comprehensive understanding of the statutory
obligations.
Reducing risk and increasing security for both landlords and
tenants is essential to the development of the residential rental
sector as an attractive tenure choice for tenants and as a safe
and viable investment choice for a range of investors. The
strategy includes a range of measures aimed at enabling a
shift towards secure and long-term tenancies which serve the
interests of both landlords and tenants. Measures include:
Effective Termination Procedures changes to RTB
procedure will be introduced to reduce the time taken to
repossess a property when a tenant is not complying with their
obligation to pay rent.
Changes to the obligations of institutional landlords where
multiple units are being sold the sale will be subject to the
existing tenants remaining in situ.
Encouraging long-term letting by providing for
unfurnished lettings where leases are 10 years or more.
The Minister also announced the establishment of an Expert
rental model for Ireland and a larger and more dynamic notfor-profit and Approved Housing Body sector. The group will
examine the experience of other countries and develop a

roadmap to grow new capacity for delivering cost rental
options.
The actions on standards for rental accommodation as set out
in the Strategy will ensure that an effective regime of quality
assurance is in place for the rented sector. Tenants will be
reassured that the properties they are renting are safe,
efficient, durable and comfortable. Landlords will be made fully
aware of their obligations through a consistent and uniform
shared service approach by local authorities.
under the headings of Security, Supply, Standards and
Services. Timelines for the various actions are included, with
immediate enactment being targeted for the rent predictability
measure via the Planning and Development (Housing) and
Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 which commences Committee
Stage in the Dil today.
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/launch-strategy-for-therental-sector/
Minister Coveney
welcomes
opening of new
facilities
to tackle rough
sleeping in Dublin
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L
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The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community & Local

Government Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., today welcomed the
opening of two homeless facilities for rough sleepers in Dublin
this evening. 165 beds are being provided.
The Dublin City Council facilities that are opening this evening
are:
Peter Mc Verry Trust (PMVT) will provide all on-site supports
and engagement for 70 adult persons at 7- 9 Ellis Quay,
Dublin 7.
Depaul Trust will provide all on-site supports and engagement
for 75 adult persons at Little Britain Street, Dublin 7.
The Civil Defence service will operate a 20 bed service at
Wolfe Tone Quay during severe weather incidents.
A further facility to be operated by the Dublin Simon and
Salvation Army for 65 adults at Carmans Hall, Dublin 8, which
was also due to open today, is delayed by court proceedings.
Once a person has been assessed as homeless by the
relevant Dublin local authority, they will be placed into a bed
space via the Dublin Region Central Placement Service and
Freephone Service. Access to each facility will be via a

scheduled booking time between the hours of 18.30 and 21.00
each evening.
The long-term solution to homelessness is

to increase the supply of both social and
private housing and that is what we have
set out to do under Rebuilding Ireland.
On Wednesday I visited the facility at Ellis Quay with the
Taoiseach to view the works underway there firsthand and I
wish to commend the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
(DRHE) for the quick turn-around in delivering these facilities.
Rough sleeping is sometimes due to complex addiction
problems and these facilities offer somewhere to these people
to sleep and get a meal. The long-term solution to
homelessness is to increase the supply of both social and
private housing and that is what we have set out to do under
Rebuilding Ireland.
These additional bed spaces, coupled with the enhanced
Housing First programme (increased from 100 to 300
tenancies by end-2017), will be enough to cater for all those
currently rough sleeping while allowing for additional capacity,
ended Minister Coveney.
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-coveneywelcomes-opening-new-facilities-tackle-rough-sleepingdublin/
Landlords of Leinster House

declare interests
Posted on: April 20th, 2015
The last republican standing in Limerick, Fianna Fails Willie ODea, is a

director of and a shareholder in a UK company called Union Jack Oil.
The partys founder, Eamon de Valera, must be rotating in Glasnevin
cemetery.
Ten Labour Party TDs (one-third of the parliamentary party) are landlords or
landowners. James Connolly would have imploded.
Yes, the latest TDs register of interests reveals that ideology counts for little
when it comes to personal financial affairs. Conviction goes out the window
when business interests are on the line. The scent of a quick profit will up-end
a lifetimes political commitment.
Only Fine Gael are consistent. They have always owned land and property.
And they still own land and property. Lashings of it.
Gerry Adams UK pension comes from his time in the Northern Ireland
Assembly a unique double for anyone with an Oireachtas salary , let alone
an individual committed to a united Ireland. A divided Ireland seems to suit
him better financially.
Union Jack Willie has a weakness for oil exploration shares. His portfolio
includes such big losers as Dragon Oil and Ormonde Mining. But as Gerry
Adams might say, Tiocfaidh ar la.
Our Labour Party TDs love affair with property could give them enough TDs
to form a splinter group called Landlords for Labour at the next election.
Labour should clean up on the landlord vote.
Cabinet member and deputy leader Alan Kelly lists himself as a landlord in
the register. The Tipperary minister lets a house in Walkinstown, Dublin.
Labour deputy Michael McCarthy as the proud rent collector from a property
in Co Cork also lists himself as a landlord.
Former Labour Party leaders Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte both own land
in the West of Ireland while socialists to benefit from property income include
Dublin TD Sean Kenny (with a house he lets in Galway), Clares Michael
McNamara and Kerrys Arthur Spring. Former minister Joe Costello volunteers
that he owns properties in Dublins Sean McDermott Street and North Circular
Road which he uses for office and storage. Meaths Dominic Hannigan has
property in both Italy and London. Long-time Labour heroes Willie Penrose
and Jack Wall complete the socialist property fad with real estate interests in
their respective counties of Westmeath and Kildare.
The inheritors of the mantle of the men of no property are now men of
property aplenty.
No wonder they find such common ground with Fine Gael. The blueshirts
never change. They still own farms, property and shares.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has a formidable portfolio of assets. He is no
Willie ODea risk-taker. Richard has stuck to blue-chip stocks. Like, er Bank
of Ireland, AIB and Irish Life and Permanent. He has presumably taken a
hiding in this traditional safe haven. He is on safer ground with his shares in
food star Aryzta, Smurfit Kappa, CRH, Kingspan, FBD Holdings and an AIB
Investment Fund.
His share portfolio is beefed up by joint ownership of 175 acres of land in the
plush pastures of Dunboyne and 50 acres in Drumree both in his native
Meath. Investments as dull as ditch water maybe but Richard is likely to
have fewer sleepless nights than Willie.
Richard was lucky enough to receive a gift of a watch from the Saudi Arabian
government. He very honourably gave it up to the Exchequer, as Fine Gael
people do.
Another Fine Gael cabinet minister, Simon Coveney, may not be as loaded as
Richard but it could be a close-run contest for the richest man in the
Cabinet.
Both have inherited huge wealth but Coveneys declaration reveals less
than Richards. He describes himself as a landlord with a single property, but
admits to holding shares without being specific. Coveneys more opaque filing
merely reveals that his shares are part of Irish Wealth Managers and that he
has an interest in the Coveney Family Investment Club c/o Davy
stockbrokers. Mmm.
Coveneys reluctance to reveal more detail makes it difficult to judge who is
the canniest financial punter in the Cabinet, but the investment decisions of
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan have caused a few raised eyebrows.
While Bruton has shown confidence in Irish equities, Noonan does not like
investing in Ireland.
During the worst days of the crisis he headed for Germany and sunk much of
his wealth into low-yielding German bonds. Last year he decided to go for
gold, traditionally a hedge against high-risk equities.
He has diversified further by investing in US Treasury stocks and benefited
from the strong dollar. He does not list a single Irish stock in his eight-strong
portfolio. Apart from 20 acres of mixed pasture attached to my residence he
holds no property either.
Noonans patriotic instincts and bullishness about the economy do not extend
to his choice of personal investments.
Noonans fellow Fine Gael TDs are still deep into farms and property, many
with huge portfolios. Backbenchers Frank Feighan (with 10 listed properties);
Aine Collins (with seven); and Alan Shatter (with 14 jointly owned) lead the
field of property fans.
Lucinda Creighton, leader of the recently launched Renua party, has returned
a clean sheet indicating little reserve firepower in the event of emergency
financial injections for the new party. However Creightons husband, Paul
Bradfords Seanad declaration shows that all is not lost. Bradford owns 55
acres of farmland in Mallow, Co Cork and lists shareholdings in AIB Euro
Bonds and AIB Global Bonds.
Their party colleague, Terence Flanagan, declares a half share in a house in
Blanchardstown but gratuitously volunteers (in case Lucinda comes calling?)
that there is massive negative equity on the property.
More real wealth seems to exist in the Seanad than in the Dail.
Independent Senator Feargal Quinns portfolio stretches to three pages with a
global diversification that will undoubtedly safeguard the former supermarket
kings wealth.
Elsewhere long-time Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan declares a formidable
combination of shares, directorships and land both in Ireland and overseas.
Another Independent, John Crown, admits to four occupations apart from his
Seanad activities. The cancer doctor is an oncologist, a medical practitioner, a
medical lecturer and yet another landlord.
Indeed the Independents entries make fascinating reading. Newcomer
Michael Fitzmaurice responds to the question about whether he has received
any travel facilities with the blunt riposte that I have my own car. He
additionally insists that his job as chairman of the Turf Cutters Association
costs me money.
Independent TD Stephen Donnelly nominates himself as a landlord with
properties in Dublin and Offaly.
Is there something missing? The really embarrassing bit in the register is
deliberately buried at the bottom of this piece. My own entry exposes me as
one of the most diabolically incompetent investors in the Oireachtas.
I reveal a shipwrecked share portfolio. My Irish shares include two of the

biggest dogs in the stock market, Bank of Ireland and (dare I say it here?)
Independent News & Media. Both may be on the recovery trail today, but I
bought them back in the glory years to bolster my pension.
They promised a steady stream of dividends to carry me into my dotage. It is
many years since they delivered. They are worth less than 10pc of their
purchase price. Combined, they are worth less than 10 grand.
Some pension!
Apart from loss-making share investments the balance of my savings are
overseas, determinedly sunk into German and US bonds which yield nothing
or give negative returns. Even Michael Noonan abandoned such caution.
The only bright spot in my declaration last year is a gift of a ticket for
Wimbledon Centre Court. I promptly had a blazing row with the donor. So
there will be no repeat this year.
Instead, I think I will follow the Labour Party punters into property.
Coveney: Rent caps are

not up for negotiation
4pc rent hike cap planned for
properties in Dublin and Cork is not
up for negotiation
Cormac McQuinn, Michael Cogleyand Kevin Doyle
PUBLISHED
14/12/2016
Leo Varadkar Photo: Damien Eagers
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said

that the 4pc rent hike cap he wants imposed
on properties in Dublin and Cork is not up
for negotiation.
;
1
Fianna Fil has said it's not satisfied with that figure and
want a lower percentage, but Mr Coveney warned that the
government won't support an amendment to its legislation
that would set the cap as low as 2pc.
Put to him on RT Radio that this could mean the
government would face defeat on its plan to tackle the
crisis in the rental sector, Mr Coveney replied: "Then I
don't think the legislation will be going through before
Christmas."
He added: "And if Fianna Fil want to take that on
themselves well then so be it."
He said that "there are things we can do in relation to
some of the Fianna Fil queries" but argued that there are
"an extraordinary number of issues across the broader
rental market" in the strategy that the rival party had
sought.
Mr Coveney said he's not willing to negotiate the 4pc

figure because "it has already been negotiated".
"That's why we've been through a long consultation
process with all the stakeholders."
He said he never sought the limit to be linked to the
"I have always looked for a figure of around 4pc because
it's the right thing to do."
He said 4pc is a "very modest margin" above an inflation
rate of around 2pc.
Mr Coveney said; "My job is to make sure that we have a
growing expanding private rental market. If we don't have
an appetite for new buildings to come into the rental
market, for vacant properties that are currently there to
come into the rental market.
"If we don't increase the number of properties that are
available for rent in, well then we're going to continue to
have pressure building and building and building which is
driving up prices.
He said that only considering the plight of tenants would
have been "populist" because without landlords "you don't
have a functioning market".
Mr Coveney said his plan allows modest rent increases
"where appropriate" while benefiting tenants by putting a
stop to "price gouging".
Earlier this morning, social protection minister Leo
Varadkar said Housing Minister Simon Coveney has the
full support of his Government after introducing a
controversial plan to implement rent caps in areas within
the countrys main cities,as said.
Varadkar was speaking to the Dublin Chamber of
Commerce where he praised the "sterling and pioneering"
work being done by Mr Coveney.
"It's going to take time but good progress is being made
and he has the full support of Government in doing what
he is trying to do," the minister told a room of 200
business leaders.
Varadkar insisted Coveney had full support after reports in
the Irish Independent he told ministers he had been

annoyed by the lack of consultation for the plan.
Mr Varadkar spoke on a number of issues including
increasing the population between Grand and Royal canal
in Dublin City.
He told of a need to build both higher and denser in the
city centre.
Minister Coveney's new proposal will involve the
introduction of "rent pressure zones" in both Dublin and
Cork that will cap rent increases to 4pc per year.
The proposal with opposition from Fianna Fil, which
threatened to block the introduction of the zones.
Rent caps
Varadkar speaks as a new rent cap will be extended to all
of the cities across the country and the commuter belt
around Dublin.
And the measure allowing landlords to push up rents by
up to 4pc a year is to be watered down.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's new rent plan came
under immediate attack. Ministerial colleagues
complained about a lack of consultation and Fianna Fil
threatened to block the introduction of 'Rent Pressure
Zones' in Dublin and Cork.
The key element of his plan to tackle the crisis is based on
preventing landlords hiking rents by more than 4pc
Fianna Fil wants Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and
Waterford covered by the rent cap, along with the
commuter belt around the capital.
The party is not happy with the 4pc increase and wants tax
incentives for landlords to be part of the package.
Concessions in these areas will be the price of FF support.
But Mr Coveney has already said he would not make
"fundamental" changes to the plan.

increases


far too high.
2002.
whatever they want.
a permanent basis.
"Major anti-climax"

levels.
affordability."
through the House.
Skyrocketing rents" fueling

homelessness crisis Threshold
Housing charity unveils its annual report to coincide with the
release of new Government plans to limit rental prices in key
areas around the country
'Skyrocketing rents' are among the main causes of

homelessness according to a leading housing charity.
Threshold is unveiling its annual report today - to coincide with
the release of new Government plans to limit rental prices in
key areas around the country.
The charity says potential rent caps in 'pressure zones' like
Dublin and Cork could curb unexpected hikes by landlords but warned that rental prices around the country are still far
too high.
According to the report, the number of people contacting the
charity with concerns over their tenancies rose by 54% last
year.
Threshold chairperson Aideen Hayden said half of the people
that approached the charity last year were, people who were
working and at immediate risk of losing their homes.
One of the issues that is going to be critical here is what is
going to happen in relation to providing affordable rental
accommodation, she said.
People will be renting in this country for the foreseeable
future and affordability is going to be a major, major issue.
average of 11.7 per cent - according to the latest Daft.ie report
- the biggest 12-month increase recorded since its series
started in 2002.
The Minister for Housing's new plan for the rental market has
been met with scepticism by opposition TD's - with Anti
Austerity Alliance (AAA-PPP) TD Paul Murphy saying the 4%
cap is above the current rate of inflation and "still running
ahead of the general cost of living."
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said people have
been "driven out of affordability" in Dublin.
Threshold reported a 26% rise nationally in the number of
tenants seeking advice and support for rent reviews in the
past year
Ms Hayden said tenants have been approaching the charity
with rent increases of up to 40%.
She said if the government plans can limit rent rises to 4% that
would be an improvement.
proposal for rent caps, if Fianna Fil doesn't agree to its
proposals.
This poses a real threat to all tenants, and is resulting in the

most vulnerable, low-income tenants being squeezed out of
the market and in some cases, falling into homelessness, she
said.
The current crisis in the private rented sector has been
caused by a perfect storm of unaffordable rents, shortage of
supply and a regulatory framework that simply does not
support long-term renting.

Disproportionate rent increases in particular are pushing
hundreds of families into homelessness at an accelerated
rate.
The 54 per cent spike in calls that Threshold experienced in
the past year is indicative of the huge issues that are faced by
those living in the private rented sector.
The Threshold report has also found the standard of private
rented accommodation to be a major concern affecting the
most vulnerable in society.
The most common complaints received by threshold included
poor fire safety standards and ventilation issues with other
breaches relating to heating, sanitation, damp and mould.
This issue of poor standards is, worryingly, a growing trend,
said Ms Hayden. This is being compounded by the current
availability crisis, and we are seeing increasing incidences of
overcrowding.
Also, the need for adequate standards is brought into sharp
focus with the cold weather - making standards the number
one concern for Thresholds clients at this time of year.
Threshold is calling on the government to introduce an NCT
style certificate scheme for rented accommodation.
Under the proposal a landlord would require up-to-date
certification endorsed by an approved professional to rent a
property and avail of tax credits, subsidies or housing
payments delivered in the private rented sector.
Ms Hayden said the system could make it easier for local
authorities to enforce the law and provide greater protection
for tenants.
Rents in Ireland at highest ever level
Charities call for the introduction of rent certainty and a
"housing-led solution" to address spiralling prices
NEWS
Rental prices across the country are now at their highest

ever level, according to a new report.
This year saw the largest annual increase in prices since
property website Daft.ie began its report almost 15 years ago.
Irelands average rent is now 1,077 - an increase of 11.7%
on this time last year and a new all-time high.
The country has seen double-digit rent rises in 37 of the 54
areas analysed - up from just 17 as recently as last year.
There were just over 3,600 properties available to rent
nationwide on October 1st, the least amount of properties
available in October since the start of the series.
Just two years ago - on October 1st 2014 - there were almost
6,000 properties listed.
With rents now dwarfing those experienced during the Celtic
Tiger era, the report said the prices are "having a disastrous
effect on social cohesion as well as on Irish competitiveness.
It notes that the complete absence of any meaningful level of
construction over the past five years is a systemic failure in
desperate need of policy solutions.
There is no more urgent task facing the Minister for Housing,
his department and advisers, and the Housing Agency, than
understanding why the costs of building - and building
apartments in particular - is so dramatically out of line with our
own incomes and indeed with the cost in other countries.
Tom Parlon, director general of the Construction Industry
Federation said rents won't come down until the supply of
houses is increased:
"The powers that be need to sit down and look at what
couples can afford to borrow within the Central Bank
regulations," said Mr Parlon.

"They need to look at the costs and look at where those costs
are coming from.
"Whether it be the VAT again or the very substantial levies that
are there, I believe they have to be addressed if we want to
reduce the cost of the construction of houses."
In Dublin, rents have risen at a rate of 12.1% - the highest rate
of inflation in over two years - with rents in the capital now
nearly 10% higher than their previous peak in early 2008.
Homeless charity, the Simon Community has one again called
on the government to introduce rent certainty and "enhanced
security of tenure" in order to address the crisis.
The charity yesterday submitted a strategy to the Department
of Housing which, they say, will address the "spiralling rents
and dwindling supply that have characterised the private
rented sector in recent years."
National Simon Community spokesperson, Niamh Randall
said todays figures are very worrying.
Keeping people in the homes that they already have is key to
stopping the flow of people into homelessness, she said.
People renting their homes must have the security of knowing
that their rents are in line with real market rates and index
linked - for example to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Kerry Anthony, CEO of homeless charity service Depaul said
the past year has seen persistently high levels of families and
children accessing homeless services.
Ms Anthony said if the government does not urgently
accelerate the provision of social and affordable housing,
vulnerable families and children will continue to fall through
the cracks.
Homelessness can be particularly devastating for children,
with homeless children at higher risk of mental, physical and
behavioural issues that can have life-long consequence, she
said.
The impact of homelessness on a childs sense of self-worth
cannot be overstated.
She said the homelessness crisis requires a housing-led
solution.
While Depaul works tirelessly to help transition families from
homelessness into more permanent accommodation; the
housing crisis continues to pose a huge barrier to our ability to

do this.
Trinity College Economist Ronan Lyons - the author of the
report - said the rate of inflation is extremely worrying:
Trinity College Economist Ronan Lyons
Mr Lyons said the government needs to make properties

cheaper to build and introduce policies that will fill vacant
homes in order to tackle the crisis.
With the number of homeless families and with the height of
winter approaching, it is extremely urgent that we really tackle
this from a practical point of view, he said.
Why are homes vacant? Is it to do with the legal process? Is
it to do with Fair Deal? Is it to do with a lack of incentives in
the tax system?
How can we make sure that all the properties that we have
built are in use and then how can we build more?
He has told a meeting of Fine Gael TDs that the proposed
4% cap on annual increases will not be adjusted.

But at the private meeting tonight Enda Kenny has refused
to consider lowering the cap, and says the plan will be
withdrawn unless the 4% cap is accepted.
New campaign asks people to

give up the price of a pint for
homeless families
The money will be used to help people living in emergency
accommodation.
December 14, 16
Image: Shutterstock/cunaplus
/Photo Text content

A NEW CAMPAIGN is asking people to donate five euro to
help homeless families this Christmas.
#5GiveAFiver and St Vincent de Paul (SVP) are aiming to
raise 5,000 for families and children in emergency
accommodation in Dublin.
There are currently more than 1,000 families in
The fundraising effort is asking people to give up the cost
of a pint or burrito for a good cause.
In November alone SVPs East Region (Dublin, Kildare
and Wicklow) received approximately 10,000 calls, which
is an increase of 7% on the same period last year. Similar

trends are being experienced in different parts of the
country.
Sarah Dunne, director of #5GiveAFiver, said: We are
facing a homeless crisis on a scale not seen before in
Dublin and across the rest of the country. How
insignificant can 5 sometimes be? Its the price of a drink
and scarily enough the price of a coffee in some places.
But what if we all donated a fiver to SVP this Christmas?
What if you and five of your friends sacrificed your next
pint in the pub or next coffee to donate 5 to those in
desperate need of your help?
What if those five friends passed on the challenge? It
would make a difference. It wont solve the entire problem
but it would help give a child a Christmas. Who is to say
your fiver wont make a difference?
More information on the campaign can be read here.
I have never seen anything like

this': Homelessness in Galway
hits crisis point
More and more families are presenting as homeless in Galway, where
no social housing has been built since 2009.
Nov 28th 2016,
TWO YEARS AGO, TheJournal.ie published an

THE CONVERSATION ABOUT homelessness in Ireland is
often, naturally, centred around Dublin given the sheer
scale of the problem in the capital.
However, homelessness is becoming a huge issue in
various parts of the country, including Galway.
John Dolan, the team leader of Galway Simons
resettlement service, has worked in the area of
homelessness for years. He took a career break from

March 2015 to July 2016.
When he returned to work a few months ago, he says it
was a completely different landscape to what he was
used to early last year, with a lot changing in a relatively
short period of time.
I was shocked by the increase in the number of people
seeking access to homeless services, and the change in
demographics, he tells TheJournal.ie.
Dolan says in previous years it was common to deal with

the same service users on more than one occasion, noting:
Galway is a pretty small place, you would know [people]
from the past.
Its completely different now, there are new cohorts of
people that are accessing homelessness services. People
that have never navigated this territory before. There is
huge pressure on services here in Galway.
The level of the crisis that exists is quite frightening to be
honest. I have worked in homeless services for a very long
time and I have never seen anything like this.
Its very frustrating as well. We would love to have
options to give or solutions to give people. The
demographic of people accessing services has really
expanded.
High rents
Dolan says some of the people seeking help may have

rented for many years but been asked to leave their house
as the landlord wants to sell it or allow a family member to
move in.
Christmas.
for people.
Focus
Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen

John Dolan
Source: Galway Simon
Due to rents being too high for many people, Dolan says
they are left with very little option but to access homeless
services.
Dolan says that while some aspect of the governments
housing action plan are to be welcomed, hes not sure its
a plan that can really solve the issue as it stands because
its such a crisis.
As part of the Rebuilding Ireland plan, the government
aims to build 25,000 homes a year by 2020 and provide
47,000 new social housing units, at a cost of over 5

billion.
Part of the plan will see mixed developments of social and
private housing in various locations.
Dolan says the plan is over-reliant on the private-rented
sector, something that will not work by itself.
There are a lot of bandages being thrown out there, he
says, adding that not introducing rent controls lacks
foresight.
Social housing
Dolan, like many others on the frontline of homelessness
services, believes building more houses has to make up a
large part of the response to what is a perennial national
housing crisis.
We were able to build a huge amount of social hosing in
the 1970s when we didnt exactly have a lot of state coffers.
Its a question of political will in terms of what we do with
the finances that we do have, he notes, saying the 500
million worth of tax cuts in the Budget might have been
better spent on building houses.
No social housing has been built in Galway since 2009.

Helena Martyn of Galway City Councils housing
department told us the first phase of new social housing
(14 units) in the city is expected to begin construction on
Ballymoneen Road in mid-December and be completed by
2018, at an estimated cost of 3.1 million.
The second phase, a minimum of 55 units, is expected to
be delivered shortly thereafter, but its too early in the
planning process for a cost estimation.
Read: My son said to me well need to put up
a Christmas tree this year please God well have
a house first
Speaking about the plan in the Dil this month, Housing
Minister Simon Coveney said: As with all social housing

proposals, there is an onus on the local authority and on
my department to ensure best value for money and a
reasonable density within the development to meet
respond to social housing need.
Accordingly, contacts between my department and Galway
City Council have included the consideration of options in
relation to the density and design for this development,
but such considerations should not delay advancement of
the project.
Coveney added that the two Galway local authorities city
and county have a combined target of 1,126 social
housing units for the period out to 2017, supported by an
allocation of 58.5 million, to be invested in a
combination of building, buying and leasing schemes.
A recent social housing needs assessment found that there
are approximately 3,500 households on the citys housing
waiting list.
The council works with a number of bodies to provide
accommodation, including Clid Housing, Tath Housing
Association, Co-operative Housing Ireland and Respond.
25,000 per month
The average monthly spend by the council on private
emergency accommodation to date in 2016 is 25,272.90,
compared to 16,856.58 per month in 2015.
Martyn notes that this is significant money, describing it
as a short-term solution rather than an ideal one.
Its not fair to expect a familys home to be a hotel. Thats
not an appropriate setting for families. she says, adding
that living in emergency accommodation is not a healthy
environment to grow up in.
Martyn says private emergency accommodation is the
main option available to Galway City Council. It has made
a number of transitional units available to homeless
families and these are used when they become available.
They are always fully occupied.
Obviously where children are involved we make sure some
form of accommodation available. No child should be child
left sleeping on the streets. Thats one of my biggest fears.

Martyn notes that, to the city councils knowledge, this has
never happened, but it if did Tusla, the Child and Family
Agency, would be notified. She says this is something that
could happen if a family didnt contact the council or
organisations such as Simon or COPE.
Martyn says that while homelessness is less prevalent in
the nearby counties of Mayo and Roscommon its still an
issue, with more and more families facing the prospect of
losing their homes.
She adds that while private rented accommodation has its
role to play in responding to the housing crisis, more
houses need to be built nationally.
Lack of accommodation remains a huge issue and new
builds are needed.
The charity's figures show that 65 families became newly
homeless in the city in September.
It brings the total to 736 families - including 1,389 children having become homeless in Dublin in the first nine months
2016.
Meanwhile, national figures released by the Government this
evening show there are a total of 6,709 people homeless
nationwide. That includes 1,173 families and 2,426 children in
emergency or temporary accomodation.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen, said: We
need to stop the constant flow of families and single people
becoming homeless. Our frontline staff have seen first-hand
that the two key reasons families are becoming homeless is
one, landlords are selling up and getting out of the business,
and two, rising rents.
"Both these issues are within the power of the Government to
tackle and while they have taken some actions they have
clearly not done enough, fast enough," he added.
Sinn Fin housing spokesperson oin Broin, meanwhile,
said the latest figures are "not surprising given the
Government's inaction".
He suggested: Every single day more people are presenting
as homeless. Home repossessions, vacant possession of buyto-let properties, spiralling rents and family breakdown are the
key reasons.
It is also deeply disappointing to see the Minister delay the
release of the September figures and then quietly post them
on the Department's website late in the evening when the
country's media is focused on the Brexit Forum. This smacks
of trying to brush this bad news under the carpet," he added.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report__september_2016_0.pdf
A DCU student who was homeless as a child has urged

her peers to support an annual charity drive.
Laura Hogan was speaking in a video to promote a 24-hour
broadcast organised by the DCU Media Production Society in
aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.
The Dublin student explained that she only realised she was
homeless after receiving a Christmas gift box similar to one
she had prepared in school for other homeless children.
Laura was in fifth class at the time, living in a shelter with her
family after they lost their home.
"Most people think you become homeless through having a
bad family, like your family are on drugs. [This] was not the
case for me at all, which made me take a long time to realise I
was homeless," she said.
"Even when it was a really rough night, staying in a car or
sitting around on the streets," she added, "it still didnt dawn
on me I was actually homeless. I thought it was normal."
Now, Laura said, her life has "completely changed".
"Since then, we've come so far. My mam is my main
cheerleader. Anything I do, she is just so impressed by.

"I got one of the highest [Leaving Cert] results in my schools. I
got into DCU; I'm now in final year doing journalism.
"Donating to charities is so important because it helps people
like me get to where I am. Now, I can actually live a normal
life."
DCU student on being homeless- 'I thought it was normal' Laura
Hogan describes her journey from homeless shelter to university Oct
25th 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCsT-pcyRA
The St Vincent de Paul (SVP) charity is drawing attention
to concerns at the housing and homeless crisis by
transforming its Dublin shop front.
For two days the window of the SVP shop on South Great
Georges Street is being transformed into a unique 'hidden
homeless' estate agency window.
This initiative is to draw attention to the SVP's concern at the
homeless crisis - and the lack of social housing in Ireland.
SVP wants to see real progress on the targets for 2016 set out
in Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for
Housing.
The charity says the 'hidden homeless' are people and
families in hotels and B&Bs - made homeless by hikes in
private rented sector rents - and also people making do with
cold, damp and poor quality rental units or 'sofa surfing' in the
homes of friends or extended family.
"These families and people are a key concern for SVP as its
members visit them, every week of the year, across Ireland
but particularly in and around Dublin, Cork and other cities",
the charity says.
"SVP directly assists in preventing homelessness, in an
informal way, for low income families in private rented housing
who face significant rent increases".
John-Mark McCafferty, SVP head of social justice and policy,
adds: "SVP volunteers assist with practical support including
financial assistance and referral to relevant agencies. SVP
also provides social housing and emergency accommodation
and is therefore at the heart of the housing and homelessness
issue."
This Monday and Tuesday, visitors to the shop and passers-by
will see a very different type of estate agency window - with
properties advertised in terms of what many low income
families face.
Shop visitors and members of the general public will also be
asked by younger SVP members from university branches to
sign a petition to join the call for Government to ensure that
enough social housing is built or bought to meet current and
future need.
Among the properties advertised are:
Hotel rooms with the opportunity for children to mix with a
variety of people from stag parties and business conferences:
Source: SVP
Compact flats with kitchenette with open vent for constant air
circulation and occasional hot water:
Source: SVP
A relatives couch within a multi-use environment that can also

be used for relaxing and entertaining guests:
Source: SVP
SVP says there are 90,000 households waiting for social

housing across Ireland and over 2,000 children living in
homeless accommodation in Dublin.
Martin OConnor, Assistant CEO of COPE Galway, says the

city is an example of somewhere where when the crash
happened, there was no overhang of unfinished
properties. He says there were small pockets of
apartments, but not many housing estates close to
completion.
Without additional housing its simply not going to be

possible to manage the crisis, he notes.
Rough sleeping
Dolan says homelessness in Galway has become much
more visible in recent times.
Its the first time in many peoples memory that visible
homelessness is now an everyday topic of conversation.
Thats significant. Squatting always happened, but now
there is more of a spillover onto the streets people
sleeping in bus shelters, in front of foyers of hotels.
COPE estimates that about 20 people sleep rough in the
city every night.
OConnor says this figure is likely to be higher as there are
also people squatting in semi-derelict or derelict buildings,
and sleeping in the stairwells of car parks.
U
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U
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He says there are usually more men sleeping rough than

women, and a small number of couples. He notes that
some of their relationships formed while on streets,
sometimes due in part to reasons of safety for women.
On top of this, Dolan says there are the invisible
homeless, people who are couch-surfing or staying in
hostels, B&Bs or hotels.
Services
Simon provides a number of services in Galway city,
including a moving on service that aims to help men
move into independent living (a service they also provide),
community housing, long-term housing and a youth
homelessness service.
Heres a breakdown of the number of people Galway
Simon has helped in 2016:
Households worked with from January to September:
529 (up from 366 in the whole of 2015)
Households helped by the community support team
from January to September: 285 (up from 227 in 2015)
Number of people housed in their services from
January to September: 101 (113 in 2015)
Referrals from January to October 2016: 251 (226 in
2015)
Number of families worked with from January to
October: 112 (up from 32 in 2015 and five in 2014)
Dolan says some of the young people they support
previously lived in the care system or may have ended up
on the streets due to a family breakdown.
He adds that youth homelessness is a huge issue, and
something Simon works very much in tandem with other
agencies to tackle.
Read: I dont want to be 40 living in a tent
waking up with a bottle of vodka beside me
In a joint initiative between a number of organisations and
the city council, a new complex that will house 18-25 year
olds is due to open by the end of November with the aim
of getting young people off the streets before the weather
worsens.
Its very hard to get your head around, in terms of how
these people have been left with so few options, Dolan
notes.
Drug use
Dolan says some of the service users Simon works with
have substance dependence and mental health issues, but
describes this as a chicken and egg scenario, with some
issues developing or worsening as a result of
homelessness.
Much of this can come as a result of homelessness or
some kind of trauma that existed in childhood and teenage
years. he notes.
Source: Shutterstock/Olena Yakobchuk
OConnor says COPE has noticed an increase in heroin use

in the city in recent years. He says this can lead to a
difficult dynamic in shared emergency accommodation.
Were very clear about whats permissible. We wont

facilitate active drug use in homeless services. We will link
people and refer them to addiction services with a view to
getting them on a methadone programme.
OConnor notes that its much easier to access services in
Dublin and many addicts have to leave the west to access a
detox programme.
One of the big deficits is the near complete absence of
detox and rehab services in Galway and the surrounding
areas.
He says COPE is aware of a small number of cases where
women have engaged in sex work in order to get money for
drugs.
There is a waiting list for the local methadone programme
which can cause issues because, as OConnor puts it, there
might only be a small window of opportunity to engage
with somebody.
Evictions
COPE has also seen a rise in the number of families
seeking help in the last 18 months in particular. OConnor
says that since then there has been a very notable
increase in the number of families starting to access
services, and that level of need has persisted.
A number of families are currently being put up in a hostel
originally designed for single women.
Like Simon, all of COPEs beds are full and the demand
continually outstrips supply.
OConnor says a lack of affordable housing means some
people end up staying emergency accommodation for
extended periods of time.
COPE is working with about 60 families who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness, with four or five new families
presenting for help each month.
Martin O'Connor
Source: COPE Galway
OConnor says about 10 new families were presenting

monthly earlier this year, but fortunately this number has
dropped recently.
COPE is working with a number of families who are in
notice-to-quit situations and facing eviction. OConnor
says the organisation has had some success in getting
families more time to try to strike a deal with their
landlord.
He says some landlords are sympathetic and trying to be
amenable, with some very regretful in certain instances,
but they might want to sell the property or have more rent
coming in so dont want to continue with the current
arrangement.
He notes that a number of landlords are also not renewing
contracts to provide housing for local authorities when
they come to an end, as they might be able to make more
money by selling the house or renting it privately.
OConnor says nine of the 60 families being helped by
COPE are experiencing hidden homelessness where
they have lost their accommodation and are staying with
family of friends something that is not sustainable in the
long-term.
Roughly half of the families COPE is currently helping are
Traveller families who were settled but lost their
accommodation, often due to the landlord taking the
property back to sell it or for their own family to use.
OConnor says it can be particularly challenging for
Travellers to access new privately-rented accommodation
as there is an added prejudice.
Void properties
OConnor says the number of void properties available to
be refurbished and used as accommodation in Galway city
is pretty much exhausted.
He notes that many of the few three-bedroom houses
available in the city cost over 1,000 a month. He says
some parents struggle to make up the difference between
the rent and their rent supplement entitlement of 875 if
they have two children or 900 for three children
especially when they are competing with the rest of the
market.
The HAP was introduced in Galway in February. OConnor
says its early days for the scheme in Galway, but it has
seen some success.
Day centre
Source: COPE Galway
As well as providing an emergency accommodation

response for families experiencing homeless, COPE also
runs a number of hostels.
Its Fairgeen facility is a 26-bedroom hostel that provides
emergency and short-term accommodation for men. A 12unit hostel, Osterley Lodge, provides emergency and
short-term accommodation for women on their own or
with children.
Domestic violence
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COPEs Waterside House is the only 24-hour accessible

refuge in the western region. It provides accommodation,
information, support and court accompaniment to women
and their children experiencing domestic violence. There
is an outreach service for women in the city and county
who are in abusive relationships and need support and
information.
In 2015, almost 600 women and children received support
from across our range of domestic violence services
including our refuge. However, a further 288 individual
women and 405 children who sought safe refuge could not
be accommodated due to lack of space. In these instances
women were offered referral to refuges elsewhere in the
country.
Heres a breakdown of the domestic violence-related
services provided by COPE to date in 2016:
Refuge admissions: 68 women (58 individual); 74
children (70 individual)
Unable to accommodate: 162 women with 197
children
Outreach appointments provided: 545 in Galway city
and county
Court accompaniments: 59 women accompanied 110
times
Play therapy sessions: Provided for 93 children
Healthy relationships sessions: Provided in 33
secondary schools
The refuge has capacity to accommodate six women and 15
children at any given time. The building is unfit for
purpose its based on single room bedsit-type
accommodation and cannot facilitate onsite cooking or an
outdoor play area for children.
Osterley Lodge
Source: COPE Galway
A new facility is due to be built on Forster Street in the city

centre.
It will comprise nine self-contained accommodation units
(seven one-beds and two two-beds), each with a
kitchen/living room, bedroom/s and bathroom. It will
have an overall capacity to accommodate a minimum of
nine women and about 20 children. Units will be shared to
facilitate further capacity when needed.
The building, which will also have communal and office
rooms, was donated by the Sisters of Mercy on a 99-year
lease in 2013. The redevelopment is set to cost about 2.5
million, with a 1.16 million grant being provided by the
Department of the Environment, Community and Local
Government.
IRELAND IMMIGRANT
INVESTOR PROGRAMME
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme was

introduced in 2012 to allow foreign investors to
obtain permanent residency status in Ireland.
The ultimate objective of the programme is to
create jobs and facilitate further economic
development in Ireland.
The Irish Governments five year plan seeks to
attract 900
new businesses to the country.
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further economic development in Ireland. The Irish

Governments five year ... 300,000 immigrants into the
country in 2017,
Have a minimum net worth of 2,000,000

Be of good character, and not have been convicted
of any
criminal offenses.
Invest 500,000 into an eligible Irish company for a
minimum of 3 years.
Investments must support the creation or
maintenance of
employment in Ireland.
Investments must be made in the name of the
applicant.
Investments made for the purpose of purchasing
publicly
traded securities or real estate for the purposes of
leasing
or renting will not be considered as eligible
investments.
Benefits
Residency requirement of only 1 day per year.

Children up to the age of 24 can be included as
dependents.
No previous management or business experience
required.
Simple Documentation and One-Step Approval
Process.
Over 1,000 refugees

expected to arrive in Co
Kildare in 2017
CPPI 3 hours ago Irish News 0 Comments 65 Views
Well now arent we the lucky ones? It seems that the

Celtic people of Kildare are going to have to
welcome over 1000 invaders ( oh I do mean poor
down-trodden refugees ) in 2017.
Well thats very nice. Im sure that this little
homeless Celtic girl will happily sleep under the
portico of the GPO so that we can house thousands of
invaders.
Over a thousand are anticipated to arrive in Co

Kildare by September next. Ireland is committed to
offering asylum to 4,000 Syrian refugees.
Has any of us actually been asked if we want this?
Meanwhile, the Focolare Centre, based in
Prosperous, is organising a Christmas fair in aid of
refugees in Syria this Saturday from 11am to 4pm.
One of the event organisers, Susan Gately said: We
have been very touched by the refugees that we have
met. Syria is in our hearts.
Thats so nice of Susan. But does she actually know
what these Syrian refugees are doing in Germany?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdLQk6WbEY8
I guess Susan would not want to know about the true

nature of these poor refugees as it would go
against her demented leftie thinking.
Maybe Susan might change her mind if she saw this
footage of poor Syrian refugees attempting to rape
a young French girl.
Jhttps://www.youtube.com/watch
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdEKynBCxzU
State television broadcast footage reveals a tide of

hundreds of refugees walking along a ravaged street,
wearing thick clothes against the rain and cold, many
with hoods or hats pulled tight around their faces,
and hauling sacks or bags of belongings.
Yes well the media whores of RTE are only too happy
to encourage the ethnic cleaning of the Celtic People
of Ireland at every opportunity by guilt tripping them
into accepting the invasion of our beloved Ireland by
millions of turd worlders.
The International Committee for the Red Cross
appealed for all sides to spare civilian lives. As the
battle reaches new peaks and the area is plunged into
chaos thousands with no part in the violence have
literally nowhere safe to run. Speaking to Kildare
Now, Mr Power says that the refugees in Co Kildare
are happy to be here.
Ill bet they are happy to be here. They will be given
priority housing ahead of our Celtic People and will
be fed and clothed forever and all at our expense. In
effect we are paying to have our country invaded.
Have you noticed that EVERY week the number of
negros and asiatics increases on the streets of every
Irish town and city? And if these people are genuine
refugees, why then did they not stay in Turkey or go
to Israel or Saudi Arabia? Because there are no free
handouts there. Thats why.

There are NO legitimate war refugees in Ireland. For
someone to claim refugee status they must go to the
first safe port of call. Ireland is not any refugees first
safe port of call. Therefore the traitors of Dail
Eireann are deliberating importing millions of turd
worlders to change our Celtic country into a turd
world hell hole.
In power we will expel all

those who arrived on our
shores illegally and will hod
to account all those who
aided and abetted the
invasion of Ireland by
negros and asiatics.
http://www.cppireland.org/2016/12/14/over-1000-refugees-expectedto-arrive-in-co-kildare-in-2017/
Enda Kenny appeals to

Fianna Fil to pass proposed
rent measures before
Christmas
Fianna Fil has said they "are not satisfied that the proposed
4% increase is appropriate"
NEWS
Image: RollingNews.ie
The Taoiseach has set the Government on a collision

course with Fianna Fail by defending the proposed caps
for rental increases.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney unveiled new measures
yesterday, which he wants to turn into law before Christmas.
Fianna Fil says the 4% limit for rent increases in the two
cities is too high and needs to be lowered.
In a statement yesterday, the party's housing spokesperson
Barry Cowen said: "We are not satisfied that the proposed 4%
increase is appropriate and we also believe that tax incentives
for landlords should be part of the package."
He also suggested that Galway, Limerick, Waterford and other

large population centres are added to the scheme from 'day
one'.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Deputy Cowen
argued: "Let's see the proposals, let's amend them, let's
debate them, let's analyse them, and let's reach a consensus.
That's what the democratic process presents us with the
opportunity to do and I hope that won't be lost."
However Enda Kenny is standing by the 4% level, saying it
needs to strike a balance.
In the Dil he has appealed to Fianna Fil to allow the
measures be passed into law before the Christmas break on
Friday.
"This is a really important matter for thousands of people now,
and I do hope that this legislation will nto be delayed," he told
deputies.
http://www.newstalk.com/En
da-Kenny-appeals-to-FiannaFil-to-pass-proposed-rentmeasures-before-Christmas
Finance Accounts 2014
Dec 8, 2015
tch?v=josVLnNiRvQ
Johnathon Sugarman (Whistleblower)
With Vincent Browne
Dec 6, 2016
Hell hath no fury like a Justice scorned | Shane Ross | Irish Times |
07/12/16 |
It is important, as the chief justice has said, that politicians and judges owe
respect to the other.
And so we should. A prerequisite for such respect is that the method of judicial
appointments is transparent and democratic. Currently, it is not.
My Independent Alliance colleagues and I inserted a few paragraphs in the
Programme for Government insisting on long overdue reforms in the selection
and scrutiny of our judges.
The judges have greeted the proposals with thunder in their voices.
The dogs in the street know that party -political loyalties have played a
shameful part in the selection of Judges in Ireland. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and
Labour barristers have often been forced to wait for regime change until they
were elevated to the bench.
I have campaigned for reform of this flawed system for years. I wrote chapters
in books on it. I even suggested that interviews might be held for the first time
ever. Being recently privileged with a place in the cabinet seemed a pretty
good perch from which to implement the changes. Fine Gael agreed to them.
At long last it seems that the appointment of judges is to be taken out of the
political arena.
And it is. Even Fianna Fail has agreed that the good old days of governments
appointing party pals to the bench are over.
A new Bill hit the Dail a few weeks ago, largely removing the selection of
judges from the political arena.
The Bill was proposed by a Fianna Fail barrister, Jim O Callaghan. It was
warmly welcomed in the Dail by all sides, as it tackled the cancer of political
patronage. A few other barrister TDs, besides Jim, joined Frances Fitzgerald
and me in our initial welcome of the breakthrough.
The Bill was far from perfect. While it largely removed political leverage, it
gave someone else legal eagles a majority on the new commission
selecting judges. The old system, a board that sent up a long, long list of likely
names to the minister for justice, would end. Under Jims Bill the judiciary and
their legal friends would control the choice. Political patrons would be
replaced by legal insiders.
Irelands judges will not have been displeased by what they call Jims Bill.
Yet the prospect of legal eagles in control of the appointment of judges runs
directly contrary to the Programme for Governments commitment. We
welcome judges and lawyers on the selection board, but not in control. The
Independent Alliance agreed to an independent layperson in the chair, flanked
by a majority of lay people advised by judges and lawyers, offering their
expertise. The chief Justice would be welcome among their number. While all
the lawyers would be full members, the legal professions iron grip would be
loosened. We do not want to see judges on the inside appointing their chosen
ones. What sort of replacement would that be for political cronyism? And,
acknowledging an omission in the programme for government, I proposed that
Judges should be legally obliged to declare all their financial and other
interests. Just like TDs.
Perhaps prompted by some rather colourful rhetoric from me and by Fianna
Fail support in the form of Jims Bill, Irelands lawyers took to the media. Two
weeks ago the chief justice broke cover. The newspapers responded with
massive coverage. I came under sustained attack. Journalist Colm Keena
chastised me for alleged inaccuracies. Keena himself, without checking with

me, put his name to an article claiming that I had insisted on attending a
meeting with the judges having learned of the meeting. Keena was not
inaccurate. He was wrong.
The powerful law lobby moved into full gear. The number of lawyers offered
space to defend their patches was staggering. The Irish Times led the field in
giving openings to this privileged group. Ten days ago the chairman of the Bar
Council Paul McGarry penned a piece entitled Criticism a threat to
independence of the Judiciary. On Friday columnist Noel Whelan headed his
column Rosss fixation on judges is mere political posturing. OK, but
perhaps Whelans eagerness proves a transparency point. In his hard hitting
piece , addressing the Independent Alliance ( whom he dislikes) and the legal
eagles (his colleagues) he fails to reveal not one , but two , missing
declarations of interests. Readers might be surprised to know that Whelan is a
former Dail and Seanad candidate for Bertie Aherns Fianna Fail. Nor does he
mention that he is a senior counsel. His political comments echo those of Jim
OCallaghan, the Fianna Fail barrister in the Dail. His column serves both
Fianna Fail and the legal eagles well. Pity he didnt declare his interests.
Such transparency does not fit well with the traditions of the Law Library
where Noel does his day job.. No doubt Noel does not nurse any ambitions to
hit the bench? He would undoubtedly have told us.
He maintains that in the present controversy it is politics, not the appointments
system, that are the issue. He is wrong. The judges and the lawyers, like
Noel, are the issue. Nor is it just the appointments, it is the near- impossibility
of removing a bad judge, that must be resolved in coming legislation.
Judges are good at fighting rearguard actions. Their opposition to a cut in
their pay in the 2009 referendum was not their finest hour. Nor do they like
being challenged. Most of them are good people, doing an honest job.
Following the chief justices foray into the public arena, the president of the
Circuit Court Raymond Groarke hit the headlines. In an intemperate response
to the prospect of a shortage of judges, he declared that if the government did
not give him judges he would not be able to obey their legislative strictures. I
am sure the judge did not intend to imply that he was willing to break the law.
In response to Judge Groarke and to ensure that we do not obstruct the
needs of justice- the government has agreed to appoint new judges, albeit
under the old flawed system.
Judge Groarke, might in turn, listen to the chief justices words of the need for
respect for the other. Let alone for the law of the land.
computing tech.
Find Truthful Irish @ https://www.facebook.com/truthful.irish/

What Irish Bankers Hoped The Irish

People Would Never Discover.
Nov 21, 2016
What Irish Bankers Hoped The Irish People Would Never
Discover.
Now the questions the Irish People are starting to ask?
WHY IRELAND BAILED OUT NOT JUST "IRISH BANKS", BUT 42%
of Europes Banks ?????
This Videos exposes the hidden fraud that took place, Time for
jailing the Minster For Fraud ....M Noonan and Co..
tch?v=UOUVL_3eIGw
Interviews of whistleblowers to Vasileios
Katsardis 15 11 2016
tch?v=c7d3Cx-9ta8
Whistleblower protection: What must be
done?
Nov 16, 2016
Below all the soundbites in English
Kouloglou
There must be laws for protecting the whistleblowers. To
facilitate people who have secrets but are afraid to talk in
order to avoid suffering what the previous whistleblowers
suffered. Europe, the EU should take such initiatives. In a time

when populism is gaining ground, where citizens feel unsafe
and unprotected, enraged by cleptocracy, by the 1% getting
continuously richer at the expense of the 99%. It is essential
that the European Parliament votes for protection measures for
whistleblowers. Otherwise we will have many little Donald
Trumps, throughout Europe. And we do not protect only the
whistleblowers. By protecting whistleblowers we will in fact
protect our society, democracy, our children and their future,
ourselves.
Only from the Falciani list that has to do with only to one bank,
the American state gained 1.9 billion dollars by imposing a fine
on only one bank HSBC. After investigation on the list, France,
Spain, Great Britain -and I hope Greece- have earned at least
half a billion euros.
Sugarman
I think people should realise that literally people have gotten
away with murder. When you hear about the suicide rates in
places like Greece, when you hear about the fact that
something like 10% of the Greek population goes to bed
starving, this didnt happen because of an earthquake. It
happened because people in key positions did not do their job.
Either by neglect or criminal conduct, deliberate conduct. And
nobody has been held to account. Every bank in Greece has at
least one manager. In some large retail banks you might have
at least 50 people working in risk. Who signed all those loans?
Halet
It is a very good thing to keep on putting pressure on both the
European Commission and the politicians at national level, be
it Greek, and it is by making this kind of conferences that we
will continue to put pressure, that we will continue to talk
about whistleblowers, especially about how to find solutions to
protect them.
Elmer
I think it was a very important event because we talked about
the law which needs to be changed in respect of protection of
the whistle-blowers. That is an absolutely key issue. Because if
there is no protection for whistleblowers then the information
the society needs will not be revealed. We are talking about
tax evasion, tax fraud, terrorist financing, corruption, even
money laundering, even issues for instance in a hospital where
doctors abuse their power, they just go for the money. So, the
protection of whistle blowers is absolutely key to make our

society a better place.
tch?v=HMsMsi0NFyo
A Functioning
Private Rented
Sector Needs
Landlords - SF
A functioning private rented sector needs
landlords, according to Sinn Fin.

The party's Housing spokesperson, Eoin Broin
TD, made the call ahead of the launch of the
Government's strategy for the private rented
sector.
He also said Minister Simon Coveney has a "unique
opportunity to bring forward ambitious reforms".
Deputy Broin said: "We would like to see the
Minister committing to a review of the tax
treatment of landlords in advance of Budget 2018.
There needs to be parity in how the 65% of
Landlords that own just one property are treated
and how institutional landlords are treated.
"We all know this sector is in urgent need of
reform. The Minister's focus on the supply issue
alone will not provide any relief to over 700,000
struggling with increasing rental costs. Greater
protections for an ever increasing number of
tenants must form the cornerstone of this strategy.
We hope that despite the Minister's reluctance to
support it in the past, rent certainty will be part of
the government's plan. We urgently need to put a
halt to spiralling rental costs. Neither the tenant
nor the landlord benefits from seismic peaks and
troughs in rental prices. Linking rent increases and
decreases to an index like the consumer price
index provides certainty to both parties."
He continued: "Rent certainty must be introduced
in tandem with greater security of tenure. Sinn Fin
would like to see the option of tenancies of
indefinite duration introduced. The notion of the
private rented sector being transient in nature,
where students dominate needs to be dismissed.

"One quarter of people in Dublin are now living in
the private rented sector. In order to build
sustainable communities, there must be some
move towards providing for five, ten or twenty year
leases. We would also like to see tenants protected
by removing the sale of the home as a reason for
evicting tenants. This measure would help many
families avoid homelessness.
"Finally, we would like to see the Minister making a
commitment to increase resources and funding for
local authority inspections and for the work of the
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Renters should
not have to put up with sub-standard
accommodation and the RTB must be adequately
funded so that landlord-tenant disputes are
resolved speedily."
http://www.constructionireland.ie/constructionnews/223319/a-functioning-private-rented-sector-needslandlords-sf
Mr Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community & ... As the landlord continues to service his
mortgage throughout the term, with all relevant
http://www.ipav.ie/sites/default/files/ipav_submission_novemb
er_2016_-_rebuilding_ireland__strategy_for_the_rental_sector.pdf
Irish landlords to be
offered five years rent for
vacant properties
European News
21 Sep 2016
Landlords in Ireland will be offered five years rent up front or

as much as 30,000 for vacant properties as part of a new
Government initiative aimed at resolving the housing crisis in
the country.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is developing a scheme which
will see local authorities approach owners of vacant properties
and offer them a lump sum in return for leasing the properties.
Council officials will offer landlords grants for vacant houses
under a repair to lease scheme. It is hoped the project will
incentivise people to renovate old houses which have sat idle
for a number of years, before renting them to tenants through
local authorities.
Approved housing agencies will also be able to avail of the
scheme and organisations will be encouraged to identify vacant
properties which could be leased. Pilot projects of the scheme
are to be rolled out in Waterford and Carlow before it goes
nationwide.
The Housing Agency has also been given 70m to purchase and
renovate vacant properties for rent. There are an estimated
250,000 empty properties around the country.
http://www.property-investornews.com/news/european_news/2016/09/21/irish_landlords_to_be_offer
ed_five_years_rent_for_vacant_properties.html#.WFHb7Tsy6FI
Investing in Student
Accommodation - The
Common Pitfalls
Celia Berg, Partner and Sophie D'Ivangin,
Associate, in the Real Estate practice at Berwin
Leighton Paisner, comment
Student Market
4 Jul 2016
Global investment into the UK student housing sector is

growing and is set to grow further as an asset class providing
stable long term income streams and rental growth with the UK
being the second most popular post graduate destination for
international students. Part of the alternatives class of assets, it
is governed by its own rules and risks with a mix of residential
and commercial property considerations.
We have mentioned below some practical examples of where
things can go wrong, to highlight some of the risks inherent to
investment in student accommodation.
Tax planning
VAT Recoverability - Trying to obtain zero-rating eligibility to
ensure the recoverability of VAT is a recurring issue in student
accommodation development.
Example: - The builder/developer charges VAT on the
construction costs. The owner of the property attempts to
reclaim VAT but HMRC determines that no VAT should have
been payable so it cannot be recovered (as the developer
should have zero-rated). The owner can end up having paid
millions in irrecoverable VAT.
http://www.property-investornews.com/article/student_market/2016/07/29/investing_in_student_acco
mmodation___the_common_pitfalls_.html#.WFHcLjsy6FI
Minister
Slammed Over
Plans To Permit
Landlords To
Increase Rents
Sinn Fin has hit out at Housing Minister

Simon Coveney over plans to permit
landlords to increase rent prices by 4% every
year for the next three years.
Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Maurice Quinlivan TD said the proposals will do
nothing for struggling renters in Limerick.
Deputy Quinlivan said: "The measures announced
will do nothing to assist a family renting an
average home in Limerick for 1,200 per month, or
single people who are struggling to pay
exceptionally high rents on one and two bedroom
flats in Limerick. Low and middle income families
and single people simply do not have this money.

They cannot afford further rent increases.
"The fact of the matter is that for those living
outside the so called 'rent pressure zones' rents
will continue to rise.
"The latest quarterly rental report for Daft.ie
showed that tenants in Limerick City faced an
average annual rent increase of 13.2% which is
higher than in Dublin at 10.9%.
"The onus is now on Fianna Fil to support a cross
party amendment and do what Minister Coveney
and his colleagues in Cabinet are not willing to do,
namely to give struggling renters a break."
http://www.constructionireland.ie/construction-news/223377/ministerslammed-over-plans-to-permit-landlords-to-increase-rents
Simon Coveneys Big

House Con
By SW Editor on 27th July 2016Comments Off on Simon Coveneys Big
House Con
Simon Coveney has launched his new

Housing Action Plan with quite a fanfare.
Unsurprisingly much of the media has
echoed Coveneys own view of his
proposals: a game changer, 47,000 new
social houses!, the biggest housing
Simon Coveney has launched his new Housing Action Plan

with quite a fanfare. Unsurprisingly much of the media
has echoed Coveneys own view of his proposals: a game
changer, 47,000 new social houses!, the biggest housing
Tragically and it is tragic for the homeless on the streets
and the 140,000 on the housing waiting list this is spin
and hype, a huge con.
Start with the headline figure, the 47,000 social houses;
bearing in mind the 140,000 (and growing) on the waiting
list this is not enough. And when you look deeper into the
Plan you find that even this figure is unlikely to be
delivered: it actually talks in terms of building up to
25.000 by 2021. Up to here is politician speak for less
than
Then there is the fact highlighted by People Before Profit
TD Richard Boyd Barrett in the Dil that there is NO
figure in the Plan for the number of actual Council Houses
to be built. Boyd Barrett put this question direct to Enda
Kenny but got, as usual, no answer.
Another feature of the Plan is that it does not address the
crucial question of rent control, despite the fact that more
and more people are being priced out of their homes by

rapacious landlords.
This reflects the underlying problem with Coveneys Plan
and with the governments whole approach: that they
insist on relying on market mechanisms and the private
developers to deal with the housing crisis.
The whole report is littered with references to incentives
and the private sector, by which they really mean vulture
funds. The government is going to hand over 75% of state
land and funds to private developers who will build
houses, only 25% of which will be social housing.
This is despite the fact that it is has been proven over
decades that relying on the profit motive to provide
housing doesnt work it just makes the problem worse.
Simon Coveney has said he is staking his political career
on his plan working. He may live to regret that pledge.
What we need now is what People Before Profit and AAA
have been arguing for all along: declare a National
Housing Emergency; treat housing as a basic human right;
take over vacant housing; introduce emergency rent
controls; start a massive programme of council house
building.
And defy any instructions from the EU that it cant be
done: the housing needs and right of our people come
before EU rules!
Fianna Fil has

concerns over
Government's rent
plan
Article meta info, bylin, date etc
Updated / Dec. 14,
Dublin and Cork have been designated rent pressure

zones


three years.
issues.
outset.
appropriate.

increases.
Fil.
city.
2019.

zones.
supply.
pay rent.
the same time,

rising.
he latest Residential Tenancies Board rent
month.
quarter this year.
levels.
working well.
tenants."
nowhere to go.

"runaway train" .
helped somewhat.
Index.
make no changes.
situ.
get accommodation."
this.
ten areas.
couples.

payments.
little impact.
homelessness.
alike."
owning a home.
benefits.

back to the market.
nationwide.
affordable housing.
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/thres
holdannualreport2015.pdf
accelerated rate.
certainty

certainty.
index.
something."
looked at.
Coveney writes letter to Fianna Fil

offering to change rent plan
Irish Independent
December 14, 16
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has offered to fast-track

the designation of Rent Pressure Zones outside of Dublin
and Cork, Independent.ie understands.
Fil.
by Mr Coveney.

Housing Crisis Q&A: What is a Rent Pressure Zone?
country.
Are all rental properties in Dublin and Cork covered?
There were calls to link rent increases to the rate of
inflation. Why didn't Simon Coveney take this approach?
reasonable return."
The minister has announced a series of measures aimed
at kick-starting supply, including:
providers
Simon Coveney - ireland will take 12,000

asylum seekers over next two years
Jul 11, 2016
Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney says Ireland will take 12,000
asylum seekers over next two years as part of the EU
plantations and will mix them with existing communities in
order to make everybody diverse
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sFdmTb1R9wI
we need to hang these cunts

Disgraceful. When he's using terms like "the right mix" it really
shows the social engineering/destruction behind it. 'EU
plantations' as you put it is the best term for it.
I'm nearly sure that the Government told us last year that the
figure that Ireland would be taking in would be 4000.
We need to start making a list of these Irish traitors. Obviously,

it was that kike Alan Shatter who let in the 50,000 foreigners in
2011. Still gotta keep an eye on these leftie cunts like this
man. And settle up some day. Edna Kenny is ultimately
responsible for this, it happened on his watch. Probably the
greatest fucking retard we have ever had in office.
Simon Coveney - Ireland

will take 12,000 asylum
seekers over next 2 years
By Mr O Reilly
Mon , July 11, 2016 ,
Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney has said that Ireland
will take 12,000 asylum seekers over the next 2 years

alone as part of the EU's new Common Asylum Area . he
says the government will mix them with existing
communities in order to make us all more diverse

Shame on FF and FG
Speaking on the Courts Bill 2016. Repossessions must be

stopped.
I have tabled amendment No. 5, the first paragraph of
which encapsulates its intent. It states,"Dil ireann
formally declares that a housing emergency exists in the
State and while this emergency continues the right of any
person to remain in the dwelling in which the person
currently resides will take precedence over any property
right of any other person", and there are actions flowing
from that. Fundamentally, the greatest issue facing the
country now and for some time to come is the housing
emergency. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government told the Irish Examiner
last May that he accepted there is a housing emergency.
This is clear to the thousands of people who are homeless
currently. A total of 6,847 people are homeless, of whom
2,470 are children. According to figures published
yesterday, 420 families lost their homes over the past
three months, which equates to four a day.
Many of them are forced by banks and building societies
to hand back their homes, the homes of others are being
repossessed. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government accepts, and is quoted
publicly as saying, that there is a housing emergency. I
heard the Tnaiste acknowledge that in the House a

fortnight ago. We need to take real action to ensure that
those people who face the ultimate trauma of losing the
roof over their heads are protected. It is essential and
urgent that this Dil formally declare a housing emergency
in order to ensure a halt to evictions, to impose a rent
freeze, to ensure that private property rights are made
subject to the common good and to see to it that the right
of individuals and families to remain in their homes
supersedes the right to private property.
This Government declared a financial emergency and
introduced legislation to cut the pay and pensions of
public servants. It renewed that emergency on 30 June
last. There is major trauma and daily evictions. We need to
ensure that families facing homelessness, through no fault
of their own, are protected and have a roof over their
heads this Christmas. The formal declaration of a housing
emergency is an absolute necessity. The Taoiseach has
written to the European Commission on this issue. While
we have not declared a housing emergency, the
Commission will not take that request seriously. There has
been no response to the request. The Commission needs
to know the problems in this country with people living in
tents, hostels and hotels. Focus Ireland tells us that 20
families and 40 children are made homeless per month.
Recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO,
show that there are more than 14,500 buy-to-let
properties in arrears of more than two years.
Unfortunately, whether the tenants in those properties
know it or not they face eviction. Most of the families
made homeless in the past 12 months were renting buyto-let properties whose landlords were forced to sell by the
banks. That practice needs to be stopped.
This situation developed as a result of the privatisation of
the public housing programme in the early 2000s by a
Fianna Fil Government. I was a member of South
Tipperary County Council at the time and when that was
announced at our housing meeting, I said it would give
rise to huge problems. We need a large quantity of local
authority public housing for our citizens. In the 1970s we
were able to build up to 10,000 local authority houses
each year and we need to get back to that level. The
Minister and the Government are simply tinkering around

the edges. We need to declare a housing emergency in
order to ensure that every citizen and family has the right
to a roof over their heads this Christmas. The
repossessions, which remind us of the battering rams used
down the centuries in this country, need to be stopped.
Shame on FF and FG
The government's Strategy for the Rental Sector is flawed,

writes Dr Rory Hearne in the latest Progressive Economy
blog. It does not link rent increases to inflation, excludes
areas outside Dublin and Cork, does not provide security
of tenure, proposes the sale of public land below market
value to global real estate funds to increase supply, and
is based on the failed (and contradictory) market
assumptions that increasing rents will lead to further
supply and increased supply will lead to affordable
rents/house prices. #rentalstrategy #housing #inequality
Pic: Doug O'Connor, Irish Independent
Rental strategy insufficient for affordable homes

Rory Hearne: The governments Strategy for the Rental Sector ,
while containing the welcome provision of rental restrictions is
ultimately f...
PROGRESSIVE-ECONOMY.IE|BY RORY HEARNE
14 December 2016
Rental strategy insufficient for

affordable homes
Rory Hearne: The governments Strategy for the Rental Sector, while
containing the welcome provision of rental restrictions is ultimately
flawed because it does not link rent increases to inflation, excludes
areas outside Dublin and Cork (particularly the commuter counties),
does not provide security of tenure, proposes the sale of public land
below market value (i.e. give away/privatising a valuable public
resource) to global real estate funds to increase supply, and is based
on the failed (and contradictory) market assumptions that increasing
rents will lead to further supply and increased supply will lead to
affordable rents/house prices.
Firstly, in relation to the Strategy for the Rental Sector, there is no
evidence or research provided by the government or the Department of
Housing as to how the 4% increase in rents is being justified. For
example, 4% per annum represents 8 times the increase in annual
earnings for full-time employees in 2015. It has no justification from
price inflation as the (Consumer price index) is running at -0.3%. Within
the CPI there is a specific category, Furnishings, Household Equipment
& Routine Household Maintenance, which you would think would be a
reasonable indicator as to the main on-going cost for landlords. Inflation
for that category is running at -4.3%.
Furthermore, the most recent PRTB rent index for Dublin showed in the
last quarter that rental growth moderated significantly, and fell to 0.6%
and the annual % change for Dublin houses was 3.3% in Quarter 3 of
2016. So the 4% level is above this market level. This is why rent
increases should be linked to inflation (the CPI) which is running at
-0.3%.
Secondly, it excludes areas outside Dublin and Cork from the
designated pressure-zones. But it indicates they could be included at
some point next year. All areas across the country have seen
significant increases in rents in recent years so why are they being
excluded? For example rent in Wicklow increased by 9%, Meath 15%,
and Kildare 12% last year. Landlords are very likely (as is already
reportedly happening today in Dublin) to inform tenants of substantial
rent rises immediately in anticipation of being designated a rent
pressure zone in these areas across the country in the coming months.
This is why the entire country has to be included in the rental
restrictions.
Thirdly, the Strategy for the Rental Sector does not sufficiently address
the other major aspect of the rental crisis that is security of tenure.
There is no change to the situation whereby landlords can evict tenants
if they intend to sell the property or want it for family use and there is
insufficient protection for tenants being evicted from buy-to-let
properties in receivership being sold on to vulture funds. Without proper
tenant security the rental sector is not a secure form of tenancy
whereby people can make a long term home as tenants are left living in
constant fear and threat of eviction and homelessness.
The rental strategy proposal actually gives landlords a potential
incentive for evicting existing tenants. Properties that are renovated or
not let for two years are exempt from the rental restrictions so a
landlord could evict lower paying tenants, engage in renovations (or
leave it idle for two years) and then get new tenants in and charge them
much higher rents - which gives the landlord a bigger return over the
long term. The Rental Strategy in fact could worsen security of tenure
and homelessness through its proposal for a fast track processto
enable landlords to regain possession quickly where the non-payment
of rent constitutes the grounds for termination.
Finally, the strategy does not address the fundamental issue of the
current unaffordability of rents. Rents are already too high. So rather
than facilitating a further increase in rents there needs to be a strategy
to reduce rents. An affordable rent is around 20% of your disposable
income. Yet tenants are paying 50% and more on their rent and as a
result are going without basic necessities in order to cover their housing
costs.
Flawed approach to achieve supply
The governments principal policy approach to achieve affordability is to
increase supply. As the strategy states:
Ultimately, the most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the
medium to long term, with benefits for the entire sector, is to increase
supply.
But in order to increase supply, the government argues, you have to
make the building and provision of rental property (and similarly they
make the case for property for house purchase) economically viable i.e.
sufficiently profitable to entice developers and financiers. And to do that
you have to provide them a sufficient return that is why the 4% level
is set and, more importantly, that is why new property is being excluded
from the restrictions. It is to make the Irish rental sector attractive for
global property and financial speculative investors.
So government policy is to allow and facilitate increased rents (and

house prices) to make the Irish rental and housing property market
attractive i.e. hugely profitable to entice private investors, developers
and financiers (many large global wealth funds) to increase supply
which will, down the line, according to the government achieve reduced
rents and prices.
But this is a flawed and clearly contradictory approach as prices and
rents that have been increased to encourage supply are not going to be
reduced by investors and landlords any time soon and, ultimately, there
is no guarantee that increased private market supply of housing leads to
reduced rents and prices. The governments policy approach is based
on the theory of the ideal free market laws of price equilibrium being
reached when supply meets demand under assumptions of unrestricted
competition. But this is theoretical neoliberal nonsense. In the real
housing world, there is significant monopoly control over major parts of
the housing system by private speculative interests who hold large
amounts of land, control over the building process and own large
amounts of buildings. They hoard land and allow asset price
appreciation and they fix prices so that even with incentives they do
not necessarily build and increase supply and the supply they provide
is always aimed at profit maximising not provision of affordable
housing.
What this shows is that it is only the government the state that can
guarantee the provision (supply) of affordable housing and homes. This
government is doing everything it can to avoid this reality and instead is
focused on increasing the profitability of landlords, developers,
financiers, and global wealth funds.
An alternative strategy for affordable homes: A 'New Deal' for
housing
What is needed to provide affordable rental and homes for ownership is
a Roosevelt-like New Deal for housing. A massive state-led house
building and renovation programme that provides 30,000 affordable
homes per year. It could be done through a new affordable housing
state authority like the ESB delivered electricity across Ireland that
would launch a new housing tenure community affordable housing
involving housing for a broad range of income groups from the lowest
income to average and above average income workers. It would use the
huge existing land banks including that of NAMA to build mixed
income affordable community homes for rent and ownership. Crucially
though, the land and housing would always be held in trust by the state
and not sold on the market owners could sell it back to the trust
housing wold thus be kept affordable. Local authorities, housing
associations and co-operative housing associations could do it directly

or through arms-length trusts. It is cost-neutral as the state can borrow
at very low interest rates and it would make a return from the range of
rents and ownership models. It would also direct some of the 500 million
going to private landlords back to the state. It could purchase and bring
it to use the 35,000 vacant homes in wider Dublin area, and the 27,042
buy-to -lets in arrears (and derelict sites and land being hoarded by
vulture funds, NAMA and developers.
Rental Strategy privatises much-needed public land
This is what the public land of local authorities should be used for and
not, as the Strategy for the Rental Sector outlines, to be sold to private
developers and speculators providing build-to-rent. The proposal to sell
off local authority lands is the most serious mistake (and indeed
tragedy) in the rental strategy and the governments wider housing plan.
Page 15 of the strategy outlines that, in order to "Kick-start supply in
rent pressure zones Lands held by local authorities in rent pressure
zones will be brought to market on a competitive tendering basis, with a
view to leveraging the value of the land to deliver the maximum number
of units for rental targeting middle income private rental households".
This is a shameful use of public land selling it cheaply for global
vulture funds to provide unaffordable housing. As the strategy notes
through this land subsidy for private developers and financiers the cost
of providing rental units will be permanently reduced by lowering the
initial investment and development costs for providers. Local
authorities are being given immediate instruction, by end January 2017,
to identify a number of sites with the potential for up to 1,000 units of
accommodation and will move forward, as soon as possible, to issue
calls for proposals from parties interested in developing rental
accommodation for middle income households. As the report notes
these developments are potentially a major engine of growth of supply
for the rental sector by tapping new sources of finance from institutional
investors such as pension funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts.
The ironic thing is the private interests who will get below market land
from the state will then not be subject to the 4% restriction rent caps as
they will be providing new housing. This is the same approach being
used in the land initiative for public land in social housing estates like O
Devaney Gardens and St Michaels Estate. This is a new form of Public
Private Partnership, but as in the previous housing PPPs, the value of
the land will be appropriate in the main by the developers and
financiers.
Political Choice and Public Attitudes-time of opportunity
So there is a clear political choice here. To focus, as the government is,

on achieving supply through global wealth investors, vulture landlords
and speculative property finance- or the state to lead in a historic
programme of providing affordable homes for rent and ownership. One
approach will enshrine unaffordable rental and house prices into the
future and associated poverty and financial stress for large sections of
our population. It will increase economic inequality as wealth is
transferred from the lower income groups in Ireland (renters, young
people, first time buyers) to the top 10% wealth holders (from Ireland
and across the world). the other approach can deliver and guarantee
the human right to housing for all our citizens. It is a choice the
government, and we as a country, have to make. But it is one that
where we already know the outcomes for each path.
It is important to note that the proposed rent restrictions are not a policy
this government wanted or wants to introduce. But the government has
left (and caused) the housing crisis reach such a disastrous point that it
is has become a major political issue. New housing pressure groups
have formed that are being very effective in not just bringing attention
within the media and wider public to the plight of people in the rental
sector but are also, for the first time in Ireland, importantly organising
tenants into active public campaigns. Notable here are the Dublin
Tenants Association and the new trade union alliance and Uplift
campaign around rent certainty and security. And the most recent
Eurobarometer, 2016, which surveys peoples views across Europe,
shows that for Irish people housing is their first priority concern (in
contrast to being the 11th position concern across Europe). 45% of
people in Ireland citied it as their first priority which is up from 34% in
2015 (in contrast, EU wide just 8% cited it as their priority concern). This
shows the opportunity for a radical change in policy as there is strong
public support for bold government action (such as outlined above a
New Deal affordable community homes programme) to guarantee
affordable, secure, and high quality homes for all in Ireland.
http://www.progressiveeconomy.ie/2016/12/rentalstrategy-insufficient-for.html
Free childcare scheme for

children affected by
homelessness
Figures show over 2,177 children are among those accessing
NEWS
The Government is to launch a new childcare scheme for

children affected by homelessness.
Children's Minister Dr Katherine Zappone, who has just
returned from an official visit to Greece, will announce details
of the scheme on Thursday.
It is being billed as a "major initiative" by the department.
In a statement Wednesday, Minister Zappone said: "This
initiative grew as a direct response to issues raised by people
who are homeless, frontline organisations and campaigners
during a summit - hosted in my office during the summer.
"Since then my officials have been working in partnership with
Dublin City and County Childcare Committees and Focus
Ireland for the roll out of a scheme which will benefit children
and their families on a daily basis.
"It is my hope that the details we will announce will help ease
the huge childcare burden on families impacted by the current
crisis", she added.
Figures from Focus Ireland show there are 6,525 people
'officially homeless' in Ireland.
This figure includes adults and children with their families.
The number of families becoming homeless has increased by
over 40% since last year - and one in three of those in
emergency accommodation is now a child.
In June 2016, there were over 1,000 families accessing

emergency accommodation, which included over 2,177
children.
The Invasion of European Countries by

Non EU Illegal Immigration TTIP
BLACK Trade
Jan 5, 2015
Video sources:
Is this enough ammo for SHTF ? (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpN2z...
Stockpiling Ammunition Responsibly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5TpP...
7 Year Old's First Time Shooting AR-15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMuv...
Fight Like a Girl? Watch This Little Girl Shoot Like a BOSS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f8Vm...
11 Year Old Girl Shooting AR 15 at 100 Yards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwCj7...
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?
v=HnJZ2haLPCw
A priest in Italy has caused uproar after announcing
there would be no Christmas nativity scene at the
local cemetery this year because it could offend
Muslims and atheists.
Fr Sante Braggi said there would be no crib in the cemetery in
the northern city of Cremona because it may anger people of
others faiths or none whose relatives are buried there.
A small corner of the cemetery is reserved for Muslim
graves, Fr Braggi said. A crib positioned within sight of
them could be seen as a lack of respect for followers of other
faiths, hurt the sensibilities of Muslims, as well as Indians and
even atheists.
He also cited a lack of council workers to set up the crib as
another reason for abandoning the tradition.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/12/italy-priest-bansnativity-scene-for-fear-of-offending-muslims
Some 131 refugees

set to land on Irish
shores before
Christmas
And the country is set to welcome 80
migrants a month next year
BY ANGELA MULLIN 12th December 2016,
Some 131 refugees are expected to land on Irish
shores from camps in Greece before Christmas,

according to Minister Katherine Zappone.
The Minister for Children has said from the start of 2017,
this country will take in approximately 80 refugees a
month.
The Minister is preparing to welcome the new arrivals
She told Morning Ireland that the Government is

considering putting a call out to charities, agencies and
churches to check there will be enough accommodation
for the new arrivals.
She also said the country is readying itself to deal with
underage refugees who may land here without their
parents.
Zappone said: Our officials have assured us that before
Christmas we will be receiving another 131 refugees, and
that we would anticipate having the full number of
refugees coming from Greece and Italy, in the resettlement
programme, by the end of 2017. Thats about 2,600 of the
4,000.
Earlier this year, Ireland pledged to take in 4,000 refugees.
Zappone is currently on a three-day visit to Greece to visit
camps where those who fled to Europe are currently
staying.
The Minister is currently in Greece preparing for the new

refugees
Gardai and officials were interviewing potential candidates

for resettlement to Ireland she said.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/287083/some-131-refugeesset-to-land-on-irish-shores-before-christmas/
I think I am a human being living as one of the PEOPLE on

this land! (Therefore I am!)
Recently WE THE PEOPLE bailed out the banks.
I now see POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, IGNORANCE ,,,,more
rife than ever! The PEOPLE need a BAILOUT!
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THE BANKS BAIL US OUT! (Well I
do anyway....who's with me

Minister
It looks like many of these guys have skin in the game, and
maintaining a housing shortage by not building, and
unchecked immigration, results in increased demand for any
houses or apartments coming on the rental market - win, win,
for the landlord class, and of course the Revenue who get 51%
of the take.
This approach assists these landlords, who more than likely
would have invested in these properties at the top end of the
boom in house prices, and maintaining high rents at the
present level is helping them to pay off their mortgages.
FF/FG/Labour are happy with the present situation, making

young Irish first-time workers and Irish families trying to
access accommodation, the first to suffer. The rest are
somehow looked after and housed by our various PC liberal
oriented Government, state agencies and quangos.
Not hard to figure out. google_ad_section_end
Last edited by BACKTOBASICS; 8th December 2016
Dont you love non landlords telling everyone that they know exactly
how everything works.
Landlords are paying up to 51% on profit rent and still have to pay
the mortgage.
Hard to believe that facing an extra 11% in taxes and LPT that rents
have gone up substantially.
Yeah, then you've got the hassle of getting rid of problem

tenants, the board always take their side.
Whole narrative in the media is 'greedy landlords exploit the
poor' - as if its 1849 or something.
Then people wonder why there's a shortage. Give me a break.
Why would you bring in something that increases demand while
reducing supply?
Oh here is another Junior Cert business-level student. Listen

here, bucko. The normal rules of supply and demand do not
apply when Landlords can accumulate whatever they
would make by renting a second house simply by
increasing the current cost of their first property.
Apartments in Kilmainham increased in price by 70% from
2011 to 2016. 70%. The house next to me went from 1100
to 2000 in three years.
The fact that the Government have thrown open the gates to
immigration from every corner of the globe doesn't help
things. They reckon there are 30,000 short-term migrants in
Dublin alone. 30,000 more are undocumented/illegal. All of
this makes rent surge.
Why would a Landlord invest in a new property when they're
making enough as it is? How would his tenant ever buy a
house anyway? It is a rent circle. It doesn't break through "the
benevolence of the noble Landlord." Get a grip.
Capping rental growth at the rate of inflation will result in less

construction of new homes, which will ultimately damage us more. If
the state wanted to make housing affordable it must tackle the
supply issue under three simple headings:
No social houses were built under AK-47. Until we accept that

the Government has an active part in maintaining and
perpetuating the rent crisis, it will not be resolved.
No rent caps. No rent certainty. Tax breaks for Landlords. No
active participation in building houses.
It is a situation that is wholly anti-capitalist and reflects the
worst case of State intervention. Actively against the people's
interests.
Just introduce mortgage tax breaks for landlords as previously.
Maybe just on apartments to avoid sending house prices spiralling.
Would increase supply immediately.
Why would anyone bother being a landlord these days. Endless
hassle, taxed to hell.
You people are working off logical economics.

The Irish Government and their Landlords have no desire to
increase the number of households. A huge amount of TDs are
neck-deep in the rental market.
Wake up.
Lets give a basic example for non landlords
Mortgage 300,000
Interest 4% pa
Service Charge 2,000
Mortgage repayment 1,800 per month
Rent 2,000
What is the landlords cash flow ?
What is the landlords after tax income ?
Tenants who stop paying

rent can live 'free' for 18
months
Charlie Weston Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
23/07/2014 | 02:30
1
Landlords claim renters can escape without paying rent for a year
and a half
Tenants who stop paying the rent and play

the system can effectively live in a property
rent-free for up to a year-and-a-half,
landlords have claimed.

1
They have criticised the system for dealing with problem

tenants and the Private Residential Tenancies Board
(PRTB), which regulates the sector.
A number of landlords, who inherited property or are
renting out their home after moving back in with their
parents, complained about delays in getting
determinations from the PRTB, being left without rent but
still having to pay mortgages, and tenants ignoring
requests to pay arrears.
The PRTB was set up to replace the courts in disputes
between landlords and tenants and operates on a quasijudicial basis.
Margaret McCormick of the Irish Property Owners'
Association said there was a growing problem of tenants
building up rent arrears, with others engaged in anti-social
behaviour but refusing to move out.
"If they don't pay your rent they can stay in the property
for a year-and-a-half by playing the system and using the
legislation. It is a nightmare for landlords as it protects the
people who break the rules," she said,
The group, which has 5,000 landlord members, said the
process of taking a case against a tenant refusing to pay
rent is long and cumbersome, and subject to appeal. The
whole process can take 18 months.
Enforced
Even when the PRTB reaches a determination its order
can only be enforced though the circuit court, she said.
"A landlord can do nothing until this process has been
completed, and in the meantime forgoes rental payments,
access to their dwelling and incurs ongoing costs
associated with the dwelling."
She said landlords cannot force people out as the fine for
an illegal eviction is 20,000.
Most landlords in Ireland own just one property, while
around 475,000 people now rent, up 46pc since 2006.
Dublin-based landlord Ciara Kennedy said her tenant
stopped paying the rent in May last year, leaving her to

pay 11,000 in mortgage repayments in the meantime.
"I went through the usual channels of notifying her that
she was in arrears. She didn't heed the notification to pay
so I lodged a dispute with the PRTB," Ms Kennedy said.
She said the PRTB had done little to help her and she was
still waiting for a determination.
A spokesman for the PRTB said: "The board takes very
seriously the issue of non-compliance with its orders and
since 2012 has referred some 900 cases to its legal
advisers (Eversheds) for formal enforcement through the
courts."
It has obtained in excess of 300 court orders to date, he
added. Most of these orders relate to landlord cases for
rent arrears. Another 30pc of cases were taken by tenants
seeking the return of deposits.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/tenants-whostop-paying-rent-can-live-free-for-18-months-30452306.html
Coveney writes letter to

Fianna Fil offering to
change rent plan
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
14/12/2016
2
Photo: Doug OConnor
http://www.newstalk.com/Fre
e-childcare-scheme-forchildren-affected-byhomelessness
Here's what you need to

know about the latest iOS
update
Apple has added in a whole host of new features, including
100 new emoji!
NEWS
Share to LinkedIn
iOS 10 arrived earlier this year and brought with it some

of the biggest changes we've seen to the operating
system since it was first released. Apple unveiled iOS
10.2 last night and here's what you can expect when you
update.
Wallpapers
Apple has added three new wallpapers that can be used on
the new phone models; iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Each has
its own name - Droplet Blue, Droplet Red and Droplet Yellow.
100 New Emoji
You may well wonder if there's any real need for 100 more
emjoi, but you're getting them anyway! The new emoji
additions include male and female versions of firefighters and
judges.
"Press and Hold to Speak
You'll find Press and Hold to Speak within the Settings app >
General > Accessibility > Home Button. This allows you to
activate Siri or Voice Control when you press and hold
the circular home button.
Videos Widget
Apple has added a new widget for videos to the lock screen.
This widget will show you the latest videos recorded to the
device.
Headphones Icon
You'll find a small headphones icon in the status bar, which will
indicate when the headphones are connected. This is very
helpful for those of us using Bluetooth headphones.
http://www.newstalk.com/He
res-what-you-need-to-knowabout-the-latest-iOS-update
Apple Sidesteps
Billions in Taxes,
Heres How
offer low or zero taxation rates., and have created
corporate strategies in which clearly takes
advantage of the taxation loopholes. Should we
congratulate them or not?
By IT Ninja December 14, 2016
We all know that Apple is the worlds most successful

and profitable technology company based in Reno,
Nevada. However, the company doesnt design their
iPhone there, neither does the company run their
AppleCare Customer service from the city, nor does
this technology giant manufacture their MacBooks,
iPads, iAnything anywhere near there.

However, with only a handful of employees working at
the Reno location, the techno giant has managed to
pull off something crucial to the companys operations.
Apple has managed to avoid paying several millions of
dollars in taxes in California, as well as 20 other
states.
Apples headquarters are nested in Cupertino,
California, and by placing an office merely 200 miles
away in Reno, the side office is charged with collecting
and investing the companys profits. Going about it
this way allows Apple to sidestep the states income
taxes on some of their profits.
While Californias corporate taxation rate is 8.84%,
Reno has a taxation rate of 0.0%. All over the world,
offer low or zero taxation rates. Locations included in
the list are Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and
the British Virgin Islands.
Naturally, all corporations do their best at minimizing
their taxes. Its human nature. However, for our
friends at Apple the savings ratio on their taxes are
alarming given their extremely high profit yields.
According to Wall Street analysts, Apple is capable of
yielding $45.6 billion in the current fiscal year. If they
accomplish this, itll set a new record for any
American-based business.
Apple is serving as a mentor on how large technology
companies can take advantage of tax codes. Some
profits for large companies including Apple, Google,
Amazon, HP, and Microsoft have derived their profits
not from that of physical goods, but from
royalties coming in from their intellectual property.
Such property includes patents on programs that
makes different devices operate.
Even when comparing against other tech companies,
Apples taxation rates are ridiculously low. Yes, Apple
has remade several industries, helped ignite economic
growth, and has enlightened their customers.

But theyve also created corporate strategies in which
clearly take advantage of the taxation
loopholes. Using a special type of accounting
technique, also known as the Double Irish With a
Dutch Sandwich, the company avoids high taxes by
routing their profits through their Irish subsidiaries
and then via the Netherlands before finally paying
their taxes when the money hits the Caribbean. And
now, in todays world, that very same tactic is used by
several large corporations.
http://anonhq.com/applesidesteps-billions-in-taxesheres-how/
Housing refugees in family
homes Positive Action in
Housing petition
We call on the British government to harness the goodwill
of those individuals and families who are willing to take
refugees into their homes and quickly resettle Syrian
refugees so that they may begin the process of rebuilding
their lives.
Thats the rallying cry of the Change.org petition launched by

Positive Action in Housing, the UK charity behind the Room for
Refugees scheme which whereby people offer to take
refugees into their own homes.
Running in partnership with 147 caseworkers from refugee
support agencies (including the British Red Cross and the
Refugee Council), they have over 3,000 fully-registered
refugee hosts across the UK, and since September 2015 the
scheme has provided over 12,000 nights of shelter for people
seeking asylum and refugees.
Theresa May the then UK Home Secretary told the Home
Affairs Select Committee that she would consider refugee
housing schemes. But nothing happened. Yesterdays report
from the committee revealed that under the Vulnerable
Persons Relocation Scheme, the UK Government has only
resettled 1,602 Syrian refugees since September 2015. This
falls far short of the 5,000 a year target.
Rooms for Refugees

emergency and humanitarian relief.
The scheme began in response to the increasing numbers of
destitute refugees coming to our drop in surgeries. They were

being left without basic human needs e.g. food, shelter, financial
means, emergency hostels, the right to work and recourse to
public funds.
This problem of enforced destitution as a way of forcing people to

leave the UK is not working. More and more refugees are being left
destitute. We want to prevent vulnerable people from being forced
to return to unsafe countries due to the dire situations they found
themselves in It makes a difference by giving vulnerable people
the breathing space to assess their options and secure the support
needed to gain a positive decision on their asylum claim or be
granted Leave to Remain.
As of February 2016, Rooms for Refugees have 2,800 refugee

hosts. And in the year since April 2015 they have provided
over five thousand nights of shelter to refugees in Scotland,
England and Wales.
Could you offer temporary

shelter to someone forced to
flee their country who does not
have the means to support
themselves ?
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If so, you could be a host with Room for Refugees.

We receive referrals from the British Red Cross,
Refugee Council and established immigration and
asylum advice agencies. We assess all referrals
and we do not offer space to those with a history of
criminality, violence or substance abuse. We aim to
match guests who are seeking asylum in this
country with hosts offering a spare room.
Placements can be for as short or as long as you
choose. If you are interested in becoming a
host, please read the information below and then
complete the online registration form.
KEY FACTS
Room for Refugees was pioneered by Positive
Action in Housing in 2003. It is the longest
running refugee hosting scheme run by a
registered charity in the UK or Western
Europe.
We specialise in safe refugee hosting for
those facing emergency homelessness.
Room
for
Refugees went
viral
in
September 2015.
A major practical resource in terms of
a human
and
compassionate
approach
to supporting refugees to rebuild their lives
with an unrivaled level of pastoral support by
sharing what we have too much of in the
Western world.
We are accepting registration from potential
refugee hosts in Scotland , England, Ireland,
Wales, Northern Ireland, Western Europe,
Canada* and the U.S.*
We
are
building links
with
refugee
organisations across the globe.
Hundreds of families and individuals have so
far been assisted under the scheme, helping
us to give hope to thousands more

individuals and families and help them
achieve stability in their lives.
Fleur Houston addressed the Churches Refugee
Network conference in Coventry on Tuesday. The author of
You Shall Love the Stranger as Yourself: Biblical Challenges in
the Contemporary World took delegates on a tour of European
migration policy over the last 12-18 months.
You can listen back to Fleurs talk as well as read the fuller
version of her comments below.
She reminded us of the contrast between the welcome that the
relatively small number of resettled refugees receive and the
harsh treatment experienced by those who spontaneously
arrive and often treated as having engaged in criminal activity
even though they have as the Refugee Convention
acknowledges been obliged to use illicit means of entry to a
safe country.
Fleur finished by talking about fear: the fear felt by some
European citizens faced with uncertainty and
disempowerment, the erosion of public welfare, and the scale
and pace of cultural change; the the fear of those seeking
asylum as they encounter violence at the borders of Europe,
and worry about their children. She concludes that what is
needed is to quote human rights barrister Cian Murphy
not just the furious energy of activism but the ferocious power
of political love.
A ferocious power which is based on the repeated public
affirmation of the dignity of all human beings, of the calling to treat
all people with fairness and humanity, even if it is at cost to
oneself, a power that is learned and shaped in social interaction, a
determined commitment to political love.

How welcome now are refugees in Europe?
Fleur Houston, Coventry, 22 November 2016
Now is a small word, so small that it often passes unnoticed,
almost an apology for a word. Yet here it has particular weight.
For now, today, Germany, Hungary, Austria, France are facing
significant political elections. And the key issue for all four is
the extent to which they are prepared to welcome refugees.
Two days ago, Angela Merkel announced that she was going
to stand again as Chancellor of Germany. There was a
widespread sense of relief. After three terms in office she still
has high popularity ratings both within her own party and in
Germany as a whole. She is widely respected as being one of
the few political leaders in Europe to defend universal moral
values which she has summarized herself as: democracy,
freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity
of each and every person, regardless of their origin, skin
colour and creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views.
In 2015, with Europe in disarray, she emerged as guardian of
the principle of international asylum.
Mrs Merkel has made it clear that she and her government
were hit out of the blue by the mass movements of people that
were triggered by the conflicts of the Middle East. But she has
never distanced herself from the decision to open Germanys
borders to avert a humanitarian crisis in Hungary and has
always rejected calls for an upper limit to asylum seekers. She
has also rejected a banning of people on the basis of their
religious beliefs, claiming that this was incompatible with
Germanys constitution and her own partys ethical
foundations. Following a series of violent attacks on Germany
she affirmed that a rejection of the humanitarian stance we
took could have led to even worse consequences. Assailants,
she continued wanted to undermine our sense of community,

our open-ness and our willingness to help people in need. We
firmly reject this. Fear, she suggested, cannot be a substitute
for political action. Yet with the resurgence of the Far Right
party, Alternative fr Deutschland, which plays on fears about
immigration, she is nonetheless facing the toughest electoral
campaign of her career. By and large, at present German
citizens are displaying a can-do attitude. There is, its true, a
certain amount of local unease in villages about the scale and
speed of change. But by and large, they are proud of the
example they are setting other countries in Europe by making
refugees feel welcome.
There is greater ambivalence in Germanys neighbours. Take
Hungary. Viktor Orbans hard-line rhetoric about refugees led
last September to calls for Hungary to be expelled from the
EU; he built a fence to drive refugees back to Serbia people
were chased by dogs and beaten. He is now calling for a
second border fence allegedly to protect Hungary from
refugees. He vigorously opposed the EU project to relocate a
relatively small number of refugees in Hungary. And on 2
October he held a referendum, urging citizens to reject the
plan. It was a deliberate attempt to give political legitimacy to
his desire to exclude refugees. And he hoped that there would
be a series of copycat plebiscites in other countries of Europe.
In the Czech Republic, for instance where president Zemans
intemperate and offensive language about Muslim incomers
marks him out as a likely ally, or in Poland, or Slovakia, whose
leaders take their cue from Mr Orban. But Viktor Orban failed.
Spectacularly, the turnout fell short of the threshold, and the
vote was invalid. A majority of Hungarian citizens had refused
to support their prime ministers attitude to refugees. And so,
while the impasse regarding EU common asylum policy is
likely to continue, Viktor Orbans ideological momentum at

European level has stopped.
Austria stands somewhere in between Germany and Hungary.
The two main candidates in the presidential election to be held
on 4 December are running neck and neck and the battle is
being fought largely over refugee policy. Mr Van der Bellen
has stressed Austrias obligations to integrate the newly
arrived refugees and is in favour of keeping Austrias borders
open; Mr Hofer, on the other hand, is stoking fears about
immigration and hatred of Muslims. The electorate is highly
polarised. The result will be crucial for European integration.
Can, will the people in just over a weeks time, declare that
they wish Austria to welcome refugees?
France too is in the early stages of a presidential election. And
here the right wing National Front has assumed a new aura of
political correctness under the disciplined leadership of Marine
Le Pen. It presents itself as the only true defender of Western
liberties and identifies Muslim immigrants as the primary
threat to the secular values of the Republic. It reshapes
national identity so as to exclude from nationhood those who
have legitimate claims. And its message is beginning to
resonate wildly with a fearful population, suffering from
terrorist attacks.
It is clear from these electoral campaigns that the values that
underpin civil society in Europe are under significant threat.
The voice of Europe which in the aftermath of the second
world war spoke out so strongly for human rights and refugee
protection, is now in danger of being stifled by a strident
rhetoric of Islamophobia and xenophobia; the open borders
which were till recently a sign of free association are now
blocked by barbed wire and fences, and patrolled by security
guards, police with batons, primed not to protect, but to
exclude.
The second point I would like to make is that while a small
number of refugees are welcomed by western democratic
states through programmes of resettlement, spontaneous
arrivals are likely to be treated harshly and induced to leave.
To arrive by unauthorized means is seen by many people as
criminality. Yet as the Refugee Convention acknowledges,
refugees may be obliged to use illicit means of entry to a safe
country. They may never have had documentation or their
papers may have been lost or destroyed in the chaotic
circumstances of their flight. In consequence, host countries
shall not impose penalties. Yet to enter the UK without
papers or with false documentation supplied by a smuggler is
consistently seen by border officials as criminal activity or a
threat to national security.
These spontaneous arrivals are perceived to carry a criminal
virus to a civilized world. Not only do they flout national
boundaries, they typically consort with criminal smuggling
gangs to do so. But they may have little choice. Many are
fleeing for their lives. They may spend their life savings on
securing the services of a people smuggler to take them and
their families to safety in Europe. This may involve a journey
across the desert in a rickety vehicle or across the
Mediterranean or Aegean seas in an unsuitable craft.
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children die on
the way. While Italian coast-guards, Greek fishermen and
other philanthropic individuals do what they can, acting on the
basic moral instinct that when people need help, you save
them, toddlers are still being washed up on the beaches while
the nations of Europe argue over who has responsibility for
sea rescue.
As the catastrophe continues to unfold, Europe continues to
build fences. Some of these are diplomatic. Take the Dublin

system. Under this regulation, refugees must claim asylum in
the first country they reach. But this is under severe strain.
Those who survive the journeys from North Africa or SE
Europe arrive in Italy and Greece who are increasingly unable
to support such an influx on their own. The need to move
beyond Dublin is obvious, but so far, there is no collective will
in Europe to do so. So many refugees are forced to settle in
squalid camps, depending for survival on the good will of
volunteers and charitable organizations. It was the images of
children, not in Greece or in Italy, but in the Jungle camp in
Calais that first brought home to many people Britains
institutional violence and inhumanity.
I would like to make one final point. Political relationships are
highly emotional. 2016 has been characterised so far by fear
and anger. Faced with uncertainty and disempowerment, the
erosion of public welfare, and the scale and pace of cultural
change, many inhabitants of European countries are afraid.
Asylum has come to be seen by them as a proxy for foreign
brutality and alien values impinging on western life. Refugees,
especially Muslim refugees, are seen as a threat. Politicians
often play into such fears by linking extremist terrorism with
EU border policy, and an increasing emphasis on sovereignty
and security concerns has meant that humanitarian concerns
for refugees have had to take a back seat.
And those who are seeking asylum are also afraid. They are
afraid of the violence they encounter at the borders of Europe,
they fear for their children, they fear to return. They and their
advocates are angry at perceived injustices. Such fear and
anger has its uses, it can drive demos, petitions, litigation. It
can challenge unfair practices and lead to changes in
government policy. But in itself it is not enough. In the end it
stokes more fear and anger and eventually consumes the

fearful and angry. What is needed at present and I quote the
human rights barrister Cian Murphy, is not just the furious
energy of activism but the ferocious power of political love. A
ferocious power which is based on the repeated public
affirmation of the dignity of all human beings, of the calling to
treat all people with fairness and humanity, even if it is at cost
to oneself, a power that is learned and shaped in social
interaction, a determined commitment to political love
http://focusonrefugees.org/republicof-ireland/
Deputy Robert Troy asked the

Minister for Justice and Equality her
plans to ensure that refugees who
come to Ireland will be integrated
into the communities in which they
are sent; and if she will make a
Answer
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy

Frances Fitzgerald): The Deputy will be aware
that the Government took a decision to establish
the Irish Refugee Protection Programme on 10
September 2015 as a direct response to the EU
migrant crisis. Ireland has agreed to accept
approximately 4,000 persons in total under
resettlement and relocation programmes by the
end of 2017. The figure of 4,000 includes
approximately 2,600 persons to be taken in from
migration hotspots in Italy and Greece under the
new EU programme and 520 programme refugees
from Lebanon and Jordan, which the Irish
Government has committed to taking in by the end
of 2016 under Ireland's Refugee Resettlement
programme. The mechanism by which the balance
of the 4,000 will be taken in, has yet to be decided
by Government.
Among the measures agreed under the programme
was the establishment of a network of Emergency
Reception and Orientation Centres which will be
used to provide emergency accommodation and
meet the basic needs of the 4,000 people who are
expected to arrive over the next two years. Also
among the measures announced was the
establishment of a cross-Departmental Taskforce,
chaired by my Department, to coordinate and

implement the logistical and operational aspects
associated with the Irish Refugee Protection
Programme. This will include the provision of
emergency
accommodation
and
orientation
services in the first instance, and facilitating the
longer term integration needs of those with
refugee status through the provision of a
sustainable housing strategy, health services,
education, social welfare, and social inclusion
activities.
With specific regard to refugees arriving under
resettlement schemes, one hundred and seventy
six refugees arrived in the State under the
resettlement programme in 2015. Post arrival, the
'programme' refugees participate in a language
training
and
orientation
programme
for
approximately 8-10 weeks before being moved into
permanent accommodation in the community. The
resettlement team of the Office for the Promotion
of Migrant Integration convenes and supports a
local interagency working group which operates for
approximately 18 months after the transfer of the
refugees to the receiving community. Grants are
made to the receiving community for the
establishment of homework clubs, links with
sporting and other clubs and the employment of a
local resettlement person to support the refugees
during their first year in the community.
A similar integration strategy is being developed
within the Department of Justice and Equality for
the estimated 2,600 persons relocating to Ireland
from migration hotspots in Italy and Greece, once
they receive refugee status.
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PQ19-01-2016-300
Day of intercession in
memory of those who have
lost their lives
at the borders of the EU
Information, Intercessions and Ideas
http://www.ccme.be/fileadmin/filer/c
cme/20_Areas_of_Work/01_Refugee
_Protection/2016-06-08Intercession_day_June_2016.pdf
No homes for 2,470 of our children UN report shames our country
Monday, December 12, 2016
Irish Examiner Editorial
HOW many times does the Government have to be

reminded that the number of homeless children in Ireland
is a crisis that must be tackled with the utmost urgency?
It isnt as if the powers-that-be have not had constant

reminders.
In February 2016 the UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child told our Government it was deeply concerned at
reports of families affected by homelessness facing
significant delays in accessing social housing and
frequently living in inappropriate, temporary or emergency
accommodation. Just last month the annual report of the
special rapporteur on child protection concentrated on
emergency accommodation, stating that policies need to
be more effective in responding to real needs in Ireland.
To mark International Human Rights Day on Saturday, the
ISPCC highlighted the fact that children who are homeless
in Ireland are worse off than those in similar circumstances
in the UK where emergency accommodation is very much
the exception rather than the norm.
Unlike in England, Wales and Scotland, children in Ireland
who are homeless do not have a right to temporary
accommodation and assistance. In England and Wales,
children have a right not only to assistance but also to
temporary accommodation that meets certain standards.
In Scotland there has been a ban on the use of B&B
accommodation since 2004, with similar bans in England
and Wales introduced more recently.
ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long gives one startling
statistic: In the month of October alone, 44 children
became newly homeless thats the equivalent of more

than one classroom.
The figures of children who are homeless continue to
rise, says Ms Long. The right to an adequate standard of
living is a critical right for all children including those
who are homeless and living in emergency
accommodation. The state must, therefore, ensure limited
use of emergency accommodation, similar to neighbouring
jurisdictions.
But it doesnt, despite the fact that unlike Britain we
passed a referendum on childrens rights and later
enshrined it in law. It was passed in November 2012 and,
while the main thrust of the referendum concerned
adoption, guardianship and custody, it contains the
following provision: The State recognises and affirms the
natural and imprescriptible rights of all children and shall,
as far as practicable, by its laws protect and vindicate
those rights.
Our stated commitment to childrens rights as human
rights goes back even further than that, to our
Constitution in 1937 and the 1948 UN Declaration of
Human Rights.
We have a habit of enshrining noble ideals in our domestic
laws and then doing little or nothing to implement them.
It should never be forgotten that childrens rights are
human rights.
There are now 2,470 homeless children in Ireland. The
liklihood is that they will remain so for Christmas. That a
national scandal of international proportions.
Human rights group call on Ireland to

show "moral leadership" on refugee
issue
Thursday, April 21, 2016
By Caroline O'Doherty
Senior Reporter
The States independent human rights watchdog has

criticised Irelands support for the EU-Turkey deal on the
return of refugees and migrants.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said the

agreement represented a disturbing European trend of
regression from fundamental human rights values.
It called on Ireland to show moral leadership in pushing
to replace it with real protections for people fleeing Syria
and other conflict zones. It said Ireland must improve its
offer to take in 4,000 refugees by the end of 2017.
A meeting of the European Parliaments civil liberties,
justice and home affairs committee takes place today to
review the agreement a month after it came into force,
allowing refugees and migrants arriving on Greek islands
via Turkey to be sent back before they get a chance to
apply for asylum, with the intention that for each person
returned, someone in an official refugee camp in Turkey
would be resettled somewhere in Europe.
The commission said preventing refugees from seeking
asylum and returning them to Turkey where their safety
was in doubt ignored the EUs duty to protect people
fleeing persecution. Offering protection to people fleeing
systematic human rights violations is not optional, nor is it
charity. It is a matter for Ireland and the EU of legal and

moral obligation. The Irish government, and the EU, have
failed to adequately meet this obligation, it said.
It added the drowning this week of hundreds of African
migrants in the Mediterranean showed the problem would
not be solved by addressing the Greek-Turkey route alone.
Letter from Human Rights

Campaigners
L
L
L
Dear Deputy,
On 22nd March 2016 the Acting Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, will report
to the Dil on the meeting of the European Council attended by himself
and Acting Minister of State, Dara Murphy TD, in Brussels on 17 and 18
March 2016.
As a group of organisations we are seeking your commitment to the
following:
Outlining the concerns about the EU-Turkey deal and the ways in which
it will place people at risk and undermine Irelands commitment to its
international obligations
Ensuring greater participation in the relocation of asylum seekers and
resettlement of refugees
Advocating for an increase in the number of refugees allowed to settle
in Ireland
The EU-Turkey deal

We are calling on you, as a newly elected TD in the 32nd Dil, to take
the opportunity in the Dail on Tuesday 22nd March to outline why the
EU-Turkey deal, agreed at theEuropean Council on 17/18 March 2016,
is unjust and unworkable and will not address the current refugee crisis.
The deal will see the return of irregular migrants arriving in Greece
from midnight on 20th March 2016 to Turkey. The policy agreed by the
European Council will have a huge impact on the lives of very
vulnerable people seeking safety in the EU and has potential far
reaching consequences for our obligations under international law and
risks breaching the fundamental right to seek asylum.
The agreement on 18th March 2016 followed a decision of the
European Council on 29th November 2015 to provide 3bn to Turkey to
prevent people crossing to Greece. Despite that agreement, nearly
2000 people continued to make the crossing on a daily basis. In
addition, the attempts made by the Turkish authorities to deter people
from crossing have been shown to put lives at risk.
The deal is premised on the understanding no decisions will be taken
unless they are fully compliant with EU and international law. Given the
current situation in both Greece and Turkey, it is difficult to accept that
such statements are grounded in reality. The whole emphasis of the

European Councils decision is that of return as opposed to the
settlement of refugees who have arrived or will arrive in Greece. It has
been estimated that Greece will require 4000 personnel in order to
properly register and accommodate asylum seekers, assess the
admissibility and if necessary determine claims for international
protection and process appeals against negative decisions and
removals. At the time the European Council took the decision on
18th March 2016, an estimated 45,000 people were trapped in Greece,
unable to move to other EU countries because of border closures. The
UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has previously estimated that 90% of
those arriving in Greece from Turkey are from the top 10 refugee
producing countries, including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
There is therefore a real possibility of one of two consequences arising
from the EU-Turkey deal on returns to Turkey: either Greece will grant
refugee status to the majority of those who have or will arrive in the
country or they will be returning prima facierefugees to Turkey where
they will face an uncertain future. Turkey has not only already
accommodated 2.7 million refugees, many without the ability to support
themselves, it has also not signed the Protocol to the Refugee
Convention and is itself facing challenges to its own security. The
agreement to provide resettlement for every Syrian national registered
in Turkey for every one returned from Greece itself (one in, one out) is
alarming and has very little chance of success. The agreement already
in place to resettle refugees from Lebanon and Jordan in EU states is
already well below target. Furthermore, the emphasis on resettlement
from Turkey of those who have not previously entered or attempted to
travel to the EU is punitive, undermining the right to seek asylum and
exacerbating the trauma which many refugees have already
experienced in taking flight and being forced to take perilous journeys.
International organisations have been highly critical of the proposal to
enter into this agreement with Turkey. These include Human Rights
Watch, Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees
and Exiles, Oxfam International and Medecins Sans Frontieres. Given
that the plan to return people to and resettle people from Turkey has no
real prospect of success, the questionable legality of the deal and the
reality that many will continue to travel to and be trapped in Greece, we
would welcome an opportunity to work with a joint Oireachtas group on
real alternatives to the EU-Turkey deal.
Irelands participation in relocation and resettlement

schemes
Even if the EU-Turkey deal remains in place, Ireland could and should
be doing much more to honour its commitment to previous agreements
on relocation and resettlement and increase the number of refugees
that it is willing to take.
Ireland opted-in to the European Agenda on Migration and made a
voluntary commitment to accept 4000 people, over 1000 of which are

due to be resettled from Lebanon and Jordan and just under 3000 from
Greece and Italy. To date, according to the information available to us,
only 10 people (one family) have been relocated from Greece and less
than 300 from Lebanon and Jordan. We would ask you to ensure that
the government fulfils the commitments that it entered into in 2015 and
increases the rate of relocation and resettlement, particularly given the
immense pressures on Greece and the inhumane conditions in some
parts of the country. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) has
recently indicated that the numbers applying for asylum in Greece have
increased significantly and many more are now willing to be considered
for relocation. Given the inevitable delays in putting resources in place
to deal with the new EU-Turkey deal, both relocation and resettlement
from Jordan and Turkey can be implemented without delay.
In addition, given the pressures on the countries surrounding Syria, we
would ask you to call on the government to increase the available
places for resettlement of refugees from outside the EU. By comparison
to the population of other EU countries, Ireland has not yet taken an
equal proportion of refugees, despite a clear indication from Irish people
that refugees are indeed welcome in Ireland.
Ireland will co-host an international conference on the migration crisis
at the UN in September 2016. The invitation to co-host with Jordan is an
indication of the respect in which Ireland is held in the wider
international community. We cannot now undermine our international
good standing by not taking a full and active role in the current
humanitarian crisis and fail to fully participate in both relocation and
resettlement. Thank you for your consideration of this. We look forward
to receiving your response.
We trust that you will endeavour to use the debate on Tuesday 22
March 2016 and your presence in the Dil to raise these concerns and
seek Irelands full and proper participation in resolving the current
refugee crisis in a manner that is in full compliance with our international
human rights obligations.
Yours faithfully,
Action Aid
Comlmh
Community Work Ireland
Conference of Religious of Ireland
Cultr
Doras Luimn
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Irish Missionary Union
Mercy International Association
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
cles/2016/10
Slow intake by Ireland and human rights
fears about EU plan must be addressed in
Dil statement

Serious human rights concerns over Ireland and the EUs
response to the refugee crisis must be answered by acting
Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dil this morning (Tues March
21st 2016), according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council says there are a number of issues of urgent
concern including the low number of refugees arriving
here despite commitments to offer protection to 4,000
people as well as fears that the deal reached between the
EU and Turkey is a threat to human rights.
The Immigrant Council says the fact that a caretaker
Government is in power does not absolve Ireland from its
responsibilities.
Ireland said:
Our political leaders must accept that a humanitarian
crisis needs a humanitarian response and meeting needs
of men, women and children fleeing war and terror must
be central if any solution is to be found.
When the acting Taoiseach makes his Dil statement this
morning he must address concerns around the latest EU
plan and also Irelands response.
Deputy Kenny must clarify what measures are in place to
ensure the deal reached with Turkey will not lead to illegal
mass deportations or undermine the right for people in
danger to seek asylum.
An update on the progress Ireland is making on meeting
its own commitments to refugees is also required. Last
September in response to public outrage the Government
agreed to accept 4,000 refugees yet to date plans have
only been advanced to take 5% of that figure.
In addition the search and rescue operations of the navy
must be urgently restarted as the need for the expertise of
our officers and crews is again great.
Despite recent political spin this crisis is far from over
two children a day are drowning on the Mediterranean
while we are close to 500 lives being lost so far this year.
Even if we are a lonely voice in Europe, Ireland has a duty
to act with humanity and be an example to others. The
Taoiseach can start this process with his Dil statement
today.
ENDS
http://immigrantcouncil.ie/pages/articles/2016/10
Dil calls for Ireland to lead to protect child

and women refugees must be acted upon

Confirmation in the Dil that Ireland is to accept a further
31-refugees falls far short of the commitments made by
the Government last September, according to the
Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council also says that calls for Ireland to take an
international lead on ensuring that protections are in place
for women and children fleeing war and terror must lead
to action.
The Immigrant Council is warning that broad political
agreement in the Dil that Ireland should act with
humanity is not being followed through with action.
Ireland, said:
It is disappointing that the Government has only being
able to identify a further 31-refugees for resettlement here
to follow up on the 10 which have already arrived from the
hotspots of Greece and Italy.
The figures fall far short of the commitment last
September to take in 4,000 by the end of 2017.
Many speakers in the Dil debate highlighted the fact that

hundreds of people, including children travelling alone, are
stranded in camps in Northern France. We again call for
the Government to consider sending officials to the ferry
ports and see if refugees there can be offered protection
and hope here.
Ireland has a historic record of speaking up for the
voiceless and we echo the calls from TDs for a lead to be
taken in ensuring that measures are in place to protect
and safeguard the estimated 95,000 children travelling
alone within the EU and to find the 10,000 which are
missing.
The need for political leadership is great and we will work
with any new Government to ensure our promises to men,
women and children fearing for their lives are honoured,
and that they will find solidarity and hope in Ireland.
ENDS
Forming Ireland's response to the Refugee

and Migration Crisis
A Call to Action and Unity:

Forming Irelands response to the Refugee and Migration Crisis
Date: 9 & 10 June 2016
Venue: Emmet Theatre, Trinity Conference Centre, Trinity
College Dublin, Dublin 2
#ActionNow
Opening address by President of Ireland, Michael D.
Higgins
Globally, migration is at a crossroads. With 50 million
people experiencing displacement, and other forms of
migration increasing, the question of how individual states
and bodies such as the European Union react to a new
migration reality has never been more pressing. In a
context where people fleeing war, terrorism, human rights
abuses, climate change and poverty will take whatever
means are available to them to travel, however
dangerous, many believe that the expansion and
strengthening of legal migration channels, coupled with an
increased investment in integration and close cooperation
between state and non-state actors, is the future. What is
required is a sustainable response which informs a vision
of future global migration and respects human rights and
dignity.
This conference will consider the current refugee and
migration crisis and seek to inform a humanitarian
response, both nationally and at an EU level. The aim of
the dialogue is to share information and expertise and to
develop legal and policy strategies which place human
rights at the forefront of Irelands and the EUs response.
An overarching theme of the conference will be the need
for innovative responses to the current crisis which involve
close cooperation and collaboration between state actors,
non-governmental agencies and communities.
Key Speakers include:
Demetrios G. Papademetriou
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Co-Founder and President
Emeritus of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), and
President of MPI Europe

UNHCR Ireland
Mdicins Sans Frontires Ireland
Safe Passage UK
Italian Red Cross
Amnesty International Ireland
Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre

Discussions will include:
A high-level panel of speakers will provide an

overview on the governance challenges posed
Consideration of the experiences of NGOs working

on the frontline in various countries; exploration of the
strategies and responses that are being developed
A response from national stakeholders to the crisis
Promising practices in countries throughout the EU
National and international legal perspectives on

such issues as the EU-Turkey deal and the sustainability or
otherwise of the current European approach
An exploration and consideration of the responses

at EU level and the policy/legislative impact of the crisis
Following the conference the Immigrant Council of

Ireland will draft recommendations to form a Call to Action
and Unity in Ireland and the EU
Immigration
Reform and
Law Centre
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is an Independent Law
Centre under the Solicitors Acts, 1954 to 2002
(Independent Law Centres) Regulations 2006.
The Immigrant Councils legal team can provide assistance
and legal representation to individuals regarding their
immigration status. This is a free, but limited, service for
particularly complex situations or cases that give rise to
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j
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j
j
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specific policy concerns.

Our work with migrants through our Legal Service helps
inform and shape our policy development and campaign
work.
Clients are referred to our legal service through our
Information and Referral Service or via other practitioners
or organisations.
Because our capacity is limited, we select cases according
to our strategic litigation policy. Resourcing constraints
mean the legal service is not available in all cases. Cases
are selected according to the following criteria:
strategic importance of the case
merits of the case
availability of other advice and representation services
vulnerability of the client
financial means of the client
timing of referral
capacity
The Immigrant Council does not provide legal advice or
representation in relation to applications for refugee status
or subsidiary protection (with the exception of applications
relating to victims of trafficking).
The Immigrant Council of Ireland prioritises support for
migrants who have experienced human rights abuses in
this country. Among these most vulnerable migrants, we
have established special support for people in the
following categories:
women who have been trafficked to Ireland for the
purposes of sexual exploitation
women subjected to sexual exploitation within the sex
industry
victims of domestic violence
unaccompanied minors
The Immigrant Councils unique position as an
Independent Law Centre allows us to use our expertise in
the area of Irish immigration law to offer high quality legal
advice and representation to migrants who have
experienced human rights abuses. We can provide support
and advice to migrants in relation to their immigration
status in Ireland, their immigration-related dependency on
abusive family members and a range of issues facing
victims of trafficking, including liaison with An Garda
Sochna.
The purpose of the Immigrant Councils Specialist
Immigration Advocacy Service is to provide quick, holistic
and appropriate responses to the needs of vulnerable
clients. We are committed to ensuring confidential and
priority access to support services and legal advice. We
view our Specialist Immigration Advocacy Service as an
integral part of our overall strategy of working in
cooperation with other organisations to provide free,
confidential and reliable information, quality legal advice
and representation, as well as appropriate referrals as
necessary.
Contact can be made through the Immigrant Councils
Information and Referral Service on (01) 674
0200 between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays. The Information and Referral
Service is closed on Wednesdays.
The Refugee Legal Service (www.legalaidboard.ie) is
available to asylum or subsidiary protection applicants
who require a free legal advice service. The Refugee Legal
Service also provides legal aid and advice in appropriate
cases on immigration and deportation matters. Other nongovernmental organisations can also provide asylum or
subsidiary protection applicants with information and
support, for example, the Irish Refugee Council
(www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie) and The Integration
Centre (www.integrationcentre.ie).
We are grateful for the continued financial support to our
services from Pobal, the Department of the Environment,
Community and Local Government and the Programme,
the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2016-2019.
Political promises to those fleeing war,

exploitation and abuse must be priority"

The new Government must hit the ground running and
deliver on promises already made to men, women and
children fleeing war, people smugglers and human
traffickers, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council says the delays caused by months of political
uncertainty must be ended by honouring promises to
accept 4,000 refugees into Ireland and restarting the
Sexual Offences Bill with its measures to combat sex
trafficking.
The Immigrant Council says by acting swiftly the

Government can reassure those targeted by war-mongers,
smugglers and traffickers that they have at least one ally
in Europe.
Ireland added:
Now that its back to business for Irish politics it is time
for uncertainty and delays to be replaced by action. As a
frontline service provider and Independent Law Centre we
are calling for a number of long-standing political promises
to be delivered in the first 100 days.
Set out a firm timeline for the arrival of 4,000

refugees into Ireland as announced on the steps of
Government Buildings last September
Use Irelands voice at the EU and UN to demand

legal avenues for those fleeing war and terror to reach
safety and put humanitarian needs back on the top of the
agenda
Immediately recommence the stalled Sexual

Offences Bill and its measures to crush demand for sex
trafficking and a range of other crimes
The lack of political leadership and commitment to
address these issues has gone on far too long. The
Government now has an opportunity to fill that void and
show Ireland is a country which will again offer hope and
solidarity to some of the most vulnerable people on the
planet.
ENDS
cles/2016/10
Homeless children in Ireland worse
off than those in UK
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The ISPCC today said that children who are currently

homeless in Ireland are worse off than children who are
homeless in the UK.
The charity has raised concerns about the ongoing

placement of children in emergency accommodation and
the lack of standards associated with hotel use and the
duration of stays.
The ISPCC marked Human Rights Day today calling on the

state to put in place minimum legal protections for
homeless children, including a right to temporary
accommodation and advice and assistance; the
establishment of a programme of alternative
accommodation for homeless families to reduce the use of
emergency accommodation; and a commitment to outlaw
use of emergency accommodation for homeless children
from 2018 onwards.
The right to an adequate standard of living is recognised
in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to the October homelessness statistics from the
Department of Housing, there are currently 2,470 children
across the country who are experiencing homelessness,
an increase of 44 children in one month.
The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive further reported
that 1,608 children are living in emergency
accommodation in the Dublin region.
These children are worse off than children who are
homeless in the UK because they have fewer legal
protections, according to the charity.
ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long stated: The figures of
children who are homeless continue to rise. 44 children
are newly homeless this month, more than a class full of

children that will have no home this Christmas.
The right to an adequate standard of living is a critical
right for all children including those who are homeless
and living in emergency accommodation.
The state must therefore ensure limited use of
emergency accommodation, similar to neighbouring
jurisdictions, like Scotland.
ISPCC is concerned that the progress made so far to bring
forward alternatives to emergency accommodation in the
Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and
Homelessness is insufficient if the target of ceasing to use
emergency accommodation for children by mid 2017 is to
be met.
Urgent action is needed to heed the advice of the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child earlier this year, to
provide housing for homeless children, adequate to their
health and well-being."
A homeless charity in Dublin has issued an urgent appeal
for nappies and baby food.
The number of homeless families in Dublin has reached
over 1,000 for the first time ever and The Capuchin Day
Centre has seen a surge in demand for supplies.
About 90 families queue up every week for things like
nappies and formula and the charity will be handing out
thousands of hampers ahead of Christmas.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at the Capuchin Day

Centre - 29 Bow Street - Dublin 7
Brother Kevin Crowley runs the centre.
"Two days before Christmas we'll have a huge drive, we'll
have anything up to 3,000 for food parcels.
"So again, it's so sad in 2016 to think so many people are
coming here for food."
The Government has agreed to take in 4,000

refugees following a special cabinet meeting
this morning. In IRELAND A HOMELESS
CRISIS IS HUGE AND IT DOSENT MAKE
SENSCE THAT IRISH GOVERNMENT ARE
BRINGING IN ILLEGAL MIGRANTS, ARE
THEY GOING TO BE HOUSED THE ANWSER
IS YES, EMERGENCY ACCOMADATION WILL
BE PROVIDED FOR THEM, THE QUESTION
WILL THE IRISH BORN CITIZEN BE HOUSED,
NO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE
HOUSED AS TOP PRIORITY OVER IRISH

BORN CITIZENS, WHY THE QUESTION HERE
REMAINS A MYSTERY
It is expected a fast-track system to streamline the

application process for the hundreds of refugees fleeing
war-torn Syria who will be relocated in Ireland will be rolled
out by the government in the coming weeks.
The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald this morning
confirmed a budget has been allocated and refugee
welcome centres will be set up around the country.
She said the Government is now asking the European
Commission to exclude this sum from national finances.
The main point is the that Cabinet recognises and wants
to respond to this Humanitarian crisis.
4,000 is the figure that will take account of what the
Commission is asking us to do but it is somewhat more
generous than that figure.

She said a network of emergency reception and
orientation centres will be set up around the country.
Refugees will start arriving primarily from Greece and
Hungary by the end of the year, the Minister said.
She said any security and public order issues will be dealt
with, and Ireland would have the right to refuse any
refugee on those bases.
Accomdation centres will be set up within buildings under
the Department of Defence, the Office of Public Works,
and voluntary offers. Audits will be carried on these
accommodation centres in the coming weeks, she said.
Among the State sites being considered for the incoming
refugees are Clancy Barracks, army facilities in the
Curragh and Kildare as well as Gormanston Camp in
Meath.
The latter, reports suggest, is being considered by the
government for hundreds of refugee families fleeing the
Middle East and Africa.
Gormanston is still used by the Defence Forces as a
training camp for recruits. However, there a number of
reasons the government could utilise the camp.
It is relatively close to Dublin Airport and is linked to the
country's main airport directly by motorway. Gormonston
also has over 200 acres of land on which housing for
"The initial budget agreement this morning is that for
every 1,000 refugees that we welcome, the cost is
approximately 12m per 1,000.
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has

said he thinks Ireland will be taking a volume
of refugees "in the thousands" in the coming
years.
Mr Kelly said the matter will be discussed at
Government and the country will take its fair
share of refugees.
He said: "Irish people want us as a country to
step up to the mark and we will... This

Government is going to show leadership in
order to do that. "
The minister added that he believes Ireland
should take a leadership role with regard to
the escalating refugee crisis in Europe.
Mr Kelly said Ireland is well placed to do so as
"we have always punched above our weight",
and because Irish people have experienced a
huge sense of sadness, grief and loss.
Ireland has an "opt out" option from a
number of Justice and Home Affairs rules
under EU law, but has agreed to "opt in"
voluntarily on the relocation of migrants who
have arrived in Italy and Greece.
A proposal by the European Commission in
May called for a binding quota system for the
relocation of refugees, but it was rejected by
EU leaders in June.
Instead a voluntary quota system was put in
place to relocate 40,000 people.
So far, the uptake by member states has
fallen short at 32,000 people.
Following a meeting of justice ministers in
July Ireland agreed to voluntarily accept 600
people.
The Commission will relaunch a mandatory
system next week and justice ministers will
seek to agreement on it on 14 September.
Ireland will take 'many more than 600'
refugees - Simon Coveney
Minister for Defence, Agriculture and the
Marine Simon Coveney has said that Ireland
will take in "many more than 600" refugees.

Speaking on RTs Primetime
programme Minister Coveney said he had
spoken to a lot of ministers today and that
they all accepted that Ireland needed to do
more in terms of resettling refugees.
"The basis for the 600 figure until now was
that Ireland is 1% of the population of
Europe, we want to do more than our
population suggests we should be doing
because of our history and quite frankly
because Irish people would expect us to do it,
so we will go way beyond that figure in my
view." the minister said.
Follow
RT News
Simon Coveney: "Clearly we are not doing enough"

X
9:57 PM - 3 Sep 2015
Referring to next week's meeting of the

European Commission Minister Coveney
said "We will make a much more generous
commitment."
Minister Coveney said that Ireland was a
small country but he believed it could give
leadership on this issue.
He said it was not true to say that Europe had
been doing nothing and that there had
been emergency meetings about the crisis
every month since May.
Ireland had spent around 80m in recent
years on a humanitarian aid in response to
the refugees emerging from Syria and
Somalia, he added.
Speaking in Paris today Taoiseach Enda
Kenny declined to give an exact number of
refugees Ireland would commit to taking but
said he had asked justice minister Francis
Fitzgerald to "have a flexible mind" at next
week's meeting.
"They are going to have to work out a
formula here to see what numbers are
appropriate for each individual country" the
Taoiseach said.
But he added: "We've got to be realistic in
what we can contribute."
Mr Kenny suggested that under the new
scheme the overall EU relocation figure
would be "over 100,000."
"It's not realistic to set a figure on this, but
there will be a real focus following the justice
ministers' meeting, which will arise at the
[heads of government] European Council in
October.
Past experience is that countries will not
measure up if they're asked to do so
voluntarily," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Kenny described the picture of the young
boy on the beach in Turkey as "absolutely
shocking."
He said: "Any parent could see that child in
their own arms. Here was the body of a
young boy, a life lost and wasted, washed up
on a beach."
He said the image would "shock political
processes into taking action.
FF ask Kenny to recall Dil early
over crisis
Fianna Fil has tonight written to the
Taoiseach asking him to recall the Dil to
debate how Ireland can respond to the
refugee crisis.
The party said Ireland can no longer wait for
a pan European response and should instead
lead the way.
In a letter to Mr Kenny the Party's Transport

spokesman, Timmy Dooly, said this was a
horrific humanatarian crisis - the worst since
World War Two.
The Dil is due to return from its summer
recess on 22 September.
Deputy Dooly wrote that "while the Irish
Navy's contribution is admirable and to be
commended. However Ireland should and can
do more."
He requested the Taoiseach to summon the
Dil for an earlier return date under Standing
Order 24(1).
Government expected to make

announcement on refugee quota
The Minister of State at the Department of
Justice with responsibility for Direct Provision
has said the Government will make an
announcement in the next few days about
increasing the number of refugees to be
accepted into Ireland.
Aodhn Rordin said the Department of

Foreign Affairs, the Department of Defence
and the Department of Justice have been
working on the issue.
He said that the number of refugees will be a
multiple of the 600 figure which we have
already agreed to accept.
He said: "If people are asking does the Irish
Government intend to work and play a lead
role in this and intend to take its
responsibility seriously? Yes we do."
Mr Rordin said the numbers Ireland had
committed to were not enough.
When asked if a figure of accepting 10,000
refugees seemed excessive, Mr Rordin
said that figure sounded like a lot.
Mr Rordin said it would be reasonable to
expect if Ireland accepted more refugees it
would get financial support from the
European Union.
Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch also said
the 600 figure was not enough. "Ireland
should step up to the mark" she said.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Brendan Howlin earlier said he is sure Ireland
will take in more refugees than the 600 it has
already pledged to take in over the next two
years.
Mr Howlin said Ireland would take part in a
quota system and that there is a requirement
for Ireland to "step up to the plate".
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe
described the migrant crisis as
"unprecedented in recent decades" and
described Ireland's response so far as
"positive and comprehensive".
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmud Martin has said
parishes in Ireland would be willing to take in
refugees.
Speaking on RT's News at One, the

archbishop said authorities here should also
provide quality as well as quantity and
provide something more than just "an
emergency bed."
He said this is the largest refugee crisis since
the second world war and was not going to
go away.
The archbishop said it was not just a question
of numbers but of "when can we start?"
Europol identifies 30,000 suspected

people smugglers
Nearly 30,000 suspected people smugglers
have been identified by European authorities
since the start of the year.
The figure was disclosed by the head of the
EU's law enforcement agency as he told

reporters criminal activity is at "very high"
levels as gangs attempt to exploit the
migrant crisis.
Rob Wainwright said investigators across
member states have opened up a total of
1,400 new cases in 2015 alone.
The director of Europol also described
trafficking gangs as "agile", with members
adopting new tactics such as using social
media to "recruit" victims.
Europol Chief of Staff Brian Donald said the
EU was facing a crisis of management due to
the current influx of migrants and refugees.
Speaking on RT's Morning Ireland, Mr
Donald said the volumes are such that police
and border guards are being faced with
unprecedented problems.
Mr Donald said there was strong element of
organised crime supporting the movement of
migrants across Europe.
"In the last year since we set up a specific
project in relation to this crisis, there's been
1,400 cases ongoing with almost 30,000
suspects reported to Europol and in our
systems and that's just since the beginning
of 2015.
He said Europol is playing an important role
in helping the police community across
Europe "upgrade" its response to the gangs
involved.
"So it's quite clear to us and quite clear to
member states that we're working with that
there are criminal gangs and networks which

are across the whole of the EU that are
helping migrants to continue their journeys to
wherever they want to go."
Mr Donald said one criminal gang operating
over a period of six months is estimated to
have made 71 million.
However he said he did not believe the crime
groups are among the causes of the
migratory flows but said they are exploiting
them.
PQ: REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME
Thu, December 8, 2016
41. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tnaiste and Minister for Justice and
Equality the number of Syrian refugees resettled here in 2016; the
anticipated number to be settled here during the first quarter of 2017;
and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39289/16]
Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David
Stanton): The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by
Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the
humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of
mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this
programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons
into the State by the end of 2017, of whom 1,040 refugees (520 in 2015/2016
and 520 in 2017) will come to Ireland under the UNHCR led refugee
resettlement programme currently focussed on resettling refugees from
Lebanon.
The resettlement strand of the programme is focussing on cases displaced by
the Syrian conflict into Lebanon and proposed to Ireland by UNHCR. Most but
not all of the cases referred are Syrian. In 2016, 312 Syrian refugees were
admitted. In total, 507 persons displaced by the Syrian conflict (448 of whom
are Syrians) have arrived in Ireland from Lebanon since 4 August 2015 and a
further 12 refugees (all Syrians) are scheduled to arrive from Lebanon in mid
December 2016. By mid-December 2016, all but one of the quota of 520
resettled refugees for 2015/2016 are expected to have arrived.
In addition, the Government recently announced that it is extending the
resettlement programme to take in a further 520 refugees from Lebanon in
2017. 260 refugees have already been selected during a selection mission to
Lebanon in October 2016 and are expected to arrive in Spring 2017. Most of
these refugees are also Syrian. A further selection mission to Lebanon will be
arranged in the coming months to select the remaining refugees due to come
to Ireland in 2017 under the resettlement programme.
http://www.nascireland.org/parliamentary-questions/pq-refugee-resettlementprogramme-7/
EU CHILD FORUM JOINT STATEMENT

Tue, November 29, 2016
Child Rights Agencies call on EU to put refugee and migrant children
first
Brussels, 29 November EU institutions and Member States must do more to
protect refugee and migrant children, a statement signed by 78 agencies
including Save the Children and UNICEF said today to mark the opening of
the 10th European Forum on the Rights of the Child in Brussels.
Europes refugee and migrant crisis will soon enter its third year, with children
playing an ever larger part and the impact on their lives all the more tragic.
Between January and September 2016, more than 664,500 children claimed
asylum in Europe; In Italy, nine in ten children arriving this year are
unaccompanied; in Greece, 23,000 children remain in limbo their futures
hanging in the balance, their education on hold.
More than 700 children are estimated to have died at sea trying to reach
Europe this year alone. Last week a six-year old child died in a fire in the
Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
UNICEF and Save the Children are deeply concerned that failure to prioritise
the protection of children is putting more children at risk. Too little has been
done to address the particular needs and vulnerabilities of children. Children
in Sweden, for example, can often wait up to one year for their asylum cases
to be heard. Children stranded in Greece have been out of school an average
of 20 months. Many children have to wait more than a year to reach family
members in other EU states a dangerous delay that causes children to
disappear or turn to smugglers.
The EU and member states can do a lot more to protect children and address
their particular needs and vulnerabilities.
Addressing the Forum, the Child Rights Agencies call for deliberate action;
leadership, public investment and an agreed policy framework that defines
goals and measures progress, saying protecting children does not just
happen on its own.
The 78 partner organisations identify 7 priority actions to protect refugee and
migrant children today and prepare them for the future. These actions include
the urgent adoption of an EU Action Plan on children in migration,
strengthened safeguards for children in the asylum legislation, increased
funding for national child protection systems and building mechanisms to
protect children across borders.
The agencies say that actions at the EU level have so far been scattered and
insufficient. What is needed now, they say, is comprehensive action on
children in migration, bringing together all responsible authorities and
encouraging states to better collect and share data.
The reform of the common European asylum system, currently debated in the
European Parliament, provides a unique opportunity to ensure children get
access to guardians, education and family reunification. EU Action is also
needed to end the detention of migrant and refugee children, and the
identification of alternatives.
Many of these children will grow up becoming future EU citizens. They should
be considered as children first, regardless of their migration status. States

need to invest in them, and empower them to fulfil their potential as equal
participants in their communities.
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Childrencannot-wait_7-priority-actions-to-protect-children-in-migration_78organisations_29-November-2016.pdf
MIGRATION AND PROTECTION MUST BE

PRIORITIES FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
Fri, May 6, 2016
Given the current humanitarian crisis, migration and protection must be

priority issues for the new Programme for Government, states Nasc CEO
Fiona Finn.
After the debate in the Dil last week about the refugee crisis in Europe, it is
clear that the majority of TDs support Ireland taking a lead in supporting the
million plus people currently seeking protection and safety in Europe. Now is
the opportunity for those lofty words to be turned into solid commitments to
act.
These are the defining issues of our time. Migration and displacement as a
result of violence, poverty, starvation, persecution and climate change is our
new global reality our new Programme for Government must reflect that.
Nasc has contacted TDs and Ministers to call for the inclusion of the following
points in the new Programme for Government:
Reforms to immigration legislation and policy, to ensure that migrants have
access to justice and rights, including:
1 The introduction of an independent appeals mechanism for
immigration decisions;
2 A statutory framework facilitating family reunification for all legal
residents, including Irish citizens;
3 The establishment of a permanent residency status
Support refugees and asylum seekers who are seeking protection in Ireland
and Europe, by:
1 Promoting safe and legal migration channels into Ireland and

Europe, for example a new Humanitarian Admission Programme
for Syrians;
2 Strengthening Irelands support of the globally displaced by
adequately implementing and resourcing the Refugee Protection
Programme;
3 Ensuring that the people currently in the asylum and direct
provision systems are not forgotten, by implementing in full the
recommendations in the Report of the Working Group on the
Protection Process and Direct Provision?
Promote integration and combat racism and other hate motivated crimes by:
1 Introducing of hate crime legislation;
2 Ensuring that the measures outlined in the upcoming National
Integration Strategy are implemented and adequately resourced;
3 Legislation and flanking measures to proscribe ethnic profiling
by state agencies and bodies
To support Nascs call, please contact your local TDs and Senators today and
tell them that it is urgent that migration and protection be prioritised in the new
Government.
PQ: ASYLUM SEEKER ACCOMMODATION

(LOCAL RESIDENTS)
Tue, December 8, 2015

324. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if
it is good practice to have a consultation process with locals in place
prior to introducing asylum seekers and refugees into an area, if
consultation is required by legislation and the time period for the it to
take place prior to the introduction of the asylum seekers and refugees.
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): There is no
legislative requirement setting out any consultation process that may be used
by RIA prior to the establishment of accommodation centres for those in need
of international protection.
On 31 July 2015 RIA published a call for expressions of interest from persons
or companies wishing to provide accommodation and related services.
RIA have analysed the responses and have visited many of the centres on
offer to assess their suitability for their needs and the needs of potential
residents. For operational and commercially confidential reasons details of
these visits and the discussions with the owners (who are potential
contractors) are not disclosed to any other Department, agency or local
community representatives.
Any potential centre is assessed from a number of perspectives including
access to local amenities and the provision of services.
This model and approach has been operated by RIA since its establishment
and has proven to be extremely successful in the establishment of
accommodation centres to date. No person seeking accommodation has ever
been left without the provision of that service. Communities across the country
have welcomed the establishment of these centres and have been engaged in
the provision of local integration services to residents in those centres. I am
confident that people in Ireland will continue to welcome into their
communities those who are the most vulnerable and most in need of
protection.
I am advised that it is the intention of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme
to adopt broadly the same approach when establishing Emergency Reception
and Orientation Centres (EROCs).
Immigration Residence &

Protection Bill (Archive)
The International Protection Bill 2015

In 2015, the Coalition Government split off the Protection elements of the
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, 2010 and published the General
Scheme for the International Protection Bill, 2015.
This move formed part of the Governments commitment to treat asylum
seekers with the humanity they deserve, which also included setting up a
Working Group on the Protection Process and Direct Provision to recommend
reforms which would show greater respect for the dignity of the persons in
the system. The Working Group Report was published in June 2015 and is
available here.
Nasc made a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice,
Defense and Equality on the Heads of Bill, which can be viewed here. The
Justice Committee published their Interim Report in July 2015, which can be
viewed here.
The Bill is expected to be published in September 2015. The remainder of the
Immigration and Residency related issues remain in limbo, waiting to be redrafted.
The Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2010

In 2010, a coalition of eight human rights organisations prepared a Briefing
paper on the previous governments Immigration Residence & Protection Bill
of 2010. The key concerns in the Briefing Paper are outlined here.
Click on this link to read Nascs own detailed Submission on key elements of
the IRP Bill 2010.
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/General%20Scheme%20of%20the%20International
%20Protection%20Bill%20_final_.pdf/Files/General%20Scheme%20of%20the
%20International%20Protection%20Bill%20_final_.pdf
NGO-Coalition-Briefing-Paper-IRP-Bill-2010_FINAL
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NGOCoalition-Briefing-Paper-IRP-Bill-2010_FINAL.pdf
Submission to Select Committee on Justice, Defence and
Womens Rights Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2010
http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NascSubmission-on-key-elements-of-the-IRP-bill-2010-11.pdf
These are the five 'pillars' the

government plans to address in
its housing plan:
Ireland urged to shelter

some of the two million
Syrian refugees
Sarah Stack Twitter
PUBLISHED
23/08/2013
1
Syrian refugees cross into Iraq amid continued fighting
The Government has been called on to take

in refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
The Green Party accused the international community of
standing idly by as the United Nations revealed the
number of Syrian children forced to flee their devastated
homeland has reached a million.
Almost two million people have been driven out of the
country to date.
Malcolm Noonan urged Ireland to lead the way by taking
displaced people from one of the surrounding camps in
neighbouring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq
and Egypt.
"One in four people living in Lebanon is now a refugee,
many are so desperate that they are fleeing into Iraq," said
the Green Party environment spokesman.
"It is our view that if the Irish Government were to take
the initiative by offering to accept a number of refugees on

a programme basis agreed with UNHCR, it would compel
other EU states to follow suit and ease the humanitarian
crisis in countries bordering Syria."
The UN has demanded that Syria give its chemical
weapons experts immediate access to rebel-held
Damascus suburbs amid claims a chemical attack
orchestrated by Bashar Assad's regime killed hundreds of
people, including children.
The team of UN weapons inspectors is in Syria but only
has permission to visit specific locations and the regime
has dismissed as "baseless" claims it was behind the latest
incident.
Meanwhile UN high commissioner for refugees, Antonio
Guterres, has warned the traumatised children of Syria are
losing their homes, family members and futures.
Mr Noonan said there have been successful settlement
programmes in Ireland, in particular the Sudanese
resettlement programme of 2007.
"Ireland has an incredible track record in humanitarian
causes," he said.
"The Green Party believes that to accept people fleeing this
conflict during such a challenging time in our own
country's history would send a message to the
international community that we must act now to help
alleviate suffering and that this is a tangible way in which
we can begin to act.
"The crisis in Syria will not end any time soon and with
over two million people displaced both internally and in
surrounding countries, it is essential that the international
community responds in a compassionate way.
"Ireland should show leadership in initiating a refugee
settlement programme."
http://www.independent.ie/irish
-news/ireland-urged-to-sheltersome-of-the-two-million-syrian-
refugees-29523249.html
THE CORK CITY INTEGRATION
STRATEGY (CCIS) 2008-2011
N-85KK841540318-en/
$File/Cork%20City
%20Integration%20Strategy
%20(CCIS)%202008-2012.pdf
migration nation statement on integration strategy and diversity
management
N-7SQDF91044205-en/
$File/Migration%20Nation.pdf
Laws for Legal Immigration in
the 27 EU ... PIELAMI
Cooperation on Preventing
Illegal employment of Labour ...
through the introduction of
integration-related .
http://publications.iom.int/syste
m/files/pdf/iml_16.pdf
TRANSATLANTIC TRENDS: IMMIGRATION 2010 ... Legal and

Illegal Immigration: ... ation integration. Overall,
Transatlantic Trends
http://trends.gmfus.org/files/arc
hived/immigration/doc/TTI2010
_English_Key.pdf
Alliance of Civilization of
multinational strategy on ...
and to pursue more efficiently
the illegal immigration
http://www.unaoc.org/repositor
y/thematic_migration.pdf
Immigration Taking Action on ... Cracking Down on Illegal
Immigration at the Border: ... read the Immigration
Blueprint
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sit
es/default/files/rss_viewer/immi
gration_blueprint.pdf
Family Unity
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1. 1 The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and

fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution
possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and
superior to all positive law.
2 The State, therefore, guarantees to protect the Family in its
constitution and authority, as the necessary basis of social order and
as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and the State.
Article 41, Constitution of Ireland Bunreacht Na hireann
For various reasons, those who migrate to Ireland whether to work or to
seek safety are often forced to do so without their husbands, wives, children
and other close family members. Conversely, Irish citizens may wish to get
permission for a spouse from outside of the EU to join them here. Information
on how to apply for family reunification is contained on our Know Your Rights
Page here.
Our campaigning work involves highlighting the anomalies and injustices in
the immigration system. Our campaigning work is based on the cases we see
presenting to our free legal service, and consists of:
Lobbying the Department of Justice for legislative and policy change
Campaigning on the upcoming Immigration Residence and Protection Bill
Making submissions to international bodies
Referring strategic cases to the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) for
litigation
The Zambrano Case and the rights of parents of

Irish Citizen Children
Nasc has been to the fore on campaigning for the rights of Irish citizen
children with migrant parents. Following the decision of the Court of Justice of
the European Union in the case Ruiz Zambrano v Office National de LEmploi
(C 34/09) which recognised the rights to reside and work in the State of nonEEA citizen parents of dependent Irish citizen children, Nasc were
instrumental in having the right of unlimited access to the labour market for
parents of Irish citizen children extended to Romanian and Bulgarian parents
of Irish citizen children.
After their accession to the EU, Romanians and Bulgarians were given limited
access to the Irish labour market and were generally required to obtain a work
permit. This disadvantaged Romanian and Bulgarian jobseekers as only
certain types of employment with a renumeration of 30,000 p/a and above
were eligible for work permits.
Arguing that EU law prohibited the State from treating EU citizens less
favourably than their EU counterparts, Nasc referred the case of a Romanian
man with an Irish citizen child to PILA for litigation. The case was settled with
the Department of Justice removing the requirement for work permits for all
Romanian and Bulgarian parents of Irish citizen children. Subsequently the
State removed work permit restrictions for all Romanian and Bulgarian
nationals.
Nascs main campaign goals relating to family

reunification are:
1. The replacement of the current discretionary system for Irish citizens

and non-EEA citizens (with the exception of refugees and persons
eligible for subsidiary protection) with a statutory framework.
At present Irish citizens and migrant workers do not have a legislative right to
family reunification with immediate family members. These applications are
decided on a discretionary basis by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration
Service (INIS). This means that Irish citizens are treated much less favourably
than their EU counterparts who are living in Ireland.
We believe that a framework facilitating family reunification for all legal
residents of Ireland is desperately needed.
The INIS published their policy document Family Reunification Policy
Document (see here for Nascs summary) on the 31st December 2013 which
details, for the first time, the financial and other criteria that will be taken into
consideration when deciding on an application for family reunification by a
non-EEA citizen with an Irish citizen or non-EEA sponsor.
Although Nasc welcomes the publication by the INIS of their internal policy,
we believe that this is insufficient and that the Minister for Justice and Equality
should place the right to family reunification on a legislative footing.
Nasc calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to implement clear and
coherent rules on the rights of Irish citizens and non-EEA citizens to reunite
with their families.
We believe that Irish citizens should have access to family reunification on the
same basis as their EU citizen counterparts. We believe that Irish legislation
in relation to family reunification for this category of migrants should be
brought into line with the provisions of the EU Directive on the Right to Family
Reunification. Ireland has opted out of this Directive, causing us to fall behind
best practice in the EU.
2. Introduction of an independent appeals mechanism.
At present, no appeals process for those dissatisfied with an adverse decision
related to family reunification exists the only option at present is to initiate
judicial review proceedings.
This is not an appropriate remedy as it extremely expensive for citizens to

take a case to the High Court to judicially review a negative decision and it
overburdens the High Court with immigration related judicial review
applications.
We call for the introduction of an independent Immigration Appeals Tribunal to
relieve the pressure on the Irish courts while offering an inexpensive,
expedited appeals process to applicants.
Back to Top
Related Links and Resources

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INIS has recently published new guidelines for family reunification. More
information about the guidelines is available on our Factsheet. Nasc has
welcomed these guidelines but we have concerns about some aspects of the
policy and on the implementation of the guidelines. You can read more about
our concerns here.
The MIPEX index assesses and compares integration policies worldwide.
Irelands family reunion policies score very low indeed on the overall ranking
table, we rank the worst of the 31 countries (EU and North America) surveyed.
Click here to download Nascs submission (pdf) to Irelands Universal Periodic
Review (UPR) at the United Nations General Assembly (including family
reunion concerns).
Watch our 3 minute Better Together video to meet Tracy, her husband
Abdullah, and their baby Malika. Abdullahs first application for permission to
come to live in Ireland with his family was denied. Tracy made a second
application with Nascs assistance, and she and her husband are now living in
Cork together with their daughter.
NASC WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF NEW

FAMILY REUNIFICATION POLICY BUT HAS
CONCERNS
Thu, January 9, 2014
Nasc welcomes the introduction of the new family reunification policy

published by the Department of Justice at the New Year. The document adds
some clarity to an obscure but critical area of immigration law and policy. We
hope that the development of this policy will lead to improved consistency in
decision-making on family reunification both within INIS itself and the visa
offices in Irish embassies and consulates throughout the world. However, after
our initial inspection of the policy document, we have considerable concerns,
which are outlined below.
There are several aspects to the policy which we welcome, however
additional clarification on starting dates and details of administrative schemes
is required. We welcome new measures such as the introduction of
provisional entry to the State for the purposes of marriage, the introduction of
standardised application forms, the introduction of interim administrative
permissions for minors under 16, the references to the exceptional
circumstances of domestic violence victims and the commitment to the
establishment of a statutory appeals mechanism which will include family
reunification appeals. We also note that the new policy allows for family
members of sponsors to apply for residence in their own right after five years
of residence in the State.
While we are pleased that the INIS has provided clarity on the necessary
requirements to those who wish to reunite with elderly or dependent parents,
we are concerned that the income thresholds of 60,000 net for one parent
and 75,000 net for two parents for each of three years preceding the
application will bar many Irish and immigrant families from reuniting with their
parents.
We cautiously welcome the proposed introduction of a pre-clearance system
for non-visa required nationals who wish to reside in Ireland and often times
find themselves in a limbo situation while their application is being processed.
However inclusion of this proposal without indicating when this measure may
be introduced and confirming the interim current procedure may be confusing
as it appears to contradict policy contained on other parts of the INIS website.
Issues of Concern
There are several points which we consider quite negative and potentially
very harmful, including consistent reference within the document to decisions
made by family members to voluntarily separate and that the State does not
bear an obligation to reunite the family in these cases. We believe that this is
not reflective of a modern global society where immigration for work purposes
is increasingly common and where instant communication has made it
possible for families to have close links and ties while living thousands of
miles apart.
A major concern is the restrictive economic policies in places for people,
including Irish citizens who wish to reunite with spouses. Comparatively, the
income threshold is quite high and could effectively bar many people from
applying for reunification with their family. For those who are ill or unable to
work due to disability or old age there is no possibility that they will be in a
position to meet the income requirement. Furthermore, we believe that the
seven year bar on making a second spouse or de facto application is
excessive. Worryingly, the policy document refers to the ineligibility of
sponsors who are suspected of contracting a marriage of convenience
without referencing how or when it will be decided that a marriage of
convenience has, in fact, taken place.
The inclusion of the INIS policy on DNA testing is welcome however important
information regarding how long people may expect INIS to retain their biodetails provided in the DNA testing results is omitted. We would ask INIS to
confirm that this information is used only for the purposes for which it is
provided and is not shared with any other State or non State organisations.
In addition, there are a few points which suggest potential developments in
the future that we will be keeping a close eye on, including the possible
introduction of English language tests and knowledge of Irish culture and
society. It is positive that the document mentions that long term residency
should be available however no indication of when or how this might be done
is included. There is currently no permanency of residence for non-EEA
citizens.
Nasc CEO Fiona Finn comments on the new policy:
We are delighted that after years of pushing for changes to family
reunification policy, we are finally seeing some movement towards clarification
of the existing policy. However there are some very worrying aspects to this
document and several areas that require additional clarification.
We call on the Department of Justice to immediately amend the document to
rectify the issues mentioned above. We also ask for the immediate
introduction of the statutory appeals mechanism to ensure families are
reunited as quickly and efficiently as possible. And finally, we will continue to
campaign on behalf of Irish citizens, who remain in limbo without a legal right
to family reunification with their loved ones.
We welcome the states recognition that the current system is in need of
reform across a number of areas and look forward to the publication of the
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill which is promised to bring greater
clarity to this critical area, Ms Finn adds
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB13000447
EU Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family
reunification
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?
uri=CELEX:32003L0086&from=EN

Reunification
The purpose of this document is to set out a
comprehensive statement of Irish national
immigration policy in the area of family
reunification. It is recognised that more
comprehensive and transparent guidelines are
necessary to assist applicants and decision makers
in this area. The policies outlined in this document
will apply to all decision making in the immigration
system in relation to family reunification cases in a
harmonised way, incorporating both visa
applications and the various leave to remain
processes. The document also outlines some
recommended administrative changes.
%20Document.pdf
FACTSHEET ON INIS POLICY DOCUMENT ON NON- EEA FAMILY
REUNIFICATION]
http://www.nascireland.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/Famil
y-Reunification-Factsheet-2.pdf
Reunification
%20Document.pdf
Better Together With Nasc - Bringing
Families Together"
Dec 15, 2011
This is a short film we made with the help of Brian Cronin as
part of the 2011 Better Together (www.bettertogether.ie) video
competition. Some of our most important and fulfilling work

here at Nasc, centres around families and helping migrants in
Ireland reunite with their loved ones. The three-minute video
features Tracy, her husband Abdullah, and their baby Malika.
Abdullah's first application for permission to come to live in
Ireland with his family was denied. Tracy made a second
application with Nasc's assistance, and she and her husband
are now living in Cork together with their daughter.
Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, is a non-profit
organisation based in Cork, Ireland. We provide legal support
to migrants living in Ireland, particularly in the Cork region. We
are recognised as a leading voice in the migrant sector,
providing support to over 1,000 migrants per year.
We do not receive any government assistance and are entirely
dependent upon donations to keep our service going.
Contributions large and small are gratefully accepted on our
website:
v=HerGyRaOhHw&context=C4ff5736ADvjVQa1PpcFOs11ttpE5
bjNPc3z1m_aczJ3NIj18KRvY=
Simon Coveney rules out

reducing rent cap limit from
4% to 2%
Fianna Fil has criticised government proposals to limit rent increases
in pressure zones in Dublin and Cork.
December 14, 16
MINISTER FOR HOUSING Simon Coveney has defended

the governments rental strategy, but said it will not be
going through before Christmas.
Fianna Fil has heavily criticised government proposals to
limit rent increases in rent-pressure zones in Dublin and
Cork.
Yesterday, Minister Coveney brought proposals to Cabinet
that will cap rent increases in designated zones of Cork
city and Dublin city and county to 4% a year over a threeyear period.
Fianna Fils education spokesman Thomas Byrne says the
4% limit is too high, but ruled out seeking to link rent
hikes to the consumer price index. He said Fianna Fil was
working through the night on its own proposals.
Speaking this morning, Coveney said the 4% rise was nonnegotiable, and the government would not support any
amendment to reduce the rent cap to 2%.
He also that if Fianna Fil wants to oppose the 4% cap,
then the legislation underpinning the Governments rental
strategy will pass before Christmas, which is something
the party will have to take on themselves.
The measures are due to be tabled today. Minister
Coveney reportedly failed, however, to persuade Cabinet

to approve linking rent increases to the consumer price
index.
The rental plan designated Dublin and Cork city as rent
pressure zones because annual rents there have risen by at
least 7% in four of the past six quarters. The average rent
in both high-pressure zones is also above the national
average in the last quarter.
Ive been minister for housing for six months, Coveney
told Today with Sean ORourke on RT this morning.
Within the first 74 days we had a housing strategy agreed,
which is agreeing to spend 5.5 billion on social housing,
to increase the number by almost 50,000 [houses].
We said on that day that we would have a rental strategy
by the end of the year, and we have delivered that. We
have increased the budget for housing next year.
He said that the Budget included a big package for firsttime buyers, which he said has fundamentally changed the
housing market for first-time buyers.
Cork City.
Source: Shutterstock
Airbnb
As a result, developers are planning to build a lot more
houses, starter homes, for first-time buyers.
Planning permissions are up, commencements are up.

We are expecting that next
year An Bord Pleanla will see up to 50 applications for
more than 100 houses across the country on individual
sites.
He said that, in Galway, in seven years, there has been
one application for a housing estate, while Tipperary has
seen none, adding:
We are changing the market, and its working, and were
starting to see momentum build in the property market.
He also said the department is looking at the effects of
Airbnb on the rental market.
Anybody who plans to use Air Bnb effectively for a B&B
or a hotel-style operation, they will have to go to their local
authority for a change of use in terms of planning, he
said.
The priority here is protecting tenants from a very
dysfunctional market at the moment.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

Source: Rollingnews.ie
Major decision
Writing in TheJournal.ie, Sinn Fin housing spokesman
Eoin Broin said the measures could amount to an
average 4,500 rent hike over the next three years for
renters in Dublin city. Renters in Cork city, meanwhile,
could be hit with a bill for 3,200, he said.
Fianna Fil broadly supports the strategy, but wants the
rent-pressure zones extended to Galway, Limerick,
Waterford and parts of the commuter counties and the 4%
figure lowered.
Now whats happened here really is a procedural
nightmare, education spokesman Thomas Byrne told
RTs Morning Ireland today.
Once again, coming up to Christmas, the government is
going to make a major decision which is going to have
major consequences.
And, quite frankly, in this case, were going to have to
take action. Because its extremely market-sensitive, and if
action isnt taken this week, then the rental market could
go off
He added: This is extremely sensitive, not only in terms
of the rental market but also the stock exchange, and the
Dil cant be in that space. We must show the public that
we can actually effect change, and make a real difference
in peoples lives.
Crazy
Byrne said Fianna Fil housing spokesman Barry Cowen
has been in discussions with Minister Coveney regarding
the 4%, and the geographic areas covered by the measures.
Fine Gael junior minister Damien English last night ruled
out any change to the 4% measure on RTs Primetime.
Byrne said Fianna Fil could in theory amend the
governments measures without Fine Gael support, but
added:
We want to engage in fruitful discussions on this with the
government.
He said the ministers approach has resulted in procedural
chaos.
Our teams have been working throughout the night on
this, and government have been as well. Its not the way to
do this.
The government is tabling this not as an existing bill, but
as four-stage amendments to an existing bill thats already
gone through the Dil.

That is due for discussion, we think, tomorrow, and
amendments have to be in today. Its crazy stuff.
Government amendments that are going to amend this
have to be in by 1pm today.
Its the same every year, they dont seem to have learnt
their lessons about rushing legislation in before Christmas.
Broadly, we think a lot of the difficulty we would have
with this strategy there are more measures that are
coming in for this time next year, rather than for this time
this year.
Byrne said that, at this point, its unclear when Fianna
Fils amendment will happen, but said the party is
seeking tax breaks for landlords.
We would like to see more stuff in terms of landlords, he
added, insisting he meant small-time landlords, rather
than REITs (vulture) funds who have snapped up large
swathes of Irish property.
We think they do deserve a tax break, in terms of
restoring the full interest deduction which is available.
This morning, Minister Coveney said Fianna Fil should
have proposed any changes to tax incentives before the
Budget, rather than six weeks afterwards.
Landlords
Asked whether Fianna Fil would link proposed tax breaks
for landlords with greater security for tenants, Byrne said
the Constitution precludes an opposition party from
tabling a finance bill.
Byrne said the partys proposals are somewhere in
between the 4% cap and linking rent increases to the
The partys proposals are based on the average of rents
over the past five years, allowing for increases in some
areas but a ban on increases in other areas.
We think the 4% is just too high its a price increase. It
certainly should be lower, Im not going to put a figure on
it.
As of October, there were 3,486 homeless adults and
children in the State, three times what the figure was three
years ago.
There are 142 people, meanwhile, sleeping rough in
Dublin city alone.
Certainly the housing supply needs to be increased,
Byrne said.
And thats not happening fast enough, because they need
houses a lot of the single people who are homeless would
be ideal for bedsits.
Number of rough sleepers on

Dublin streets up 56% in last
year
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has confirmed there were 142
rough sleepers on the streets of the capital.
Nov 30th 2016
Image: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie
/Photo Text content

THE OFFICIAL WINTER count for Dublin has confirmed
that 142 people are sleeping rough on the streets of the
capital.
Homeless charities have slammed the figures, while
Dublin City Council has pledged a further 230 emergency
beds to combat the problem.
The official count was conducted on the night of 22
November into the morning of 23 November. This
represents a rise in rough sleepers of 40% since the last
count found 105 in April, and a 56% rise since 91 rough
sleepers were identified in the same period last year.
Since 77 people were sleeping in the Homeless Night
Caf on Merchants Quay on the evening of 22 November,
it meant that a minimum of 219 people were without a bed
that night.
Alongside these figures, the Dublin Region Homeless
Executive (DRHE) and Dublin City Council has confirmed
that emergency accommodation is being expanded by 230
bed spaces, which will be delivered in full by 9 December.
The DHRE said that this expansion of 230 beds was
essential to ensure no person is forced to sleep rough due

to inadequate provision.
A spokesperson said:
Given that in Dublin there are at least 142 persons
sleeping rough tonight, the addition of 230 new bed spaces
alongside the expansion of Dublins Housing First Service
ensures we can, and will, provide for everyone engaging in
rough sleeping while allowing for additional overall
capacity.
These bed spaces will be provided by organisations across
four sites: Peter McVerry Trust on Ellis Quay, Depaul
Trust on Little Britain Street, Dublin Simon and Salvation
Army at Carmans Hall, and the Civil Defence at Wolfe
Tone Quay.
Demographics
The key findings were, of the 142 persons confirmed
sleeping rough:
110 were male, 20 were female, and 12 individuals were
unknown;
63 were Irish nationals, 21 were non-Irish, with 58
individuals nationality unknown;
21 people were aged 18-30, 30 were aged 31-40, 21
were aged 41-50, 6 persons were 50+, and the age of 64
people was unknown.
Homeless charities called the figures wrong and totally

unacceptable, as well as deeply disappointing and very
frustrating.
Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said: [Our] view
is that the only effective way that we can begin to reduce
and ultimately eliminate rough sleeping is to ensure we
have enough appropriate housing options.
To that end we need to see stronger and quicker
interventions to make housing available.
Focus Ireland director of advocacy, Mike Allen,
commented: While much good work is being done to
prevent people from becoming homeless the constantly
rocketing rents and a growing number of buy-to-let homes
being either repossessed or sold is causing a constant rise
in the numbers being forced into homelessness.
Both added that the Housing First service, which is jointly
operated by Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust has
seen consistently high numbers of rough sleepers this

year.
Focus Irelands Mike Allen urged the government to
outlaw the eviction of tenants when a house is
repossessed, while Pat Doyle from Peter McVerry Trust
called for a vacant property tax to be introduced to push
houses back into the system.
She said: According to the CSO, there are just over
35,000 vacant private homes in Dublin. Even a 10% rate of
return to use of these vacant units is equivalent to all the
properties currently available to rent in Ireland, so you can
see how tackling this issue now could have a massive
impact.
The government has pledged to spend 5 billion over the
next five years on its housing plan which it says will help
alleviate the homeless crisis.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY, Housing Minister Simon
Coveney and other Cabinet members have announced
details of the governments housing plan this afternoon.
It includes a plan to spend over 5 billion on social
housing over the next five years. Hotels will only be used
in limited circumstances to provide accommodation for
homeless families from next year, the government is
pledging.
The new social housing units would be in mixed tenure
developments, Coveney said meaning social housing
would be placed in areas where people also own their
homes outright.
When driving into estates you are not going to know the
difference, the minister said.
Follow
TheJournal Politics
Coveney says biggest ambition in plan is creating mixed

tenure developments
X
1:39 PM - 19 Jul 2016
The housing plan was one of the marquee projects

announced in the programme for government. Published
in May, that document set out an aim of building 25,000
new houses a year by 2020. Last year, building on just
8,000 homes was begun.
In the next five years, we are going to provide about
50,000 more social houses for our people, Coveney said.
This is about integrating communities so they can live
together, grow up together and not be segregated on the
basis of what they can afford and where they can afford to
live.
Follow
TheJournal.ie
These are the five 'pillars' the government plans to

address in its housing plan:
http://
bit.ly/29QURcF
2:02 PM - 19 Jul 2016
Source: TheJournal.ie/Twitter
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The plan is set out in five pillars summarised under the

following headings in the official report:
Address homelessness
Accelerate social housing
Build more homes
Improve the rental sector
Utilise existing housing
Here are some of the ways homelessness

will be tackled
Ensure that by mid-2017 hotels are only used in

limited circumstances for emergency accommodation for
families
This will be achieved by meeting housing needs
through the Housing Assistance Payment and general
housing allocations
Needs of homeless families will also be met by
expanding the Rapid Build Housing programme (1,500
units)
And a Housing Agency Initiative will acquire vacant
houses (1,500 units)
Targets for tenancies to be provided by the Housing
First team in Dublin will be tripled
U
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Enhanced supports for homeless families with

children; separately, enhanced supports for homeless
people with mental health and addiction issues
Increased Rent Supplement and HAP limits (details
of this were already revealed last month)
A new initiative to provide financial and legal advice
for people facing serious mortgage arrears
And here are some of the plans for social

housing
47,000 social housing units by 2021, supported by

investment of 5.35 billion
NTMA/Private sector Housing Fund to deliver
increased housing supply
Government to establish new Housing Delivery Office
and Housing Procurement Unit
Streamlined approval processes
Mixed tenure developments on State lands and other
lands
Follow
TheJournal Politics
Taoiseach says plan will work to end the use of long term
X
1:21 PM - 19 Jul 2016
1 1 Retweet1 1 like
Entitled Rebuilding Ireland, the project is described by

the government as an action-driven plan that will result
in a dramatic increase in the delivery of homes
nationwide.
Speaking at Government Buildings, the Taoiseach said it
would give a clear roadmap to the country on how to
proceed with housing.
The announcement of the plan follows a sharp rise in
homelessness in recent years. Latest figures, from May,
show there are nearly 6,000 people without a permanent
home in the state.
3,969 adults and 1,994 children make up the overall
figure. There are 955 families living homeless, 625 of
which are single-parent families.
Geographical distribution of adult homelessness

Source: Environ.ie
On the specific issue of families living in hotels, heres how

the government says the problem can be tackled:
The prevalence of homeless families and the utilisation of
hotels for emergency accommodation is a much more

significant issue in the Dublin Region than it is in the rest
of the country.
Based on May 2016 data, there were 1,054 homeless
families nationally, of which 913 were in the Dublin
Region, and on a single night in May, 622 families in
Dublin were accommodated in hotels.
used for new presentations. Our aim is that by mid 2017,
hotels will only be used for emergency accommodation in
very limited circumstances.
The report says the increases in Rent Supplement
and Housing Assistance Payment levels in terms of
supporting families to remain in rented accommodation,
will play an important role in the achievement of this
overall objective.
Related: More on those increases to rent
supplement and HAP, announced last month >
Where families do find themselves in homelessness
situations, their needs will be met through the enhanced
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and through
general social housing allocations, as well as by tapping
into wider housing supplies to be delivered as part of the
overall housing plan.
Mixed tenure
Coveney stressed that there would be a focus on mixed
tenure housing which is generally considered to mean
that homes in areas targeted for social housing may be
owned outright or rented from a local authority or housing
association, amongst other options.
According to the report:
Irrespective of the method of their housing provision, our
citizens deserve to live in sustainable communities with an
appropriate tenure mix.
The size of the individual construction projects in the new
social housing building programme reflects that clearer
thinking on achieving good tenure mix.

Building a mix of smaller scale and infill developments is
essential, if we are to deliver on our commitment to create
long-term sustainable communities and avoid repeating
the mistakes of the past.
Source: Rebuilding Ireland
EU rules
The question of whether Ireland is prevented by EU rules
from spending more money to build social housing was
also raised today. If we could, we would spend more,
Coveney maintained.
He said his department was speaking to agencies such as
the NTMA about funding vehicles that could finance social
housing. He pointed to a model being used by Nama in
which they pay for the building of houses and lease them
long-term to approved housing bodies, which then sublet
them to social housing tenants.
Coveney said this ensures the matter is off-balance sheet.
We do need to get clarity from Eurostat on what works and
what doesnt.
He said there were cases in the UK where social housing
had been built and deemed off-balance sheet, only to be
told by Eurostat, the EUs statistics agency, that it is in fact
on-balance sheet.
It has caused huge problems there, so we want to avoid
that problem, he said, adding that it would take time to
clarify.
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for

Jul 19, 2016
Rebuilding Ireland is an action-driven plan that will result in a
dramatic increase in the delivery of homes nationwide.
Ambitious and inventive in its reach, and radical in its
approach, this significant Government priority will deal with the
under supply of housing and the effect it has on people and
communities.
This video illustrates the scope and spread of the plan through
a number of tangible actions. Using a Five-Pillar approach,
Rebuilding Ireland will address the needs of homeless people
and families in emergency accommodation, accelerate the
provision of social housing, deliver more housing, utilise vacant
homes and improve the rental sector.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rAPWcpUE3E
Alan on the Streets - Homeless Crisis |

Ireland AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiJQNlcxWm0
LARGE INVESTORS SUCH as private equity companies

are responsible for almost a fifth of new house purchases
in Dublin over the past two years.
Thats according to a new Central Statistics Office
residential property price index.
It covers all market transactions in the residential
property market and measures price changes.
The CSO said that the new index improves upon its
predecessor by including new and more detailed data,
such as information about cash purchases of property.
According to the new index non-household buyers
accounted for just under a fifth of all residential market
transactions during 2014 and 2015.
Just over 13,000 housing units changed hands in the
capital during 2014, with that number rising to just under
14,000 in 2015. Non-household buyers acquired about
4,500 and 4,800 units in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
John McCartney, director of research at property group
Savills, said that this category of purchaser is dominated
by large, mostly foreign private equity companies and real
estate investment trusts (REITs), companies set up
specifically to trade in property.
Neither class of buyer featured in Ireland before the crash,

with legislation for REITs only enacted in 2013.
Recent development
Large buyers were also not active in Ireland until relatively
recently. In 2010 5,726 housing units were sold in Dublin,
and just 144, or 2.5%, of these were bought by nonhousehold buyers.
Likewise in 2011 non-household buyers acquired 182
units out of the 5,000 that were traded in the residential
market.
Speaking to Fora, McCartney said that this shows the
extent to which big investors have bought up property in
the capital in recent years. He said:
This is all new to us. Prior to 2012 there was no such thing
as institutional investors in the residential market.
When the economy emerged from the crash, there was an
overhang of apartment blocks built at the tail end of the
boom, and investors, primarily US private equity firms,
spotted an opportunity to buy at rock bottom prices [and]
hoovered up large chunks of investment blocks.
Tight lending
McCartney said that although these large companies
aimed to buy at the lowest price possible, their presence
had the effect of pushing prices up for everyone else.
He said that this is probably what is driving the continuing

rise in house prices.
Something that people havent got their heads around is
[how] you can have continued house price growth even in
the presence of tight mortgage lending, he said,
referencing the Central Bank rules that require many
house buyers to provide a 20% deposit.
The critical thing is that these large companies are all
cash buyers by nature [and] it makes the mortgage lending
rules irrelevant.
House prices
McCartney said that investment companies have now
acquired most of the available property around the capital,
and many are focused on renting instead of buying and
selling for the time being.
However, he said that he expects house prices to still rise
in the next two years as smaller investors re-enter the
market. He said:
Small investors have found it tough to compete with
institutional buyers but now I think there will be more
space for them.
I think you will see a flow of investors into the market who
will compete with one another (for houses) and push
prices up.
Looking more than two years ahead that may change as
you would expect rising prices would make developments
viable and then you could see the supply begin to come on
board (and) dampen price growth.
Houses along Clonliffe road in Dublin

Source: Barry Cronin/PA Wire
Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown
Overall, the new CSO data showed that the national
average house price in 2015 was 225,783, although there
were huge variations across the country.
The most expensive area was Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown,
where households paid an average of 568,980 to buy a
house.
Second and third most expensive in 2015 were the Dublin
city and Fingal administrative areas, where the average
house price was 389,022 and 336,310 respectively.
The least expensive place to buy a house in 2015 was
Longford, where the average price paid was just under
80,000. The second and third least expensive places
were Roscommon and Leitrim, with average prices of
94,105 and 94,572 respectively.
The data also shows that Irelands property crash was
more severe than previously thought. According to the
CSO house prices fell by 54.4% after the property bubble
burst in 2007, more than the previous estimate of 51%,
before beginning to recover in Dublin in 2012.
Fianna Fil to force changes

to Simon Coveneys rent
control plan


U
U
U
Fianna Fil wants to halve proposed rent cap

Rent plan: Taoiseach defends 4% rent cap in Dil
exchanges
How Simon Coveney sold rent controls to the Cabinet
Listen to Inside Politics

Inside Politics Podcast Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's Calculus

1,470 by 2019.
Rent cap

next March.
market.
did not leak.
had to act.
Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's Calculus 14th Dec 2016
line
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimes-politics/coveneysrental-plan-enda-kennys-leadership-six-months-of-newpolitics
Problem solved, or is it? Simon

Coveney and Paul Murphy on
water
Will the report of the expert commission on water help
bring this vexed issue to a conclusion at long last? Minister
Simon Coveney hopes so, but AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy

says "it's not over". They both sat down with Hugh Linhan
and Sarah Bardon this morning.
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimes-politics/simoncoveney-and-paul-murphy-on-water
AREAS WITH RISING rents in Dublin and Cork are to be

targeted in the governments new rental strategy, which
has been launched this afternoon by Housing Minister
Simon Coveney.
Rent pressure zones, recognising regions where there is
sustained tension in the rental market, will be identified
by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) as part of the
plan.
This afternoons statement from Coveneys department
said the pressure zones would be introduced with

immediate effect in Dublin city and county and in Cork
city.
What happens in pressure zones?
The measures will cap rent increases in the designated
zones to 4% per year over a three year period.
According to the Department:
These are areas where annual rent increases have been at
7% or more in four of the last six quarters and where the
rent levels are already above the national average.
The measures are being brought in straight away in the
four council areas in Dublin, and in Cork city. From this
afternoons announcement:
Rent pressure zones will be designated for a maximum 3
years, by which time new supply will have come on stream
and pressures will have eased somewhat in these areas.
Despite calls from parties such as Sinn Fin and the Social
Democrats, the new rental strategy does not contain a
system of national rent control.
Speaking this afternoon, Coveney said he believed a
national rent cap would have devastating consequences in
terms of supply and that he didnt think it would work.
The government was putting a bridle on a horse that has
been almost out of control for the last two years in terms
of rental increases, he insisted.
The Minister said he had spoken to his counterpart in
Fianna Fil, Barry Cowen, and hoped to get the plan
passed by the end of the year.
Follow
TheJournal Politics

1:51 PM - 13 Dec 2016
Retweetslikes
The new plan will also strengthen of the role and powers of
the Residential Tenancies Board the agency set up in
2004 to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The measures include boosted dispute resolution
timeframes (time for appeals will be cut from 21 to ten
days and one person tribunals will be held in some cases
allowing for more tribunals to take place). The law in the
area would also be simplified, according to the plan
announced this afternoon.
Todays measures follow changes introduced last year by
then-housing minister Alan Kelly, which included longer
notice periods for any rent increases and a two-year limit

on how often rents could be reviewed.
Since then, rents have continued to climb. Over the past 12
months, prices have gone up 8.6% nationally, according to
the latest figures from the RTB.
Vulture funds
Taking questions from reporters on the issue of homes
that have been brought by so-called vulture funds, he said
that when ten or more houses are sold together, tenants
should have tenancies uninterrupted.
A measure to allow for that change is included in
legislation going through the Oireachtas at the moment,
and the issue was also covered in todays plan, Coveney
said.
Residents of Cruise Park in Tyrrelstown in West Dublin
had been holding a separate event near the Dil this
morning to highlight their cause.
Reduced incentives
Coveneys plans, which were formally announced at a
press conference at Government Buildings this afternoon,
have already been criticised as likely to reduce supply in
critical areas.
In a briefing note this morning, Goodbody analysts Colm
Lauder and Eamonn Hughes said previous rent controls
meant there hadnt been price increases at many
properties for a significant period of time, while market
rents have appreciated considerably.
As a result, large swathes of the residential lettings
market would be technically under-rented, yet the
landlord unable to mark-to-market, they said.
We see this as damaging to professional landlords
operating in the Irish market and will provide reduced
incentives to growing lettable stock.
There was also criticism from property owners association
the IPOA, which described the measures as an attempt to
re-introduce rent control.
Short term interference causes long term difficulties

undermining the confidence of prospective investors,
Chairman of the group Stephen Faughnan said in a
statement.
The State has caused the rental crisis and continual
interference is making it worse, he added.
Sinn Fins Eoin O Broin, meanwhile, said the simple fact
was that rents are too high and that the Minister was
allowing landlords to continue to increase rents.
Renters simply dont have the money. I see no benefit in
what hes announced today for renters.
Todays announcement was the latest installment of the
Rebuilding Ireland plan, launched back in July to tackle
the spiralling housing and homelessness crisis.
Reporting by Daragh Brophy, Christina Finn and Peter
Bodkin.
TheJournal.ie will be hosting a special Facebook
Live interview with the Minister for Housing
Simon Coveney in TheJournal.ie HQ in Dublin
on Thursday evening.
Todays Leaders Questions, which was scheduled for

30 minutes, was drawn out by questions on the renting
plan and a report on tax evasion released by Oxfam.
In a plan released yesterday afternoon by Simon
Coveney, a cap on rent increases in the designated
zones to 4% per year over a three year period was
announced.
Today, Fianna Fil and Sinn Fin said that the plan
didnt go far enough to control spiralling rent costs, and
ensure there homes for people.
Meanwhile, Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and
Maureen OSullivan addressed allegations against the
government in a report by Oxfam Ireland.

12:11PM
X
X
X
T dam caite, says the Dil chairman after Mchel

Martin delivers a very long, roundabout question,
signalling the first in a long series of warnings for TDs
to hurry up.
Enda Kenny answers his questions around the cap of
rents to 4% in certain areas. Kenny says there needs
to be a reasonable return on investment, that the rate
chosen by the government is 20% lower than in
previous decades in the countrys history, and the rate
is less than half of the current rental rise nationally.
He hammers home the point by going over time
himself, and comparing rent capped rates globally:
Germany 20%
New York 7.5%
Sweden 5%
12:14PM
Source: Oireachtas
Michel says that consultations on the plan were very

late, and the focus on Cork and Dublin is far too great
(he previously listed rising rent rates in areas outside of
Dublin and Cork).
After another long question and another chiding for
Micheal Martin by the chairman, Enda says that the
start will be with those two areas, and it will spread to
others eventually (pending feedback, youd assume).
Share
12:21PM
Fiery questioning from Gerry Adams as per usual.

Youre actually publishing more reports than youre
building houses, he says, saying that theyve failed on
their approach through their rent cap proposal.
He says 90 amendments were suggested by Sinn Fein
TD Eoin Broin, including one on rent certainty, which
was voted down.

Do the right thing and introduce rent certainty, not rent
punishment, he says, before sitting back down.
Gerry Adams seems most delighted with the fact that
hes finished within his allocated time.
12:29PM
Maureen OSullivan brings up tax injustice and tax

evasion.
If were serious about eliminating poverty, we have to
look at tax systems for corporations.
Our role and reputation internationally will be
undermined unless we commit to tax justice, she says.
Those on the lowest incomes benefitted most from the
last Budget, begins Kenny, citing figures released this
morning by a government-backed report.
We are fully compliant with tax regulations, says
Kenny. He rejects Oxfams assertion in their annual
report that their corporate tax rate of 12.5% is part of
their tax haven status, saying that the rate is in line with
the OECD, and is only available on trading profits.

We have not been and we will never be a brass plate
economy, he says emphatically.
Share
12:41PM
X
X
Stephen Donnelly addresses the Oxfam report as

well. He analyses three of the allegations they made,
and rejects two of them:
Corporation tax rate is too low Donnelly says thats
none of their business
Ireland facilitates large scale profit sharing he
agrees with the government that progress has been
made.
On the third charge, he says theyre on the money.
He says that certain companies arent obliged to
publish their accounts, meaning we dont know how
much tax theyve avoided.

He says that these companies are defined by four
criteria, and foreign landlords meet three of these
criteria. Does Enda approve of the accounts not being
published?
Enda first thanks Stephen Donnelly for his work on the
Finance Bill, which looked at addressing transparency
around tax payments.
He was then asked to table a bill, which would ensure
vulture funds and other organisations would have to
publish their accounts so TDs, journalists and
politicians can see what theyre doing.
No commitment made by Enda, but he thanks Stephen
for his work on the Finance Bill, and his questions.
Share
12:45PM
An Taoiseach corrects a statement he made in the Dil

on the 6 December, where he said that Gerry Adams
drove the sons of murdered prison officer Brian Stack
in a blacked out van.
Following a letter from Gerry Adams, Kenny clarified
that Gerry Adams drove his own car, and the blacked
out van was driven by someone else.
BUDGET 2017 PROVIDED small gains to all income

groups but the greatest gains went to those on lowest
incomes.
Thats according to data released today from Governmentbacked think-tank the ESRI.
The findings are based on the ESRIs SWITCH model,
which uses data from almost 8,000 households.
The Budget for 2017 was announced back in October, with
some changes (like hikes to cigarette prices) kicking in
immediately.
USC cuts announced by the Government will come into
effect on 1 January, while the 5 boost to social welfare

payments, including pensions, will come in in the spring.
The ESRI has measured the impact of Budget policy
against what it calls a distributionally neutral benchmark
which would see incomes rise at the same rate for all
income groups.
According to the think-tank:
The overall impact of Budget 2017 when compared with
this neutral benchmark is a small rise in average income
no more than one quarter of 1%.
The greatest gains are focused on the lowest income
groups. Average gains for the one-tenth of households
with the lowest incomes are close to 1%, while for most
income groups gains are closer to one quarter of 1%.
The majority of family units will also have small gains of
between a quarter and half of 1%.
The family types with the largest gains from Budget 2017
are non-earning lone parents and unemployed couples,
according to the ESRI, for whom the budgetary changes
are set to lead to a rise of approximately 2% of income.
These family types represent just 3% of the population.
The ESRIs Professor Tim Callan said:
Higher welfare payments helped to ensure that incomes
for those relying on social welfare benefits rose in line with
general incomes.
Changes to Rent Supplement in advance of the budget,
and the suspension of water charges mean that percentage
gains in income were highest for the lowest income group.
The nearly 8,000 households analysed by the ESRIs
SWITCH model are from the CSOs nationally
representative Survey on Income and Living Conditions.


1,470 by 2019.
Rent cap
next March.

market.
did not leak.
had to act.
FG & FF No Closer To
Agreement On
Proposed Rent
Increase Limits.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fil appear no closer to agreement on
proposed caps on rent increases

Enda Kenny and Simon Coveney are sticking by their plans to limit
annual increases to 4% in high-demand areas in Dublin and Cork.
The Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland and several Kildare TDs all
say Kildare should have been named among the areas to which
the increase limit applies.
Fianna Fail insists that 4% maximum rent increase per year is too
high.
Micheal Martin said his party, however, is prepared to engage with
Fine Gael on the matter.
Ms Zappone said that to every living child in some inner Dublin city,
their responses would be the opposite of what she expects to hear
Only your Vote for Sinn Fein will put an end to

this....otherwise it will escalate and continue for years and
years to come
CHILD MIGRANT
TURNS OUT TO BE
ADULT VIOLENT
RAPIST
December 14, 2016
JAYDA FRANSEN
A Muslim taxi driver who claimed he was the son of a
Taliban leader has been jailed for 18 years for violent
rapes.
Ghairat Khan, 26, claimed to be from Afghanistan and only
15 when he arrived in the UK to qualify him for asylum
but the authorities now believe that he is from Pakistan
and was lying about his age.
After he was threatened with deportation in an immigration
age row, Khan went to Teesside where he violently raped
two women.
Khan, formerly of Bowesfield Lane, Stockton, was jailed
for 18 years, ordered to register as a sex offender for life,
and given an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order
after the court learnt he raped his victims a number of
times then subsequently threatened them over the phone.
http://www.jaydafransen.com/child-migrant-turns-out-to-be-adultviolent-rapist/

First Page Previous Page Page of 82 Next Page Last
Page
[38517/16]

my Department.
market. [38538/16]
[38564/16]

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the
landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented
residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of
landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board
(RTB) was established as an independent statutory body
under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration
system and to resolve disputes between landlords and
tenants. I have no function in relation to the operational
matters of the Board.
The Act provides that landlords in the sector must apply
to register the tenancy of a dwelling with the RTB within
one month of the commencement of the tenancy. There
are currently over 325,500 tenancies registered with the
RTB, comprising over 174,500 landlords and over 516,500
available at

employment income.
http://www.environ.ie/search/category/housing/subtopic/incremental-purchasescheme/topic/activity/topic/guidelines.
In line with the commitment given in the Programme for
a Partnership Government, and reaffirmed in Rebuilding

Government.

es/towards_a_national_planning_framework_december_20
15.pdf .
Consultation is a critical element in the transparent
design and delivery of the National Planning Framework.
early 2017.

strategies.
matter. [38582/16]

table.
Louth Ardee 252,650 189,490
Meath Trim 80,800 60,600

the VAT element.
Commercial Rates
matter. [38653/16]
203. Deputy John Curran Information on John Curran
Zoom on John Curran asked the Minister for Housing,
of houses and apartments purchased by each local

authority in 2015 and to date in 2016, in tabular form; and
if he will make a statement on the matter. [38712/16]

library network.
hours per week.

Under my Departments Social Housing Capital
Investment Programme, funding is provided to local
authorities to deliver additional social housing stock
through new construction projects and through the
acquisition of new and previously owned
houses/apartments. Details on properties purchased by
local authorities for letting to those on their social housing
waiting lists are available on my Departments website at
the following link:
[38811/16]

[38812/16]

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/ho
melessness-data.
authorities.
eight properties.

1,250 per month.
, he said.
built.
and Nama.

Limerick.
Clara, Co Offaly.
Macroom, Co Cork.
Citywest in Dublin.

Galway.
Road, Dublin 4.
Dublin.
inDublin.
http://irelandtodaynews.com/index.php/housing-ministersimon-coveney-is-a-landlord/
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB AND

INVESTIGATE THE ASSETS OF THOSE IN GOVERNMENT
WHO WE ALL KNOW TO BE CORRUPT
ARREST THE CORRUPT, ARREST THE GUILTY...

DO WHAT YOUR EMPLOYED TO DO. NOT SELECTIVE
INVESTIGATIONS.
THE BIGGEST CRIMINALS IN IRELAND WEAR SUITS AND
TIES...
THE BIGGEST CROOKS IN IRELAND ARE IN GOVERNMENT...

(Luxembourg)

companies.

countries.
Operations Europe;
EMEA BV;
Trade.
formal notice.
Background

pricing.
interested parties.
The Secret Deal. Who knows what?
Mary Robinson is now Mary the Robber. The bloody cheek

of this woman building a monument to HERSELF (and her
husband btw) and screwing the taxpayers of this country

for her ego project. Aided and abetted by the clown of a
Taoiseach Kenny of course. Would you ever fcuk off Mary
you greedy ex Labour Party thief
Why is Enda Kenny backing CETA? Because he has been

told to endorse CETA by his European masters and the
spineless Taoiseach will always side with his EPP and EU
bosses no matter what the cost to the people of Ireland.
Fine Gael always put the people second ... and this will
continue, because the next generation of Blueshirt is just
as subservient - on TV during the week, Noel Rock, Fine
Gael's youngest TD (age 28) expressed some doubts
about CETA but was still prepared to back it. With morons
like Rock who will put their party before the interests of
the people in the hope that his loyalty to Kenny will get
him promotion there is no hope for real democracy in this
country any time soon
Figures provided by the Courts Service show that the

amount the States judges have incurred in expenses
between January and June 2015 totalled just under 1m.
The splurge on judicial attire is made mainly by new
judges including Judge John King who claimed 1,126

under the same headings. King qualified as a solicitor in
1993. He was educated at the National University of
Ireland, Galway. He was a partner in Hennessy and
company solicitors in Bantry, Cork.
John King was appointed to the District Court by the
coalition government of Joan Burton's Labour Party and
Fine Gael in 2015. In the Children's Court on Friday Judge
King found in favour of Joan Burton and convicted a then
15 year old of falsely imprisoning Burton and her adviser
in November 2014.
They say "clothes don't make the man" and a fancy wig
and gown don't necessarily make a good judge. Especially
if it's a POLITICALLY APPOINTED JUDGE.
On Fridays "Today with Sen O'Rourke" on RTE Radio 1

Joan Burton was given a prime time slot to promote herself
and the Labour Party. Listening to her you would think she
was a caring politician fighting for the ordinary people and
wanting to get Fine Gael to deliver a budget that would
help the most needy.
Joan Burton is a sham. She is a liar. She ONLY cares about
her fat salary, her expenses and the gold plated pension
she is going to retire with. This woman wreaked havoc
with peoples lives while in government with Fine Gael from
2011 to 2016 - no, sorry ... she wreaked havoc on the
weakest, the poorest, the most vulnerable and the
voiceless. She made sure that her wealthy pals were
looked after and got richer. Much richer. Like Denis O'Brien
who under Joan's watch added more millions to his
BILLIONS. Joan destroyed the Labour Party of Connolly and
Larkin and made it more right wing than even the
Blueshirts. When the people deserted Joan & the
Charlatans in the General Election herself and the hated
Alan Kelly who both scraped back into Dil ireann,
decided to re-invent themselves so that they could
continue pocketing massive salaries and live a life of
luxury. And that is why Joan came on the radio and
pleaded for Noonan to look after the little people, And why
Alan Kelly was on the same programme last week voicing
support for striking workers.
They have no shame.
Nama- Charity For The Rich

There is more than a whiff of corruption arising from
NAMA. The most obvious case has already been
highlighted with Project Eagle in Northern Ireland.
Here a giant US company Cerberus paid a 7 million fixer
fee to secure assets originally worth 6.5 billion for just
1.34 billion. Even though Michael Noonan was informed
that another company had withdrawn from the bidding
after it was asked for a fixer fee, he still allowed the sale
to go ahead.
The main fixer was Frank Cushnihan, a well connected
insider among the Northern political elite. It is alleged that
Peter Robinson and his son Garret stood to benefit from
this fee. Astoundingly, Cushnihan was also acting as an
advisor for 58% of NAMAs Northern debtors.
Soon after getting this deal, Cerberus went on to snatch
up Project Arrow a portfolio of just under 2,000 mainly
residential properties in Southern Ireland. This has
originally been valued at 6 billion but NAMA s reserve
price was just 1 billion. There were apparently just two

valid bids for this project one from Cerberus and the
other from Apollo.
When it was established NAMA took over 74 billion of
loans for a write down price of 34 billion. The strategy
adopted by Fine Gael was to sell off the loans as quickly as
possible in order to show a small profit.
Their principle mechanism for doing this was to invite in
US vulture funds to buy up the loans. They could squeeze
the bankrupt original owners and take over the property.
Department of Finance officials met with vulture funds on
sixty five occasions and Michael Noonan personally
attended meetings with Lone Start Capital, Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts and Appollo Investments.
The last company is headed up by Brian Goggin, the
former chief executive of Bank of Ireland, but is controlled
by Leon Black one of the richest men on Wall Street.
Goggin was one of the bankers who helped wreck the
country but after receiving a pension of over 500,000 a
year, he is now heading up a vulture fund. In that capacity
he benefits from the crash he helped to provoke.
RETURN OF THE ZOMBIES
The Return of the Zombies would be a good film title for
the extraordinary pattern by which indebted Irish
businessmen come back to life with the help of the state.
It might even be suggested that this was the real purpose
of NAMA.
NAMA, for example, made a fund of 3.5 billion available
in soft loans to bankrupt developers to help them
complete their projects. In a previous report the
Comptroller and Auditor General estimated that 2.6
billion of that fund was actually drawn down by 2015. This
was at a time when no bank would lend them a cent.
Sixty six developers were also paid salaries of over

10o,ooo a year to work for NAMA. 41 of them received an
average of more than 1 million in overhead costs for
repairing or improving their properties.
9 Million euro a month was paid out on rent for NAMA
properties but these funds were not automatically
impounded to help pay off loans. Instead, developers were
able to keep a substantial proportion in maintenance
fees. The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated that
in 2011 in a sample of just six cases, developers managed
to skim off an additional 2 million euros in unanticipated
costs.
VULTURE FUNDS
Another way that the zombie builders come back to life is
by fronting up vulture funds that are buying up 300 billion
of Irish property. The builder Joe O Reilly, for example, is
heading up a fund known as Chartered land which is
buying up property in Ballsbridge and is backed by the
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
The main reason for Fine Gaels quick sale strategy was to
revive the Irish property market. Most of the Irish rich
invest in property because it can bring easy money
especially if you have the political influence. They had lost
heavily in the crash of 2008 and were left with big loans
on distressed property.
By bringing in the US vultures, demand on Irish property
helped push up the prices. This was combined with other
policies to help stimulate the market. These included cut
backs to council housing and a greater reliance on the
private rental market through HAP and RAS schemes to
house those in need. The overall effect was to re-heat the
property market and help the wealthy recover some of
their money.
But it came at a considerable cost and some of the
mechanisms by which this occurred are only beginning to
leak out now.
It is estimated that 90% of NAMA property has been

bought up by US vulture funds. And the same mechanisms
that were used to bring in companies like Apple were used
to attract them.
In 2013, the Fine Gael/Labour government brought in a
special tax relief for Real Estate Investment Trusts. These
are big US mutual funds which buy up distressed property
around the world mainly for rental income. The
governments 2013 measure reduced their tax bill
considerably.
But that was only half the story. As early as 2010, Irelands
tax planning industry was telling the vultures that they
could use other mechanisms such as Section 110
provisions and a mechanism known as a Qualifying
Investor Fund to cut their tax bill to near zero.
Clearly Noonan knew about these tax dodges when he
met the vulture funds.
If he did not know that Irish tax planners were openly
advertising how to pay no tax, he was incompetent. Does
anyone seriously belief that the man who encouraged the
US vulture funds to buy up 90% of Nama property did not
also point them in the direction of the Section 110
measure?
It is time to clean up the stink of dirty money that seeps
out of every pore of the Irish state
-----------------------------------------------------------Fact Check: Did Michael Noonan tell "bare-faced lies" in
the Dil?
A ROW BROKE out in the Dil last week between Finance
Minister Michael Noonan and Fianna Fils Finance
Spokesperson Michael McGrath.
In a debate about Fianna Fils bill to force banks to lower
their variable mortgage rates, Noonan claimed the

publication of McGraths bill had wiped 10% off the value
of state-owned Irish banks shares.
McGrath fiercely disputed the claim, and Sinn Fin TD Eoin
OBroin later accused the Minister of telling bare-faced
lies, on RTE Radio 1s Saturday with Claire Byrne.
Time to step in and sort this out.
Claim: The publication of Fianna Fils variable rate
mortgage bill caused state-owned Irish bank shares to fall
by 10% that day
Verdict: FALSE by some margin, but Minister Noonan later
said he was referring to an 11-day period, not one day.
It is absolutely true that there was a 10.5% drop from 9-17
May
The publication of the bill may have played some role in
the decline, but there were several other plausible
explanations for it.
What was said:
So we all know what were talking about, heres what
Michael Noonan said in the debate on Tuesday evening.
The day you republished your bill, Deputy McGrath, bank
shares went down by 10% across the line. Irish bank
shares went down by 10%. So if you take the total value of
the Irish taxpayers holdings in the bank, the publication of
your bill dropped it by 10%.
The Facts
11/5/2016. Silicon Valley Announcements
Its not clear from that statement alone which date or
which banks Noonan was referring to.
A Fianna Fil spokesperson told us the party had asked on
6 May for permission to introduce the bill. On 12 May they
asked for permission to present the bill to the Dil, and
debates followed on Tuesday 17 May and Wednesday 18

May.
A spokesperson for Minister Noonan told us the key date,
by their reckoning, was 9 May, the day that Deputy
McGrath began publicising the re-publication of his Bill.
The re-publication here, refers to the fact that McGrath
and Fianna Fil first introduced their bill last June, before it
was voted down by government TDs.
In any case, lets check those three dates.
There are three banks in which the state owns a significant
portion of shares: AIB (99.8%), Permanent TSB (74.92%)
and Bank of Ireland (13.95%).
Its very important to note that only 0.2% of AIB shares are
actually traded on the stock market, so the share price is
not a particularly reliable gauge of the banks actual
value, and should be viewed in that light.
However, using official Irish Stock Exchange data, we
calculated the total value of shares owned by the Irish
taxpayer at close of trading from 5-17 May, and found
these changes:
On 6 May, the total value fell by 0.23%, from 24.2 billion
to 24.13 billion
billion
billion
Noonans spokesperson, however, told us that AIB share
prices were not included in their calculations, for broadly
the reasons set out above.
So we checked the total value of state-owned shares in
just Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB at close of trading
from 5-17 May.
noonanshares2
On 6 May, the total value of state-owned shares in the two
banks fell by 2.88%, from 1.97 billion to 1.92 billion
billion
billion
As you can see, there is no calculation method for any of
the three dates in question which shows a drop in the
value of state-owned bank shares by anywhere close to
10%.
Minister Noonans claim, as articulated in the Dil on
Thursday, is therefore entirely FALSE.
What did he mean to say?
We asked Michael Noonans spokesperson whether he
accepted that his claim in the Dil last Tuesday was false,
and if he would be retracting it.
We did not receive a substantive response to that
question, but our attention was drawn to remarks the
Minister made to reporters two days later, on Thursday,
when he re-articulated his position:
When Michael McGrath first began to publicise his intent
to publish the bill on the 9th of May, between that and the
17th of May, the average decline in Bank of Ireland and
PTSB was about 10.5%. And thats what I referred to in my
speech.
That 11-day time frame is very different to what the
Minister claimed in the Dil, but if youre interested in
seeing it evaluated, read on.
Between those two points in time, the total did indeed fall
by 10.5%, from 1.92 billion to 1.72 billion.
If we include AIB share prices, the total fell by 16.3%.

The only possible explanation?
When asked, the Department of Finance did not provide
evidence to support the claim that the re-publication of
the bill had caused the 10.5% drop from 6-17 May.
How does Fianna Fil explain that decline? A spokesperson
told us:
A numbers of factors have influenced bank share prices in
recent weeks. AIB announced a reduction in rates on 9
May and PTSB provided a trading update on 11 May.
It made absolutely no mention of political action in
relation to standard variable rates.
Thats true. You can read the PTSB trading update here.
Noonan told reporters on Thursday that the Permanent
TSB statement had been favourable, and more good
news than bad news.
However, PTSBs share price fell by 10.75% that day, the
single biggest day-to-day decrease of any of the three
banks in the last month.
The AIB announcement on 9 May, that it would cut its
standard variable mortgage rate by 0.25% to 3.4%,
preceded a 1% decline in its share price that day, far from
the biggest drop in the last month.
This also wouldnt factor into the Department of Finances
10.5% drop, because that figure only addresses Bank of
Ireland and Permanent TSB shares.
Its difficult to identify for certain the primary causes of
those share price changes in the 11 days between 9 and
17 May, but we can make a couple of observations.
Immediate impacts?
17/5/2016. Mortgage Interest Rates Issues Fianna Fil

Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath
Firstly, the fall in total Bank of Ireland/PTSB share values
on 9 May was 4.22%, the second-biggest in the last
month, behind 3 May, when the value of state-owned
shares fell by 5.13%.
So whatever forces were at work that day, the share price
fall in those two banks was a significant one.
What happened next
Secondly, the period since last Tuesdays debate would
appear to somewhat undermine the claim that Fianna
Fils mortgage rate legislation hurt Irish bank shares in
the run-up to that date.
6-17 May
Michael McGrath began publicly discussing the bill in a
significant way on Friday 6 May, in an Irish Examiner
article.
On Monday 9 May, he appeared on Morning Ireland, and
discussed the bill for three minutes at the end of his eightminute interview.
A Google News search for Fianna Fil mortgage yielded
four Irish articles on mortgage rates that day, three from
the Irish Independent, and one by the Irish Mirror. All four
focused primarily or exclusively on AIBs mortgage rate
cut announcement that day.
A Reuters article with the headline Irish opposition to test
new government with mortgage rate bill was syndicated
by BusinessWorld.ie and several other foreign news
outlets.
Between 10 May and close of trading on 17 May, there
were six news reports focused on the Fianna Fil bill, in the
Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Sunday Business Post.
17-23 May
27/4/2016. Central Bank Annual Reports Central Bank

Governor Philip Lane.
On 17 May (after trading closed for the day) the legislation
was debated in the Dil for the first time, and advanced to
a second stage debate, which took place the following
evening.
On 18 May, Michael Noonan withdrew a government
amendment that would have delayed further debate on
the bill for another six months.
Over the following days, there was extensive coverage
focused on the Fianna Fil bill in the Irish Times, Irish
Independent, Sunday Business Post, TheJournal.ie, the
Irish Examiner, RTE, and the Irish Mirror.
Some of that coverage was critical of the bill, including
analysis (reported in the Irish Times) by Davy
Stockbrokers, which warned about the pitfalls of Fianna
Fils proposals.
One intervention in particular made the prospect of the
legislations implementation appear increasingly realistic.
On Thursday 19 May, RTE reported that Central Bank
Governor Philip Lane, a crucial figure, who had previously
called Fianna Fils proposals a very crude instrument
with many downsides, told a conference in Dublin:
We dont think having legislative caps is the best way to
ensure competition, but we will work not just to the spirit
but to the letter of every law that comes in.
Remember that the rationale behind Michael Noonans
allegation was that publicity in advance of the bill, starting
9 May, had caused the 10% drop in share prices.
So you might reasonably think that Irish bank shares
suffered even more after 17 May, as the legislation
gathered momentum in the Dil, media coverage stepped
up, and the Central Bank Governor committed to

implementing the bill, if it were passed into law.
In fact, though, there was a 1.5% increase in the value of
state-owned shares in Irish banks between 18 and 23 May.
If we remove AIB from the equation (as the Department of
Finance is quite reasonably doing), the increase was even
greater, 5.3%.
This could suggest a correction in the market, as
shareholder confidence levelled off and recovered after
the initial impact of publicity around the legislation.
But it could well also suggest that publicity surrounding
the anticipated introduction of an opposition bill was not
the blow to Irish bank shares that Minister Noonan is
claiming.
The chart below tracks the performance of state-owned
shares throughout the period in question, with reference
to a few events discussed in this article, and cited by both
the Department of Finance and Fianna Fil.
Those events are far from an exhaustive list of potential
factors in the rise and fall of Irish bank shares over the last
month.
By definition, Michael McGraths re-publication of his
mortgage bill could not have been the only factor in Irish
bank share trends between 9 and 17 May.
So we can fairly safely dispense with any claim that it was
solely responsible for the 10.5% drop in Bank of Ireland
and Permanent TSB shares during that time period.
And the improving performance of Irish bank shares after
17 May certainly casts doubt, retrospectively, on the logic
behind Michael Noonans claim.
If the relatively little publicity surrounding the promised
presentation of the bill caused shares to fall, why did
warnings from analysts, a commitment from the Central
Bank Governor, greater publicity and the actual
presentation and advancement of the bill accompany an

increase in bank shares?
Ultimately, however, we cant say for sure. So we cannot
verify the claim that the re-publication of the bill caused a
10% drop in shares from 9-17 May.
Remember, though, that thats not actually the claim
made by Michael Noonan. What he said in the Dil during
Tuesdays debate has been shown above to be FALSE by
some margin.
-----------------------------------------------------------The Government will publish its report into Nama's
controversial multi-billion Project Eagle sale this week
THE GOVERNMENT HAS said it will publish its report into
the 1.6 billion sale of Namas loan book in the North this
week.
Last night Fianna Fil called on Minister for Finance
Michael Noonan to release the report, compiled by the
Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) into the sale by
Nama of its Northern Ireland properties.
Last Wednesday, Noonan said he had been in possession
of the report since the middle of August.
Government chief whip Regina Doherty told RTs The
Week In Politics today that the report would be released on
Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
If an inquiry was needed the Cabinet would make a
decision in a prudent manner, she added.
Sinn Fin have long called for a public inquiry in the
controversial 2014 sale of Namas northern loans to US
investment company Cerberus Capital Management.
The portfolio had a book value of 4.5 billion, and leaks
this weekend suggest hundreds of millions of euros were
lost due to shortcomings in the transaction, which was
approved by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan.

Sinn Fin deputy leader Mary Lou MacDonald, a member
of the Public Accounts Committee, said the inquiry should
look at the full Nama system, beyond any Garda
investigation into a lone wolf.
There needs to be an acceptance politically, and at the
highest levels of Government that what we are facing into
here is a scandal, she told This Week on RT Radio One.
The goings-on around the sale of Project Eagle, that huge
portfolio which at the time was the biggest sale transacted
by Nama, is taken very seriously [in the UK and US].
Here, we have had a blind eye turned to a very, very
serious matter, which has cost the taxpayer, the southern
taxpayer perhaps hundreds of millions of euro. Its us who
are picking up the tab.
Mary Lou Mary Lou MacDonald
Fixers fees
The Government needs to face the fact that it cant run
away from this any longer. Fianna Fil need to get on to
that page as well, both of those have consistently blocked
an inquiry into all of these matters, MacDonald added.
Michael Noonan, bear in mind, bears a very big
responsibility for things that happened around this very
large sale.
Michael Noonan was aware that there was a problem with
the bidding process, that there was an attempt at fixers
fees and illegal payments. At that stage, the State in the
person of Michael Noonan should have intervened, should
have called a halt to that.
She added: A responsible Minister for Finance would have,
in my view, called a halt to the entire process at that
stage. He didnt do that, but worse than that, from that
day to this the Government of Fine Gael and

Independents, backed by Fianna Fil have used every ruse
to see we dont need an inquiry here.
And now we are looking at the entrails and the
consequences of his failure to act. The inaction and denial
needs to stop, we need to see the C&AGs report, he
should just publish that today or tomorrow morning.
MacDonald added that the Public Accounts Committee
needs to investigate the report, and a commission of
inquiry with full judicial powers should be established.
Fianna Fil Michael Martin has said this weekend an inquiry
is inevitable. He told the Sunday Business Post that the
whole thing stinks to high heaven.
Kelly Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly.
Incredible
Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly, Public Accounts
Committee vice-chairman, called for a cross-border
commission of investigation. This stinks to high heaven
by the looks of things, he told This Week on RT Radio 1.
The idea this cant be investigated is incredible.
There are criminal investigations in the North, but here
we are saying that the C&AG say there was a potential
loss of hundreds of millions of euro to the Irish taxpayer.
Well in that scenario it has to be investigated.
This is a huge issue for the Irish Government, it is a huge
issue for the Irish public.
Kelly also said Nama should make a public statement. He
said he was contacted privately by a Nama executive to
meet prior to their September 22 appearance in front of
the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
I believe they have been quite naive on this, even this
week a senior member of Nama contacted me to brief me
before they went before the PAC, I redirected him to the

chairman of the PAC.
I wasnt comfortable that selective briefing was the way to
go or would be appropriate, given the situation we find
ourselves in.
I wont give the individual, but it was just a call during the
week to meet up. I explained that the PAC is a different
committee to other committees, it has different powers.
I referred to the chairman in relation to this. I didnt think
it was the appropriate way to deal with things. I have no
idea, I was going to raise it with committee colleagues.
Kelly said he didnt think there was anything malicious in
the contact, but said it was another aspect of Namas
naivety.
I suppose they were coming before us in the coming
weeks and wanted to brief us on various actions, but
thats for Nama to state. I dont know, because I didnt
meet them.
Nama sale inquiryThe National Asset Management Agency
Treasury Building on Grand Canal Street in Dublin
2.Source: PA
Tens of millions
Fine Gaels Noel Rock, who also sits on the PAC, said an
inquiry should not be ruled out, but that Nama should first
come before the PAC on 22 September.
If there are unanswered questions, then yes I think there
should be further inquiries.
Were not entirely sure, it depends on the answers we
get. I accept there may be a need to compel people to
come further forward with answers.
My understanding is that there is a dispute between the
C&AG and Nama on this, naturally I would be compelled to
trust what the C&AG says on this. Its quite unusual for
any agency to question the findings of the C&AG, and that
will be one of the questions Ill be asking at the PAC, why

they reached a different conclusion.
My understanding is the C&AG and Nama are more than
tens of millions apart in terms of their estimation of the
funds that should have been acquired from certain
purchases.
Nama have made a complain to Garda about an individual
associated with the Project Eagle Sale. Rock said this lent
further weight to calls for a public inquiry, but that this
would be complicated, and they dont want to step on the
toes of the UKs investigators.
Belfast businessman
The C&AG report was requested after allegations that a
Belfast businessman, who had been advising Nama, had
also been working for a US company seeking to buy the
state agencys Northern Irish property portfolio.
The controversy first hit headlines in the Republic when
Independent TD Mick Wallace stood up in the Dil and told
TDs that a property portfolio was sold for 1.5 billion to US
private equity firm Cerberus, despite having been worth
4.5 billion.
Last month, TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace launched a
new whistleblower website called Namaleaks, seeking to
uncover poor practice within the financial institution.
McDonagh Brendan McDonagh, chief executive of Nama.
Anxious
The UKs National Crime Agency are already investigating
the sale, and several arrests have already been made.
Fianna Fil have called on the Government to publish the
report as soon as possible.
Minister Noonan said on Wednesday that he has been in
possession of the report since mid-August, Fianna Fil
finance spokesman Michael McGrath told TheJournal.ie.

We arent aware of any legal constraints that could stop or
delay its publication. We are anxious for it to be published
as soon as possible.
Fianna Fil also released a separate statement last night,
in which it reiterated its call for a meeting of party leaders
to discuss last weeks BBC Spotlight revelations.
This has been made all the more important following
todays reporting of extracts from the C&AG report, it
said.
We would hope this meeting can take place quickly and an
agreed way forward found. This issue will also be closely
examined by the PAC.
In response to queries from TheJournal.ie as to when the
report will be published, the Department of Finance said
Minister Michael Noonan will brief his Cabinet colleagues
at an upcoming Government meeting.
The report will be published thereafter. No further
comment will be made until after publication.
Insider
Last night Sinn Fins Gerry Adams said recent revelations
by the BBCs Spotlight team have shown there is an
insider working against the interests of the State within
Nama, and called on all Nama transactions to be
suspended.
The Government must publish the report as a matter of
urgency and establish a commission of investigation.
There is also a need for all transactions involving NAMA to
be suspended pending an inquiry.
Last weeks BBC Spotlight programme showed that there
is an insider within NAMA working against the interests of
the state.
Therefore the State needs to protect its assets urgently.
-----------------------------------------------------------How real is Michael Noonans 12 billion?

There is not as much money available as everyone seems
to think
How much money will the next government have available
to do new things with?
Last weekend, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said it
would be 12 billion. Other political parties and various
newspaper have pointed to the small print down the back
of Budget 2016 and said it will be more like 8.5 billion.
-----------------------------------------------------------Source:http://ireland.indymedia.org/article/105973
http://www.thejournal.ie/factcheck-thejournal-ie-michaelnoonan-dail-claim-fianna-fail-mortgage-bill-bank-shares2784738-May2016/
http://www.thejournal.ie/project-eagle-report-2973929Sep2016/
-----------------------------------------------------------Related News:http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/us-may-seek-someof-apples-13bn-tax-money-michael-noonan-hits-out-at-eucommission-752136.html
http://www.politicalworld.org/archive/index.php/t16384.html
CRIMINALS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

NOT TO MENTION POLITICIANS OR THE OTHER MANY
PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE THERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
AND NOT THE SYSTEM OR THEIR OWN AGENDA OR THE
AGENDA OF THEIR SUPERIORS.
IRELAND`S PUBLIC SERVICES HAVE BECOME A HAVEN OF
CORRUPTION AND CRIMINALITY.
BIG CHANGES ARE NOW NEEDED TO REPAIR THESE
SYSTEMS AND ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION AND MAKE
THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY OF ABUSING THEIR POWER
WITHIN THESE PUBLIC SERVICES.
GARDA HAVE BECOME A CRIMINAL PROTECTORATE OF
THE WEALTHY WHO FORCE THEIR UNWANTED SYSTEMS
ON THE PEOPLE.
THE COURTS HAVE BECOME LAW BREAKERS WHO ONLY
SERVE THE WEALTHY WITHIN A SYSTEM OF CORRUPTION
AND CRIMINALITY.
BANKERS HAVE BEEN STEALING THE WEALTH OF THE
NATION THROUGH THEIR FRACTIONAL RESERVE LENDING
AND OTHER SYSTEMS WHICH AMOUNTS TO NOTHING
MORE THEN THEFT.
PRIESTS AND MEN OF THE PAPACY HAVE BROKEN ALL OF

THEIR OATHS.
THESE CRIMINALS ARE PROTECTED BY THE VERY SYSTEM
THEY SERVE.
THESE SYSTEMS NEED FULL REFORM WITHIN OUR
SOCIETY AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WITH MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY AT THEIR CORE STRUCTURES.
IRELAND - A STATE OF INJUSTICE.
An in depth study.
Social injustice and inequality has increased dramatically
in several European Union member states, posing an
existential threat to EU stability and integration, a leading
German think-tank has warned. The Bertelsmann Stiftung
called on the EU and member states to balance strict
budget rules and austerity policies with a greater concern
for social justice and efforts to invest in the future.
The study, which has been conducted every three years
since 2008, warned that massive cuts in crisis-battered
states had not been administered in a balanced manner,
falling hardest on the poor, children and the young. It
predicted that the social imbalance between northern and
southern EU states would also place a strain on the
European project.
Social divide
Jrg Drger, a member of the foundations executive
board, said: The growing social divide between member
states and between the generations can lead to tensions
and a considerable loss of trust. Should the social
imbalance last for long or increase even more, the future
of the European integration project will be threatened.
According to the report, social injustice has increased most
dramatically since 2008 in Ireland, followed by Greece,
Spain, Hungary and Italy. Greece was the worst overall

performer, with record high levels of unemployment and
poverty. The Bertelsmann Stiftung said that austerity
measures had led to significant problems in the
countrys health system.
The rise of extremist parties, it said, had left minorities
facing growing levels of discrimination. It also highlighted
the unfairness of younger Greek generations being left to
pay back a huge mountain of debt.
Sweden emerged best from the study, followed by Finland
and Denmark. Poland has made significant improvements
in social justice since 2008, as has, though to a lesser
extent, Germany and Luxembourg. The survey described
how youth in Spain had been particularly hard hit by the
economic crisis, with youth unemployment at 55% and
young people twice as likely as elderly people to live
below the poverty line.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung also sought to dispel the notion
that richer countries were necessarily fairer countries. It
drew a comparison between Sweden, Germany and
Ireland, which all have broadly similar gross domestic
product per capita. Ireland came just 18th overall in the
ranking, with almost 33% of all young at risk of falling
below the poverty line and with the EUs worst levels of
pre-primary education spending. By comparison, the
Czech Republic, where per-capita GDP is about two- thirds
of that in Ireland, came fifth in the overall ranking.
The socio-spatial impacts on inequality and suggestions
for alternative, social-justice based, economic
development. The Irish elite, government, big business
and media are trumpeting that austerity and
neoliberalism have worked. The Irish economy is now
fully in recovery it is claimed, austerity will be eased
with tax breaks again to be given out to the middle
classes, employment is rising and we have a mini property
boom in Dublin to celebrate. Even potential social
partnership agreements are floating in the political air.
However, it is now more than ever that critical political,
economic, and socio-spatial justice analysis of the Irish

economy is required. Rather than cheerleading blindly into
another boom and bust cycle based on inequality and
spatial injustice there is a need for academics and policy
makers to engage in rigorous analysis and reflection on
the crisis and the political economic trajectory for the
coming decades.
Prof Gerry Kearns, of the Maynooth University Department
of Geography draws on President Higgins reflection on the
importance of critical thought in the wake of failed
orthodoxies as the crisis is one of ideas as well as of
policy. Now more than ever, space and time must be
given in the academic and public sphere in Ireland to
identify the causes of the crisis, its impact on inequality,
and alternative (non-capitalist) policies and approaches
based on the common good and social justice rather than
the interests of the minority elite the 1%.
By placing social and spatial justice as an urgent
consideration in all areas of social and economic policy.
Interestingly, Kearns highlights how government
responses to the current crisis go against Articles
contained in the Irish Constitution including commitments
of the state to promoting the welfare of the whole people
by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social
order in which justice and charity shall inform all
institutions of the national life (Article 45.1). Significantly,
this also includes ensuring that the ownership and control
of the material resources may be so distributed amongst
private individuals and the various classes as best to
subserve the common good (Article 45.2.ii).
He covers the origins of the financial crisis, its political and
territorial implications such as the outsourcing of state
power to international credit rating agencies, the links
between crisis, housing and planning, the uneven impacts
of the crisis in different parts of the country and unevenly
within cities such as failed regeneration, impacts on
equality of opportunity, marginalization of migrants, and
sustainability. Within these areas he addresses the
questions of spatial justice and where the pain of crisis
and the opportunities of recovery are distributed,

geographically and socially. It highlights the uneven
development that was at the heart of the Celtic Tiger in
the inequalities that persisted through that period, how
they were worsened by the crash and the forms in which
they continue today.
Professor Danny Dorling, Professor of Geography at the
University of Oxford, on Spatial Justice, Housing and the
Financial crisis makes important links between rising
inequality and housing crises internationally. This chapter
is very interesting for an Irish audience as it highlights
how the current housing crisis in Ireland has similar causes
to other countries and there is much we can learn in
regard to social justice based responses. Dorling argues
that we really need to think of housing again as a way in
which we feel safe about where we are: not as a source of
investment or a pension or something that can be used for
profit, but instead as primarily a source of shelter. He
offers suggestions to address this such as a mansions tax,
rent control, and using second and third homes for
housing for those who need it. He explains that housing is
fundamental. It is what lies at the bottom of this crisis.
Housing is one of the basic things that everybody needs
and that policies can work out a way to guarantee. He
surmises that the reason this is not the case is because
current policy appears to be trying to protect the equity
interest of a small proportion of people who happen to
own quite a lot of very expensive housing.
Spatial justice and housing in Ireland, which I co-authored
with Rob Kitchin and Cian OCallaghan, details the
catastrophic fallout of the property crash and its social and
spatial repercussions for households in Ireland. It analyses
how, during the Celtic Tiger period, housing policy in
Ireland was increasingly neo-liberalised and the
privatization of social housing and the rolling out of PPP
regeneration schemes in many instances served to erode
existing social housing infrastructures. It critiques the
failure to alter the fundamentals of how the Irish housing
market is constituted and works, and the assumption that
future housing will be the preserve of the private market
and the benefit of private interests. The current housing

system is not only inherently unequal, but now
fundamentally unfit for purpose and perpetuates and
entrenches social and spatial injustices, making them
increasingly difficult to dislodge. Through the Celtic Tiger
many communities in our large cities and rural towns were
excluded.
Similarly in the crisis and recovery places are affected
unevenly with significant spatial inequalities remaining.
The danger is that the imbalanced spatial and institutional
landscapes deposited by the crash, left to the whims of
the market, will calcify into a nation increasingly
characterized by geographically uneven development.
Echoing, Dorlings conclusions, the authors highlight the
need for (and indeed right to) decent social housing
cannot be questioned given the housing waiting list
figures and the high dependence on rent supplement.
Providing social housing and regeneration can be a win
win scenario we claim, as delivering it on a large scale
offers the potential for real economic and social stimulus
for local communities and for the wider society and
economy. Finally, it is clear that the ideological
opposition to social housing and obsessive support of the
private rented and property market must be put aside to
develop alternative approaches that place the primary
value of housing as a home and a right, and not a
commodity.
Greening the economy in Ireland, Anna Davies provides
extensive detail and analysis of the challenges and
possibilities for a more just transition to a green, lowcarbon economy through grassroots enterprise responses
such as cleantech clustering. Three core elements pervade
the discourse of just transitions: the need for wide and
inclusive consultation about the economic changes
involved in decarbonization; the requirement for green
and decent jobs; and suitable mechanisms for reskilling
people to work within resource-efficient economies. She
examines whether one novel socio-spatial configuration,
hybrid clustering around cleantech, could function as a
mechanism through which collaborative agendas for just
transitions towards a greener economy might emerge in

an Irish context. she details the case study of Irelands
first cleantech cluster, An tSl Ghlas The Green Way, a
cluster of more than 200 public, private and civil society
enterprises including those with a social and community
focus, such as the Rediscovery Centre. she concludes that
it could be optimistically characterized as a novel sociospatial arrangement for radical sustainability
transformations.
Health and spatial justice, Ronan Foley and Adrian
Kavanagh, explore the relations between ill health and
poverty. They explain how they have devised an index that
uses the measure of social description now collected by
the Irish census to describe the healthiness of people in
small areas. This will allow geographers to monitor the
health consequences of the recession and recovery. Foley
and Kavanagh highlight their findings and how
unemployment, poverty and ill-health reinforce each other
and the geography of the crisis is marked by these
interactions.
Since the 1970s geographers internationally have
developed a rich tradition that critically and systemically
analysed capitalism based on social and spatial justice
perspectives. It is significant to see that in the last decade
we are witnessing the emergence of similar progressive
social justice analysis and research by Irish geographers
that are engaging with issues of critical societal
importance. Examples include the National Institute of
Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at the National
University of Ireland, Maynooth, the Ireland after NAMA
blog and leading work done by Irish geographers on
climate change and associated justice issues.A critical and
radical geographical perspective offers an important lens
to understand the world around us as it focuses on issues
that are often neglected from mainstream economics and
political research and policy.
Geographers have a particular set of perspectives on
social justice and each of the core themes of geography
can be made the focus of a justice perspective; thus we
may speak of spatial justice, environmental justice and

place justice. As Kearns explains geographers have also
tried to understand these inequalities as having a
structural basis so that they can examine the production
of unequal space, particularly as a consequence of
capitalism or of legal orderings of space around ethnic,
racial or class apartheid. Thus geographers highlight the
importance of place and scale in frameworks such as
solidarity, resistance and human rights in regard to the
Right to the City.
These perspectives are important to challenge dominant
narratives about society and politics such as the claim that
the Irish did not protest the crisis and austerity. A
geographical lens reveals that the Irish did not protest like
the Greeks and Spanish but had its own, unique placespecific socio-political response. This is evident in the new
and (often local) social movements such as the youth
against forced emigration Were Not Leaving, the
Spectacle of Defiance challenging cuts to disadvantaged
communities and the anti-household charge campaign,
along with a rise in support for radical left and
independent politics. This sits alongside the hidden
resistance and solidarities in the on-going local
community struggles such as the anti-incinerator
campaign in Poolbeg and Shell to Sea in Mayo.
But a spatial lens also highlights the necessity for political
resistance strategies to reach across scales in order to be
successful to build solidarity from the local to the
national to the international. The recent Greyhound
dispute which highlighted the importance of workers
struggles connecting beyond the workplace into local
communities is noteworthy in this regard.
The public revolt against water charges is about injustice,
and its justified.
develop its water system.
It should be so easy. How much political brilliance does it

take to persuade the population that it is necessary to
change a water supply system that leaves whole cities
(Galway) and almost entire counties (Roscommon) without
drinkable water for long periods? That wastes through
leakage half of all the expensively treated water it
produces? That the State cant do this tells us something
about much more than the debacle of Irish Water. It tells
us about the governability of the State itself. It would be
hysterical to suggest that the State is ungovernable. But it
would be naive to deny that it is heading gradually in that
direction. And heading there for good reasons: a very
significant part of the population has ceased to feel that
the State is theirs, that it tries its best to treat them with
care and dignity.
develop its water system. Its an expression of anger
about bigger things: command-and-control politics; trustme- Im-an-expert arrogance; rotten, feckless disregard for
the realities of life at the bottom of the heap; the feeling
that nobody gives a curse how you live or what you think.
Its about injustice, and its justified. The recent budget
was the fourth regressive budget in a row. Four times, the
Government has coldly and deliberately decided to hit the
weakest and poorest hardest. This has nothing to do with
austerity. The austerity budgets under Fianna Fil
between 2008 and 2011 were mildly progressive they hit
the better-off harder than the worst-off. But every budget
under Fine Gael and Labour (Labour!) has quietly reversed
this trend. In last months budget, the average combined
impact of the tax and welfare measures and of water
charges on the lowest income households is to reduce
their income by about 1 per cent. For the one-fifth of
households with the highest incomes, there is a gain of
about 0.5 per cent.
As part of the sneaky privatisation agenda quietly pursued

by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and others, one of the foreign
private companies that has been brought in is Seetec.
Seetec claims that is it one of the UKs largest and most
experienced employment, training and job-search support
specialists.
Where once it was the task of ANCO, Manpower and FAS to
look after unemployed citizens, those state department
services have now been closed down. Instead, political
parties through a silent unannounced back-door route,
have given those duties to a private company. State

employment services have been scrapped and the private
companies have again moved in!
Once Seetec moved in, the political parties involved with
its invitation handed the private company the personal
data of unemployed people from every corner of the
country. This data includes names, addresses, dates of
birth, social welfare numbers, contact details, email
addresses and more all handed over to yet another
private company without any express permission given
from those who are unemployed.
Did the Irish government tell everyone in advance that
they were quietly sneaking in another foreign private
company and worse, giving them copies of Citizens
personal information? What reassurances were given to
government regarding data security of same?
Who in government authorised this massive transfer of
public data? Who awarded the contract? How was it
awarded? Was it put out to tender or what was the
awarding process, and based on what criteria? What were
the protocol safeguards instigated during the company
assessments?
Why all the secrecy? Why have citizens been kept in the
dark with little or no media announcements, ministers not
speaking publicly on the matter in press statements, or no
detailed discussion allowed in Dail Eireann? Where is there
any evidence of fair, democratic or transparent process in
all this? There is none.
The political parties continue to duck the data protection
and may claim they were legally entitled to do it. This
might be the case however, as the citizens of Ireland
know only too well, when political parties in government
want to get up to something they usually make sure they
write the legislation laws first so that they can get away
with it!
In the past few years in particular, is had been judged that
citizens are suffering a progressive and nasty undermining

attack, based in this case, on their unemployment social
status. Seetec in Ireland is leading the current charge of
this attack, instigated quietly by the Irish government.
Aye sure its happening again, I was called offered a brand new Volvo
S40. Approved from the bank via the dealers just come down and
sign the papers and we will do the rest. The auto finance loan is the
new 100% mortgage. We should have fucked them into jail like
Iceland did and told Germany to get to fuck. Absolute psychos
pushing buttons behind computers approving people they know full
well to be high risk and likely to fall into arrears so they can
repossess the property and make a killing while destroying peoples
lives. Its happening as we speak.
Enda`s Recovery, Zero Taxes Paid By multinational

Companies to Fuck the countrys Economy up
If the man said it on Spotlight on the British Broadcasting

Corporation it must be true
Michel Martin and Fianna Fil are waiting for the right
moment to pull the plug on Kenny and his puppet
government. When Fianna Fil think the time is right they
will ditch Kenny and a General election will follow. Martin
and his advisers know that they must be seen to oppose
water charges to win enough marginal seats to get them
back into power - with the Labour Party and the Greens.
Once in office Martin and his new friend Alan Kelly will
move quickly to re-introduce water charges and they'll
offer some lame excuse like 'the EU/European Commission
INSIST that we charge for water usage'. Once the charges
are up and running the EU will also decide that Irish Water
must be sold. Competition law, etc. etc. Alan Kelly's
brother Declan and his Teneo will want to snap up Ireland's
water because it is worth BILLIONS and so will Denis

O'Brien. But of course it will be sold for peanuts because
the new owners will need to invest MILLIONS we will be
told. The new owners will invest alright but the money will
come from you and me in increased charges.
It's up to you my friends. Vote for your local, friendly
Fianna Fil candidate and believe everything they tell you.
In fact, why not also vote for the Blueshirts and those nice
people in the Labour Party like Joan Burton and Alan Kelly
and Brendan Howlin. And give any spare votes to the
Greens, why don't you. These are the people who want to
sell off our water. And they probably won't even get any
brown envelopes this time like they got when they gave
away our gas and oil and our fisheries ...
Quiet Avoided.
.
As Saturday's water charge protest nears, its VERY
important that people notice that political parties are
being sly and clever in avoiding mentioning eradication of
(a) Irish Water itself and (b) the water meters.
.
Most parties except FG, Renua and Labour (who are
deliberate keeping their heads down, hoping their don't
get any flak) are looking to come out of the water situation
as if they are on the side of the protesters - for eventual
votes.
.
The few GENUINE ones will state absolute clear that that
they want:
(a) water charges gone
(b) Irish Water, the expensive private registered company
gone
(c) the end to meters being bullied in so to eventually
charge
.
Sadly, too many political parties are being sly about
stating ALL three. They mention (a) to try garnish public
support but duck (b) and (c).
.
Look at recent past statements and look at ones coming
soon. Listen to what's being said - but more importantly,
find what's actually NOT being stated!
.
Irish Water, the company and meter usage (ability to
specific bill) is being avoided by some. You are not meant
to notice this though!
The GOOD NEWS is that the Blueshirt piranha are circling

their mortally wounded, failed leader and waiting
impatiently to devour the man who has become a serious
liability. The BAD NEWS is that the leaders-in-waiting are
equally clueless gobshites who have failed abysmally as
Ministers and are only in the running because of the PR
spindoctors who are working in the background to
promote their claims to the top job.
Coveney is probably best know for his attendance at the
Bilderberg Group get-together and for doing his utmost to
scrap Irish neutrality. He has done NOTHING as a Minister
so far to warrant giving him the job of running a country
(apart from lots of talk and no action on homelessness).
Varadkar talks the talk alright but hasn't walked the walk,
his term as Health Minister can be described in two words
- HOSPITAL TROLLEYS. Fitzgerald is ANONYMOUS as

feuding armed gangs roam the streets of Dublin killing
each other and innocent bystanders. Is she the worst ever
Justice Minister? (mind you there's been more than a few
duds). None of these three deserve to be Taoiseach, none
of them are up to the task.
And do you want the really bad news? Next in line in the
Blueshirt academy are Paschal "plastic" Donohue and
Simon "Baby Doc" Harris. Jesus, our country deserves
better than this!
SACK THE LOT OF THEM AND OUR SO CALLED GOVERNMENT THERE

NOTHING BUT PARASITES
There should be a revolution and redistribution of wealth 300 - 400
Irish citizens evicted from their homes this past weekend it make
you sick to your stomach how corrupt this business ( i mean
country) is. Run by money men psychos and liars that put no value
on human life only in turning a euro for profits. CUNTS!!

If I go there will be trouble
An' if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision's buggin' me (Indecisin me molesta)
Mason Hayes $Curran were an ordinary run-of-the-mill

solicitors practice with offices in a run down Georgian
building at 6 Fitzwilliam Square. But after Fine Gael
Environment Minister Phil Hogan got the Revenue to
collect the HATED "Property" Tax when faced by a mass
boycott, MH$C landed a lucrative contract from the
Revenue to hassle, threaten and intimidate householders
to pay the unjust, unfair tax. Maybe somebody in MH$C
played in the RIGHT golf club ... ?
The "Property" Tax is a slush fund, being used by Kenny
and Noonan to subsidize Irish Water, so if you paid, your
money is not being used for local services - your local
Council will only get a small percentage of your hard
earned cash to fund street cleaning, public lights and

maintaining Council properties, etc ... the bulk of the
"Property" Tax will pay the salaries of Irish Water
managers on 100,000 PLUS.
Angry? Call Mason Haye $Curran who are now located in
expensive offices at South Bank House in Barrow Street,
Dublin 4 and who are sending the sheriffs to steal peoples
possessions on behalf of Noonan and the Revenue!
Ask them if they are chasing APPLE for the BILLIONS that
they owe
The LPT was introduced in 2013 and is based on the

market value of the home. The deeply unpopular tax has
been sharply criticised because it penalises people living
in cities, where property prices are generally higher.
Collector General Michael Gladney said action was being

taken because some homeowners refused to pay. Mr
Gladney didn't explain why the Revenue turned a blind
eye to Apple's tax evasion and neglected to collect
BILLIONS of Euro for the state. Or why billionaires like
Denis O'Brien evaded tax by supposedly living overseas
(there are no checks by the Revenue on how many days
"exiled" tax evaders spend "overseas". In the words of the
wise man "taxes were for the little people"
It has emerged Revenue was aware in January of the

widespread sale of loans by NAMA to companies which use
Section 110 of the tax code to pay little or no tax in
Ireland.
Correspondence obtained under the Freedom of
Information Act shows that Revenue officials discussed
what they said were "a lot" of NAMA loans being sold to
so-called Section 110 companies.
Section 110 is under the spotlight after claims that it is
being used by vulture funds to establish companies to buy
up distressed property loans while paying little or no tax in
Ireland.
In response to opposition pressure, the Government asked
Revenue to examine the tax law to see if it is being
abused by funds to make money on assets in Ireland

without paying tax in this country.
The FOI documents show that Revenue was aware of the
widespread use of Section 110 of the code by companies
buying distressed property loans from NAMA - several
months before the issue was raised in the Dil.
Correspondence dating back to January reference what it
says are "a lot" of NAMA loans being sold to Section 110
companies.
Special Purpose Vehicles set up by these so called vulture
funds have bought up assets worth around 300 billion,
according to data gathered by the Central Bank.
Exposed as Ireland ugliest running in this years worlds

ugliest people too, both ugly on the outside and even
uglier on the inside, king ugly mug.
He`s being doing more than sticking it with the EU. She
was also investigated for corruption.
If you are a part of this racket evicting people we will get

your information and name you to the public to which you
prey upon for the enemies shackle. Shame on you. Our
citizens who defend these homes from the likes of you will
employ any means to get your identity, weather it be your
picture, your registration or your personal information, we
will get your full identity by any means necessary. Be
warned!
Sometime these type of people are to thick to care about been
shamed. They are just lower than scumbags. Anyone benefiting for
another person misfortune is lower than low scum.
Clare Daly, TD yesterday labelled Judge Desmond Zaidans

decision to issue a warrant for her arrest as ludicrous
and claimed he was causing huge problems with regard
to the administration of justice in Kildare. Her attack on
the judge was described as "unprecedented" but Daly was
saying something that resonated with a lot of people.
Anybody who has been in a court in this country and
witnessed the bizarre behaviour of many if not most
judges will agree that Daly was highlighting a serious

problem with the administration of justice in Ireland's
courts.
Some judges look on people appearing before them as
inferior and often verbally abuse and humiliate people and
make derogatory remarks that are designed to make their
way into the newspapers. You can imagine judges at their
get togethers having a good "haw haw" at their
supposedly clever put down of mere ordinary citizens those plebs who were not educated in private schools or
went to the King's Inns.
Judges are supposed to be fair and impartial and this is
often not the case. I have personally witnessed a judge
accepting the blatant lies of garda in court when anybody
with an ounce of sense could see that there was perjury
being committed. The funny clothes and silly wigs don't
help and they should be discarded and burned at the
nearest Halloween bonfire.
But the biggest problem is that judges are politically
appointed and are elevated because of connections to
political parties. We don't often agree with Shane Ross but
he is trying to change this practice. Just don't
underestimate the power of the legal profession and their
political bedfellows to maintain the status quo
Theres still button-pushers getting paid half a million. And
not to say Im not a button-pusher. Im just pushing a lot

more buttons."
Rolling Stone, 2012...
As a reward for FORCING householders to pay the deeply

unpopular Property Tax, (aka the BONDHOLDER TAX),
Feehily was appointed as head of the Policing Authority by
a grateful Fine Gael/Labour. You can be sure that Josie got
a nice payout from Revenue when she exited but didn't
have to wait long before she walked into her new position
where she's not working for the minimum wage. But
Feehily, (like John Tierney and a few other elites) obviously
moves in the right circles. In this country - it's WHO you

know!

(Luxembourg)

companies.

countries.
Operations Europe;
EMEA BV;
Trade.

formal notice.
Background
pricing.

interested parties.
'The EC sees the Apple deal as "state aid" to the company,

and therefore illegal. Informed speculation says it may
demand that Apple pay Ireland 6bn, which the full 12.5pc
tax would have reaped over three years; or 19bn if they
reckon it over 10 years.
What would you or I do? We'd gratefully take the money
and turn to Apple and say, Ah, gee, we're under orders
from the EC, but we'll put the money to good use.
Enda Kenny, with the backing of Micheal Martin, doesn't
want the money. Michael Noonan has said they'll appeal
such a ruling. They'll fight like dogs not to take it.'
Useless tossers could not run a raffle. Ireland one of the most fertile
lands on earth with vast resources intelligent people incredible
history and culture. Run into the ground by gobshites corruption and
cronyism we need a whole new system of government and we
cannot have the corrupt Gardai minding the ballot boxes it is a joke.
I still cannot believe that Kenny got Thirteen and a half thousand
votes in Mayo a county devastated by emigration evictions suicides
and unemployment what a complete moron the man is. he lost the
election but is still in power.
/react-text I would imagine that the only enquiry necessary is the

one undertaken by the Brazilian police.All Ireland needs is another
toothless enquiry.Of course the minister probably knows a lot of
legal eagles who are on the breadline.......
Democracy Ireland say 48.72 Million of public money be

refunded
Direct Democracy Ireland a National Citizens Movement

are calling on all political parties that shared a total of
48.72 Million from the Electoral Act fund each year, to
refund this money immediately so that it can be used on
essential services.
There is no justification for this Government telling the
people of Ireland that they must endure austerity and cuts
in essential services and at the same time paying
themselves an additional 48.72 million out of public
money. This money is in addition to their wages, expenses
and allowances received by politicians.
Out of the above figure, 34.92 Million was allocated for
parliamentary activity which mainly covers public
relations, training and social media. It is nothing short of a
national scandal that a total of 48.72 Million was shared
between political parties in 2014, while the people they
were elected to represent, struggled to support their
families due to the austerity inflicted by this Government.
Political parties must explain to the people of Ireland why
paying themselves an additional 48.72 Million comes
before the funding needs of the most vulnerable they took
an oath to protect.
Direct Democracy Ireland want to put on the record that
they have not received any public funds to-date and call
on all political parties to put the needs of the Irish people
first before any financial or political gain. On behalf of the
public we demand that this additional 48.72 Million of
public money be refunded.
Eircode, the White/Rabbitte white elephant which cost 38

MILLION and is being ignored by the vast majority of
people and companies are now mounting hugely
expensive TV advertisements in a desperate bid to trick
people into using their useless postcodes. The only ones
using EirCode it seems are the Revenue and you will
notice that they have attached the code to your Property
(Bondholder) Tax. Irish Water will soon be using Eircode to
keep track of all households. The government are planning
to also use Eircode to collect the Broadcasting Charge that
is going to replace the TV licence and in fact that was one

of the main reasons Rabbitte went ahead with Eircode in
the first place. An Post have already asked Eircode to hand
over address details for collecting the TV licence.
Soon the code will be used across all government
departments to keep track of all citizens and to facilitate
the collection of more and more future taxes.
Meanwhile Eircode are already SELLING address
information and in the future their database will be
flogged to companies and corporations so that they can
target you with their products and services
Gardai have become a militia for the highest bidder. Many

of the Gardai on the streets have been taking part in
barbaric crimes against the citizens of Ireland by removing
our constitutional right to protest peacefully against the
draconian measures being enforced on the citizens by
what has now amounted up to a dictatorship who live

inside a bubble where they have lost touch with reality
within Irish society. Is this going to now become the norm
for people in Ireland. Are Gardai blind to the fact that they
are now enforcing a private firms laws and not the law
they swore to protect? It shows a blatant dis-regard for
every constitutional right we have and the oath they
swore to uphold.
Name and shame the Gardai who apparently abuse their
power
Once Duffy confirmed to Coveney that he had paid his

water charges it was only a matter of discussing the
generous financial rewards - to come up with the right
result
The Securitisation of European Debt The European

Economic Treason Treaty
The EU Council, the EU Commission and the Government
have known all along that the total cost of setting up Irish
Water PLC was always going to be on our State Books and
not off the balance sheets as some would try to have us
believe in the mainstream and State ran Media outlets
nationwide.
Initially we had the Fianna Fail/Green Party Coalition
Government who in September 2008 forced us into the
State Bank blanket Guarantee Then after the General
Election of February 2011 the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition
Government who in a complete u-turn from what they had
promised catastrophically continued where Fianna
Fail/Green Party left off with the introduction of the
Household Charge, Local Property Tax and Irish Water PLC,

so where else was the money required ever going to come
from only from the State Coffers (Funded from the
Pension Fund / Property Tax / Car Tax plus International
High Interest Loans etc) and all under the guise of being
off the Balance Sheet. Is That Fraud? . so as not to effect
or increase our huge National Debt, its a total misnomer
and a lot of people in Ireland fell for it Hook line and
sinker, to the tune of 43% of households allegedly to have
paid up.
EU number crunchers EUROSTAT have done their sums
and in a key report have ruled that the detested utility
that is Irish Water PLC cannot be classed as a commercial
operation, again one cant help believe that is by total
design. The results, originally due out in June were
suspiciously delayed to coincide with the Dail summer
break. But; Direct Democracy Ireland strongly suspects
that the EUROSTAT decision will be reversed.
The question must be asked When Irish Water is
eventually abolished, as the writings on the wall would
indicate, (as the vast majority of Irish People have not
paid, and have no intentions of ever paying three times for
water). Which of the European Investment Banks will have
possession of the debts it has accumulated, forcing the
Irish people to once again bail out yet another failed
government escapade holding our 11 Billion worth of
Irish State Assets as ransom, also how will our
Government handle the issue of Council Staff that were
transferred to Irish Water from the 34 City and County
Councils back in 2012/13. Will Ireland have any chance of
getting our unlawfully removed Water Charge Exemption
back?
The setting up of Irish Water PLC was a Political Decision
by the 2011 Fine Gael and Labour Government and not
imposed by the Troika as they have us believe under the
Memorandum of Understanding for Irelands Bailout
Programme. The EU/ECB knew of Irelands Household
Water Charge Exemption.
So, if by some miracle Irish Water does continue to exist

will it be sold off to the highest bidder? The exact same as
any other State Assets to pay off more
International/European Bank Debts. One must also ask? By
whose design? The Troika? the European Banks? or by
European Private Capital/Hedge Funds?
At first, there was the European Economic Union (EEC)
1973 i.e. The Nice Treaty.
Then in February 2003 we had the European Union (EU)
i.e. The Lisbon Treaty.
Then a Treaty establishing the European Stability
Mechanism (ESM) 11.07.2011 The signing of the Treaty
paves the way for the ESM to take over from the European
Financial Stability Facility and the European Financial
Stabilisation Mechanism in July 2013
So what have we got in August 2015 and for generations
to come, we have the Irish State blanket Banking
Guarantee of September 2008 in effect we have been
forced to take on the burden of 43% of all European Debts.
We believe that the EU is heavily involved in the
Privatisation of Ireland its services and its natural
resources. This is all part of an effort to harmonise a
private corporate structure throughout Europe, all with the
unsanctioned approval of our Government, is this
Economic Treason?
So what is it? The EETT? The European Economic Treason
Treaty that is being robustly implemented by unseen and
unelected individuals that are being fully supported by
Neo-Liberal policies that are coming from the EU Council,
The EU Commission and the ECB spanning across the once
Sovereign Nations of Europe. Imagine Greece, Italy, Spain,
Portugal and Ireland all holding a Referendum on their
continuing membership of the EU?
Is this the reason why Politicians who work within
representative democracies in Ireland
Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail like to talk about crisis but
they ignore the fact that they CREATED it
This marks the first time a Fine Gael Taoiseach has ever
been re-elected and represents a partial return to power
for Fianna Fil, the party in charge during the devastating
financial collapse and subsequent austerity.
Fine Gael has consistently blamed Fianna Fil for
destroying the economy, and the other parties have
blamed both of them for their stifling austerity measures
which have increased homelessness, privatization, and
emigration.
RTE HIT NEW LOW - EVEN FOR THEM

Phil Hogan and his unelected bureaucrats in the EU
Commission leaked a banal answer to a simple question
about water charges to RTE today BEFORE presenting it to
the EU Parliament.
Now, that answer in itself does NOTHING to support the
super quango that is Irish Water yet RTE, absolutely
disgracefully, tried a 'gotcha' on MEP Lynn Boylan today
and attempted to utterly misrepresent the Commissions
position to spin the story to suit their agenda.
Lynn Boylan as ever was on her mettle and put Mary

Wilson firmly in her place but this really is a new low by
RTE and the EU Commission.
Democracy has been under attack in Montrose for a
considerable time now but this just has to be stopped now.
As to the EU Commission? Wouldn't you think that, as a
result of their neo liberal anti-democratic nature, they
would have enough on their plate with a possible Brexit?
Listen to Lynn Boylan call RTE out here on this evenings
Drivetime.
cdn.rasset.ie
#EXTM3U #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAMID=1,BANDWIDTH=64000 /hlsvod/audio/2016/0531/20160531_rteradio1-drivetimewatereu_c20997447_20997450_261_/20160531_rteradio1drivetime-watereu_c20997447_20997450_261_.mp4.m3u8
cdn.rasset.ie
like?

successors
"A nativity scene without Jews, Arabs, Africans or

refugees."
The greatest heist in Irish history.
Big Mick does not want any light to shine on the strange
goings on in NAMA. Big fat Mick gets very annoyed if
anybody questions him about the flogging of state assets
to vulture funds at knockdown prices... or about the
developers who ruined our country and who are back in
business (and laughing all the way to the bank) thanks to
NAMA... But Big Mick gets really, really upset and visibly
annoyed if anybody - especially the "man in the pink
shirt", mentions the shenanigans up North. Something to
hide Big Mick?
The European Commission is a dictatorship that bullies

small nations. The commissions Environment
Commissioner is Maltese Labour Party politician Karmenu
Vella and predictably he has backed Simon Coveney and
the governments water charges/privatization plans. The
European Commission and the likes of Vella are in the
pockets of large corporations and big business and hate
the very idea of democracy. They have learned nothing
from Britain's exit from the EU dictatorship and think they
can still throw their weight around. Let me tell you
something Mr Vella - the Irish people are not going to take
orders from you or your unelected mafiosi so go back to
your bosses and tell them Ireland will come to a standstill
if you try to force your hated charges on us.
(The trouble with Karmenu and his Commission pals is that
very few of them have ever done a day's work in their
lives)
District Court judge Desmond A Zaidan was born in

December 1962 and his early education took place in
Lebanon and Sierra Leone. He attended Rockwell College
before going to Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated
with a BSc and an MA. He later studied at the King's Inns
and was called to the bar in 1990.
He is a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
Judge Zaidan will most definitely be promoted shortly. He
has made certain people very happy - e.g. the Garda
Commissioner, the garda, Frances Fitzgerald, Alan
Shatter, Fine Gael ....
Oops! Hope I am not in contempt of Judge Zaidan's court.
Desmond can be a little touchy. He once jailed a couple for
kissing at the back of the court and gave a man 7 days for
clapping in court
Totally shameful, while they award themselves pay rises of

5k.
the state pension was funded by the people getting it, and the
government went and robbed that fund too, so there might not be a
pension for you to get, it is gone to pay off the debts of the
European rich who should be bankrupt but no the Irish paid off their
debts.
Enda wants to talk about porn. Does Enda secretly want to

be a porn star?
They along with Kenny are trying to make the people think that the
row is about 12.5% cooperate tax, but it is not, We have been the
row is about Apple having an office in Ireland that was deemed as
its main office ,Apple were putting the biggest bulk of its world wide
trade through that ghost office so they could avoid taxes, now it is
the business that passed through that ghost office that is the
problem. And it is not Apples problem it is the Irish revenues
problem they have helped so many companies to avoid paying their
fair share of tax, but they will jail us for fifty euro. We have been
screwed. and it is time we stood up against revenue and the
government, they are very quick to accept EU rulings on water taxes
and household taxes, the government don't tell them to go away we
will deal with taxes in our own way and say we are a sovereign
nation and won't take interference from others, bullshit always
catches up with people who use it on a daily basis.
Quick poll: Will the Government's new "rent pressure

zones" proposal be effective?
9 1259 Votes
j
j
j
Yes, it's the right move9%

No, but it's a start37%
No, not at all46%
I don't know8%
Whistleblowers Jonathan Sugarman at EU Parliament 15 11

2016
Nov 17, 2016
here's a link with better sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuAQO...
WHISTLEBLOWER, JONATHAN SUGARMAN, IS THE BIGGEST
STORY IN 2016, IN OUR COUNTRY, IRELAND, YOU ARE
DELIBERATELY BEEN DISTRACTED BY OUR GOVERMENT
AND MEDIA AT PRESENT, WITH A STORY ABOUT GERRY
ADAMS AND SINN FEIN.....WAKE UP AND DON,T TAKE YOUR
EYES OFF THE BALL. CORRUPTION EXPOSED, REGARDING
OUR BANKS, INCLUDING THE EVIL CENTRAL BANK AND OF
COURSE OUR GOVERMENT. THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION
IN 2017, SO REMEMBER, THE WAR AGAINST ALL PARTIES
HAS BEGUN. DO NOT LET JONATHAN SUGARMAN,S,
REVELATIONS, ON CORRUPTION, BECOME JUST ANOTHER
STORY.
Johnathon Sugarman (Whistleblower) With Vincent Browne
Dec 6, 2016
This is a must watch & share.
computing tech.
Find Truthful Irish @
https://www.facebook.com/truthful.irish/
HERE IS REAL TRUTHFUL NEWS NOT FLAWED NEWS
ABOUT THE NIGHT OF THE BANK BAILOUT, THAT FG, FF,
AND LB, GP, PD, MEDIA ARE BLOCKING OUT USING SF AS A
POLITICAL POLITICS FOR THEIR OWN GAIN IN VOTES

Coveney is a Landlord
Read all About Real news
Here,
https://www.scribd.com/docu
ment/334243711/HousingMinister-Simon-Coveney-isa-Landlord
CV - Simon Coveney TD
Title
Government
Personal details
Full name: Simon Coveney
Place and date of birth: Cork, 16th June 1972
Place of residence: The Rock, Carrigaline, County Cork
Civil status: Married to Ruth, with three daughters
Education
Mr. Coveney holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture and Land
Management from The Royal Agriculture College,
Gloucestershire. He was also educated at Clongowes
Wood College, County Kildare; University College Cork
and Gurteen Agricultural College, County Tipperary.
Career and Party Political Positions
Appointed Minister for Housing, Planning and Local

Government on May 6th 2016.
Appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food on
March 9th 2011 and Minister for Defence on July 11th
2014
Elected to the Dil (Irish Parliament) in 1998 as one of
Fine Gaels youngest TDs. Since then, he has held
shadow ministries in the following areas: Drugs and Youth
Affairs; Communications, Marine and Natural Resources;
Transport and the Marine.
Mr. Coveney chaired the Fine Gael Policy Development
Committee, prior to the 2011 General Election.
Elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and was a
member of the EPP-ED group. He was a member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee and the Internal Market and
Consumer Protection Committee. He was also a
substitute member on the Fisheries Committee. Mr.
Coveney was the author of the European Parliament's
Annual Report on Human Rights in the World for the year
2004 and again for 2006.
Member of Cork County Council and the Southern Health
Board from 1999 to 2003.
Other activities
A keen fan of all competitive sport, he played rugby for
Garryowen, Cork Constitution and Crosshaven Rugby
Club. In 1997/8 he led the "Sail Chernobyl Project" which
involved sailing 30,000 miles around the world for charity.
Mr. Coveney continues to be involved in the running of a
family farm in County Cork.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/cor
porate/ministers/cv-simoncoveney-td
Secretary General's Diary - November

2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/secret
ary_generals_diary_november_2016.pdf
Minister of State Damien English - Diary - November 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/damie
n_english_-_diary_november_2016.pdf
Housing Supply Coordination Task Force Returns Q2 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housi
ng_supply_coordination_task_force_returns_q2_2016.pdf
Report on Cri cal Infrastructure De cits in Residen al
Priority Areas in the Dublin Region
Second Report - January 2015
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/dublin
_housing_supply_coordination_task_force_report_jan_2015.pdf
Detailed information on review by expert panel of the Rural Water
Multi-Annual Programme 2016-2018 - Measure 5
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/detail
ed_information_on_review_by_expert_panel_of_the_rural_water_
multi-annual_programme_2016_-_2018_-_measure_5.pdf
Electromagnetic Fields in the Irish Context

Electromagnetic Fields in the Irish Context RIVM Report
2015
es/2015-0073_emf-ic_final_report.pdf
Indecon's Assessment of the Feasibility of a Tenancy Deposit

Protection Scheme in Ireland
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownL
oad%2C31535%2Cen.pdf
Minister Coveney says there is no

direct link between begging and
homelessness in Kildare
19:31 Saturday 10th of December 2016
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community

and Local Government, Simon Coveney, has
outlined that there is no direct link between
people begging and being homeless in
Kildare.
The remark came following a question from
Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, who
questioned the minister on whether or not
there was sufficient engagement between
State agencies and those sleeping rough in
Kildare, some of whom are begging.

Minister Coveney said that there was a
Homeless Support Team that is funded by the
Housing Authority that engages with every
homeless person who seeks out the service,
while he went on to say that public begging
is a matter for the Garda and that
homelessness and begging are not
necessarily concordant.
In the Kildare County Council administrative
area, a housing authority funded Homeless
Support Team engages with every homeless
person who presents seeking services, while
the Homeless Outreach Team investigates all
reports of rough sleeping and provides
assistance as appropriate. Furthermore, the
local Homeless Action Team meets on a
regular basis and includes participants from
the Department of Social Protection, the
Probation Services, the Health Service
Executives mental health service and
addiction service, service providers and
housing authority staff," outlined Minister
Coveney.
"Incidence of public begging is a matter for
the Garda Sochna to consider and there is
no automatic direct link between public
begging and homelessness."
https://www.kildarenow.com/news/ministercoveney-says-there-is-no-direct-link-betweenbegging-and-homelessness-in-kildare/133188
Coveney Allocates
25million for the first phase
of Dolphin House
Regeneration Project
Published on Wednesday, 20 Jul 2016

Government, Simon Coveney TD has today 20 July 2016,
announced the allocation of funding of 25 million for the
development by Dublin City Council of 100 new social
housing homes as part of the regeneration at the Dolphin
House estate, Dublin 8. The Minister was accompanied to
the site by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Rebecca
Moynihan and by local TD Catherine Byrne, Minister of
State for Community and the National Drugs Strategy.
Minister Coveney said, I am pleased to approve this very
significant new social housing investment. Following the
launch yesterday of the Action Plan for Housing and
Homelessness
(link is external)
, what we are announcing here today is a tangible
example of the enhanced commitment to social housing

delivery. In particular, its a commitment to delivery for
communities who, with some legitimacy, may have felt up
to now that their concerns and priorities werent getting the
investment of State funds they deserved. This is one of a
number of regeneration projects in Dublin City and one of
three in the Dublin 8 area. We have seen the successful
completion of Thornton Heights on the St Michaels Estate
and I know that work on the regeneration of the St
Teresas Gardens estate is gaining momentum. This first
phase of regeneration at Dolphin House will help to
maintain the strong community spirit that exists here.
He added, Late last month, I launched the Dominick
Street project on the north side of the city and now I get to
launch a similarly ambitious project on the south side.
They highlight the determination of both myself, as the
Minister for Housing, and the Government to deliver on
our promises with regard to urban regeneration. Social
housing improvements do not just mean new housing,
they also bring other benefits in the form of social,
community and economic renewal. They demonstrate our
commitment to individuals, to families and to communities
to provide homes and environments of which they can be
proud.
The Minister continued: Yesterday, along with the
Taoiseach and Minister for Public Expenditure and
Reform, I launched Rebuilding Ireland, an Action Plan for
Housing and Homelessness,
(link is external)
which is made up of five pillars of concerted actions right
across Government addressing homelessness,
accelerating social housing, building more homes,
improving the rental sector and utilising existing housing. I
am delighted to be here today to launch one of the most
significant social housing regeneration projects that will be
delivered under that Plan. This is one project in a truly
ambitious social housing programme of 47,000 units that
will be delivered with funding of 5.35 billion over the

coming period out to 2021.
Minister of State for Community and the National Drugs
Strategy, and local T.D. for the area, Catherine Byrne
welcomed the announcement I want to congratulate the
residents and the Regeneration Board of Dolphin House
for their steadfast commitment to this project. The 25
million announced by Minister Coveney this morning
clearly shows the dedication of this Government to
revitalising the area. It will enhance the living conditions in
Dolphin House as well as providing much needed housing
in Dublin 8.
Speaking at the announcement, the Deputy Lord Mayor of
Dublin and local councillor, Rebecca Moynihan said, "I
am delighted that the Department of Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government has approved funding
of 25m for the regeneration of Dolphin House. This is a
long-awaited redevelopment project that will provide
much-needed new homes for this area. It will be the
beginning of a new phase in the life of this strong Dublin
community."
ENDS
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/socialhousing/regeneration-scheme/coveneyallocates-eu25million-first-phase-dolphinhouse
Simon Coveney TD,

Minister for Housing,
Planning and Local

Government today offi
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local

Government today officially turned the sod on a major
investment of 11m at the Bon Secours Care Village at Lee
Road Cork. The Lord Mayor of Cork Des Cahill and the Deputy
County Mayor, Mary Rose Desmond were on site for this
significant day. Peter Lacy Chairman of Bon Secours welcomed
the investment in additional beds and facilities to build on the
already successful Care Village to deliver exceptional care for
its residents. Nollaig Broe Hospital Manager and Director of
Nursing at the Care Village was delighted to formally
commence the project which will be complete by January 2018
to provide state of the art facilities.
This ground breaking development in care for the elderly
complements many of the major projects the Bon Secours
Health System is undertaking over the next five years in the
newly announced 2020 Plan which will see 150 million
invested in all hospitals in the Group in Cork, Tralee, Galway,
Dublin and the Care Village in Cork. 75 million alone will be
earmarked for Cork, at Bon Secours Hospital Cork and the
Care Village on the Lee Road.
Speaking at the sod turning event Minister Coveney said Bon
Secours Health System is the Standard Bearer of private
healthcare in Ireland treating million patients every year a
significant portion of the countrys population. The Bon

Secours Health System has a reputation of building on what is
good and what is strong. I recently attended the Bon Secours
Conference on Patients Partnerships and Planning and was
impressed with their ambitious plans and particularly their
intention to partner with the public system to improve services
for patients.
Bill Maher CEO Bon Secours Health System also announced
that there will be significant developments at the Cork
Hospital. We are delighted to announce that the CCPC have
formally approved the joint venture with UPMC to develop
radiotherapy services in Cork which means Cork now can
provide the full range of Cancer services to meet the needs of
all its patients. The Cork development also includes new
theatres, new in-patient beds and an expanded ICU and the
newly expanded Medical Assessment Unit enhancing the
services of Bon Secours Hospital Cork as the largest private
hospital in Ireland. Bill Maher continued, with the new
facilities in Tralee and the recent sod turning for the Cath Lab
in Galway by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, the BSHS, as a
not for profit organisation continues to invest in all of its
facilities across the country.

Funding for Cork Simon Community 2016

Tuesday 16 February 2016
R

Initiative fund, and are privileged to commit 10,000 to assist
Cork Simon in the great work that they do. Annually we
commit significant funding to the homeless sector here in
Cork, assisting some of the most vulnerable people in our

community.
Cork Simon Community now supports over 1100 people
annually, operating 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It
supports men and women who are homeless, or at risk of
becoming homeless, in the Cork and Kerry area, and is a key
frontline homeless service.
Last year, Cork Simon supported 345 people sleeping rough in
Cork; thats a 21% increase from 2014.
Sinead Naughton of Cork Simon commented Support from
companies such as Bon Secours Hospital Cork has never been
so important to us.

Bon Secours Hospital Cork responds

to Homeless Crisis
Thursday 05 November 2015
R
This hostel, which is run by St. Vincent De Paul,
accommodates Homeless men from all over Munster, and is
one of the key frontline services at the coldface of the ongoing
homelessness crisis.
According to John Calnan, Manager of St Vincent De Paul
homeless services in Cork:
This hostel caters for 74 service users every day, and has a
significant waiting list. We are delighted to have forged this
relationship with Bon Secours Hospital.
Initiative fund, and are privileged to assist with the provision
of funding to construct this shower facility. It is but a small
intervention in the current crisis, but is essential for St.
Vincent De Paul.
Editor Notes:
St. Vincents Hostel is one of two SVP hostels located in Cork
City. The other being Deerpark House on Friars Walk. St
Vincents is best described as an emergency accommodation
hostel providing accommodation and support for people who
are out of home and homeless. It works to source good quality
accommodation for its service users and help to reintegrate

people back into community. The unit consists of 74
bedrooms, communal rooms, kitchen and dining room. Hot
meals are provided daily and are cooked fresh on site.
Professionally trained staff work with service users to deal with
issues. The hostels currently provide services to a wide range
of residents. Many are people with addiction, financial or
family issues.
Minister pressed to continue

with Ballymun fund
Friday, 2nd December, 2016 2:00pm
Cllrs Paul McAuliffe (FF) and Noeleen Reilly (SF) with Director of
Axis which benefits from the Social Regeneration Fund, Mark
OBrien (centre).
MINISTER for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government, Simon Coveney, paid a visit to Ballymun last
week to hear concerns over plans to end the areas Social
Regeneration Fund.
Last month Northside People reported how the future financing of
several local programmes in Ballymun is unclear following a
decision to end funding for social projects by 2017 as the areas

physical regeneration is deemed complete.
However, many locals and their public representatives believe that
while much work has been done on the regeneration, its far from
complete, and theyre calling on the minister to continue the fund.
Social Regeneration is one of the keys to the successful
regeneration of Ballymun as it has long been recognised that
changes to bricks and mortar alone will not bring about real social
change, said Cllr Paul McAuliffe (FF).
Since the Ballymun Regeneration Fund was established we have
seen transformative changes in economic, social and community
life in Ballymun.
I would therefore very much welcome any decision to continue
funding social projects in the area, but I must warn the Minister that
regeneration remains a long way from complete.
While the rehousing project has been completed, we still have
many social and economic issues which need to be addressed.
We hope to see a rise in the number of owner occupied and
affordable homes in the area which will increase the level of
disposable income and attract more retailers. In order to achieve
this we require a policy instrument from the Minister that allows us
to develop affordable housing.
Last month Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) called on the minister to visit
Ballymun after it emerged the fund was in danger and she was
satisfied that he met with the Ballymun4Business group last week.
I am pleased to see that Minister Coveney has responded to calls
for him to visit Ballymun and see first-hand how much of the
regeneration has left to be completed, she said.
The Minister made a statement that the Physical Regeneration of
Ballymun was complete and he can now see for himself that this is
not the case as in the middle of the Town centre is an eyesore
where once the Ballymun Shopping proudly operated.
The Budget for the Ballymun Regeneration was cut by Fianna Fail
and the last Government to which Minister Coveney was a part off.
This now needs to be restored so we can complete the

regeneration of the town centre as well as provide more housing in
the area on all the vacant land.
Vital Ballymun fund secured for

future
Tuesday, 13th December, 2016 8:00am
The fund for Ballymun has been secured.

View More Images
BALLYMUNS 1.7 million Social Regeneration Fund is secure

for 2017 it was revealed following a recent visit to the area by
the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government.
The financing of several local programmes in Ballymun had been
uncertain following a decision to end funding for social projects
such as Axis as the areas physical regeneration is deemed
complete.
However, Minister Simon Coveney came under pressure from local

politicians who called on him to reverse the decision, which would
have left local projects depending on Dublin City Council for
funding.
Local Fine Gael TD, Noel Rock, recently confirmed that an
agreement regarding the 1.7 million fund had been reached,
meaning the money will still be available up to and beyond the end
of 2017.
The agreement between Minister Coveneys department and
Dublin City Council will see the council eventually taking over
financing for the local projects on a phased basis over the next four
years.
The structure of the handover is a little bit complex, but in effect
assures that the Department will fully directly fund these projects
up to and including the end of 2017, said Deputy Rock.
The funding will then transfer sequentially from the Department to
Dublin City Council.
This deal assures the future for a number of worthy organisations
such as Axis in Ballymun, and I was glad to speak to them to
confirm the details.
I was glad to have Minister Coveney visit Ballymun and am
grateful for his direct role in assuring this outcome and the
certainty that it provides.
I am satisfied with this outcome, and it is simply the first step of
many big plans for a brighter future for Ballymun.
Sinn Fin Councillor, Noeleen Reilly, welcomed the news and
called on Minister Coveney to continue to invest in Ballymun.
It was made very clear to the Minister when he visited Ballymun
the community was very concerned about the cessation of the
Social Regeneration fund at the end of this year, she said.
I am delighted the Minister has listened to the community and
political representatives and this funding will continue for the
foreseeable future.
Fianna Fail councillor, Paul McAuliffe, also welcomed confirmation
that the fund would continue.

He also said that while Ballymuns rehousing project was complete,
the area still needed funding as the community still has social and
economic issues that need to be addressed.
A key objective of our confidence and supply agreement with Fine
Gael was to increase funding to disadvantaged areas through the
Local Authorities, he added.
Extending the social regeneration fund will achieve that objective
in the Ballymun area.
I particularly welcome Minister Coveneys engagement in the
Ballymun area and hope that his department will continue to work
with us to fulfil the promise made to the people of Ballymun to
create a vibrant and prosperous village.
30K GRANTS FOR

LANDLORDS UNDER
SCHEME TO HOUSE THE
HOMELESS AND
VULNERABLE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
OWNERS of vacant houses in Cork city will be given up
to 30,000 in a multi-million euro repair and lease
project to bring the properties up to standard to rent
to vulnerable people.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney. Pic: Diane Cusack
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney revealed to the

Evening Echo that hundreds of properties around Cork
would be targeted for the new scheme, which would
be administered by the likes of Cork Simon, Focus
Ireland and other approved bodies. The scheme would
see owners of vacant and dilapidated properties given
30,000 and possibly even more if the scheme is
successful to do up their houses in exchange for
signing a medium-to-long term lease that would then
see tenants housed.
Mr Coveney said: We are willing to spend millions on
the project in Cork if needs be. It is a win-win for
everyone concerned. Most importantly people are
housed, but also those who have houses lying idle will
have them brought back into use. There are hundreds
of such properties in Cork. It is already happening in
Carlow and Waterford under the local authority, but we
want the likes of Cork Simon and Focus Ireland to run
the scheme in Cork.
http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/e30kgrants-landlords-scheme-house-homeless-
vulnerable/2532782/
Latest figures for homeless

children an appalling
indictment
December 14, 16
Fr Peter McVerry appeals for emergency

legislation to prevent the banks and
landlords from evicting families,
homelessness.
Well known Jesuit campaigner on homelessness, Fr
Peter McVerry, has described the latest figures on
homeless children in Dublin as an appalling
indictment of Ireland.
Speaking to RTE Radios News at One, the priest
warned that the numbers are just going up and up
and up every single month.
These latest figures show that 2,020 children in the
capital do not have a permanent home.
We have almost one thousand families who are
homeless with 2,020 children who are homeless.
That is an appalling indictment of a country like
Ireland, he criticised.
2,020 children from 993 families are in emergency
accommodation, an increase from just under 1,900
in June, which is a 71% increase since last July.
This is another milestone and it will merit a tiny
little piece in the newspapers and then we move
on, Fr McVerry observed.
He added that if two years ago he had said that
there would be 2,000 children homeless today, he
would have been accused of scaremongering.
And here we have now with this appalling number
of people who are homeless and we have just

become so used to it, it has become the norm
now.
According to the Jesuit, two measures are required
immediately.
I think we need emergency legislation to prevent
the banks and landlords from evicting families,
homelessness.
They should not be allowed to put families on to
the streets unless they have been offered and have
accepted alternative suitable accommodation.
The second measure is compulsory purchase
orders on empty buildings lying vacant and not
being used.
While he welcomed Minister Simon Coveneys plan
to tackle homelessness and housing, describing it
was a very comprehensive plan, Fr McVerry
stressed that it would not kick in for a period of
time and by the time it starts to kick, the numbers
of homeless is likely to be much worse than they
are now.
Discussing the circumstances many homeless
families find themselves in temporary hotel
accommodation, the Jesuit priest described it as
absolutely appalling.
We have one family a husband and wife, a 20year-old boy, an 18-year-old boy and three young
children all living on one hotel bedroom. The
tensions within the family obviously increase as
time goes on and the children are stressed out.
Their education is suffering because they are
stressed out. The parents are stressed out and the
parents feel that they are bad parents that they
have failed their children so their self-esteem has
hit rock bottom.
He warned that the consequences of leaving
families in those conditions for long periods of time

will affect those families and those children for the
rest of their lives.
They have no cooking facilities so they have to go
out to the local chipper or takeaway to buy food. I
dont know how you can afford to do that if you are
on social welfare most people even if they are
working couldnt afford to eat out every night. So it
is really a huge financial pressure as well as every
other pressure on those families living in those
rooms.
Asked if it costs the Government more to keep
people in hotel rooms than to increase rent subsidy
and allow people remain where they are, Fr
McVerry said it did of course.
For 50 families in a hotel it is costing a million
euros per year. The hotels arent doing the
Government any favour; they are not giving them
reduced rates. The hotels could fill those rooms
with tourists so the Government is paying top
rates for those hotel bedrooms.
He stressed that while the rent supplement has
been increased by 15%, realistically it needs to be
increased by 30% to meet the current levels of
rent.
He said the priority is to prevent more people
becoming homeless and being thrown out of their
accommodation because of increasing rent or
being thrown out because the landlord is saying
that they are going to sell their property or the
banks repossessing homes.
Sinn Fin's latest suggestion to control rising rental prices has
been criticised by landlords.
Gerry Adams' party wants to link rents to inflation to ensure
that payments don't go up quicker than other market prices.
A vote will take place on the proposals in the Dil on Thursday,

but Fianna Fil and Fine Gael look set to unite to vote it down.
Fintan McNamara, is the Director of the Residential Landlords
Association of Ireland.
He says Sinn Fin's rent plan would give investors another
reason to leave the already struggling rental market: For
every two properties that go up for sale only one property is
bought with the intention of letting it.
And there is a very simple reason for that.
There is very little return in the business now, most of the
increases that have taken place in the business in the last 1218 months, has either gone back to the lending institution or
gone back to the State in taxes and charges.
Earlier
Sinn Fin is putting forward legislation in the Dil tonight that
will link rent increases to the rate of inflation.
But it is looking increasingly likely the bill will fail to pass in a
Dil vote on Thursday, after Fianna Fil described it as "gutter
stuff".
The special Dil committee that has been looking at the issue
of housing and homelessness is to publish its report on Friday.
Sinn Fin's housing spokesperson Eoin O'Broin, insists there

is no need to wait for that: Were not trying to pre-empt the
housing committee or the minister.
But a piece of legislation takes time and we think this should
be a central element of what Simon Coveney is going to come
up with at the end of August.
We are very clear, rent certainty has to be part of the
package of Simon Coveneys measures and I think the vast
majority of TDs in the Dil agree with us.
Some 5.35 billion euro will be spent on 4 7,000 new social

houses by 2021, and the number of homes being built each
year will double to 25,000.
Another 1,500 rapid build social houses are planned,
including 200 this year and 800 next year, and the
Housing Agency is aiming to get 1,600 empty homes off
banks, mortgage lenders and vulture funds.
The Rebuilding Ireland plan also includes 200m euro for
councils to get large sites ready for developers to get on
with building 15-20,000 homes. Up to 20 sites are being
identified for this.
Other sites on state owned land are also being identified
for 500 homes to be built by developers in 2017,
increasing each year up to 1,000 homes by 2021.
The 84 proposals, some of which have deadlines, look to

cut repossessions and improve rental contracts and bring
in child, health, justice and welfare chiefs to help stem the
flood of young and vulnerable people into homelessness.
It also includes plans for incentives to stop tenants being
evicted even if a landlord sells up and for European
models to be used to set rents close to market rates.
The proposals were outlined as more than 6,000 parents
and children live in emergency homeless accommodation,
and up to 130,000 people are on social housing waiting
lists across the country.
Pat Doyle, chief executive of the P eter McVerry Trust, said
the ideas showed a clear urgency to help young people and
families at risk.
"The actions set out to support families will no doubt
improve the situation of many households in hotel and
B&B settings and we fully support efforts to phase out and
ultimately eliminate the use of these types of
accommodation within the homeless sector," he said.
The trust said money was now being ring-fenced to help it
open accommodation specifically for young people leaving
state care.
As the plan was unveiled, Focus Ireland said 72 families
became homeless in Dublin in June - 502 families with
995 children were added to homeless lists in Dublin in the
first six months of the year.
Director of advocacy Mike Allen said: "It is positive that
the plan provides direction, but the litmus test will be
when we see roofs over people's heads - be this through
bricks and mortar of building social housing or by the
taking the urgent steps required to provide a better private
rented sector."
Focus Ireland said plans to tackle family homelessness fell
far short and warned using rapid build homes could
become permanent homes if left unchecked.
The Rebuilding Ireland plan also looks to expand Housing
First by tripling tenancy targets in Dublin and extend it to
other cities.
The Government also said the next budget will have

proposals worked on with the Central Bank to make
mortgages more accessible and affordable.
For families forced into emergency hotel accommodation
it said they should be supported with breakfast and after
school clubs for children, access to a creche for pre-school
years and free school transport.
The Government also aims to spend 10m euro a year on
the affordable rent scheme to put people up in at le ast
2,000 properties by 2018.
On building, three sites are to be found for at least 3,000
new homes from 2017-2021 in Dublin and other cities and
10m euro has been set aside for homes for people with
disabilities and a pilot scheme for up to 60 homes for the
elderly is planned for Dublin.
A new unit for pregnant homeless women will also be
opened.
Analysis of the crisis-hit housing market showed there are
115 active housing sites in Greater Dublin.
The capital has planning permission in place for 26,886
homes, but less than one fifth of them are being built.
Environment Minister Simon Coveney said providing
homes for people is the Government's number one
priority.
"It's crucial that we move from words to actions
immediately," he said.
"We may not have all the answers to address every issue
right now but the actions, funding and structures that we
are announcing today have the potential to make early and
very substantial progress on the journey to fixing our
broken housing sector."
Mr Coveney added: "While it's a huge challenge, it simply
has to be done."
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: " I am committed to ensuring
that it results in us achieving our critical national ambition
of ensuring that all our people have access to quality and
affordable housing, either through their own endeavours
or with the support of the State. "
Ruth Coppinger, Anti Austerity Alliance TD, said the plan

marked the end of local authority housing as we know it.
"The plan is a landlords' and developers' manifesto," she
said.
"As well as not proposing measures to curb their
profiteering on rents, it defends and promotes their
interests by continuing the use of the private sector as a
substitute for public housing, alongside introducing a new
range of tax breaks to incentivise landlords."
Sinn Fein's h ousing spokesman Eoin O Broin claimed the
plan will only produce up to 6,000 social houses a year for
six years.
"Minister Coveney is falling short of the Dail Housing and
Homelessness Committee recommendations by 40%," he
said.
Mr O Broin added: "The plan is particularly disappointing
on the private rental sector where no specific actions are
being proposed.
"Rather, the plan proposes relegating the issues of longterm reform of the private rental sector and issues of
security of tenure and standards to some future date."
FF to try block Rent

Pressure Zones being
limited to Dublin and
Cork
Kevin Doyle and John Downing
PUBLISHED
13/12/2016
3
Fianna Fil will try to block the introduction

of Rent Pressure Zones in just Dublin and
Cork.
The key element of the Governments plan for the rental
sector announced today it is to restrict rent increases in
the two cities to 4pc per annum for the next three years.
However, sources said that a meeting of the Fianna Fil
frontbench tonight heard concerns that this may cause
unreasonable price hikes in commuter belt towns.
Fianna Fils housing spokesman Barry Cowen is to
contest the 4pc figure, arguing that this is too high.
The Government will not be able to pass the necessarily
legislation to introduce the changes before Christmas
without Fianna Fils acceptance.
Cowen said the party's had "intensive discussions" on the
matter.

"We are pleased that Fine Gael have abandoned their long
held view that there should be no interference in the rental
sector and that the market alone should decide on rental
levels," he said.
He said he also wanted "to acknowledge" that Fine Gael
have included recommendations made by Fianna Fil in
its recent submission on rent reviews.
"However, we have genuine concerns with elements of the
current model as outlined and with its limited
geographical scope," he said.

are included from day one."
Mr Cowen added: "We are not satisfied that the proposed
4pc increase is appropriate and we also believe that tax
incentives for landlords should be part of the package.
address these outstanding issues," he said.
The development will cause a major headache for Housing
Minister Simon Coveney who has already said he would
not be prepared to make fundamental changes to his
proposals.
Speaking at the launch of the plan Mr Coveney said he
would require to get Cabinet approval.
Mr Coveney has prosed that Dublin and Cork be
designated Rent Pressure Zones and thereby restrict
annual rent increases to 4pc for the next three years.
Senior Fianna Fil sources told Independent that they
have concerns which need to be thrashed out, adding
that they expect to find a resolution.
The party must facilitate the passing of legislation through
the Dil this week if the new measures are to be
introduced before the Christmas break.
A source say they are by and large support of the plan
announced today but its clear that the 4pc isnt going to
fly.
When you accept these are pressure zones then you
shouldnt be saying its ok to have 4pc increases.
The party are likely to demand that Mr Coveney revise the
figure downward to 2pc, although they may settle on 3pc.
A second source said: We cant have a situation where the
current prices are seen as the base level and we have
upward only reviews.
Fianna Fil want to know what to do to resolve the price
inflation in the long-term.
The partys frontbench are set to meet to discuss the issue
further tonight before they decide a formal position.
Read More: All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure

Zones' answered
Earlier Labour leader Brendan Howlin told the Dil that
the new proposals to control the rents spiral will not work.
Mr Howlin asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if he accepted
that key housing campaign groups - Threshold, Focus
Ireland, the Simon Community, the Peter McVerry Trust
and the NEC did not believe in the Government
proposals.
Are they all wrong and only yourself and Fianna Fail are
right on this issue ? the Labour leader asked.
Mr Howlin said the Government was allowing rent
increases which were a multiple of any other index, eight
times the consumer price index. He said the Government
thought the only pressure zones were Dublin and Cork.
You know these rental pressures exist in Louth and
Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and probably Mayo,
he added.
Mr Kenny said if Mr Howlin had taken time to study the
Government plans he would see that the Housing Agency,
in consultation with local council, would designate an area
for rent increases.
It is a focused, targeted strategy to deal with the question
of predictability and certainty for tenancies, he added.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said statistics showed
average rents were now averaging 1,000 per month
around the country, and over 1,500 per month in Dublin
and he said the Government plans lacked ambition.
All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure
Zones' answered
The standout measure is the establishment of Rent
Pressure Zones in Dublin and Cork which will restrict rent
hikes to 4pc per annum. Here are the key questions on the
plan:
What is a Rent Pressure Zone?
These are areas where rents are high and rising quickly
which will now be subject to price caps. Legislation is
passing through the Dil and Seanad that will designate
U
U
Dublin and Cork city as RPZs before Christmas. As a result

annual rent increases in these cities will be restricted to
4pc per annum for the next three years.
Cork city have been deemed as qualifying immediately but
the RTB will have to study the rest of the country.
covered?
properties that have been substantially refurbished.
of inflation. Why didnt Simon Coveney take this
approach?
The minister said a blunt rent cap would disincentive
landlords entering the market and literally shut off supply
overnight. Noting that inflation for this year is negative,
Mr Coveney said: We want landlords to make a
reasonable return.
How does this affect the rent certainty measures
The last Government introduced measures that restricted
kick-starting supply. These include:
Examining the tax/fiscal treatment of accommodation
providers
Using publicly owned land for development
U
U
Promoting a build to rent model

Supporting credit availability for bringing vacant stock
Exploring the potential to bring into use, for rental
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ff-to-tryblock-rent-pressure-zones-being-limited-todublin-and-cork-35289605.html
Minister Coveney please don't do this. Consider what happened in
California where a long history of similar rent controls contributed to
disastrous fire in Oakland and the deaths of Irish students in Berkeley.
Attempts to punish landlords are always passed to tenants. Rent
subsidies only transfer wealth to property owners and push prices
beyond what non-subsidised renters can afford.
First do no harm! Next, stop seeing the landlord-tenant relationship as a
class war. Instead, reward those who form a mutually beneficial
business relationship. Decrease a landlord's income tax for each year he
maintains the same tenants. Put a 10% tax on vacant property, followed
by a tax break for renovation and tax breaks for raising the BER
efficiency. You'll put builders to work within weeks and reduce
homelessness by January. Less money will leave the Irish economy to
pay for heating BER D and F rentals.
The current plan is a non-starter and will do much more harm than
good.
So the decent landlords who did not increase their tenants rent for a
number of years are being penalised as their next increase will be 4%of
the lower rent.The greedy landlords who increased their rents by
exorbitant levels will get 4% increase on a higher rent.you will have two
houses beside each other one with a rent of 1,000 and the other with a
rent of 2,000 I guess it pays to be greedy.What are this goverment
playing at, they did the same with the water charges, those that do the
right thing get penalised and those that don't pay get rewarded.i think
its time to get out of this renting game
Rent has twice been found unconstitutional. In the case of Blake v
Ireland. It was also found to be unconstitutional in an Article 26
reference by the president to the Supreme Court. Far better to remove
the 300 a month direct rent increase introduced by FG/Labour in the
2013 Budget by adding property tax, PRSI and USC to rent. That caused
about 20% of rentals to be taken off the market. It is one cock up after
another
The Settled Land Act, 1882, with explanation, notes, and
precedents, also with the rules and forms for proceedings in court,
and an appendix containing the Settled Estates Act, 1877, the
Conveyancing and Married Women's Property Acts, 1882, and the
rules and forms under the conveyancing acts
https://ia902708.us.archive.org/8/items/settledlandact1800dodduoft/
settledlandact1800dodduoft.pdf
UnderEUDelegationandseparationof
powers
Separation_of_Powers The Judicial Power and the Legislature
https://s3.amazonaws.com/oxbridgenotes/samples/5406/original/Sep
aration_of_Powers_sample.pdf
Ireland has strong tenant protection laws. ... In Blake v
Attorney General ... hi just found out that our tenants have
been subletting our house for the last 2 years.
Constitutional Aspects of the Pluralisation of

the EU ...
Treaty provisions on delegation of powers, under Articles
290 and 291 TFEU ... Delegation of Powers in the EU: ...
Shane, H. Bruff, Separation of Powers Law
SEPARATION OF POWERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONS

INTERTWINED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ... might be held in
Ireland was still not clear.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1398902.
Analysing the EUs System of Government on the basis of the treaties
establishing the Community and the Union leads to identifying five basic
government functions, which are distributed in a complex system of
checks and balances between the EU institutions and between the latter
and member states institutions. Those five functions may be
characterised as legislative function, which evolved over time from rule
making to law making, the executive function which consists in
implementing common policies, the supervisory function, consisting of
judicial review and of oversight of member states compliance with their
treaty obligations, the function of direction, consisting of policy guidance
and programming, and an organic function consisting in institutional
development. The new wording of the relevant treaty clauses by the

Lisbon treaty clarifies the nature and distribution of these five functions
and thus enable us to understand how separation of powers is
organised in the EU.
POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

COMMITTEE
Second Report of the Political and Constitutional Reform
Committee, Session ... and Northern Ireland ... There shall be
a separation of powers guaranteeing by Italy Which
Defeated on Dec 5th 2016
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commonscommittees/political-and-constitutional-reform/The-UKConstitution.pdf
Separation of Powers in Written and

Unwritten Constitutions
Separation of Powers in Written and ... of separation of
powers applies differently under a written and an ... and
other treaties underpinning the European Union.
http://www.francisbennion.com
/pdfs/fb/2006/2006-015separation-of-powers.pdf
European Union, ... should only be cast by the leader of the
delegation in a unitary way. ... separation of powers into a
system that has always ignored it
http://www.epc.eu/documents/u
ploads/602431467_EPC
%20Working%20Paper
%202%20The%20future%20of
%20EU%20decision
%20making.pdf
separation of powers issues. Irelands Evolving ... of EU

Law in Ireland:
https://www.kingsinns.ie/cmsfil
es/entranceexamination/ConstitutionalSyllabus-2014.pdf
This text of the Constitution is a copy of the text enrolled on 27
... the Treaty on European Union ... between Ireland and
another state.]
https://www.constitution.ie/Doc
uments/Bhunreacht_na_hEirea
nn_web.pdf
DEFERENCE UNDER THE SEPARATION OF POWERSAN INCREASINGLY ACCEPTABLE TRAIT AMONGST
THE IRISH JUDICIARY?
http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1044&context=aaschssldis
THE LEGAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS: ... of the
Irish Delegation to the ... on the doctrine of the separation
of powers and provides that justice ...
http://www.juradmin.eu/colloqu
ia/1998/ireland.pdf
Politico-Administrative Relations under Coalition Government : The
Case of Ireland
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/g
roups/public/documents/nispac
ee/unpan003676.pdf
Tenant protection laws are

significant but not onerous
Ireland has strong tenant protection laws. The parties are free to
negotiate rents, but the amount must not exceed the open market
rate. The rent may be reviewed and can only be adjusted once a
year. Rent disputes go to the Private Residential Tenancy Board
(PRTB). Security of tenure is effective for four years; during the
first six months, the landlord can terminate the leasing contract
without specifying grounds but once a tenancy has lasted six
months, the landlord can only terminate the tenancy for the next
3 ? years citing just causes. Irish law is pro-tenant.
Rents: Can landlord and tenant freely agree rents in Ireland?
The parties to the contract are free to agree rents, however rents
may not be charged above the market rent. Rent may be reviewed
(upward or downward) once a year only.
Tenants are to be given 28 days notice of any new rents. A tenants?
right to request a rent review annually cannot be contracted out of.
Disputes about rents go to The Private Residential Tenancies
Board (PRTB).
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/default-documentlibrary/foi-publication-scheme-13-04-2016-msw.doc?sfvrsn=2
STRATEGY FOR THE RENTAL SECTOR

LAUNCHED TODAY 13TH DEC 2016 BY
MINISTER SIMON COVENEY
by RTB | Dec 13, 2016
Strategy for the Rental Sector launched today
Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr.
Damien English T.D., Minister of State for responsibility

for Housing and Urban Renewal today launched the
Strategy for the Rental Sector. Please find below links
for the strategy document and the accompanying
press release:
NEW AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION

EFFECTIVE FROM 9TH MAY 2016
by RTB | Dec 13, 2016
Information on all amendments coming into effect from 9th

May 2016
1.
Additional proofs required by Landlord in
certain instances to terminate tenancy
Amendments have been made to Sections 34 and 35
(reasons to terminate a part 4 tenancy) of the 2004
Act, as detailed below:
(i)
Accommodation needs reason a written
statement must accompany the Notice of Termination
specifying the bed spaces in the dwelling and setting
out grounds as to why the dwelling is no longer
suitable having regard to the bed spaces and the size
and composition of the occupying household.
(ii) Intending to sell within 3 months of the
termination of the tenancy the three month period
must be set out in the Notice and the Notice must be
accompanied by a Statutory Declaration confirming
this intention. The Statutory Declaration must contain
a declaration that the landlord intends to enter into an
enforceable agreement to transfer to another, for full
consideration, of the whole of his or her interest in the
dwelling or the property containing the dwelling.
(iii) Dwelling intended for own or family use the
Notice must contain or be accompanied by a Statutory
Declaration confirming the intended occupants
identity and (if not the landlord) their relationship to
the landlord and the expected duration of that
occupation. The statutory declaration must also

confirm that the landlord is required to offer a tenancy
to the tenant if the contact details under Section 35 of
the Act are provided and the dwelling is vacated within
a period of 6 months from the termination date.
(iv) Substantially refurbish or renovate reason the
notice must contain or be accompanied by a written
statement specifying the nature of the intended works
to be carried out and where planning permission is
required a copy is to be provided. Where no planning
permission is required the statement must set out the
name of the contractor (if any), the dates on which the
works are to be carried out and the proposed duration
of those works. The statement must also confirm that
the landlord is required to offer a tenancy to the
tenant if the contact details under Section 35 of the
Act are provided and the dwelling becomes available
within a period of 6 months from the termination date.
(v) Change of Use reason the notice must contain
or be accompanied by a statement specifying the
nature of the intended use and where planning
permission is required to provide a copy of the
permission. The statement must provide details of the
works to be carried out, identify the contractor, if any,
and the dates and expected duration of the works.
(vi) Breach of Obligations reason There is no change
to this reason which provides that where one of the
parties has failed to comply with their obligations, they
must first be notified of the breach and given an
opportunity to remedy it.
2.
Rent Reviews
The notice of new rent is required to comply with the

form prescribed by the Minister.
j
j
It must state the amount of new rent and the date

from which is to have effect.
It must include a statement that a dispute must
be referred to the Board on the expiry of 28 days from
the receipt by the tenant of that notice or the date the
new rent takes effect.
It must include a statement by the landlord that it
is their opinion that the new rent is not greater than
market rent having regard to
1
2
3
4
5
3.
The other terms of the

tenancy
Letting values of dwellings of
a similar size, type and character and
situated in a comparable area
It must specify the rent
amount for three comparable
dwellings of a similar size, type and
character and situated in a
comparable area
It must include the date on
which the notice is signed
It must be signed by the
landlord or his/her authorised agent
Anti-Social Behaviour
A third party may refer a case to the RTB in relation to

anti-social behaviour where they are or were directly
and adversely affected by the landlords failure to
enforce their tenants obligations in relation to anti
social behaviour.
j
j
The third party may request one of the following to

communicate with the landlord or former landlord on
their behalf or submit a case on their behalf:
An owners management company in a multi-unit
development
A body corporate
A body of persons who have as one of their

principle objectives the promotion of the safety and
security of the dwellings and the persons residing in
the vicinity of the dwelling containing the tenancy
concerned, such as a residents association or a
neighbourhood watch group
4.
Additional Requirements for Tenancy
Registration Confirmation
The tenancy registration confirmation letter must now
be in the prescribed form and must:
j
j
j
Acknowledge receipt of the application

Acknowledge receipt of the registration fee
Specify the Registered Tenancy (RT) number
Include information setting out
j
j
j
j
j
The rights and obligations of landlords and

tenants including
The setting of the rent, a review of the rent and
the notice of new rent
Security of tenure under Part 4
The termination of tenancies
Matters which may be referred to the board for
dispute resolution including

amount of rent initially set
2
amount of rent determined on foot of
a review
Redress that may be granted by the Board and

specifying the amount of damages that an adjudicator
or Tribunal may direct be paid to a party in respect of
the matter
The function of the Board to disclose particulars
of the registration to the Revenue Commissioners
Table containing all Legislative Changes to date
SOLICITORS PANEL FOR ENFORCEMENT
OF DETERMINATION ORDERS
by R.C. | Dec 06, 2016
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), formerly the Private

Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), was established in 2004.
Its remit is to regulate and support the rental housing market
by;
-
Operating a national system of tenancy registration
- Providing a quasi judicial Dispute Resolution Service for

tenants and landlords
- Conducting Research and providing advice to the Minister in
relation to matters impacting on the sector. This includes
producing a quarterly rent index based on one of the most
extensive rental databases in the country
Our remit has also recently been extended to Approved
Housing Bodies, which are not-for-profit housing providers or
housing associations and provide housing for about 30,000
tenants. This change (and hence the name change) means
that both tenants and landlords of these properties enjoy
certain provisions of the Residential Tenancies Acts, including
access to the disputes resolution services we operate.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004(as amended) provides a
statutory dispute resolution process for the resolution of
disputes between landlords, tenants, and certain third parties,
by way of independent mediation or adjudication facilitated by
the Board. There is a facility to refer the matter (in the case of
mediation) or appeal, in the case of adjudication to a Tenancy
Tribunal established by the Board. Following the conclusion of
this process the Board makes a legally binding Determination
Order. The Act provides that a party or the Board may take
legal proceedings to enforce the determination order if not
complied with. The Board takes very seriously the issue of noncompliance with its orders and while not obliged to take
enforcement, has done so in over 1200 cases in the last 3
years.
In agreeing to cover the cost of enforcement the
Board has regard to its published Policy and criteria on
enforcement. Once the Board agrees to an enforcement
request the case is then submitted to its Solicitors for

enforcement proceedings.
The Board is now seeking to establish a panel of solicitors
around the Country willing to provide legal representation to
parties where the Board has sanctioned enforcement on their
behalf. The Panel is expected to be in existence for a period of
3 years. Currently enforcement is through the Circuit Court
however, an amendment to the Act provides for enforcement
to be taken in the District Court. This amendment is expected
to be commenced by the end of the year. Consequently, it is
expected that panel members will be enforcing orders in the
District Court and experience of advocating in the District court
is required. Copies of the application form and the terms and
conditions of the Panel are available on the Boards website
(www.rtb.ie).
The terms and conditions include the fee structure that is
being put in place by the Board. The Board wishes to have a
limited number of solicitors on the Panel and selection for the
Panel will be based on the applications received. The Board
also reserves the right to interview solicitors for the Panel.
Solicitors selected for the panel will be expected to comply
with the Boards Best Practice Guidelines copy of which is
available with the application form. The Board will provide
training in respect of enforcement and Solicitors must
participate in training provided by the Board before they can
be placed on the Panel.
The Board would be pleased to receive applications from
solicitors with a real commitment to the work and experience
in advocacy before the District Court. Experience in providing
legal services to residential landlords and tenants is desirable
but not necessary.
To apply submit a completed application in the format provided
by e-mail (typed applications only) to enforceorder@rtb.ie.
Solicitors should note a training event has been provisionally
arranged for early March 2017 in Dublin and should submit
their application by 31st January 2017.
STRATEGY FOR THE RENTAL SECTOR LAUNCHED

TODAY 13TH DEC 2016 BY MINISTER SIMON
COVENEY
Dec 13, 2016
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/legislative-changes/rentalstrategy.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Strategy for the Rental Sector, Having TD Landlords like Simon
Coveney Laws owner as a Landlord Verses Tenant
http://www.rtb.ie/docs/default-source/legislativechanges/strategy-for-the-rental-sector.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Deposits
There are no maximum deposits.
What rights do landlords and tenants have in Ireland, especially as

to duration of contract, and eviction?
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Security of tenure is based on a curious system of 4-year cycles.

During the first six months, the landlord can terminate without
specifying grounds. But once a tenancy has lasted 6 months, the
landlord can terminate the tenancy during the following 3 ? years
only if:
The tenant does not comply with the obligations of the

tenancy
The dwelling is overcrowded
The landlord needs the dwelling in the next 3 months
The landlord requires the dwelling for his own
occupation or for a family member
The landlord intends to refurbish
The landlord intends to change the business use of the
dwelling
At the end of the 4 years, a new tenancy will commence and the
cycle begins again unless otherwise agreed upon, i.e., the landlord
can give notice without stating a reason within the first six months.
Tenants may give notice at any time without giving a reason,
subject to any fixed term lease or agreement contained in the
contract; the periods of notice are indicated below.
Regardless of why the termination is occurring, the periods of
notice to be given by the landlord and tenant depend on the length
of the tenancy, as follows:
NOTICE PERIOD FOR TERMINATION
Duration of Tenancy Landlord Tenant
Less than 6 months 28 days 28 days
6 months - 1 year 35 days 35 days
1 - 2 years
42 days 42 days
2 - 3 years
56 days 56 days
3 - 4 years
84 days 84 days
More than 4 years 112 days 112 days
Source: Global Property Guide
The Act allows leases to provide greater security of tenure for
tenants, and allows leases to specify longer notice periods.
Landlords have to register details of their tenancies within a month
with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), with
registration fees of ?70 per unit.
Despite anything to the contrary in a lease or tenancy, where a
landlord withholds consent to assignment or sub-letting, the
tenant may terminate the tenancy. Leases for more than one year
(now rare) must be in writing.
EVICTION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT
Duration until completion of service of process
11
Duration of trial
50
Duration of enforcement 60
Total Days to Evict Tenant
121
Courts: The Lex Mundi Project
How effective is the Irish legal system?
It is generally accepted that landlord and tenant law is one of the

most complex and involved fields of Irish law. The new PRTB
hearings attempt to resolve this. The fees are not expensive. Legal
representation should not be necessary. Costs will not be awarded
except in exceptional circumstances. The dispute resolution
process operates informally. But enforcement of the orders of
Board not complied with, will be through the Court.
The following table indicates the pre-Board situation:
Legislation:
Recent changes in Irish landlord and tenant law Irish landlord and
tenant law comprises a mix of the common law (judge-made law),
and statute law, including (distantly) the Landlord and Tenant Law
Amendment Act, Ireland, 1960; the Conveyancing Act, 1882; and
more recently, the Rent Restrictions Act, 1960 and 1967; the
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Acts 1982-1983; and the
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992. But undoubtedly
the most important legislation is The Private Residential Tenancies
Act, 2004.
f
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982
Housing Private (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 19821983 ... HOUSING (PRIVATE RENTED DWELLINGS) .
http://photosa.propertyimages.ie/media/2/9/8/3182892/e464d42d-98ca403a-9eee-1b314a1ed220.pdf
Private Rented Sector Tenants of 20 or more

years Occupancy ...
Private Rented Sector ... of protection under the Housing
(Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982. It is ... Private
Housing Section
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/JELR/LongOccupation.pdf/Files/Long
Occupation.pdf
Conveyancing Act, 1882 - Irish Statute Book

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1882/act/39/enacted/en/print
.html?printonload=true
Conveyancing and Law of

Property Act, 1892
Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

- Oireachtas
f
Brief history
During World War 1, the British Parliament passed measures of

rent control and security of tenure. These persisted into the post
war period, and eventually became the Rent Restrictions Act 1960,
an extremely complex set of restrictions.
The restrictions survived until the early 1980s, when they were the
subject of a constitutional challenge. In Blake v Attorney General
(1981) the Supreme Court ruled that Parts 11 and Parts 1V of the
Rent restrictions Act 1960-1967 were unconstitutional in that they
amounted to an ?unjust attack? on landlords? property rights. The
legislation, the Supreme Court complained, provided no
compensation for landlords subject to rent control, and almost
permanently alienated the property from the landlord. Following
Blake, more moderate legislation was passed, designed to phase
out the formerly rent-controlled sector by 2002 (the Housing
(Private Rented Dwellings) Acts of 1982-1983). The net result was

that tenants became largely unprotected from eviction, and the
rent market was free.
This brought a reaction. Following campaigns by Threshold, a

housing NGO, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992
was passed which provided new rights: more notice-to-quit,
minimum standards of accommodation, and the right to a rent
book, plus a system of registration. It also abolished the old
common law right of the landlord to seize his tenants? property in
lieu of rent (distress). However the Act did not address security of
tenure, and there was another Threshold campaign, which resulted
in the present, more anti-landlord Act.
I won't do something that I

know to be wrong' - Coveney
not budging on rental strategy
Talks broke up without agreement late last night.
December 15, 16
HOUSING MINISTER SIMON Coveney has said that it is

legally impossible for him to give into Fianna Fil
demands about revising the Governments new rental
strategy.
night without agreement over the issue of rental caps for
the proposed new strategy.
As things stand, the Government will not be in a position
to bring legislation before the Dil concerning its proposed
solution to the rental crisis.
Speaking today on RTs Morning Ireland, Coveney said
that the parties disagreed on three key elements of the
strategy.
These were the proposed 4% yearly cap yearly rental
raises, more tax incentives to be introduced for landlords,
and designating more areas as rent pressure zones where
the caps will apply.
Coveney said the parties had made good headway on the
first two issues, but that the rent pressure zones issue had
been the real stumbling block.
Coveney said that Fianna Fil wanted the legislation to

name towns and cities outside of Dublin and Cork as rent
pressure zones (where the 4% cap on rent rises could
apply).
The problem with that is I have to make sure that we have
a robust process that is evidence-based, that is
independently assessed by the Residential Tenancies
Board, he said.
We cannot be making political decisions to designate areas
to become rent pressure zones without the evidence to
back that up.
Coveney said that he agreed to prioritise certain areas and
cities to look at designating as rent pressure zones in the
new year, but that Fianna Fil said they want them
named now.
It is legally impossible for me to name them now and they
know that.
I will not introduce flawed legislation I wont do
something that I know to be wrong.
End of term
As things stand, the legislation around rents will not be
introduced before the Dil rises for the Christmas break
today, leaving tens of thousands of households in the
private rental market in uncertainty until next year.
Homeless campaigners have expressed dismay that no
agreement has been reached between the two parties.
Follow
Mike Allen
Thousands facing homelessness don't need this! We need
national consensus on measures to keep families etc in
their homes
https://
twitter.com/mikeallenfi/st
atus/809308327993835520
8:07 AM - 15 Dec 2016
Source: Mike Allen/Twitter
The talks broke off last night between the two parties
without agreement at about 11.30pm.
government and its confidence and supply arrangement
confirmed in May.
Fianna Fil has accused the government of intransigence
regarding the negotiations.
Rent control talks break

down without agreement
Taoiseach Enda Kenny pledges to withdraw plan if Fianna
Fil do not support it

the private rental sector but the proposals could already be in
jeopardy as party sources in Fianna Fil have indicated that they will
not support the strategy.
Talks between the Government and Fianna Fil on

proposed rent control plans broke down without
agreement on Wedesday night.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney Coveney and his
Fianna Fil counterpart, Barry Cowen, held talks to try
to solve a dispute over proposed rent controls for
Dublin and Cork.
Mr Coveney has dug in on his rent strategy against

Fianna Fil opposition to aspects of it. The
Government needs Fianna Fil to either abstain or
support the measures to pass them through the Dil.
Government sources said the ball was in Fianna Fils
court and expressed hope that their plan would be
allowed pass largely intact, albeit with some
alterations.
Some sources said it was clear Fine Gael was not
budging from the core elements of the plan.
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rent issue
rent cap
Approval of rental strategy hangs in balance, says
Michel Martin
Highly critical
Fianna Fil sources were, however, highly critical of

how Mr Coveney had handled the issue and said no
decision had been made. It is no way to do business,
said a senior Fianna Fil source. Emphasising the
Governments hardline stance, Taoiseach Enda Kenny
told Fine Gael TDs and Senators the rental plan will be
withdrawn in its entirety if Fianna Fil does not
support it.
Mr Coveney is insisting he will not make any
substantial changes to his strategy and is seen by Fine
Gael TDs as having staked his political reputation in
refusing to bow to Fianna Fil pressure. Mr Coveneys
rent predictability plan sets out proposals for socalled rent pressure zones and imposing limitations
increase rents by 4 per cent a year in that period. Mr
Coveney says a lower rate would fail to stimulate
housing supply.
Note of caution
The ESRI has, meanwhile, sounded a note of caution
on the rental strategy, suggesting greater rent
certainty could negatively affect supply, especially
from small investors.
We need rental supply across the board, and the
danger of bringing in measures like rent certainty is
that it can have a negative impact on supply, the
institutes Kieran McQuinn said.
saying it favours a 2 per cent threshold. It is also
concerned that the scheme will initially be confined to
just Dublin and Cork city and wants it extended to
Galway, Limerick, Waterford and commuter areas
outside the capital. Under Mr Coveneys plan, all local
electoral areas in the country will be assessed from
next March to see if they qualify for rent caps. He has
offered to bring this forward to February as a
compromise to Fianna Fil and it is understood this
was under consideration.
The Dil is scheduled to take the legislation giving
effect to the rental plan today and Mr Coveney wants it
passed by tonight. Fianna Fil sources accused Fine
Gael of banging the table at their party meeting,
while Fine Gael accused Fianna Fil of playing politics
with the rental issue.
If we said 6 per cent, they would have asked for 4,
said a Government source.
Pregnant mother 'had to view
men exposing themselves to

her and her son' in homeless
accommodation
Newly released documents give an insight into the conditions in which
homeless families are living.
December 15, 16
Image: Shutterstock/altanaka
/Photo Text content

ENTIRE FAMILIES SQUEEZED into hotel rooms,
children exposed to violence and drug-taking, mould,
damp, bed bugs, scabies, blood-stained mattresses, rats
and abuse.
The situation facing many homeless adults and families
living in emergency accommodation in Dublin is dire,
newly released documents show.
TheJournal.ie has obtained documents released under the
Freedom of Information Act that detail the complaints and
issues of people living in homeless emergency
accommodation in Dublin throughout the year.
The complaints are sent to the Dublin Regional Homeless
Executive (DRHE), which manages homeless services in

Dublin.
They include many instances involving families with
young children staying in privately operated hotels and
B&Bs.
There are now at least 1,026 homeless families with 2,110
children in Dublin alone, the vast majority of whom are in
this type of accommodation.
The documents paint a stark picture of homelessness in
Dublin and the effect it is having on children and families.
For data protection reasons, all names and locations of
residents and establishments are redacted in the
documents.
The documents in many cases also outline responses and
reports of officers designated to inspect the issues raised.
Complaints
In one complaint dated from January, residents state that
they have been pricked by a needle while in their room in
their accommodation.
When an officer inspects the room, they find the needle of
a syringe has been lodged into the seam of the mattress,
with the tip of the needle protruding outwards.
The response of the officer inspecting a room.

Another instance from June outlines very serious issues

raised by a pregnant woman living in emergency
accommodation in Dublin city centre with her child, who
is diagnosed with autism.
The complaint comes via a Focus Ireland Homeless Action
Team (HAT) worker who is assisting the family.
The woman in question states that there is mould and
damp in the bedroom and an infestation of insects under
the dampness on the ground.
The familys accommodation is next door to a single
persons unit. The woman alleges that she has experienced
a lot of serious anti-social behaviour as a result of this.
While she was waiting to be let into her accommodation,
the HAT worker states:
During this time, the customer has encountered a number
of anti-social behaviour issues. She has had to view men
exposing themselves to her and her son, women urinating
in front of them and prostitution.
In yet another serious instance, a letter sent by a solicitor
on behalf of their client outlines conditions in her
accommodation.
The solicitor's letter to the DRHE

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The woman in question has two children, one of whom is

blind and the other who suffers from a developmental
delay. She is also pregnant with a third child.
The solicitors letter outlines how the woman and her
children have been exposed to needles, rodents and
general filth while at their accommodation.
Families
The documents date from 4 January to 30 September. In
that time the complaints to the DRHE around homeless
accommodation numbered 175 (coming from both
homeless people and accommodation staff, manager, etc).
There are multiple accounts of:
Children suffering with asthma due to mould and
improper heating in the rooms
Families suffering from scabies
Children being kept awake by pubs and clubs
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adjacent to their rooms

Inadequate cooking and cleaning facilities and
Significant overcrowding
One complaint from January appears to come from a
doctors surgery. It states that a mother is claiming the
conditions she is staying in with her family is worsening
her sons asthma. Her daughter is also diagnosed with
scabies.
The letter appearing to come from the doctor's surgery.

The woman also says theres damp in the home and also
slugs etc coming through an air vent.
In another complaint, a social worker writes to the DRHE
pleading on behalf of a vulnerable mother with a toddler.
The social worker states that the mother has no supports,
no cooking facilities and has a history of self-harm and
mental health issues.
In yet another complaint, a mother states that the room
she was given was in terrible condition, stating:
Ive decided to stay at my friends with my child because I
dont feel safe and I cant sleep and cant stop crying.
At one point a Project Estate Officer (who inspects
accommodation and follows up on complaints on behalf of
the DRHE) visits accommodation following a complaint
of:
Accommodation infected with bed bugs bed when they
took off the cover was covered in blood and urine marks.
The officer finds serious breaches of fire safety and the

accommodation to be filthy.
The officer states:
Generally the property and a number of the client rooms
are filthy, this includes floor coverings, woodwork,
bedding, furniture, etc.
There are numerous other complaints similar to those
outlined above.
Response
Responding to the issues raised in the documents, Grainia
Long CEO of ISPCC said that it was deeply concerning
that families with young children felt the need to
complain.
The complaints received relate to children being exposed
to anti-social behaviour, public urination and
prostitution, said Long.
As the national child protection charity, the ISPCC has
been vocal on the unacceptability of this type of
environment for children, and we have warned about the
child protection and child welfare issues that it presents.
The ISPCC is concerned that childrens human rights are
being breached in a number of areas relating to the use of
hotels and B&Bs as emergency accommodation.
Today, the ISPCC reiterates the call we have made to the
State several times over the last year to outlaw use of
emergency accommodation for homeless children from
2018 onwards, said Long.
A spokesperson for the DRHE said all 175 complaints
were fully investigated and were resolved in a timely
manner.
The DRHE ensures compliance with all statutory health
and safety standards for homeless service provision and
notes there is formal policy for providers of emergency
accommodation in terms of standards required, the
spokesperson said.
Our aim is to ensure that all persons who access
accommodation whether in hotels or emergency provision
have a safe, clean and comfortable environment that is
peaceful and respectful of each persons situation.

The Government has previously committed to ending
hotel use to house homeless families by the middle of next
year, however as we reported in July, many experts believe
that will not be possible.
http://www.thejournal.ie/homeless-conditions-3137432-Dec2016/?
utm_source=facebook_short
The Housing Action Plan states that hotels will no longer used by next
year, but is that possible?
Jul 24th 2016,
DURING A DEMONSTRATION in Dublin this week in

support of homeless families who had been told they had
to leave a hotel they had been staying in, one mother
described conditions in which her family lived:
Its awful, its very, very stressful. Im washing [my
baby's] bottle in bathroom water.
Shes got a bad dose of thrush twice since being here
because its not suitable water.
Its very bad for us financially too because we have to eat
out everyday. I go days sometimes skipping meals.
The mothers account was just one of many similar
accounts heard over the past few years of parents living in
cramped, unsuitable accommodation with their families
for long periods of time.

Earlier in the week the Housing Action Plan was launched
to much fanfare, as the government moves to address one
of the most prominent social issues of the past number of
years.
Entitled Rebuilding Ireland, the 114-page document
contains multiple provisions to address the housing crisis
in Ireland.
The plan has an entire section dedicated to addressing

homelessness in Ireland, with one of the key areas of focus
being the number of homeless families currently living in
private hotels of B&Bs.
The document states that by mid-2017, hotels will only be
used as emergency accommodation in limited
circumstances.
From the plan:

used for new presentations.
Our aim is that by mid-2017, hotels will only be used for
emergency accommodation in very limited circumstances.
Homeless hotels
The use of hotels to house homeless people began to
increase significantly in 2014, as existing services
struggled to cope with the rising numbers.
As prices rose in the private rental market and supply
dwindled, the number of families presenting as homeless
began to increase as the number of families leaving
homelessness decreased.
This led to a clog in existing accommodation services,
which werent equipped to deal with the number of people
now presenting.
There are a very small amount of homeless shelters in
Ireland that are purpose built for housing families.
Typically, homeless families would be sheltered in B&Bs
privately owned places of residence that local authorities
(like Dublin City Council) would lease out on a permanent
basis.
When the crisis started to get worse about three years ago
and these all filled up, they started using hotels to house
people, Mike Allen, director of advocacy with Focus
Ireland, told TheJournal.ie.
Environment Department figures show that there were
344 homeless families living in emergency
accommodation in July 2014. By this time last year, that
number had nearly doubled to 657.
As the numbers kept rising, local authorities had no choice
but keep checking families into hotels, putting a huge
strain on their finances.
Now theyve got long-term arrangements with hotels
where they block book rooms to get better prices, said
Allen.
The problem was felt most acutely in the Dublin region,
which contains the vast bulk of the homeless population.
In April 2014 there were 184 families residing in
commercial hotels in the Dublin region. Latest figures for

this year (June), show that that number has nearly
quadrupled to 682 families.
What was meant to be a temporary measure became a
long-term reality for many families living in a lot of
cases for months or years in cramped conditions with no
access to proper cooking or cleaning facilities.
I think theres unanimous agreement in Ireland that this
isnt a good solution, said Allen.
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The Plan
The Housing Action Plan aims to all but end the use of
hotels by next year through a number of measures
involving building and acquiring new houses and
increased rental support schemes.
In terms of housing, the plan has two approaches to
bringing more units on-stream:
An expanded rapid-build housing programme (which aims
to deliver 1,500 units).
A Housing Agency initiative to acquire vacant houses
(which aims to deliver 1,600 units).
Rapid-Build Housing was first floated last year as a quick
and relatively inexpensive way to address the

homelessness crisis through building modular homes.
Modular homes can take a number of different forms, but
are based around the principle of stacking individual
modules together to form a house. This means they can be
produced off-site in factory conditions, and quickly
assembled on-site.
Criticism over the cost-effectiveness of modular housing
and how long the units will last has arisen since they were
first announced.
Despite commitments last September to build 500
modular housing units, to date just 22 have been built at a
site in Poppintree, Ballymun in north Dublin.
RT reported in March that in total these units cost about
4.2 million to build, putting the cost of each unit at about
190,000.
Despite this, the Action Plan states that 200 units will be
built by the end of the year, 800 by the end of 2017 and
another 500 in 2018.
They have a credibility problem in terms of delivering
rapid-build housing, said Mike Allen.
We dont have any evidence to believe that they can deliver
it this time.
There is no mention in the plan of how any of the issues
that face the previous rapid-build housing programme will
be addressed in the next build.
Housing Agency
The second part of the plan to end the use of commercial
hotels involves housing agencies acquiring vacant
properties to be used as social housing.
The Housing Agency is a government body set up to
support housing functions in local authorities and the
Environment Department.
The Action Plan states that the agency will immediately
begin acquiring vacant homes from the investment or loan
portfolios of banks and other financial institutions to be
used as social housing.
This will deliver 1,600 new housing units by 2020, the
plan states, and alleviate the need to use hotels forms of
accommodation for families.
Its very clear in the report that they will only be buying
these housing units if theyre empty, said Mike Allen.
In our experience, when weve looked at buildings which
are owned by financial institutions they are not empty,
they have leased them out.
Allen said that problems could arise out of the houses
being occupied, but that the plan to acquire the units had
been thought out.
Its not just made up, there is a definite plan there, he
said.
However, while he commends parts of the plan, Allen
questions the timeline of getting the families out of hotel
accommodation by next year.
Another aspect of it is the use of the Housing Assistance
Payment (HAP), which is paid on behalf on tenants to
landlords.
The plan states that this will be used to move families out
of homeless accommodation and into private rental
accommodation.
However, while Allen states that this has helped get
homeless for people, the success of the measure relies on
the supply of houses being there. If there arent enough
houses available, it will be impossible to move people.
Its not just a question of price, its also a question of
whether these units actually exist. he said.

Its hard to see the escalation theyre hoping for until new
housing supply come on, and thats not going to happen
for another 18 months.
In terms of the mid-2017 target to end hotel usage, Allen
said:
Its very to see all those bits adding up in time.
Lets hope they do. But when you look at the figures
theyre pointing in the right direction
My advice to Minister for

Housing Simon Coveney
Posted: May 16, 2016 in Housing, Simon Coveney, Uncategorized
1
The new Minister for Housing has an opportunity to end the
homeless crisis and start to fix our broken housing system. This will
only be achieved if he abandons the failed policy consensus that has
dominated government thinking for the last three decades.
Simon Coveney is a serious politician. He has a reputation for
knowing his brief. He has also demonstrated an ability to build
alliances with disparate interests.
He will need all of these skills if he is to undo the damage of
decades of bad housing policy.
The new Minister is also clearly ambitious, considered by many as a
future party leader and even Taoiseach. His political future now
hinges on his success or failure in his new department.
That future is now dependent on the Minister making a simply
choice. Will he remain within the framework set out by his
predecessor in Social Housing Strategy 2020? Or will he be bold and
chart his own policy course?
The signals from Government buildings are conflicting.
The housing section of the Programme for Government is deeply
disappointing. The targets and timeframes for social housing
delivery remain unchanged. So too does the excessive reliance on
the private sector to deliver 80% of the social units over the next
five years.
Where new ideas have made it into the Programme they are
couched in works like explore, examine and consider rather than
definite commitments for action.
But there are signs that change may be afoot.
Minister Coveney has described the crisis as a national emergency.
He is the first Minister to do so. He has also said that the crisis
needs a comprehensive response suggesting that the response to

date has been less than comprehensive.
But he, and the thousands of families living at the rough edge of the
housing crisis, doesnt have much time.
Last week the Department of Environment released the latest
homeless figures. Almost 6000 people, including 2000 children are
homeless in the state.
In 2008 the number of people without a home was 1394. When Fine
Gael took office in 2011 there were 2348 people homeless across
the state.
Last week also saw the publication of the Daft.ie rent report. Rent
inflation is soaring at 10%, rents have now exceeded their boom
time peaks.
The figures confirm what many of us warned, that Alan Kelly and
Michael Noonans 2015 rent certainty measures had no positive
impact whatsoever and in some cases made matters worse.
So what must Minister Coveney do? What are the key policies
changes that we need to see in his Housing Action plan that is to be
published by August?
The plan must focus on two key challenges stopping the flow of
people into homelessness and increasing the supply of affordable
and stable social, rental and owner occupier housing.
To achieve these objectives he needs immediate actions and more
medium term proposals.
Rent certainty linking rent reviews to the Consumer Price Indexmust be a priority. Raising Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance
Payments levels alone will not halt the growing numbers of people
being forced out of the private rental sector.
Greater protections for tenants living in repossessed buy-to-let
properties, proper regulation of investment funds who are
purchasing distressed mortgage books, and reform of the mortgageto-rent scheme must also be immediate priorities.
Minister Coveney should combine these moves with a more
thorough reform of the personal insolvency service and greater
profesionalisation of the private rental sector. The first is contained
in the programme for government. The second isnt even
mentioned. Both are required.
However the single most important policy intervention that Minister
Coveney must pursue is a major social housing programme. The
claim made by Alan Kelly and repeated by Minister Coveney, that
Social Housing Strategy 2020 is the biggest social housing
investment in the history of the state is simply not true.
Investment in social housing has fallen from 1.1bn a year in the
early 00s to a low of 585m in 2014. Under the Governments
current strategy that figure will rise to approx. 800m for three
years only to be cut to 400m for the next three years.
This is in fact one of the lowest levels of direct state investment in
social housing in the history of the state. The numbers speak for
themselves. In the 1950 the state built 50,000 council houses. In the
1970s they build almost 70,000. Under Alan Kellys plan the total
number will be somewhere in the region of 12,000 over 6 years.
And here is the fatal flaw. Almost 80% of the social housing units
contained in Social Housing 2020 are not social houses at all. They
are private rental properties subsidised by the state under schemes
such as Rent Supplement, Rental Accommodation Scheme, Housing
Assistance Payment or the Leasing Initiative.
More than any other policy, this overreliance on the private rental
sector first introduced by Fianna Fil in the 1980s and continued by
every Government since- is at the heart of our housing system
failure.
Investing in real social housing development, on the scale of the
1950s and 1970s will not only tackle the homeless and social
housing crisis. It will benefit the private renter and first time buyer
by reducing demand and with it rents and property prices.
If Minister Coveney is serious about social housing he will also need
to shake up the cumbersome procurement process with slows the
development process down. And he will need to change the way we
think about public housing to focus on greater income mix and
better estate management.
Simon Coveneys political mettle is about to be tested like never
before. As Minister he can change the direction of housing policy in
the state. Whether he does will be revealed in August when he
publishes his Housing Action Plan.
Tackling the housing crisis

requires political will
Posted: May 2, 2016 in Housing, Irish Government, Politics
0
Emily is nine years old. She will soon have spent a full year of her
young life living in a hotel. She is one of almost 2000 children across
the state who will sleep in emergency accommodation tonight.
It will cost 36,000 to keep Emily and her mother in that hotel for 12
months. 100 for every night they spend cooped up in a small room,
living out of suitcases.
Emilys mother is unable to cook for her daughter. Emily has to do
her homework stretched out on a hotel bed. When she is done she
cant go out to play, the corridors are off limits on health and safety
grounds.
Her mother is left feeling ashamed. She thinks that she is letting her
daughter down. Emily is confused, tired and sad.
Elsewhere in the hotel, staff and guests are asking why it is taking
so long to form a government. Surely after 50 days a deal can be
done.
Back in her small room Emily asks her mother why it is taking so
long to get a home. Surely after 270 nights a house can be found.
But Emilys mother cant find a landlord that will accept the Housing
Assistance Payment. The Council has no houses, there are 20,000
families on the list and the wait is 10 years long.
So every morning Emilys mother leaves the hotel, drops her
daughter to school, travels to work, collects her daughter from
school and returns to that small cramped hotel room.
She is exhausted, at her wits end, wondering if she will ever be
housed.
It should be a national scandal that so many children are living like
Emily. Tragically it is becoming normalised.
Next week it is likely that a new Fine Gael minority government will
be formed. The indications are that that government will include a
new stand alone Department and Minister for Housing.
On taking office the new Minister should take a moment and reflect
on Emilys story. The conditions of her daily life are not just a
scandal, they are a screaming alarm bell telling us all that our
housing system is broken.
The growing number of homeless families is not some quirk of the
housing market. It is the direct result of decades of failed housing
policy pursued by successive governments.
Homeless service providers have been shouting this fact for years.
They have been warning that a failure by the state to invest in large
scale social housing by local authorities would result in a social
emergency.
Previous Ministers refused to listen. A failing policy consensus
prevailed. As a result Emily and hundreds of other homeless children
are paying the price. The social emergency that was warned of is all
around us.
The new Minister for Housing has a very simply choice. Will she
continue on the well worn path of her predecessors or will she
accept that the system in broken and fundamental policy change is
needed.
If she is open to change then I would respectfully suggest the
following steps.
Step 1: Declare a State of Emergency. If we dont admit the scale of
the problem then how can we hope to solve it.
Step 2: Tear up everything in Alan Kellys Social Housing Strategy
2020 except the multi annual housing targets. A social housing plan
that depends on the private sector to deliver 80% of its 100,000
units is doomed to fail.
Step 3: Double capital investment in local authority and housing
association social housing. Use whatever is the most efficient
funding source revenue, borrowing, SPVs. If necessary negotiate
an exemption for social housing investment from EU spending rules
with the European Commission for the duration of the emergency.
Step 4: Prioritise the immediate purchase of properties to meet
housing targets in year one. Use Compulsory Purchase Orders if
necessary to get vacant units back into stock or keep housing list
rental tenants in rental properties that are being repossessed by

banks or sold onto vulture funds.
Step 5: Apply the same fast track procurement process for standard
social housing as that used for the Ballymun rapid build houses. This
would cut project times by up to a quarter bringing on new build
units within 12 months rather than two years plus at present.
Step 6: Introduce emergency legislation to give tenants in private
rental properties greater protections when the properties are
repossessed or sold to vulture funds.
Step 7: Amend the Mortgage to Rent Scheme to make it a more
attractive option for both lenders and housing bodies and apply
greater pressure to banks, backed up with threats of legislation, to
meet ambitious targets.
Step 8: Amend the Housing Assistance Scheme to allow recipients to
remain on the Councils primary housing list.
Step 9: Introduce rent certainty, linking rent increases and
decreases to the Consumer Price Index and adjust rent
supplement/housing assistance payment rates to current market
rents.
There will be lots of people who will give the new Minister for
Housing lots of reasons why any or all of these steps cant be taken.
But before she allows her desire for change to be neutralised by
those with a vested interested in the status quo the Minister should
ask herself one question.
If Emily were her granddaughter would she not move heaven and
earth to get her out of emergency accommodation and into a secure
and appropriate home? Of course she would.
Emily is homeless because of political failure. The only thing the
new Government and their Minister for Housing needs to help Emily
is political will. Once you have that, moving heaven and earth is
childs play.
Jul 19th 2016,
THERE HAS BEEN a 37% increase in the number of

homeless children over the last six months.
New figures from the Department of the Environment
provide a snapshot of the homeless situation in Ireland
this month. The stats show that there were 2,206 children
living in emergency accommodation during the course of a
week in June 2016.
Thats up from 1,616 children who were living in a similar
situation in a week in December.
The count was taken during the week of 20-26 June and
shows that 1,078 families were living in emergency
accommodation. Six months previously that figure was
775.
The figure for adults in emergency accommodation was

3,625 in December. This has now risen to 4,152, a 14.5%
increase over six months.
The figures also demonstrate the extent of the homeless
problem is Dublin, an area which accounts for more than
two-thirds of the national figure.
The figures come as the government today announced a

planned 5 billion spend on social housing over the next
five years along with other measures to fight
homelessness.
These include the phasing out of hotels for emergency

accommodation and increased rental supplements.n to tell
you that that cant actually be achieved.
Homelessness Data
Official homelessness data is produced by local authorities

through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System
(PASS). PASS was rolled-out nationally during the course
of 2013.
The data produced captures details of individuals in Statefunded emergency accommodation, arrangements that
are overseen by local authorities. For example data on
domestic violence refuges is available through Tusla the
Child and Family Agency. Data on asylum seekers
accommodated in direct provision, is available from the
Reception and Integration Agency.
The lead local authorities for homelessness in each region
provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify
the number of people utilising State-funded emergency
accommodation on a regional and county basis.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community &
Local Government Homelessness Report October 2016
es/homeless_report_-_october_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report - September 2016
es/homeless_report_-_september_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Report - August 2016
ess_report_-_august_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report - July 2016
ess_report_-_july_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report June 2016
ess_report_-_june_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report May 2016
files/publications/files/homeless_report_-
_may.pdf
Homelessness Report April 2016
files/publications/files/homelessness_rep
ort_april_2016.pdf
Homelessness Report March 2016
files/publications/files/homeless_report__march.pdf
Homelessness Report February 2016
files/publications/files/homeless_report__february_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Report January 2016
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publica
tions/files/homelessness_report_january_2016_0.pdf
Homelessness Policy Statement

files/migratedfiles/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHo
using/Housing/FileDownLoad
%2C32434%2Cen.pdf
Homelessness Performance Report Quarter 2 2016

Dublin
files/publications/files/performance_repo
rt_q2_2016_-_dublin.pdf
Social Housing Strategy 2020
files/publications/files/social_strategy_d
ocument_20141126.pdf
Local Authority Regional Performance

Reports
Local Authority Regional Financial

Reports
night without agreement over the issue of rental caps and
the Government's new housing strategy.
government and its 'confidence and supply' arrangement
confirmed in May
TDs to tell them their rent strategy just won't do. Get your
TDs number here
Enda Kenny threatens to

drop rental strategy
Taoiseach says Government will withdraw plan unless
Fianna Fil accepts rent cap
Wed, Dec 14, 2016, 09:21 Updated: about 14 hours ago
Vivienne Clarke, Fiach Kelly

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the Government will

withdraw its rental plan unless Fianna Fil accepts a 4
per cent cap on rent increases.
Mr Kenny told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that
the principle outlined by Minister for Housing Simon
Coveney must remain in the plan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fianna Fil had proposed
halving the 4 per cent cap the Government is seeking to
place on rent increases in Dublin and Cork city over the
next three years.
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has said the 4 per
cent cap is not negotiable.
Mr Coveney and Fianna Fil housing spokesman Barry

Cowen are meeting on Wednesday night in an attempt
to reach agreement on the strategy.
Fianna Fil has been demanding changes to the
strategy, which was announced on Tuesday by the
Minister, in order to secure their support for it.
The party is also adamant the relief should be offered
in other areas of the country.
Mr Coveneys position is that the entire strategy would
be undermined if the 4 per cent figure is changed and
he would be unable to bring the plan through the
Oireachtas.
However, he said he is willing to bring forward an
assessment of areas outside of Dublin and Cork to
ascertain if they qualify for rent caps.
Speaking on RTs Today with Sean ORourke, Mr
Coveney said: If Fianna Fil want to take it on, then so
be it.
Political sources say they expect the parties to reach a
compromise in order to allow the policy pass through
the Oireachtas and take effect in the new year, despite
disagreements between them.
U
U
U

rent issue
rent cap
Government sources, however, said Mr Coveney is

preparing to face down Fianna Fil on the issue.
Mr Coveneys rent predictability plan will apply for
three years and would mean landlords could only
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src="https://secserv.adtech.de/adserv|3.0|826.0|6282544|0|
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1,300 in Dublin or Cork city now could only see it rise
to some 1,470 by 2019.
Not rushed
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Coveney said the rent
proposals had not been rushed as there was a threemonth consultation process.
We will now have to work with all responsible parties
because there are many families under huge strain. We
need to take proactive action, he said.
The Minister said it would be politically popular for
him to only focus on the plight of tenants in the
strategy, but without landlords there would not be a
functioning market.
In order to have balance, the Government has to try to
take into account the maintenance of both sides of the
market.
There were lots of things [Fianna Fil] looked for that
theyre getting in this legislation.
The Minister said the time to look at incentives for
landlords was at budget time.
Mr Coveney said he would work with the Minister for
Finance to put in place a working group to examine the
possibility of tax incentives for landlords.
He said he wanted to stabilise the rental market and
pointed out that 88 per cent of landlords own only one
property.
If we cut off supply we will be having this same
conversation next year, if Im still in this job.
He said among the issues of concern to Fianna Fil was
the inclusion of other parts of the country in the rent
cap.
We will work to make that happen, he said.
Cumbersome
Earlier, Mr Cowen said his party had genuine
concerns about several aspects about the
Governments rental strategy.
He said the methodology of the Ministers strategy was
cumbersome.
The current model is limited in where it applies to. We
want Galway and Limerick and other large population
centres around Dublin to be included, he said.
The Offaly TD also said he was not satisfied with the 4
per cent rent cap.
He said that the current rent levels were abnormal and
an increase of 4 per cent was too much.
He told Newstalk Breakfast that Fianna Fil had
proposed a 1 to 2 per cent cap.
There is no doubt that these proposals are a step in
the right direction, when the opportunity presents
itself, we will seek to make amendments, he said.
Mr Cowen said tax incentives should have been
included in the strategy.

the Fianna Fil party position has made it
Coveney's Rent Gambit, Kenny's

Calculus
December 15, 16

line?
https://soundcloud.com/irishtimespolitics/coveneys-rental-plan-enda-kennysleadership-six-months-of-new-politics
intransigence.
Fianna Fil.
After the talks both sides agreed that the
working group to look at tax incentives for
landlords should begin its work in the New
key issues
the past quarter.
outset.
Fianna Fil.
rent limit
thing to do".

worse."
three years.
issues.
outset.
appropriate.
increases.
Fil.
city.
2019.
zones.
supply.

pay rent.
the same time,
rising.
benefits.

back to the market.
nationwide.
affordable housing.
accelerated rate.
certainty
certainty.
index.

something."
looked at.
The latest Residential Tenancies Board rent

month.

quarter this year.
levels.
working well.
tenants."

nowhere to go.
"runaway train" .
helped somewhat.
Index.
make no changes.
situ.
get accommodation."
this.
ten areas.
couples.

payments.
little impact.
homelessness.
alike."

owning a home.
threshold annua lreport 2015 Provide homes for
vulnerable people who are homeless or at risk of
becoming homeless
The private rented sector is the most expensive and most
insecure form of housing in Ireland, with unaffordable
rents and insecure tenancies.
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/thresholdannualre
port2015.pdf
Simon Coveney plays hardball with Fianna Fil

over rent cap
Tensions with Fianna Fil tackled as Minister for Housing
attempts to call their bluff
Fianna Fil tried to undo house that

Simon built
Housing Minister Simon Coveney looked set for a victory of

sorts last night over his rent cap proposals after an
embarrassing climbdown by Fianna Fil,
Simon Coveney
The party had tried to push the Fine Gael-led Government
into a corner over its plans to tackle spiralling rents that
are fuelling the housing crisis.
Coveneys long-awaited strategy for the rental sector was
launched on Tuesday and included lengthy explanations
about rent predictability.
It seemed he had managed to haul his rent plan across the
line by getting his Cabinet colleagues on board despite
Fine Gaels history of opposing rent-control measures and
strong hesitations from Finance Minister Michael Noonan.
Except there was one matter: Fianna Fil.
How quickly things change in politics. By Tuesday night,
Fianna Fil was determined to get its mark on the plans.
But it went further. Michel Martins party wanted the rent
cap limited to 2% as opposed to the Governments
proposed 4% annual increase limit. It said areas beyond
Dublin and Cork City must be included, such as Limerick
and Meath. And some type of tax incentive for landlords
must be assessed, the party declared.
By yesterday afternoon, Coveney was fuming, his plan
unravelling. Fianna Fils Barry Cowen was privately giving
out that Coveney had kept him and Fianna Fil in the dark
about the 4% rent cap. The minister made no secret of the
fact he thought Fianna Fil, whose support the
Government relies on, was playing politics with the
strategy.
A standoff ensued. The horsetrading began. And

amendments from the Government as well as from Fianna
Fil for the rent strategy legislation were being drafted by
both sides yesterday evening.
One minister told the Irish Examiner: We are not folding
on this. We are sticking with 4%. Months of work went into
getting that figure. They are just playing politics with this.
At one stage, Government sources were suggesting they
were prepared to let the whole rent strategy collapse and
give up on it if Fianna Fil didnt back down. He [Mr
Coveney] will pull it. And they [Fianna Fil] will be to
blame.
For years, rents have been out of control in the capital.
Prospective tenants are having to queue up outside
properties, competing for leases.
Increasing portions of peoples incomes are going towards
rents. Coveney said this week that the average monthly
demand in Dublin is 1,500. Families living in Dublin and
Cork City are unable to save for a mortgage and are
caught in a rent trap, paying landlords more every year as
rates are hiked up at an uncontrollable pace.
It was about time something was done. Coveneys

intervention is admirable, but is the 4% cap on rent
increases too much? Rates are already sky high, charities
warn.
Of course, the other issue is that strict rent controls will
scare away investors or landlords and then, ultimately,
worsen the crisis.
Coveney fired off a letter to Fianna Fil yesterday stating
that he was not for turning. Fianna Fil, meanwhile, was
floating the idea, through amendments, of agreeing to
higher rent increases if landlords carry out significant
refurbishments on properties.
The rent legislation is set to be debated and voted on in
the Dil today. But it remains to be seen if this increasingly
rocky minority Government can find a compromise so that

tenants, ultimately, get some relief
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has strongly defended the
Governments controversial rental strategy which has
been deemed far too limited in scope and scale.
Mr Kenny came under fire in the Dil from both Fianna Fil
and Sinn Fin after the Government announced it would
still allow landlords increase rents by 4% per year in areas
where rents have been spiralling out of control.
Mr Kenny said a decision to set the cap at 4% one of the
main elements Fianna Fil have major difficulties with
was made for a number of specific reasons.
The Taoiseach claimed a lower limit could have resulted in
a spike in rents when the controls are lifted.
He said that landlords needed a reasonable rate of return
on investment to avoid storing up a sudden upward
correction for tenants after three years.
He pointed out that the Government had previously
backed a 4% per annum cap on a rolling five-year basis.
Mr Kenny added: The level we have chosen is 20% lower
than this countrys long-run annual rent increases over
seven decades.
He added that the maximum allowed inflation in rental

pressure zones will be less than half of the current rate of
annual rent inflation nationally.
It is below the allowed rental inflation in a number of
other countries where rents are indexed, including
Germany, where rents may be increased by a maximum of
20% over a three-year period; New York, where increases
of 7.5% per annum are allowed until maximum rent is
reached; Sweden, where rents can go beyond an agreed
price ceiling up a maximum of 5%; and Switzerland, where
rents can be increased to ensure there is a return, with
nominal rates of return of approximately 6%, Mr Kenny
said.
But Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said the
announcements around rent are far too limited in scope
and scale.
Mr Martin said the proposal to only impose the caps in the
rent pressure zones of Dublin and Cork was too
restrictive and too limited.
The boundaries of the cities do not take account of the
suburban conurbations contiguous to the cities of Cork,
Dublin, Limerick and Galway.
Mr Kenny said that an assessment would be carried out by
the Residential Tenancies Board before February and he
was confident that these areas could be extended.
But Mr Martin said his party is not satisfied with the
capacity of the Residential Tenancies Board to deal with all
of this.
He added that the more action we take in the legislation
over these two days, the better in terms of bringing
certainty, clarity and timeliness to the interventions that
are being proposed.
Sinn Fin president Gerry Adams described the rental
measures as ill-thought-out.
I appeal to the Taoiseach to do the right thing, the proper
thing: introduce rent certainty, not rent punishment, and
link rent increases to the consumer price index. That is the
only solution that will adequately tackle this crisis, he
said.
Rent control set to be passed by Dil

Elaine Loughlin, Juno McEnroe, and Eamon Quinn
The Governments controversial rent control measures

look set to pass through the Dil today after Simon
Coveney faced down a backlash from Fianna Fil.
Crunch meetings continued late into the night but the

housing ministers measures to allow landlords increase
rents by up to 4% looked set to remain in place.
Fianna Fil had lobbied strongly to reduce this to 2%.
However, in a slight concession to the opposition the
scheme is likely to be expanded to Galway, Limerick,
Waterford and the commuter belts around Cork and Dublin
early in the new year.
The proposals will now be debated in the Dil today before
it breaks for Christmas.
Simon Coveney had threatened to pull the rent control
measures if Fianna Fil would not accept the plan to
impose a cap on rental increases of 4% in so-called rent
pressure zones.
The Taoiseach backed Mr Coveneys plans and said there
was no question of reducing the 4% cap on rent increases.
At a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party Enda
Kenny told TDs and senators that the limit would not be
adjusted and it was 4% or nothing.
But one minister last night told the Irish Examiner he
would have difficulty supporting the legislation that will
guarantee landlords get 12% in increased rent over three
years.
Junior jobs minister John Halligan, of the Independent

Alliance, might seek a free vote on the rent legislation.
I personally think there should be a [rent] freeze over 12
months until we analyse why rents have gone this way.
Siptu also called on Mr Coveney to reconsider his plan as
they said it does not address the issues of security for
tenants.
From early in the day Mr Coveney ruled out any
negotiation around the 4% rent cap and maintained it had
already been negotiated.
The 4% in my view is important, if you look at where we
want inflation to be its about 2% and to offer people
a margin of 2% above increases in the cost of living is a
very modest margin.
He said he would not support an amendment to bring the

cap down to 2% adding that if Fianna Fil insisted on this
the legislation would not get through the Dil before
Christmas.
And if Fianna Fil want to take that on themselves so be
it.
There are things we can do in relation to some of the
Fianna Fil queries, he said referring to broadening out to
areas outside Dublin and Cork.
The deadlock was discussed at meetings of both the Fine
Gael and Fianna Fil parliamentary parties last night.
Fianna Fil called for other electoral areas to be
immediately designated rent pressure zones, beyond
Dublin and Cork.
TDs Sean Fleming and John McGuinness both warned how
rents had shot up in Portlaoise and Kilkenny respectively.
Fianna Fil TDs and senators also feel aggrieved they were
bounced into Mr Coveneys rent strategy and were given
little details about the plan before it went public earlier
this week.
Speeding up assessments of areas for rent caps was more
important than getting a lower rate agreed, some
members afterwards told the Irish Examiner.
However Michel Martin told his party that no progress
had been made and members were also told that there
was a 50/50 chance of agreement being reached.
Meanwhile the Economic and Social Research Institute
(ERSI) has said it was not particularly enthusiastic about
the Governments proposed rent controls and favours
boosting housing supply, through an aggressive site tax
instead.
Unveiling its latest quarterly outlook, research professor,
Kieran McQuinn said fast-tracking a site tax would help
boost a lot of supply and take out of the equation
another bubble in land prices.
Fianna Fil would be willing to let landlords rise rents by up
to 5% if they could show they carried out significant
improvements to a property.
Although the Government had proposed a 4% limit on rent

hikes in areas where rents have soared out of control,
Fianna Fil claimed this was too high and wanted it
reduced to a cap of 2%.
But in proposed amendments to the Planning and
Development (Housing and Residential Tenancies) Bill
2016, Fianna Fil argued that in some circumstances,
landlords should be allowed to increase rents further.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney held talks with Fianna
Fil housing spokesman Barry Cowen last night in a bid to
get support for his proposals to have them passed before
the Dil plans to rise for Christmas today.
Mr Cowen submitted a list of proposed amendments
before the lunchtime deadline yesterday. Among them was
an amendment to have the number of rent pressure zones
increased. The Government had identified Cork and Dublin
as so-called rent pressure zones due to the
unsustainable increases.
Fianna Fil had requested that Galway City, Waterford City,
Limerick City, and the commuter belts around Cork and
Dublin also be included.
Perhaps one of the most contentious issues for the party is
the decision to place an annual cap of 4% on rent
increases in areas where rents have spiralled. Mr Cowen
had argued this rise should be capped at 2%.
However, if landlords can prove that they have made
substantial changes and improvements, they could rise

rents by as much as 5%. This was in contrast to the
Government bill which exempted landlords who carried
out significant improvements from the cap.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) will produce and
publish a classified list of defined substantial changes in
the nature of the accommodation provided under the
tenancy, the amendment read. It said the RTB would set
the different levels of increases. The amendment said the
rises, on top of the 2%, would be set a between 0.002%
and 3% depending on the substantial change
classification.

increases

HE IS ONLY CONCERNED FOR HIMSELF AND WHAT HE CAN
GROW ON HIS PROFIT LANDLORD SCHEME OUT OF IRISH
TAX PAYERS MONEY, BILDEBERG MAN ROTHSCHILDS MATE
AND HIS BRITHER PATRICK COVENY WHO USES HORSE
SHIT FOR MEAT THESE COVENEY BROS ARE CORRUPT
GREEDY PIGS DRAFTING THEIR OWN LEGAL BILSS AS
LANDLORDS SOME OF THEM ARE TDS IN THE DIAL, THIS IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND TREASON,

far too high.
2002.
whatever they want.

a permanent basis.
"Major anti-climax"
levels.
affordability."
through the House.
http://www.newstalk.com/Rent-increase-limits-to-be-introduced-inpressure-zones-Dublin-and-Cork
Tnaiste downplays rise in

homelessness figures
Frances Fitzgerald described the 35% rise year on year as a
"slight increase"
24 Nov 2016
THIS FAT OLD COW HASNT A FFOGGY DEW ABOUT

HOMELESS, SHE SELLS REFUGEE CHILDREN AS A PROFIT,
LIVING IN LUXUARY AND DRAFTING ILLEGAL BILS ON
CHILDREN AND WATER PROTESTERS WHO SPEAK UP TO THE
LIKES OF THIS CORRUPT MEAN COW,

Christmas.
for people.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen

http://www.newstalk.com/Tnaiste-plays-down-rise-inhomelessness-in-Dublin
Minister says new housing

strategy will learn from
mistakes of the past
Simon Coveney has refused to commit to the introduction of
rent control measures amid "unsustainable" price rises
o LinkedIn
The Minister for Housing has said he is determined to

learn from the mistakes of the past with the government's
new housing strategy.
A new report has indicated that in the best-case scenario,
rents could rise by 19% in Dublin - and 14% outside of the
capital - by the end of 2018.
A new strategy for the rental sector is due to published within
a month; however Housing Minister, Simon Coveney has sofar refused to say if it will include measures to control rising
rents.
He said the current level of rent inflation is unsustainable but
warned the government will not introduce policies that could
make it less attractive to build new properties:
I am determined to ensure that if we are going to add 50,000
houses to the social housing stock in Ireland, we are not going
to do what was done in the seventies and eighties, said
Minister Coveney.
He said the strategy at the time saw social housing centred in
certain areas of cities while other locations saw only private
developments.
That is a recipe for social disadvantage but it is also a recipe
for political unrest, understandably, as people feel they are
locked out of progress and opportunity, he said.
Lecturer in housing at DIT, Lorcan Sirr said rents still have the
potential to rise by as much as 25% nationally.
That is a huge rise. If you think that the average rent in Dublin
is 1,707 - add 25% to that and we are getting to levels where
it becomes totally unaffordable for people, he said.
He said high rents are fuelling higher wage demands from
workers and warned the government has a lot to address
within the new housing strategy:
DIT housing lecturer,
Lorcan Sirr
The latest figures from Focus Ireland show that 736 families
with 1389 children have become homeless in Dublin in the first
9 months of 2016.
The charity has called on the government to ensure the new
housing strategy includes measures to help stabilise rents in
the short-term.
Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy Mike Allen said the new
strategy must include measures to stabilise rents in the shortterm while also protecting tenants when banks step in to
repossess properties.
Focus Ireland is committed to working with the Government
to tackle this crisis but we do not shy away from saying more
can be done and more must be done now on this serious
issue, he said.
We need clear targets and timelines for delivery of homes if
we are to end the nightmare of homelessness for all the
families and children around the country who are living
through this trauma every single day.
http://www.newstalk.com/Minister-says-new-housingstrategy-will-learn-from-mistakes-of-the-past
Eoin Broin TD: 'Minister

Coveney failed struggling
renters yesterday'
Simon Coveney has given landlords increased level of returns while
failing to provide tenants with certainty or security, writes Eoin Broin.
December 15, 16
Eoin Broin
YESTERDAY, SIMON COVENEY launched his strategy for

the private rental sector. The big question in the build up
to this launch was would it deliver any meaningful
improvements in the lives of struggling
renters? Unfortunately the answer is no.
The Minister had an opportunity to provide renters with
some real relief from rising rental costs. However instead
he chose to potentially hit renters in Dublin with a 4,500
price hike over the next three years. Renters in Cork will
be hit with a bill for 3,200. The rest of the country,
including the Ministers own hometown of Carrigaline, will
remain at the mercy of the market.
Creating rent pressure zones
The creation of rent pressure zones in Dublin and Cork
is the only big idea in the 40 page document. The rest is
stuffed with re-announcements of proposals made public
over the last few months.
In areas deemed to be in rent pressure zones, rents can
only be increased by a maximum of 4% a year for the next
three years. For the privilege of living in a rent pressure
zone tenants will be guaranteed rent increase of 12% over
the next three years.
This will continue to heap pressure on struggling renters,
and lock low income families and single people out of the
rental market. Plus they will suffer rent reviews on an
annual basis, and not every 24 months as is currently the
case.
The picture for the three quarters of a million people living
in the private rental sector is bleak. Gone are the days
when renting was the preserve of the transient low income
worker or the away-from-home student. Increasingly, it is
where low and middle income families and single people
spend long periods of their lives.
In the capital city, where one in four households rent, the
cost of renting is now out of control. In Dublin the average
rent is 1,500 per month while new-lets are approaching
2,000. Across the rest of the country the picture is not
much better.
Poor regulation causes homelessness
Source: Shutterstock/GongTo
Despite its dramatic growth, the private rental sector is

badly regulated. High rents, insecure tenure and poor
standards are all too common. Renters may have
accommodation but rarely have a home.
The result has been a dramatic increase in family
homelessness, up 200% in two years as lower income
renters are squeezed out of the market by those with better
jobs and higher incomes. Working families are now paying
between 40% and 60% of their disposable income on rent
pushing them into in-work-poverty and locking them
out of the first time buyer market.
Tenants rights remain very weak even after the
Residential Tenancies Act reform of 2004. The grounds on
which a landlord can serve a Notice to Quit are too broad
and make legal evictions too easy.
Standards remain patchy. A recent NOAC study found that
55% of rental properties inspected by local authorities in
2014 did not meet minimum standards. Unfortunately the
inspection regime itself is poor with some councils
inspecting no rental properties at all. We do welcome the
commitment made by the Minister to introduce new
regulations governing standards in rental accommodation.
However he must ensure that local authorities are
adequately resourced to do so.
Accidental landlords dominate
With 65% of landlords owning only a single property and a
further 17% only two, our rental market is dominated by
accidental landlords. These are people who thought
renting was a passive investment requiring little effort or
cost.
Now 71% of them have to top up their rental income to

meet their mortgage payments. Ironically our poorly
regulated rental market is bad for many landlords too. Tax
treatment of landlords is complex and treats large nonresident investment trusts more favourably that resident
landlords.
The bottom line is that our private rental sector is broken
and Simon Coveney had a chance to start the job of
putting it right. He could have set out a vision for a private
rented sector that provides tenants with rent certainty,
security of tenure and quality housing in exchange for
reasonable returns to landlords for the professional service
they provide.
Rent certainty
The Minister missed an opportunity to introduce rent
certainty. Sinn Fin has tabled legislation linking rents to
the Consumer Price Index three times in recent months. It
has been blocked by Fine Gael and Fianna Fil.
If the Minister had introduced a better proposal for
achieving the same aim Sinn Fin would have welcomed it.
His argument that limiting rent reviews to affordability
will reduce investment in the rental sector is bogus, and he
has produced no evidence to support this argument.
The truth is that rental yields are at historic highs and
even with the CPI index linked to rent certainty, landlords
will make a return. Halting the spiral of rent inflation was
the litmus test of Minister Coveneys strategy, not just for
Sinn Fin, but for the tens of thousands of renters
struggling to get by.
Minister Coveney failed to tackle the security of tenure
issue. Extending leases from four years to six years doesnt
go far enough. The Residential Tenancies Act needs to be
amended to limit the grounds for issuing Notices to Quit,
and to provide for tenancies of indefinite duration. Longterm stable tenancies are good for tenants and landlords,
and help to build sustainable communities.
Taxing landlords
There is also a need to reform the tax treatment of

landlords. Mortgage Interest Relief is provided at different
levels to different categories of landlords. Real Estate
Investment Trusts have even more advantageous tax
arrangements, in some cases allowing them to avoid
almost all of their tax bill.
This costs the taxpayer millions in lost revenue annually.
We welcome the Ministers inclusion of a Sinn Fin
proposal that in advance of Budget 2018, Minister Noonan
needs to review the way in which Government taxes
landlords. Where tax reliefs remain in place they must be
designed to deliver a more professional, secure and
sustainable rental market.
Our rental sector will need to expand further
This can be done in a number of ways. Firstly by providing
more social and student housing, freeing up properties in
the rental sector and easing demand. The same can be
achieved by providing greater affordable housing for first
time buyers.
Better use of existing vacant stock, particularly in high
demand urban areas, is also crucial and will require
greater government investment that provided for in
Budget 2017. Local Authorities and housing bodies should
enter the affordable rental market in mixed tenure estates,
such as that proposed in ODevaney Gardens.
Private developers will go where the investment returns
are greatest but Government policy must not be led by
these concerns. Developer-led housing policy has failed in
the past and it will fail again in the future.
Renters will be deeply disappointed that Simon Coveney
and his colleagues chose not to break with decades of such
policy failures. He has launched a strategy for the rental
sector that will provide landlords with increased level of

returns while failing to provide tenants with real rent
certainty and robust security of tenure.
The rent row explained:

What it means for
renters, landlords,
Coveney and the minority
government
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
Renters and inset, Simon Coveney (left) and Barry Cowen
An unprecedented crisis is facing the

minority government today after Fianna Fil
refused to back Housing Minister Simon
Coveneys plan to tackle the rental crisis. A
Dil debate for 10am has been cancelled as
both sides refuse to compromise.
Independent.ies Political Editor Kevin Doyle takes a look
at what happens now
For renters:
Over 700,000 renters have been left in limbo by the row
between Fine Gael and Fianna Fil. Already Threshold has
received calls from tenants whose landlords have tried to
hike rents in advance of a rent cap being introduced. The
advice is to hold tight and see what happens over the next
24 hours.

not change
For landlords:
The good news is that the one area where the two parties
reached agreement was that there should be some sort of
tax incentives for landlords. However, that wont
happened until at least 2018. Finance Minister Michael
Noonan is to set up a working group to look at the issue
next month with any measures to be announced in
Octobers budget. On the issue of rent caps, landlords in
Dublin and Cork city will be on tenterhooks. Fine Gael and
Fianna Fil agree these areas should be designated as
Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) and be subject to a rent
increase cap for the next three years. The dispute is over
cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford as well as certain
towns in Meath, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow. Fianna Fil
want them immediately designated as RPZs but Simon
Coveney says this cant be done without further research
on current prices.
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen Photo: Tom Burke
For the Government:

The Government has withdrawn plans to debate
legislation which would have given effect to the rental
strategy in the Dil this morning. The move is a drastic
one but Simon Coveney felt he had no option, telling
Independent.ie that Fianna Fil were trying to make a
farce of it. The Dil is due to close for its Christmas
holidays at 10pm tonight. A compromise will have to be
reached early in the day or the plan falls.
For Fianna Fil:
Fianna Fil believe they are on the side of tenants in the
large cities outside Dublin and Cork as well as the
commuter belt. Their compromise was to allow the annual
rent cap be set at 4pc despite arguing it should be as low as
2pc. Unless Mr Coveney gives some movement on RPZs
then Barry Cowen is unlikely to budget. Its a dangerous
game because many renters will believe that some form of
deal would be better than doing nothing at all heading into
Christmas week.
For Simon Coveney:
This is high stakes for everybody involved but particularly

Housing Minister Simon Coveney. This is his baby.
Months of work have gone into it. He had to convince the
Department of Finance that some form of intervention was
warrant and then had difficulty bringing some of the
Cabinet on board but the resistance from Fianna Fil is
unprecedented. If the minister cedes too much ground to
the Opposition party he will be seen as weak. If he refuses
to budge the plan could collapse altogether. Its a
tightrope. A win for Mr Coveney would significantly boost
his chances of being the next leader of Fine Gael. A loss
could cause irreparable damage and hand the initiative to
rival Leo Varadkar.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personalfinance/property-mortgages/the-rent-row-explained-whatit-means-for-renters-landlords-coveney-and-the-minoritygovernment-35296390.html
Rent plan collapses,

plunging government into
crisis
Simon Coveney says Fianna Fail is
'messing with lives'
Kevin Doyle Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
Housing Minister Simon Coveney. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
Fianna Fil will not back Housing Minister

Simon Coveney's rental strategy, plunging
the minority Government into an
unprecedented crisis.
1
A Dil debate on the plan has been dramatically pulled

from today's agenda, with Mr Coveney accusing Fianna
Fil of "messing with people's lives".
The dispute centres around the designation of towns and

cities as 'Rent Pressure Zones' (RPZs).
Mr Coveney had proposed that Dublin and Cork City
would immediately become RPZs, meaning that landlords
would be restricted to hiking rents by a maximum of 4pc
Speaking to the Irish Independent after the talks collapsed
Mr Coveney said: "I am not going to allow them to make a
farce of the legislation."
It is understood that Fianna Fil's housing spokesman
Brian Cowen demanded that the cities of Galway, Limerick
and Waterford added to the list of RPZs, along with some
commuter belt towns.
Warning Coveney's rentcap plan will 'hit

investment and new
home supply'
Michael Cogley Twitter

EMAIL
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
1
Minister Simon Coveney
Government plans to cap Dublin and Cork

rents will discourage big landlords from the
market here, potentially hampering the
supply of new homes.
Housing minister Simon Coveney's scheme to tackle
rents may have unintended consequences for the supply of
new houses, stockbroker Goodbody has warned.
Analyst Dermot O'Leary said the scheme, to introduce rent

caps in high-demand areas across Dublin and Cork would
"reduce the motivation" among investors to enter the Irish
private residential sector.
The minister's plan to limit rent increases to 4pc per year
on dwellings in "Rent Pressure Zones" (RPZs).
"From an investor's perspective, the motivation to enter
the Irish private residential sector is reduced by this policy
and should have knock-on negative implications for new
supply," said Mr O'Leary in a note.
"In the context of the attempt to entice large-scale
institutional investment into the sector, this is a
retrograde step."
Mr Coveney's plan to impose the caps for three years came
under immediate attack from Fianna Fil, which
complained about a lack of consultation in the lead-up to
its publication.
Areas that are designated as RPZs must have an average
rent registered with the Residential Tenancies Board
above the national average - and rising at a year-on-year
rate of 7pc for four out of the last six months.
While new and "substantially renovated" properties will be
exempt from the plan, Mr O'Leary believes that will also
have an impact.
"Turnover of the stock is likely to reduce as tenants hold
on to their property.
"Given that properties that have recently been
'substantially refurbished' are exempt, there are likely to
be many disputes about this definition among landlords
and tenants," he said.
Davy analyst David McNamara said the threat of further
State intervention may spook investors.
"The optics of further Government intervention in the
market is obviously negative in terms of investment, but
Ireland is not unique in an international context in
introducing rent controls," he said.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personalfinance/property-mortgages/warning-coveneys-rentcap-
plan-will-hit-investment-and-new-home-supply35294507.html
Fianna Fil's Barry Cowen. Photo: Tom Burke
Initially he also wanted the 4pc rent cap halved but

ultimately said his party would live with the 4pc figure if
Mr Coveney moved on the list of RPZs.
However, the Housing Minister took a substantial political
risk and refused to budge, meaning the talks ended in
deadlock. Mr Coveney said he has the full backing of
Taoiseach Enda Kenny for the move.
"I think what has happened is just extraordinary. There is
a lot of politics going on. They are messing with people's
lives," he said.
A senior Fianna Fil source claimed they were "backed
into a corner". "We were prepared to reluctantly move on
the rate but he wouldn't give on the other areas."
Mr Coveney argued that further study by the Residential
Tenancies Board would be required on the areas listed by
Fianna Fil before they could be designated as RPZs.
He offered "assurances" that this would happen as quickly
as possible in the new year and that decisions on Galway

and Limerick could be fast-tracked in January, followed by
Waterford, Meath, Kildare, Louth and Wicklow before the
end of February.
But Fianna Fil sources said: "That's a ridiculous scenario.
You might as well put a big billboard in all those towns
saying 'put rents up now because controls are coming in a
few months'."
The breakdown came just hours after Mr Coveney was
close to being feted for his work on the rental strategy at a
Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.
The minister gave a presentation to TDs and senators in
Leinster House and received "unanimous" support for his
uncompromising position with Fianna Fil.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told a private meeting of Fine Gael
TDs and senators that renters will be left in a "perilous
position" unless legislation passes through the Dil today.
Fianna Fil were said to be annoyed by what party sources
described as reports of the "pumped up" atmosphere in
Fine Gael.
Mr Cowen was last night consulting with the party
hierarchy about their next move, while the Housing
Minister said he is available for fresh talks if Fianna Fil
are willing to work with his proposals.
"I find it very frustrating. They support the vast majority
of the measures. It's just this one issue around the
qualification criteria for Rent Pressure Zones," the
minister said.
A third issue raised by Fianna Fil was the potential for tax
incentives for landlords to encourage supply in the market.

Rent Pressure Zone?

country.
covered?
approach?
reasonable return."
providers
1
Housing Minister Simon Coveneys approach to calming the rental
market is not without its merit. However, the lack of New Politics
contained means it will be watered down. Photo: Gareth Chaney
'New Politics?' Supposedly a new era has

dawned where government policies are
teased out in intricate detail and a consensus
view is achieved with cross-party support.
That's the theory - not the practice.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's approach to calming
the rental market is not without its merit. However, the
lack of 'New Politics' in play means it is on the brink of
collapse.
Coveney is well intentioned. He says he has done his
research, got his expert advice, afforded interested parties
their say and their views were considered. He wants to
bring in a 4pc rent-hike cap in Dublin and Cork.
2
Coveney's rent plan is

flawed - but it's a start
Editorial Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
14/12/2016 | 02:30
Housing Minister Simon Coveney
This is the season when children take part in

nativity plays and we celebrate kind-hearted
inn-keepers and cosy mangers where a child
can be brought into the world, in the
certainty of security and shelter. The latest
figures on homelessness in Dublin are a
challenge to our spirit of goodwill.
There were 5,146 adults and children in emergency
accommodation last month, a 35pc increase in the year.
So we need to be doing much better. Yesterday, Housing
Minister Simon Coveney attempted to do just that with a
series of measures to ease upward pressure on rents. Some
weeks back, Mr Coveney set himself an ambitious task of
having no family in a hotel room through homelessness by
the middle of next year.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/coveneys-rentplan-is-flawed-but-its-a-start-35292811.html
FG can cap rent increases ... but Noonan would not dream of restricting
interest rates on banks. I suppose it's easier to bully the little guy again ..
FG has form on this after all.
do you seriously think that a 4% increase is a handicap to landlords. its
400% more than they would get if they put money on deposits in banks .
its possibly more than investors could get buying govt bonds in most of
Europe.
I actually agree with fianna fail on this
4% seems too generous
especially coming after the large hikes over the past 2/3 years
ECB interest rates at 0.25%. vast majority of rental properties bought
from banks at 60% discounts . 2 to 4% increases per annum will fall on
taxpayers to increase rental supplements from welfare . this govt is
operating a pyramid scheme of housing where the taxpayers and citizens
are the victims and the corporate vulture funds and the new developers
are the winners.
Minister Simon Coveney presents his Action Plan for Housing and
Homelessness. Photo: Doug O'Connor
Privately, both sides were saying "this was

not the one" to bring down a shaky minority
Government just days from the Christmas
break.
Publicly, both sides clung obdurately to their 'not-an-inch'
stances over the new strategy for the rental sector.

From Housing Minister Simon Coveney's point of view, he
simply had to stand his ground and not flinch in this
strange game of chicken. The lack of choice very probably
helped him - he just had to win.
Absolutely stupid idea.
As yearly tenancies end landlords will seek vacant possession and set
new much higher rents for incoming tenants thus deepening the crisis
and only those who can afford to pay the higher rents will be able to find
accommodation.
The problem is that the Government has failed to make provision for
additional rental accommodation in Dublin and Cork.
Minister Coveney is "TALKING" about 'Build to Rent' developments,
and the fast-tracking of 'Repair and Leasing' schemes but has done very
little or nothing to advance those schemes.
In the meantime, people are getting desperate to find somewhere to
rent.
Another ill-conceived law which will have to be modified again in 6
months time when all the other areas of Dublin and Cork decide to
'catch up' with these so-called "rent pressure zones".
Only markets can dictate rents. Landlords will always find a way to avail
themselves of the highest rents that the market can offer. Legislation is a
waste of time and taxpayers' money.
Supply could be immediately be improved by providing large, barrackstyle, on-campus, accommodation for third level students. Demand
could be tempered by increasing interest rates to give a better return on
savings and making it less economical to indulge in "buy-to-let". I'm
sure that there are many more tweaks that could be made to improve
supply and cool demand.
Aback of the envelope calculation tells me

I've spent close to 45,000 on rent in the
past five years.
In that time I've moved apartment twice for cost reasons,
swapped the south side of Dublin city for the north side
and continuously cohabited. I consider myself pretty lucky
to have been in a position to up sticks and relocate, to have
shared my home with good people and to be able to afford
the sky-high prices.
So everything I write hereafter comes from someone who
was more than frustrated when Simon Coveney failed to
announce any real measures to tackle the rental crisis last
July.
Covney ' s plan does nothing to help supply ... FG sat idly by as vulture
funds bought property on the cheap and then he accuses FF of playing
with people's lives.
supply takes time and we have no time
Houses apartments owned by NAMA and TDs In The Dial, Simon is
One of Them, This is the key to TDs and Landlord Corruption and
Greed, Beware of The Enemies Here,
Lands owned by NAMA and Tds Too, All homes built by the state and
retained by the state Government is the future
The private developers can then build their mansions and pay top
dollars for the land,
Fianna Fil is to demand that 'Rent Pressure

Zones' are extended beyond Dublin and
Cork to other major cities and commuter
towns.
The party is set to play hardball with Housing Minister
Simon Coveney over his rental strategy, arguing his
proposals to limit rent increases in the two main cities to
4pc annually "won't fly".
They also want tax incentives for landlords to be
introduced as part of the package.
The development threatens the stability of the minority
Government as Finance Minister Michael Noonan has
ruled out any new tax measures before October's Budget
and Mr Coveney has already said he is "not going to be
able to be flexible" in terms of the 4pc figure.
In a statement issued after the Fianna Fil frontbench met
last night, their housing spokesman Barry Cowen said they
had "genuine concerns" with the plans "limited
geographical scope".

are included from day one," he said.
Mr Cowen described their position on the rent increase
cap of 4pc as "not satisfied".
It is understood that the party would prefer a figure of 2pc
- but this is likely to be vehemently opposed by the
Finance Department, which is sceptical about the
Government intervening in the market.
Read more: FF to try block Rent Pressure Zones being
limited to Dublin and Cork
Read more: All your questions on the new 'Rent Pressure
Zones' answered
Speaking at the launch of the plan, Mr Coveney said he
would require Cabinet approval.
"I hope Fianna Fil will help us get this done before
Christmas. I think that's needed," he said. He added it
would be "very unhelpful" to announce measures and not
implement them immediately.
"Because then you do have unintended consequences
where a market wants to react before a designation
actually comes in," said Mr Coveney.
Asked whether changes could be made, he replied: "I have
approval from Government now for this strategy, not a
different one. We're not going to be able to be flexible in
terms of changing a whole series of the recommendations
or the numbers here."
The resistance from the Opposition party comes after Mr
Coveney faced criticism at Cabinet level from his
leadership rival Leo Varadkar for failing to fully engage
with other ministers before announcing his plans.
The Irish Independent understands Mr Varadkar told
yesterday's Cabinet meeting he was annoyed by the lack of
consultation. His department oversees the rent
supplement and Housing Assistance Payment schemes.
Sources said while he gave the strategy his full support, he
raised concerns "about a couple of points". One of these
was that landlords in commuter-belt areas could put up
rents in the short-term as a result of the move.

He also asked what would happen in Dublin and Cork at
the end of the three-year period.
Separately, Mr Noonan is said to be concerned about the
impact of interference in the market.
city won't benefit from any cap on their

rents, it has emerged.
An analysis of data from the Residential Tenancies Board
(RTB) shows that households in parts of Kildare, Meath,
Wicklow and Galway city paying more than the average
annual national rent and hit with steep hikes over the last
18 months will not get any protection from unscrupulous
landlords.
This is because it is only households in both Cork and
Dublin city that will benefit from the measures announced
under the Government's 'Strategy for the Rental Sector'.
This is despite the long-awaited strategy promising to
develop a "viable and sustainable" sector which would
provide "security" for households.
Part of the package includes limiting how much rents can
be increased in designated 'rent pressure zones' - but these

cover just Dublin and Cork cities and will not be extended
to other areas until at least March.
The proposal, expected to become law by the end of the
year, limits annual increases to 4pc in these cities for a
period of no more than three years, if certain criteria are
met.
Read more: All your questions on the new 'Rent
Pressure Zones' answered
The criteria includes a requirement that annual rent
increases have been at 7pc or more in four of the last six
quarters, and where the rent levels are already above the
national average of 973 per month.
The scheme was announced as part of a broader package
on rents by Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who said
that "dramatic rent inflation" was hurting families.
"Our rental sector is not delivering for tenants, landlords
or the country," he said.
"We need a strong and viable rental sector as a long-term
tenure of choice for families and as a secure investment
environment for landlords.
"Dramatic rental inflation puts families under pressure
and damages our national competitiveness and stability in
the investment environment.
"We need to tackle the consequences and alleviate shortterm pressures and we need to address the long-term
causes by delivering increased supply."
An analysis of rental data from the Residential Tenancies
Board shows that families living in many areas hit with
crippling rent hikes in recent years will not benefit.
Families renting in Salthill in Galway, paying an average of
almost 1,000 a month and hit with hikes in the last 18
months, will not be protected by the new measures. Four
towns are affected in Kildare; Kill, Maynooth, Naas and
Sallins. In Meath, families in Ashbourne, Dunboyne,
Ratoath and Stamullen will not benefit, nor will those
living in Wicklow town and Delgany in Wicklow.
More than 20 towns saw rent hikes of more than 20pc in
the last 18 months, including Monivea in Galway, where

they rose 49pc, Bailieborough in Cavan, where they
increased by 29pc, and Kenmare in Kerry where they
increased by 24pc, also lose out.
They won't benefit as rents are below the national average.
The most recent report from the RTB shows that rents
continue to rise, and grew by 2.3pc in the last quarter of
this year.
Read more: Mortgage arrears fall but thousands remain
in a debt straitjacket
The Government hopes that legislation to allow Dublin
and Cork be designated as rent pressure zones will be
introduced before Christmas. A spokesman for the
Housing Department said that areas experiencing pressure
could be added to the list from March following an
analysis by the RTB.
"The situation is worse in Cork and Dublin cities and other
areas will be included as soon as possible," he said, adding
that the process would take a "number of weeks".
Areas in Dublin and Cork could also be de-designated if it
was found that rents were not rising in line with the
criteria, or monthly payments were below the average, he
said.
The Government's plan for the rental sector will restrict
increases in Cork and Dublin to 4pc per annum for the
next three years. It could also be expanded to other cities
as well as the Dublin commuter belt.
But some tenants are already being hit with increases of
up to 40pc after the Government outlined its plans for a
rent cap.
The country's biggest housing charity, Threshold, said it
received a flurry of calls from anxious tenants yesterday
who were contacted by landlords seeking significant
increases before the new rules come into force.
Property Industry Ireland director David Duffy said there
was a danger that landlords could seek to boost incomes
by other means.
"There is a danger if you limit income that people will look

for alternative sources and therefore always a danger that
rent controls will bring about other payments," said the
former ESRI property economist.
"Generally rent controls are not in favour with economists
because they can badly impact supply and quality of
buildings in the market, and can have the effect of not
helping the people they are designed to help."
The new rules are contained in the Government's Strategy
for the Private Rented Sector which provides for Dublin
and Cork to be designated as 'Rent Pressure Zones' for the
next three years, with other urban areas maybe following
early next year.
But among the main concerns are fears that landlords will
consider other means to boost their income, including:
Passing on the Local Property Tax or service charges,
traditionally paid by the owner. This could add 1,500 to
2,500 a year.
Imposing an administration charge to cover the cost of
advertising the property, checking references and meeting
the prospective tenant.
Letting the property, but imposing an additional charge
for a car parking space.
Demanding key money, or a fee to take possession, as
sometime applies in the retail sector.
Imposing an under-the-counter charge to help secure the
property for the prospective tenant
Threshold Dublin services manager Stephen Large said
that, in the absence of legislation, there was a concern that
landlords would simply demand higher rents. Some had
already done so.
"The initial setting of rents involves landlords setting them
in line with market rates. We have to ensure it [an
increase] can't be front-loaded. The longer it drags out, the
more risk there is of that," he said.
"It seems a lot of people are contacting us where a rent
review hasn't been done and is now being sought.
Surprised
"One lady said she had been hit with a 40pc increase.
We're dealing with 20pc, 30pc and 40pc rent increases
every day."
Tom Dunne, head of the School of Surveying and
Construction Management at DIT, said he was not
surprised that some landlords were imposing price hikes
in advance of the introduction of the new controls.
"Normally, in the Budget, the date [when a measure
applies] is made clear... there is a lack of clarity," he
added.
The Irish Property Owners Association, which represents
5,000 landlords, said it had sought legal advice amid
concerns that property rights were being breached.
1
Institutional landlords
hold the key to resolving

Ireland's housing crisis
Paul McNeive
PUBLISHED
08/12/2016
1
Simon Coveney. Photo: Douglas OConnor
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is due to

announce his strategy for the rental sector
this month. It will have far-reaching
implications for tenants, landlords, the
property market and the State. Government
interventions have a habit of causing
'unintended consequences', sometimes
making matters worse (eg. the windfall tax
and increased incentives for buyers when

there is little supply), but there are signs
that Minister Coveney has a good grasp of
the issues.
The residential property market is not functioning
properly. There are lots of would-be buyers and tenants,
but they can't afford the prices or rents that make
development viable, particularly in Dublin. So, the same
dead hand of high taxes and levies that is preventing the
supply of homes for sale, is preventing developers, and
institutional landlords, from building units to let.
Sustainable markets need to be well-balanced. With the
current market out of kilter, any more wrong moves,
especially under the heading of rent control, could kill off
any interest from landlords and set back prospects of
solving the problems. I am encouraged to see the minister
has identified the lack of supply of rental units into the
market as the crux of the issue. Furthermore, last week, in
response to Sinn Fein's Secure Rents and Tenancies Bill,
the minister said it is essential that any measures taken to
address rents do not jeopardise supply, and that Sinn
Fein's proposals would be "disastrous in the medium to
long term". So far, so good.
While trying to keep small/amateur landlords in the
market is important, the real solution will be to get
institutional landlords, such as REITs and pension funds,
developing and holding rental investments for the long
term. These large-scale commercial landlords provide
security of tenure, so all of the disruption caused by
amateur landlords requiring vacant possession when
selling their properties is avoided.
By and large, professional landlords are not developing
now. A radical solution, a version of which appears to be
on Minister Coveney's mind, would be to incentivise
institutional landlords to develop large-scale blocks on
publicly-owned land. That might be land owned by the
state, through local authorities, or Nama, and a great
example would be the former Irish Glass Bottle site in

Dublin 4.
Such a scheme could see the land being provided to the
developing landlord on a licence or long lease, with say
20pc of the rents going to the State. The institution would
then have an option to buy out the freehold interest in,
say, 15 years. I suspect institutional landlords would be
happy to develop on such a basis and receive a yield of
perhaps 6pc. This could see between 5,000 and 10,000
units being provided in Dublin fairly quickly, which would
take a lot of the hysteria out of the market.
Crucially, this type of investment requires large amounts
of capital and it must be invested for the long term. That is
another reason why more attempts to control rents will
undermine development. Investors need to see potential
for growth, or they just won't invest.
Another issue is social and affordable housing. While few
will say it, there is a stigma attached to social housing, and
some investors and tenants will not locate next to the
social units within a scheme. In reality, social housing
occupiers are being squeezed out of developments by the
affordable housing sector, due to the severe shortage of
supply in the middle of the market. I would drop the term
'social housing' and bring back the term 'affordable
housing' to apply to all units in a scheme that are rented
through the State sector.
An ongoing issue for Ireland is the problem staff working
for overseas companies locating here have in finding
accommodation. We must address this quickly if we are to
sustain growth and attempt to capitalise on Brexit.
There are initiatives in the 'Rebuilding Ireland' plan that
will help. Budget 2017 improves mortgage interest relief
for landlords and will provide other supply stimuli.
However, to be a success, Minister Coveney must provide
further incentives to landlords to stimulate new
development for the rental sector.
Landlords and developers
out in force at Allsop sale

Donal Buckley
PUBLISHED
15/12/2016
1
Housing Minister Simon Coveney's proposed introduction of rent
controls didnt deter bidders at Allsops auction last Tuesday
More than 27m was generated from the

sale of 165 properties at two auctions during
the last 10 days. Allsop generated 156 of
these sales, worth a combined 25m.
Its top price of 1.275m was achieved for an unfinished
2.14 acre housing estate, Garristown Orchard,
Garristown, north county Dublin. It comprises eight
substantially completed houses with planning permission
for a further 10 houses. Three bidders competed with 23
bids to a price that was 51pc over its 850,000 guide price.
A south Dublin crche sold for 725,000, or about

40,000 over its 685,000 guide. Located at Block M,
Loreto Abbey, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, the
353 sq m (3,805 sq ft) property is let to Giraffe Childcare
for 70,000 a year, suggesting an initial gross yield of
almost 9.65pc.
Despite the Government threats of rent control, some
multi-unit Dublin and Galway properties attracted strong
competitive bidding and three of them sold for around
750,000 each. A mixed-use building at 41 Arran Quay,
Dublin 7, sold for 754,000, or about 154,000 over its
guide. Extending to 310 sq m (3,336 sq ft), it includes 40
sq m (430 sq ft) of ground-floor offices and three twobedroom apartments.
An even stronger price of 758,000 was achieved by 44
North Circular Road, Dublin 7, which attracted 181 bids
from ten bidders and sold for 68pc over its 450,000
guide price.
Located near the Phoenix Park and O'Devaney Gardens, it
generates 79,000 in rents, suggesting a gross yield of
10.4pc. The end-of-terrace, three-storey house is designed
in an eye-catching Tudor style and its accommodation
comprises nine flats ranging in size from 19 sq m (205 sq
ft) to 46 sq m (495 sq ft).
In Galway, the vacant Cottage Bar, 76 Salthill Road Lower,
along with three overhead apartments sold for 805,000,
or 340,000 over its guide price. It extends to 530 sq m
(5,715 sq ft).
A west Dublin warehouse sold for 484,000, or well over
double its 190,000 guide price. Located at Unit 292
Beech Road, Western Industrial Estate, Park West, Dublin
12, the 994 sq m (10,700 sq ft) property comprises twostorey office accommodation with warehouse
accommodation to the rear.
Contrasting tales of two Drogheda, Co. Louth, pubs were
seen when one sold for almost double its guide after
attracting 29 bids from four bidders, while the other failed
to attract even one bid.
A mid-terrace property, the successful 91-93 Georges

Street sold for 240,000, or 110,000 over its 130,000
guide, as its 970 sq m (10,451 sq ft) and long street
frontage offers development potential. The former Nolans
Bar, Cord Road, Drogheda, extending to 260 sq m (2,798
sq ft), failed to sell with a 190,000-200,000 price tag.
Some bids were made after the close of sale, while other
unsold lots will be offered for sale online today.
On December 8, Sherry FitzGerald's auction generated
more than 2m in sales from nine properties. The most
valuable lot was a 16.4 acre quarry at Killyvanny,
Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan, which sold under the hammer for
370,000, or 120,000 over its 250,000 guide price. It
came with some quarry equipment and was considered by
auctioneer Des O'Malley as a punt on the recovering
construction industry. Two Dublin suburban business
units also sold. Unit 6, Turvey Business Centre, Donabate,
achieved its 180,000 guide price. Extending to 239 sq m
(2,572 sq ft), its accommodation includes offices, a
showroom and roller shutter doors. Unit 18, Northwest
Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15, which had a
200,000 AMV, sold after auction. Extending to 538 sq m
(5,790 sq ft), its accommodation includes two floors of
offices as well as warehouse space.
http://www.independent.ie/business/commercialproperty/landlords-and-developers-out-in-force-at-allsopsale-35294129.html
Irish rent controls to cap increases is

major
December 15, 16
Ireland's government proposed temporary controls on residential rents on
Tuesday to limit annual increases in the two largest cities to 4 percent, but
may have to lower the cap and apply it more widely to win support in
parliament.
While Ireland was left with a surplus of houses after a 2008 property crash,
supply has since failed to come anywhere close to matching demand in the
fast-recovering economy, sending rents back above their peak in the "Celtic
Tiger" years.
Average rents rose by 11.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, a survey
showed last month, marking the fastest rate of annual inflation in over a
decade with rents in some areas of Dublin now 10 percent above their 2007
peak.
"We're putting a bridle on the horse that has almost been out of control for the
last two years," Housing Minister Simon Coveney told a news conference.
"This is a really tricky area to get the balance right."
Under the plan, Dublin and Cork city fall under the category of "rent pressure
zones", or areas where annual rents have risen by 7 percent or more in four of
the last six quarters. They will be the first areas where the three-year caps
kick in.
To encourage supply, which Coveney said was beginning to gain momentum,
new housing units and renovated vacant units are excluded with rents instead
determined by the market rate.
However the minority government does not have enough seats in parliament
to enact legislation on its own and requires the cooperation of the main
opposition party, Fianna Fail, which will meet later on Tuesday to finalise its
position.
"The 4 percent is extremely high... It's off the table. The other issue is that it is
not acceptable that this is restricted to Dublin and Cork," Thomas Byrne, a
member of the Fianna Fail frontbench, told Newstalk radio.
government as a risk to its attractiveness to foreign investment, particularly as
it tries to win business from firms considering leaving Britain as a result of
Brexit.
Properties (I-RES), Ireland's largest private landlord, closed 2.5 percent lower
at 1.16 euros.
"This strategy will provide headwinds for the development of the much needed
'build-to-rent' sector in Ireland and is unlikely to encourage fresh investors into
the market," Goodbody analyst Colm Lauder wrote in a note. (Editing by Tom
Heneghan and Adrian Croft)
4 percent limit proposed for new "rent pressure zones"

Cap may have to be lowered to gain parliamentary support
Costs damaging Dublin as it chases Brexit business (Adds quotes from
opposition party whose support needed)
By Padraic Halpin
DUBLIN, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Ireland's government proposed temporary
controls on residential rents on Tuesday to limit annual increases in the
two largest cities to 4 percent, but may have to lower the cap and apply
it more widely to win support in parliament.
While Ireland was left with a surplus of houses after a 2008 property
crash, supply has since failed to come anywhere close to matching
demand in the fast-recovering economy, sending rents back above their
peak in the "Celtic Tiger" years.
Average rents rose by 11.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, a
survey showed last month, marking the fastest rate of annual inflation in
over a decade with rents in some areas of Dublin now 10 percent above
their 2007 peak.
"We're putting a bridle on the horse that has almost been out of control
for the last two years," Housing Minister Simon Coveney told a news
conference. "This is a really tricky area to get the balance right."
Under the plan, Dublin and Cork city fall under the category of "rent
pressure zones", or areas where annual rents have risen by 7 percent
or more in four of the last six quarters. They will be the first areas where
the three-year caps kick in.
To encourage supply, which Coveney said was beginning to gain
momentum, new housing units and renovated vacant units are excluded
with rents instead determined by the market rate.
However the minority government does not have enough seats in
parliament to enact legislation on its own and requires the cooperation
of the main opposition party, Fianna Fail, which will meet later on
Tuesday to finalise its position.
"The 4 percent is extremely high... It's off the table. The other issue is
that it is not acceptable that this is restricted to Dublin and Cork,"
Thomas Byrne, a member of the Fianna Fail frontbench, told Newstalk
radio.
government as a risk to its attractiveness to foreign investment,
particularly as it tries to win business from firms considering leaving
Britain as a result of Brexit.
Properties (I-RES), Ireland's largest private landlord, closed 2.5 percent
lower at 1.16 euros.
"This strategy will provide headwinds for the development of the much
needed 'build-to-rent' sector in Ireland and is unlikely to encourage fresh
investors into the market," Goodbody analyst Colm Lauder wrote in a
note. (Editing by Tom Heneghan and Adrian Croft)
FF warns 4% rent cap will

lead to 12% rise over three
years
SF, Labour, Social Democrats and AAA all object to
Coveneys proposals to ease crisis
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, 20:41
Sarah Bardon
Sinn Fin TD Eoin Broin said the proposals would see the average rent
increase to 2,314 in Dublin and 1,628 in Cork over the next three years
Fianna Fil is to seek to change the Governments

rental strategy insisting it cannot support proposals to
impose a 4 per cent cap on all rent increases.
The party held two meetings yesterday to discuss the
measures announced by the Minister for Housing
Simon Coveney.
Several members raised concern that the cap would see
increases across the board in Dublin and in Cork and
may see rises elsewhere in the country.
The measures would allow for rent increases to be
capped in Dublin and Cork at 4 per cent per year over a

three-year period.
The party is worried this may lead to an automatic 12
per cent increases in rent across the board.
Others insisted that the rent certainty measures should
not be limited to the two main cities.
The party said the same difficulties are being
experienced across the country and any rent relief
cannot be focused on two areas.
It is understood some members argued that the 4 per
cent should be reduced to two per cent, while others
insisted rents should be frozen as they are.
Fianna Fils support is necessary to ensure the rental
package is passed due to the confidence and supply
arrangement agreed between the two parties.
Mr Coveney had sought to have the legislation passed
by the Dil and Seanad by next week, when the Dil
breaks for its Christmas break.
However, it has been met with widespread opposition
from political parties across the Houses.
Sinn Fin, Labour, the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People
before Profit and the Social Democrats have all
objected to the measures contained in the package.
Sinn Fins housing spokesman Eoin Broin said the
proposals would see the average rent in Dublin
increase to 2,314 and 1,628 in Cork over the next
three years.
Mr Broin has sought the assistance of Fianna Fils
housing spokesman Barry Cowen to form a joint
approach to amending the proposed legislation.
The two are due to meet today to discuss if they can
table amendments to the package.
Mr Broin said the core issue is a guaranteed rent
increase of 12 per cent over the next three years.
He added: This will continue to heap pressure on
struggling renters and lock low-income families and
single people out of the rental market.

Low and middle-income families and single people
simply do not have this money. They cannot afford
Labour leader Brendan Howlin said his party had
sought progress on rent certainty when in Government
but Fine Gael resisted.
Mr Howlin said the party was in an isolated position on
this, insisting it has no real grasp of the nature and
scale of the problem.
The amendments were to be given to opposition TDs
last night and will be debated over the next three days.
It will then be debated in the Seanad next week in an
effort to ensure rent certainty measures are provided in
January.
However, with such strong opposition from all sides it
is a very tight timeframe to have it passed.
The Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said
commuter towns including Kildare and Wicklow must
be included in any solution.
Ms Murphy said areas including Leixlip, Celbridge and
Maynooth in Kildare and Bray and Greystones in
Wicklow are on a par with Dublin City and County
rents.
She said: I would hope that Minister Coveney has
taken a thorough review of the rental markets across
the country and will therefore recognise the need to
implement more nuanced measures than simply
targeting two big cities.
Those measures must tackle the problem of
exorbitant rental prices in the areas which are most
affected.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ff-warns-4-rent-cap-will-lead-to-12-rise-over-threeyears-1.2904929#.WFBqf1t8PmM.twitter
Strategy for the Rental Sector.
Network protest today at civic

centre demanding action on
housing & homelessness crisis
Sinn Fin expresses

serious concerns
about controversial
Government
Planning Bill-
Broin
8 December, 2016 - by Eoin Broin TD
Sinn Fin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Broin TD has

expressed serious concern about the consequences,
unintended or otherwise, of a controversial government
planning Bill that has just passed second stage in the Dil.
Deputy Broin said
Sinn Fin agrees with the government on the need to increase
supply of all forms of housing. We are open to reforming the
planning system to achieve this. However the Planning and
Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 in
its current form does not accomplish this. The controversial Bill
has the potential to compromise good planning decisions,
undermines Local Authorities, exclude citizens from the
planning process and impede the building of sustainable
communities.
The centrepiece of the Bill is a proposal to fast track housing
applications, of 100 units or more, to An Bord Pleanla. The
Minister is effectively bypassing the local authority and
weakening the county development plan. This is a profound
change to our planning system. During second stage debate on
the Bill I outlined a more transparent and democratic way in
which large planning applications could be processed more
speedily.
Sinn Fins concerns were echoed in a statement from the Irish
Planning Institute that states: These provisions could
encourage applications which do not comply with Development
Plans and fundamentally alter the relationship between local
communities and planning authorities, damaging the credibility
of local government and the planning system as a whole.
I am also very concerned with aspects of the proposed
environmental impact assessment screening process. While
there is a need for such a process I am concerned that what is
proposed does not comply with International and European
legal requirements such as the Aarhus Convention and the EIA

directive.
The proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act aimed
at strengthening tenants rights are exceptionally weak. We
know that a large number of families presenting as homeless
are in that situation because of buy to let landlords or banks
serving a notice to quit when selling the property. The
Ministers original proposal would only have covered 0.56% of
landlords. The Bill as amended in the Seanad only covers 5.9%
of landlords. The vast majority of families at risk of
homelessness because their landlords are selling their
properties will get no extra protection from the Bill. If this
measure is to mean anything it must be available to all tenants.
rental sector reform doc here.
Coveneys rental strategy
faces resistance from within

Fine Gael
Noonan and Donohoe among those opposed to
interventions in the rental market
Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 01:00
Fiach Kelly
Minster for Housing Simon Coveney is expected to launch his strategy on the
rental sector within the next fortnight. Photograph: Bryan OBrien
Differing views are emerging in the Government over a

planned strategy on the rental sector, with senior
figures understood to be against making major
interventions in the market.
The contrasting opinions come against a backdrop of
data and indicators which Government figures say
point to potential significant movement in the
construction sector over the coming years.
This includes a higher number of planning permission
applications and a higher than anticipated take-up of a
Government scheme designed to fund small
infrastructure projects in an effort to speed up
development.
The 200 million local government infrastructure fund
will be directed towards building access roads and

other local infrastructure that may be lacking in certain
areas, thus holding back the development of lands. It is
understood that demand for the scheme is four times
higher than can be accommodated.
Minster for Housing Simon Coveney is expected to
launch his strategy on the rental sector within the next
fortnight, possibly as early as the end of this week.
Market
It is understood, however, that senior figures within

Government, including Minister for Finance Michael
Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal
Donohoe, do not favour moves that will dramatically
affect the rental market.
U
U
U

rent issue
rent cap
A number of Government sources said that, given the

level of State interventions in the housing sector over
the past two years or so, it may not be desirable to
make further dramatic, market-altering moves.
It is claimed that the emerging indicators point to
increased supply from 2017 and that this would help
solve the housing and rental crisis.
The changes already announced to increase housing
supply should be allowed do their work, some sources
said.
One proposal already tabled by Mr Coveneys
department has been rejected for inclusion in the plan.
As previously reported in The Irish Times, the scheme
would see a payment for middle-income families to
subsidise the cost of high rents.
It was proposed that payments would be aimed at
households with a combined income of up to 55,000

as a temporary measure but it is understood to have
met with objections from the Department of Public
Expenditure and has been dropped.
Tenants rights
There will be proposals around strengthening the

rights of tenants and landlords, and Mr Coveney has
already announced that he plans to proceed with a socalled affordable rental model.
This would see purpose-built housing units which are
typically let at 70 per cent of market rents. He also
favours build-to-rent projects where long-term
investors, such as pension funds, are encouraged to
provide large-scale developments specifically for
rental.
Another concern is that tenants who came under a
previous plan whereby rents can only be increased
every two years could face steep rent rises next year.
The previous scheme, announced by the Labour Partys
then minister for the environment Alan Kelly, took
effect from 2015 and is due to last four years. It means,
however, that tenants who benefited from a rent freeze
from 2015 could face steep rises next year.
Government figures are also wary that any pre-emptive
flagging of the measures in Mr Coveneys new strategy
could affect the market and could tempt landowners to
make changes before the policies kick in.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-s-rental-strategy-faces-resistance-fromwithin-fine-gael-1.2892918#.WEUqMg8nifs.twitter
New proposals to prevent

landlords using loopholes to
evict tenants
The AAA-PBP will bring the motion to the Dil today.
December 15, 16
A BILL WHICH would provide greater security for tenants

from eviction will be brought to the Dil today by AntiAusterity Alliance-People Before Profit TD Ruth
Coppinger.
The proposals would ban eviction on the grounds of sale,
which the party says will provide greater security for
tenants.
They reference recent figures published by housing charity
Threshold, which show a large number of tenants calling
in worried about an impending sale of their rental home.
AAA-PBP add that the bill is crucial because, in the case of
Coppingers Dublin West constituency, almost a third of
homeless cases referred to her relate to tenants being
evicted because the landlord is selling the home.
A statement from the party said: The Bill will seek to ban
what Threshold have called termed dubious terminations

such as on the grounds of sale by landlords, banks or
receivers it will mean sales can take place only with the
tenants in situ.
The Bill will also provide for compensation for tenants
should a landlord decide to evict them to use a property
for a family member. This can act as a disincentive for
landlords if they are simply using this loophole to evict a
tenant in order to raise rent.
It also provides for greater tenure for tenants by making
leases indefinite after a period of two months and giving
greater notice time of a year for the ending of a lease for a
long-term tenant.
The AAA-PBP add that that use of legal reasons for the
termination of leases has been used to evict tenants only to
replace them with new tenants at higher rents.
It is a major driver of homelessness, they add.
Coppinger recently held a press conference alongside a
group of tenants from Tyrrelstown who are facing eviction
from their home.
One resident detailed how he was facing a 28% increase to
the rent for his home, and feared the landlord was trying
to force him out.
Martin Malinovsky received notice of the increase from
the property owner European Property Fund on 28
October. The rent of his home will rise from to 1,600 on 1
February 2017.
He said today he believes that this is an effort to push him
out of his home so that the landlord can sell the property
vacant.
28% is an absolutely massive raise, he said. How could
the landlord be allowed to raise it so much?
The AAA-PBP conclude their statement by criticising
Minister Simon Coveneys new rental proposals, which will
cap rent increases in designated zones of Cork city and
Dublin city and county to 4% a year over a three-year
period.
Coveneys bill ignored tenure for tenants, the AAA-PBP

said.
Their bill will give tenants security, they concluded.
Being brought forward for the first stage today, the Bill
will be heard again on the first day of the Dails return
during AAA-PBP Private Members time on January 17th.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fil are in disagreement over how to

deal with the rental sector
The Government's plan to deal with rising

rents will not debated in the Dil today.
Chief Whip Regina Doherty told the Dil this
morning the new agenda for today does not
include a debate on the plan.
However, Labour leader Brendan Howlin then
put forward a motion that the debate be held
as planned.
This motion was defeated after Fianna Fil
joined the Government in voting against it.
The Dil has now adjourned until 11.33am to
allow the Oireachtas Business Committee to
meet to see if agreement can be reached on
whether to proceed with legislation on the

Government's rental strategy.
the Fianna Fil party position had made it
intransigence.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin this morning
criticised the Government's stance, but said
his party wants to be constructive and
engage.
He told the Dil: "I don't believe the bill
should have been pulled there was no need
for that."
He said to bring in legislation on rent
certainty in the last days of the Dil was
reckless.
However, he said there was a need to see if
there was space to have the debate, adding
that tomorrows sitting should not have been
cancelled.
Mr Martin proposed a short adjournment to
see if agreement could be reached to address
the bill.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin criticised the
bill, which he said was to have been debated
and the legislation enacted before Christmas,
affecting thousands of tenants.
PBP-AAA Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett said all

of this would be scuppered because Fianna
Fil and Fine Gael are rowing over how much
landlords will get.
Sinn Fins Eoin Broin described the
proposal as a very bad one which will hurt
renters, and said Fianna Fil recoiled from it
when it heard negative media and tenant
reaction.
He said the debate should be held today.
Mr Coveney, however, insisted that he cannot
proceed with legislation on rent certainty
without knowing what the outcome would
be.
Responding to criticism of the delay, he said
the Government had flagged for many weeks
that it would announce key changes to the
private rental sector and seek to enact
legislation this week.
Mr Coveney said putting forward a bill
without knowing what the outcome would be
would mean he would have to implement
legislation that did not make sense and was
not legally sound.
Fianna Fil and minority Government at
odds
Fianna Fil.
After talks yesterday both sides agreed that
the working group to look at tax incentives
for landlords should begin its work in the New
key issues
the past quarter.
outset.
Fianna Fil.
rent limit

thing to do".
worse."

over Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at least
30 politicians who must declare they earn more than
2,600 a month in rent.
marketin Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record
homeless.He has had to declare he owns a rental property
in Hartys Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.
the biggest landords in the country has admitted the
rental market in this country is reaching its limit.
READ MORE:https://www.scribd.com//Housing-Minister-SimonCoveney-is-
That's why rents so high in Dublin ministers making more money.
ROB THE POOR. GIVE TO THE RICH. ???THIS GOVERNMENT. IS
CORRUPT ANOTHER RISING NEEDED ?
The Sovereign Person Vs The Corporate Artificial Person Created By

Maritime Admiralty Law...
We were never told that government ( described as the republic of
Ireland) was a corporation, a fictitious person
Over the years government, through its public school system, has
managed to pull the wool over our eyes and keep US ignorant of
some very important facts. Because all facets of the media (print,
radio, television) have an ever-increasing influence in our lives, and
because media is controlled (with the issuance of licenses, etc.) by
government and its agencies, we have slowly and systematically
been led to believe that any form/appellation of our names is, in
fact, still us: as long as the spelling is correct.
WRONG!
We were never told, with full and open disclosure, what our
government officials were planning to do and why. We were never
told that government ( described as the republic of Ireland) was a
corporation, a fictitious person. We were never told that
government had quietly, almost secretly, created a shadow, a
STRAWMAN for each and every IRISH MAN and WOMAN, so that
government could not only control the people, but also raise an
almost unlimited amount of revenue so it could continue not just
to exist, but to GROW. We were never told that when government
deals with the STRAWMAN it is not dealing with real, living, men and
women.
We were never told, openly and clearly with full disclosure of all the
facts, that, we have been unable to pay our debts. We were never
told that we had been pledged (and our children, and their children,
and their children, and on and on) as collateral, mere chattel, for the
debt created by government officials who committed treason in

doing so. We were never told that they quietly and cleverly changed
the rules, even the game itself, and that the world we perceive as
real is in fact fictional -and its all for their benefit.
We were never told that the STRAWMAN -a fictional person, a
creature of the state -is subject to all the codes, statutes, rules,
regulations, ordinances, etc. decreed by government, but that WE,
the real man and woman, are not. We were never told we were
being treated as property, as slaves (albeit comfortably for some);
while living in the land of the free -and that we could, easily, walk
away from the fraud.

The Hibernia Forum was launched in October 2015 by Eamon
Delaney, Cllr. Keith Redmond, and Cormac Lucey. The group support
free market capitalism and are hawkish on the state of government
finances.Funding for the group is said to come from "entrepreneurs".
Delaney is an author and journalist with Independent News & Media
(hence his OTT attack on Gerry Adams in last Saturday's Dindo) and
is the first cousin of Richie Boucher, chief executive of the Bank of
Ireland. In 2011, in a column in the Sunday Independent Delaney
argued that the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking

the "right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate opponents
into silence.Redmond is a dentist and Fine Gael councillor for HowthMalahide. He describes himself as a libertarian.Lucey is a lecturer not to be confused with Brian - and commentator who served as an
advisor for former Tnaiste, Minister for Justice, and Progressive
Democrats leader Michael McDowell.Interestingly, former UCD
economics lecturer Moore McDowell (brother of Michael) is on the
group's academic board. Also on this board is Sam Bowman of the
U.K. libertarian group the Adam Smith Institute.Other individuals
associated with the group include businessman and commentator
Aaron McKenna, Fine Gael members Joe Lawlor and Conor McWade
(ex-PDs), and former Fianna Fil members Aidan Brophy and Sarah
Ryan.
The Hibernia Forum was launched in October 2015 by

Eamon Delaney, Cllr. Keith Redmond, and Cormac Lucey.
The group support free market capitalism and are hawkish
on the state of government finances.
Funding for the group is said to come from
"entrepreneurs".
Delaney is an author and journalist with Independent
News & Media (hence his OTT attack on Gerry Adams in
last Saturday's Dindo) and is the first cousin of Richie
Boucher, chief executive of the Bank of Ireland. In 2011, in
a column in the Sunday Independent Delaney argued that
the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking the
"right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate
opponents into silence.Redmond is a dentist and Fine Gael
councillor for Howth-Malahide. He describes himself as a
libertarian.Lucey is a lecturer - not to be confused with
Brian - and commentator who served as an advisor for
former Tnaiste, Minister for Justice, and Progressive
Democrats leader Michael McDowell.
Interestingly, former UCD economics lecturer Moore
McDowell (brother of Michael) is on the group's academic
board. Also on this board is Sam Bowman of the U.K.
libertarian group the Adam Smith Institute.
Other individuals associated with the group include
businessman and commentator Aaron McKenna, Fine Gael
members Joe Lawlor and Conor McWade (ex-PDs), and
former Fianna Fil members Aidan Brophy and Sarah Ryan.
Rent caps proposal to be scrapped if Fianna Fil won't

agree
Rent caps proposal to be scrapped if Fianna Fil

won't agree
Fianna Fil has tabled a Dil amendment looking to lower the annual
cap to 2%.
14/12/2016

proposal for rent caps, if Fianna Fil doesn't agree to
its proposals.
He has told a meeting of Fine Gael TDs that the
proposed 4% cap on annual increases will not be
adjusted.
Fianna Fil has tabled a Dil amendment looking to
lower the annual cap to 2%.
But at the private meeting tonight Enda Kenny has
refused to consider lowering the cap, and says the
plan will be withdrawn unless the 4% cap is accepted.
How was An Taoiseach not elected by the people? There was a
general election where Enda Kenny was elected by the people and
will of the elected representatives elected Enda Kenny Taoiseach.
Democracy at its most pure.
FG - The Landlords Party. All about making sure landlords
are guaranteed rent rises.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, in there about security of
tenure.
Yet you'll get the Anitras and Blossoms of this world
complaining about that, yet defend FG to the hilt.
Amazing.
Dil debate on rent caps postponed

15/12/2016
The Dil debate on the government's new housing strategy

has been postponed - amid signs the scheme could be
abandoned.
TDs were due to start debating Simon Coveney's new plan for
rent caps in high-pressure areas in a few minutes' time.
But just minutes before the debate, TDs were told the
legislation had been pulled off the Dil schedule.
Last night Enda Kenny told Fine Gael TDs that the scheme
would be withdrawn unless Fianna Fil gave its backing to a
4% annual cap.
A spokeswoman for Minister Coveney had said the door
remained open for talks, but the Dil debate on the plan has
now been delayed.

Earlier: Plans for a cap on rent increases could be scrapped
this afternoon - just two days after being published.
Fine Gael is set to abandon the idea unless Fianna Fil
agrees to set the cap at 4%.
Fine Gael says it wont back down from its plan for a 4% cap
on rent increases in Dublin and Cork. It says if the cap goes
any lower, landlords will be scared off.
But Fianna Fil says 4% is too high - and has arranged a Dil
vote for this afternoon, on lowering it to 2%.
And last night Enda Kenny - told Fine Gael TDs that unless
the cap stays at 4%, the plan will be scrapped entirely.
One possible compromise is that the 4% limit could remain - in
exchange for an agreement to extend the rent caps to Galway,
Limerick and Waterford straight away.
As usual we have a government that eventual is made to

see a problem and then either addresses the symptoms or
ignores the obvious because of political ideology or dogma.
rent control has only now become an issue because there
simply is not enough properties available to rent. demand
is far outstripping supply. The obvious solutions have
been totally ignored. On the one hand we have more

people having to rent because of repossessions, on the
other we have the government through NAMA in control
of more property than at any point in the states history.
Surely the first two obvious actions would be to solve or
remove the repossessions issue and utilise the property
still under the control of NAMA
this is not rocket science, not economically unviable nor
'messing with the market'.
A simple cost analysis of how much it is going to cost the
state in legal costs during repossession hearings and
appeals, and then the subsequent cost of housing families
that have to vacate repossessed homes is what is required.
what does it cost the government to provide alternative
housing for these families in 'emergency accommodation'
(usually B+B's or cheap hotels) as compared to what it
might cost to enter into a joint ownership scheme where
the banks debt is bought by the government and this paid
back over time, or indeed an outright purchase of the
property and rent charged with the possibility of the now
tenants being able to buy their home back at a later point
while at the same time the government making a modest
profit, My guess would be to pay to keep these families in
their own homes would most likely be as cheap or cheaper
than providing alternative accommodation
NAMA still has hundreds of homes on its books. Why cant
these be released to the rental market now and sold off
later once sufficient housing stock has entered the rental
market.
Rent control does work, its worked very successfully in
Germany since the early '80's, but it only works well when
there is a fairly stable housing market. Telling landlords
that they can continue it increase rents (as if they weren't
going to do that anyhow) is not a solution.
This scheme wont fix a thing, it wont increase the amount
of rental properties, it wont reduce the number trying to
rent and it certainly will not increase the number of first

time buyers of new homes.
The government could easily reduce taxation for landlords
in return for lower rents.
the government could remove or significant reduce stamp
duty and other costs on new properties or redeveloped
properties destined for the rental market.
The Irish govt....producing more fudges than Cadbury's.
Shur it'll be grand, the ones that can't afford rocketing
rents can always live in cardboard boxes.
Can anyone tell me how this country with a tanking
economy in the 1930s managed to build so much social
housing, most of it still occupied? Imagine the state of
affairs if they were not built and allowed the tenements to
fester?
He is a Total leech. Along With His Other FG Cronies and FF

All liars and Snakes
Bless his cotton socks the poor little crater! How detached
from the real world can you get, when homeless people
are dying in the streets from the cold, while others (the
lucky ones?) are getting frostbite from sleeping rough!
Another overpaid, ignorant buffoon, sheltered from reality
by all his wealth, and who has no idea of real hardship or
poverty.The only chill is the one that runs down the spine
when the mere thought of him running the country enters
the mind!
Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions is now available below:

I asked him for an update on the Garda investigations into the Flood
Mahon and Moriarty Tribunal Reports Dec 13th 2016
Beware of Housing Minister Simon Coveney he is

Targeting the most vuneable Irish people who are
homeless through no fault of their own, he is is a
Greedy Corrupt Corporate bilderberg
membership, devious and evil and Commodity
Landlord who would sell his own Mother out

Coveney is a Greedy Corrupt
Landlord and a Traitor To Irish
Citizens of Ireland 2
https://www.scribd.com/document/334283250/Housing-MinisterSimon-Coveney-is-a-Greedy-Corrupt-Landlord-and-a-Traitor-To-IrishCitizens-of-Ireland
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides over
Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at least 30 politicians
Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing marketin
Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record levels in Dublin. While
thousands of Irish families are homeless.He has had to declare he
owns a rental property in Hartys Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.
biggest landords in the country has admitted the rental market in
this country is reaching its limit.
Very dark time's we live in, makes me feel so ashamed of my own

country, and our so-called politicians passed the bill to make
evictions even easier, in the late hour's of last night.while people
have their eye off the ball at this busy time.
I really have no word's for this.
Broke my heart to see this, and god love them, when people are out
in these area's for a Christmas night out, a drink etc , all in happy an
great from, I bet their laughter ecos in their ears. Just shocking and
very very sad indeed.
21st of January 2017 will be the first National Demonstration
organised by the people for the people
We are:
Grandparents
MothersFathersSons and daughters Together we all unite for the first
time in the new year to show that we the people have certainly not
gone away
Many many thousands of Irish people from all across the land are
suffering at the hands of the corrupt government but the people are
standing back up for what's right
We have all seen what the government are for and that certainly is
not for the Irish people
The time is to rise up and let us once again show these shower of
criminals the power of the people
Can't wait and hope to see many many and more of you there
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

ARE ALREADY PRIVATISING OUR
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Dr Rory Hearne, Researcher & Author of Public Private

Partnerships in Ireland: failed experiment or the way forward?
(2011)
Fears about the privatisation of public water provision was a
central motivating factor behind the Right2Water protest movement
but concerns about the privatisation of water are held by many
other political and civil society groupings. The recently published
Expert Commission on Water Services Report highlighted a
widespread public concern about the potential privatisation of Irish
Water. They stated that public responses to their consultation
expressed concerns that water charges, and metering of domestic
households, could eventually lead to privatisation. The Report
notes that this was sometimes set in the context of wider
concerns about privatisation of public services, and the
commodification of water. However, it is widely known that various
public and private interests have been preparing the ground for the
potential privatisation of the Irish public water system. In this article
I provide evidence that should concern all those worried about the
potential privatisation of Irish public water. This centres on the ongoing implementation of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the
provision of public water infrastructure in Ireland. These PPPs are
a form of creeping privatisation that makes the full privatisation of
our public water system a real possibility in the future.
This creeping privatisation or outsourcing of key parts of the

public water infrastructure system has been going on for almost
twenty years through PPP projects. These PPPs involve private
companies providing, operating and managing water and wastewater treatment plants for some of our largest cities and towns.
Worryingly most of these private companies are global
corporations leading the way in water privatisation internationally.
They now control water and waste-water treatment infrastructure
such as the Dublin Ringsend Waste Water Treatment Plant,
(treating waste water from over 1.7 million people), the
Bray/Shanganagh plant (serving a population of 248,000), Sligo
(serving 80,000), Waterford (180,000), and plants in Cork,
Tipperary, Offaly, Meath, and Donegal, amongst others.
According to Dail records there are, in fact, 115 of these PPP
contracts to Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBO), water and
waste-water treatment plants across 232 sites in Ireland. The
contracts are worth a massive total of 1.4bn and most are set to
run up to 2030. It is estimated that Irish Water (previously the local
authorities) are paying out 123 million per annum to the private
companies to cover the operation/maintenance/repayment costs of
these PPP contracts.
Drawing on figures from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Dail
records, and information gathered from the websites of private
water companies, I have compiled information on the twenty
largest water/waste-water treatment plant PPPs in Ireland. The
value of these, at 680 million, is almost half the value of all the
water/waste-water PPPs. This information is presented in the table
below[i].
Table 1 Details of the 20 largest Water/WasteWater PPP
Projects in Ireland, 2015
MEDIA-WRAPPER-START-1
Public Private Partnerships introduced in 1999 in Ireland

PPPs were first introduced in the delivery of public infrastructure
(schools, motorways, social housing, water treatment plants etc) in
Ireland by the Fianna Fail and the PD Government in 1999,
following lobbying by IBEC and the Construction Industry
Federation. Pilot PPP projects were developed in the delivery of
motorways (toll roads), schools, rail (the LUAS), and water and
waste-water treatment plants. New PPPs were developed in these
sectors through the early 2000s and extended to include social
housing regeneration projects.
PPPs are different from public delivery of infrastructure. For
example, in 'traditional' public water and waste-water service and
infrastructure delivery, treatment plants would be designed and

planned in-house within the local authority (and if they required
additional finance, also by the Department of Environment), and
then either directly built by public labour or, in recent decades,
contracted out to a private company to build. Then the
infrastructure was taken and managed by the local authority. By
contrast DBO (or DBOM as they are also referred to) PPPs involve
the outsourcing of the entire process, including design, operation
and maintenance of the infrastructure, to commercial private water
corporations, for contracts usually lasting twenty years. Some
PPPs also include the use of private finance to fund the
infrastructure (referred to as DBOF PPPs).
In the various National Development Plans in the 2000s Irish
governments outlined how they aimed to increase PPPs to 15 per
cent of all public capital investment by the end of that decade. In
2012 the C & AG showed that PPPs to the value of almost 8bn
had been developed in Ireland, mainly in Schools, Roads and
Water/Waste water sectors (figures show that, excluding
water/waste water, 2.3bn has been spent on PPPs, and there is
4.1bn outstanding in commitments to be paid to PPP projects).
Ten ways PPPs are privatisation
A major issue of debate and concern about PPPs has been their
role in the privatisation of public infrastructure and services.
Governments, civil servants and local authorities have been
arguing from the start of PPPs that they are not a form of
privatisation as there is no asset transfer or disposal of assets.
For example the DOE stated in 2010 that, A fundamental principle
of DBOs in the water services sector is that, while the
infrastructure is operated under contract to the water services
authority, it remains at all times in the authoritys ownership.
However, the evidence and research (detailed in my book Public
Private Partnerships in Ireland, which was based on my PhD
research) into the practical outcomes of PPPs in Ireland and
across the world proves conclusively that they are a disturbing
form of privatisation through outsourcing.
In the early 1990s, particularly in the UK and Latin America, PPPs
were promoted by governments, in response to growing public
opposition to privatisation, as a new method of public infrastructure
and service delivery that did not appear as privatisation. But PPPs,
as I will show, actually continue the privatisation and
neoliberalisation of public services. They were strongly promoted
by New Labour in the UK, and by key international institutions,
such as the EU, IMF, OECD and the World Bank.

In the following sections I show ten ways by which PPPs are a
form of privatisation of the public water/waste-water system and
lead to a further embedding of privatisation, marketisation and
commodification processes within the public water/waste-water
system.
1.PPPs mean loss of control to global water corporations
Firstly, there is the loss of control over public water and wastewater infrastructure from accountable public agencies (local
authorities) to global commercial corporations. Analysis of the data
in Table 1 shows that, of these 20 largest PPPs, 90% (18) of the
companies were foreign multinationals or Irish subsidiaries of
foreign multinationals. This represents a major loss of control over
our public water infrastructure. This is nothing short of privatisation.
When control over public infrastructure is transferred from the
public sector to the private sector, it should be classified as a form
of privatisation. The following section provides an overview of
these private companies.
Veolia Water Ireland has seven of the largest 20 PPP contracts
(35%), at a value of 120 million. These include the two large PPP
water treatment plants (Clareville in Limerick and Barrow
Abstraction, Kildare) and waste-water plants in Castlebar,
Donegal, Mullingar, Wicklow and Dungarvan. But on its website,
Veolia explains that it operates many more treatment plants across
the country. It states that their operating contracts provide waterrelated services for a population equivalent of close to 1,000,000
people in the Republic of Ireland operating more than 30 plants
within Ireland, encompassing wastewater, potable water and
sludge treatment. Veolia Water Ireland is a subsidiary of the
French multinational company, Veolia, which is the largest private
water company in the world. Veolia has global revenue of 24bn
and manages 4,245 drinking water plants and 3,300 waste-water
treatment plants globally. It also has the contract to operate the
LUAS and various private waste collection services. Veolia Water
(Ireland) also has non-domestic water metering and billing
contracts with a number of county councils.
The company with the next largest share of these 20 largest PPP
contracts was Aecom, with five projects (25% of the projects valued at 99million) including the Balbriggan /Skerries
Wastewater Treatment plant, the Rush/Lusk Wastewater
Treatment plant and the South Tipperary treatment plant. Aecom
(formerly Earthtech Irl) is a multi-billion (revenue of 17.4bn) US
multinational engineering corporation. But it combines financing,

design, building, and, as it states a global network of experts
delivering water and energy, building iconic skyscrapers, planning
new cities, restoring damaged environments, asset management,
cyber security operations, education, healthcare, transport. They
are a complete government infrastructure delivery corporation.
Aecom has approximately 95,000 employees and is listed on the
new York stock exchange.
Next up is Celtic Anglian Water (CAW), which has three projects
and operates the largest waste-water treatment plant in the
country, the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Works, which
provides secondary and tertiary treatment for a population
equivalent of 1,700,000. The contract value is 250 million and
runs up to 2022. In 2001 CAW was the first private company to be
awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of a Water
Treatment Plant in the Republic of Ireland. It also runs the Galway
County Non-Domestic Metering System (including debt recovery,
billing etc) a contract valued at 10.8 million running up to 2018.
CAW is a subsidiary company of Anglian Water Group, one of the
largest private water companies in England where water is
privatised. Anglian made an operating profit in the UK of 452.6
million for 2014/15.
2.PPPs involve privatisation of policy making
Secondly, PPPs involve the loss of control over public
infrastructure and governance through the privatization
(outsourcing) of the process of policy making including the macrolevel analysis of the effectiveness and appropriateness of PPPs as
a general policy, the design of frameworks for implementation, and
down to the micro-level assessment of Value for Money for
individual projects and the design and planning of the
infrastructure. One of the major private companies given
responsibility for such processes by the Irish state is
PriceWaterHouseCooper (PWC) consultants, one of the big four
global auditing, procurement and accountancy firms. PWC have
played a central role in advising Irish government Departments to
develop PPPs in water and waste water infrastructure. The
Department of Finance appointed PWC in 2001 to review the
effectiveness of the PPP method and, unsurprisingly, they
recommended further expanding the PPP programme. They also
outlined the policy framework required to increase the rate of
implementation of PPPs in Ireland. PWC were also commissioned
by the Department of the Environment in 2001 to develop a
framework for PPPs to be advanced in Ireland in the roads, water

and waste sectors. PWC also carried out the report in November
2011 for the Department of Environment which advised how Irish
Water should be set up (for which PWC were paid a tidy sum of
180,000). They are also involved in evaluating PPP projects on
behalf of local authorities and government Departments to assess
if they are value for money (VFM). The result of their Value for
Money (VFM) Public Sector Benchmark calculation provides the
justification if infrastructure is to be procured through PPPs or the
public sector method. PWC have also been involved in bidding for
water privatization across the world, most notoriously in India
(where the World Bank was found to have unethically supported
them).
There is a clear conflict of interest here as the same private
company which promotes PPPs internationally and is set to gain
financially from the expansion of PPPs is being used by
government and local authorities to advise on the continued use of
PPPs and crucially, assess if PPPs provide VFM or not.
3.No meaningful ownership or control held by the state in
PPPs
Thirdly, while the state claims they still have the ownership of the
infrastructure, the reality of PPPs is that when the infrastructure is
managed, maintained and operated by the private sector in long
term contracts, there is in fact no meaningful ownership or control
by the state. The private sector controls the day-to-day operation
and thus has control over the knowledge and management of the
infrastructure, so in terms of real control and power the private
operator holds it.
This lack of control and the embedding of permanent private
control and profiteering is shown by the experience of the Dublin
(Ringsend) waste-water treatment plant. Local residents have
suffered persistent foul odour problems emanating from the plant
due to inadequate design and equipment failure in the plant. There
has been an on-going dispute between the responsible local
authority, Dublin City Council, and the private operator, Celtic
Anglian Water (CAW), over the extent of the problems and who
should pay for them. CAW argued that DCC would have to pay for
any changes as they would be outside the PPP contract. In the
end, DCC paid CAW 35million to address the problem.
This contradicts the theory of PPPs where they are supposed to
provide a cost benefit to the state by transferring the cost of
dealing with unforseen problems such as this (referred to as risk)
over to the private sector. This case shows that as the private
company now controls the project and thus has the core
knowledge and skills, it can define the issue, the problem and the
cost of rectifying it. It can effectively hold the state to ransom and
force the state to pay significant additional amounts to get any
changes made. That is unless the state is prepared to sanction
and fine the company, or at least stand up to and demand lower
costs from it. But the Irish state has shown that it is unwilling to do
this because it doesnt want to stop future companies engaging in
PPPs. Its part of the price of having a business friendly economy.
The state (the Irish public) keeps picking up the tab and
subsidising the private corporations.
4.When upgrading of infrastructure required PPP contracts
will continue to go to private operators
Fourthly, what will happen in future years when upgrading, or
capacity extension is required in the treatment plants, or new
measures to meet new environmental quality standards outside of
the original contract are required and thus renegotiation of the PPP
contracts? The private operator will hold the control and knowledge
and will be able to charge the state significant premiums to make
changes. The case of the West-Link toll road demonstrates this
point. When the public sector required changes to the service, it
had to pay over half a billion euro to purchase the PPP contract
from the private operator so that it could undertake the required
changes. Furthermore, who is likely to get the new contracts for
upgrading infrastructure? A new private company or the state
itself? The problem with the PPPs is that the private operator
effectively holds a form of monopoly position and thus it is likely to
get it. The is shown by the fact that CAW was awarded a further
DBOM contract to upgrade the Sligo Plant by Irish Water in April
this year.
5.PPPs make private outsourcing of our public water/waste
water infrastructure permanent and full privatisation more
likely
Fifthly, what will happen when it comes to the end of the PPP
contract life in fifteen to twenty years time? Will the plants, as the
state claims, revert back to public ownership when the contract
ends? This is very unlikely if we continue down the PPP
outsourcing path when we have run down and further diminished
the capacity of local authorities to manage our water and waste
water infrastructure. It is more likely to stay in the control of private
operators into perpetuity. This shows how PPPs make private

outsourcing of our public water/waste water infrastructure
permanent and thus are likely to lead to a continued and
deepening privatisation and contracting out.
This is also shown by the fact that DBO PPPs appear to be the
only option being made available to (and preferred by) local
authorities (now Irish Water) and there is no longer a public sector
alternative being made available. Thus PPP privatisation is the
only option for upgrading and providing new water services
infrastructure. The 2010 Department of Environment Report on the
Value for Money for Review of the Water Services Investment
Programme 2007-2009, states this explicitly:
in the case of water services infrastructure, the DBO model is the
preferred procurement route in the case of works involving the
provision of treatment plants subject to completion. This review
also recommends deepening private involvement further by
involving private finance in the future in relation to some large
scale projects.
Therefore existing PPPs lay the foundation for the further
development of PPPs in this area as is shown by the trend towards
the increased use of PPPs over time. Getting private companies
into design, build, operate and manage the water/waste water
infrastructure is thus the thin edge of a wedge that opens up the
potential for complete privatisation.
The private companies themselves highlight this as they use their
existing contracts to try get more PPPs. Veolia explains how they
leverage the experience, stability and geographical coverage of
their existing 20-year PPP contracts in order to offer present and
future customers a cost effective outsourcing solution. While CAW
is even more bold in their ambitions stating that they aim to
become the leading water and waste water service provider in
Ireland. Is that not the complete private corporate takeover of the
public water infrastructure system?
Ultimately these DBO PPPs make it even more straightforward
and easier (and thus more likely) to privatise water/waste water
infrastructure in the future because the only public aspect
remaining to be privatised is the official ownership of the
infrastructure. It is only a Ministers signature away from the sale
and complete transfer to the private sector.
6.PPPs commodify and marketise public infrastructure
Sixth, PPPs also commodify and marketise this public
infrastructure by creating a new market in the provision of public
water/waste-water infrastructure, through the conversion of the

entire process of the provision of public water/waste-water
infrastructure into a contract which is a tradeable asset or
commodity. They thus open up public infrastructure and assets as
income generating opportunities for the private companies.
For example, EPS, one of the Irish private water companies that
has two waste-water PPP contracts (and an annual turnover
nearing 70 million) explains how they have been at the forefront
of the development of the Irish water market through successive
National Development Plan cycles and they have nurtured a
market leading share of the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) market in
Ireland. Similarly Celtic Anglian Water refer to the public
infrastructure as an asset. CAW explains that it operates in the
development of water and wastewater assets - providing water
supply, wastewater treatment, plant operation and maintenance
services. So these private water companies are quite clear how
PPPs are a marketisation or market-creating process of
commodifying public water/waste water infrastructure.
And make no mistake about it, water/waste-water infrastructure
provision is a massive potential market. There are approximately
973 public water supplies and approximately 500 waste water
treatment plants in Ireland. That means that based on 115 DBO
contracts, approximately 20% of our waste water treatment plants
are already part privatised/outsourced. And given the need to
upgrade treatment plants to meet environmental quality standards
major investment is required into the future in treatment plants.
You can also add upgrades and improvements required for the
entire water treatment network on top of that. We can see
therefore how this whole area is a potentially very large and
lucrative future market for the private water companies. And this
requirement to upgrade this infrastructure such as water and waste
water treatment plants is being eyed up as a big opportunity for
profit by many companies. The Irish Times reported earlier this
year that The Denis OBrien-owned industrial services
group Actavo is likely to seek more work from State utility Irish
Water as the State utility moved ahead with plans to renew the
Republics water treatment and supply systems, Actavo would bid
for contracts to work on the various projects that this is likely to
involve.
7. Water infrastructure becomes commodities traded on
financial markets-no democracy
Seventh, further marketization takes place as the PPP contracts
themselves are a tradeable commodity on financial markets. PPP

contracts and companies are bought and sold for profit all the time
on financial markets and international asset markets, between
various private equity investors, hedge funds, and corporations.
They are often loaded with debt from other companies and then
asset sweating is undertaken whereby the new owners (financial
speculators) dont invest in the project but extract as much profit as
possible (through, as I later explain, reducing quality of service,
workers pay and conditions, increasing user charges, increasing
the cost charged to the state etc).
As I wrote in my book this also has implications for the democratic
provision and accountability of public services: "The process of
buying and selling public assets as internationally traded
commodities could have significant implications not just for the
provision of public services and infrastructure, but for the
democratic control by national governments over the services for
which they have the responsibility to provide to their public."
8.PPPs do not provide Value for Money as profits extracted by
private sector
Eighth, PPPs are also a deeper form of privatisation than simple
public asset sales because they involve the on-going subsidisation
of private corporations by the state and the public (through
contract fees, tolls, user charges) for decades through the PPP
contracts. Thus PPPs provide huge profits to the private
corporations. Take Veolia Water Ireland, for example, it increased
its revenue from 36.6 million in 2014 to 40.3 million in 2015.
Their profit was 0.8 million in 2015 and 1.2 million in 2014.
Financial data for CAW shows that in 2015 it had 30.1 million
turnover and made 4.4 million in profit (in 2014 it made 6.6mil in
profit). Thats just two companies and based on Dail figures private
water/waste water companies are receiving a revenue of at least
123 million a year from the Irish tax payer.
This profit extraction is a key part of the explanation of why PPPs
are actually more expensive than traditional delivery. How can they
provide VFM when huge profits are being extracted? This is a
significant additional cost that is not included or measured in the
VFM calculations. This asset grab by private corporations is a
loss of resources and value for the Irish public as they have to pay
for this profit, which does not exist to the same extent in traditional
public procurement (provision) of water/waste-water infrastructure.
Dr. Vandana Shiva has written about this in relation to the
privatisation of Delhis water supply in India through a PPP water
treatment plant operated by Ondeo Degremont (a subsidiary of

French company Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Water Divisionthe
water giant of the world):
Suez is not bringing in private foreign investment. It is
appropriating public investment. Public-private partnerships are, in
effect, private appropriation of public investment. But the financial
costs are not the highest costs. The real costs are social and
ecological. Interestingly, Ondeo Degremont constructed (and is
possibly still operating) Corks largest waste-water treatment plant.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has found that PPPs are 813% more expensive than traditional public procurement. Reeves
(2011) found that for a number of water based PPPs the initial
estimation of VFM under PPP was revised downwards from 9.5
per cent to 0.8 per cent (of whole-life cost under traditional
procurement) following consultation with stakeholders including
trade unions. In another case Reeves (2013) shows that after
consultation, estimated VFM was revised from 2.3 per cent in
favour of PPP to 2.25 per cent in favour of traditional procurement.
These revisions were attributable to a number of shortcomings in
the original VFM analyses including the omission of relevant costs
including: (i) costs incurred following the re-deployment of existing
labour if PPP was adopted; (ii) transaction costs; (iii) and the costs
of monitoring and supervising the PPP contract over the 20 year
period.
There is another democratic deficit at the heart of PPPs which
links to their inability to prove they provide Value for Money. The
Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) VFM calculation (often carried out
by pro-PPP companies like PWC) is not available for public
analysis due to commercial sensitivity. Yet this is the key
evidence that justifies PPPs- but we cannot see it. Therefore there
is no evidenced way of showing these projects actually are value
for money.
9. PPPs involve reduction in workers pay, conditions and
rights.
The ninth way in which PPPs are a form of privatization is the
reduction in workers pay, conditions and rights. A key method by
which PPPs are used to reduce costs is through such a reduction
in the conditions and pay of employees. As with other forms of
privatisation and outsourcing PPPs have been associated with a
degrading of workers conditions and, in particular, a tendency to
refuse trade union recognition. For example, in 2013 it was
reported that an employee in the Shanganagh PPP Waste Water
Treatment Plant was dismissed 'for trade union organised activity.

Workers there organised a strike as the employers refused to
recognise the trade union and there were other issues around fair
pay for hours and shifts worked. The private operator of the PPP
plant is SDD Shanganagh Water Treatment Ltd, which is a joint
venture between the Irish construction company, Sisk, and
Spanish companies Dragados and Drace. However, the workers
were, in fact, employed by a separate subcontracted agency. Thus
we see how PPPs further the process of the casualisation and
downgrading of workers conditions and undermine and reduce
hard-fought rights and conditions of public sector employees such
as trade union recognition and collective bargaining. Through
PPPs it is the state (which, of course, should be protecting and
promoting workers rights) that is playing a central role in driving
down workers conditions.
10.PPPs support water charges and furthers privatisation
The tenth and final way PPPs support privatisation is their
promotion and support for user charges such as water charges
and the way in which this furthers the privatisation process within
the water system.
The introduction of user fees/charges for public services has been
central to the neoliberal policy agenda which is about convincing
the public to accept that they have to pay for public services
through user fees, even if they were previously paid for from
general taxation and were free at the point of delivery.
PPPs have already facilitated the introduction and intensification of
this policy through the introduction of user fees for toll roads. The
Irish state has supported this process of profiting from PPPs. In
one of the interviews in my research a senior civil servant working
in a Central Government PPP unit told me that it has to be a quid
pro-quo that the private sector gets profit, while it might cost more
for the user. There has to be profit, otherwise it doesnt work.
Indeed, the Irish government has promoted the unlimited potential
for the development of PPPs funded by user fees. Assistant
Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mary Doyle,
speaking at the 3rd Annual PPP Policy Forum (2007) explained
that, since Ireland is the home of the entrepreneur there is no limit
on any projects that can be undertaken by PPP where they are
funded entirely by using charges. The roads, schools, waste and
water/waste-water sectors demonstrate how, because the private
sector required an income stream (profit) as the basis of its
involvement, the use of PPPs necessitated, the commercialisation
of, and private-capital control over, public resources and assets. As

a representative of the Department of Environment explained to
me in an interview:
The private sector may be able to generate additional revenues
from third parties, thereby reducing the cost of any public-sector
subvention required. Additional revenue may be generated through
the use of spare capacity or the disposal of surplus assets
Through the application of these income-generating mechanisms,
PPPs facilitate the implementation of a central neoliberal policy
objective of creating unlimited market opportunities for the private
sector within public governance, services and infrastructure
(Bourdieu, 1998; Brenner and Theodore, 2002; Harvey, 2005;
Whitfield, 2006).
And, as we see more and more PPP contracts made by Irish water
this increases the financial commitment to PPP companies and,
thus in the future, an argument could be made for introducing
and/or increasing water charges in order to pay for these contracts
with PPP companies. A revenue stream will be required to pay the
private operators. Thus PPPs open up the argument and
requirement for the introduction/increase of water charges and the
introduction of water charges opens up, and provides, the revenue
stream to pay private operators. PPPs and water charges are,
therefore, a mutually reinforcing process as the introduction of one
leads to arguments in favour of the necessity of the introduction of
the other. And they both provide key steps towards the further
privatisation of the Irish public water system.
Conclusion
Overall then we can see from the evidence presented here the
dangerous amount of power and influence that global corporations
are being given through PPP projects in the water/waste-water
infrastructure in Ireland, and the way in which the state is actively
facilitating this neoliberalisation of water governance. Private
corporations, facilitated by the Irish state, are imposing their
corporate model as the future for government and public service
and infrastructure delivery. It is a dystopian future for citizens
whereby private corporations will provide and profit from (and
speculatively trade on financial markets) all aspects of government
including public services and infrastructure through highly
profitable contracts paid for by nation states and local government.
It is the ultimate privatisation and commodification of all public
goods and infrastructure. This is the neoliberal project laid bare.
What David Harvey describes as accumulation by dispossession.
It is about taking the resources (and assets) away from state public
services and infrastructure which benefit the working and middle
classes and instead funnelling them to the wealthy and private
corporations. PPPs are playing a strategic role in this process of
capturing public services and assets for private investment and
wealth accumulation. The global and EU trade liberalisation rules
and new treaties such as CETA and TTIP also support PPPs by
further obliging national governments to liberalise markets for
services and infrastructure on a global scale.
An excellent article critiquing the impact of PPPs and water
privatisation in India describes the process of privatisation through
PPPs which can also be applied to the Irish case:
But whatever the nuances, although formal ownership continues
to nominally vest with public entities, all these public-private
partnerships are undoubtedly different forms of privatization, with
public bodies ceding varying degrees of control over quantity,
quality, coverage and pricing to corporate bodies. Since the private
party is in the business for profit, water in such privatized utilities is
always viewed, valued and managed in terms of its price.
Whatever the specific form of involvement of private players, water
moves from being a common good to a commodity, with all that
this implies.
The evidence shows, therefore, that PPPs are a complex form of
intensive privatization, marketization and commodification of the
Irish public water and waste-water infrastructure system. Privatesector involvement has not guaranteed a better-quality service and
additionally, the private operators profit maximisation requirements
has resulted in the running down of service quality, workers
conditions and turning the assets into commodities to be profited
from. They ensure big profits for global water and
governance/development corporations and financial investors and
rising costs and ineffective services for public service users, and
the erosion of workers rights. Thus they contribute to the
exacerbation of economic inequality.
The values and ideals of social rights that inform public-sector
values and priorities are undermined by the market ethos of PPP
policy making. Under this process, public service users are
converted into clients and consumers and a revenue stream. All
of this evidence shows how the pursuit of PPPs are an ideological
policy. The evidence does not support the use of PPPs in public
water and waste water infrastructure provision. They are being
pursued principally because of policy makers adherence to (and
belief in) neoliberal privatisiation policies rather than any evidence
based justification.
Remunicipalisation
In recent years governments and local authorities across the
world, in response to the failure of water privatisation such as
increased water charges and poor service delivery by the private
companies, and under pressure from citizen campaigns asserting
the human right to water, have started a process of
remunicipalisation taking water and waste-water services back
into public management. Our public water future: The global
experience with remunicipalisation, a book published last year
shows the growing wave of cities putting water back under public
control with 235 cases of water remunicipalisation in 37
countries, affecting over 100 million people, between 2000 and
2015. The number of cases doubled in the 2010-2015 period
compared with 2000-2010. France, a country that spearheaded
water privatisation and PPPs has lead the way with 94 cases of
remunicipalisation. Also recently a large majority of the Barcelona
City Council voted to end the private management of water and
support the remunicipalisation of the water service in of Barcelona.
Barcelona En Comu, the new citizens movement who holds the
Mayorality of Barcelona, promoted the measure as it was one of
the most popular among citizens in their participatory process
carried out to define the Municipal Action Plan (the plan that guides
city policy). Barcelona En Com, believes that water is a human
right, a basic service and a common good that should be under
public, democratic control.
Slovenia also recently amended its constitution to make access to
drinkable water a fundamental right for all citizens and stop it being
commercialised.
The new article in the constitution reads that Water resources
represent a public good that is managed by the state. Water
resources are primary and durably used to supply citizens with
potable water and households with water and, in this sense, are
not a market commodity.
It was reported in the Guardian that the Slovenian Prime Minister
encouraged the change because: people should protect water
the 21st centurys liquid gold at the highest legal leveland that
Slovenian water has very good quality and, because of its value,
in the future it will certainly be the target of foreign countries and
international corporations appetitesAs it will gradually become a
more valuable commodity in the future, pressure over it will
increase and we must not give in. Slovenia is the first European
Union country to include the right to water in its constitution, while

15 other countries across the world had already done so.
The on-going implementation of PPPs shows that the Irish public
water system has already been part-privatised/outsourced and
without a change of direction and policy it is in danger of being
further marketised and privatised. This lends support to the case
being made for a Referendum that could enshrine the Irish water
system as a public good and human right in the Constitution and
thus provide a constitutional guarantee on the public ownership of
our water. The Expert Commission found that the most commonly
expressed preferred method for confirming Irish Water in public
ownership was by a constitutional amendment, and that the
provision for a plebiscite, as provided for in the existing legislation
did not provide the necessary level of guarantee.
Right2Water has proposed the following wording that could be
inserted into the Constitution to enshrine this:
The Government shall be collectively responsible for the
protection, management and maintenance of the public water
system. The Government shall ensure in the public interest
that this resource remains in public ownership and
management.
The passing of such a referendum is an essential step in stopping
the full privatisation of our public water system and, in particular,
would put a halt to the back door creeping privatisation of through
PPPs in water and waste-water infrastructure and support the
remunicipalisation (taking back into public control) of the existing
PPP water projects.
Sources:
Hearne, R. (2011) Public Private Partnerships in Ireland: failed
experiment or the way forward? Manchester University Press
Available at:
http://www.academia.edu/30178583/Trends_in_historical_develop
ment_of_the_Irish_state_public_services_and_infrastructure
Hearne (2012) http://politico.ie/society/public-private-partnershipsireland-failed-experiment-or-way-forward
Hearne (2009) Origins, Development and Outcomes of Public
Private Partnerships in Ireland: The Case of PPPs in Social
Housing Regeneration Dr Rory Hearne
http://www.combatpoverty.ie/publications/workingpapers/200907_WP_PPPsIn...
Alan Kelly, 28th April 2015, Dail Eireann,
https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2015-04-28a.1222
Comptroller and Auditor General (2016) Briefing Note on PPPs
https://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/pac/corres
pondence/2016meetings/meeting4-21072016/PAC32-R-42-B-(B)--Briefing-Note-on-PPPs-from-CAG.pdf
Comptroller and Auditor General (2011) Annual Report
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2011/report/en/
Chapter6_01.pdf
Irish Times (2008) Report recommends upgrade of Ringsend
waste plant
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/report-recommends-upgrade-ofringsend-was...
Hell Bent on Water Privatisatin in Dehli
(http://newsclick.in/india/hell-bent-water-privatization-delhi)
Oireachtas (2013) Public Private Partnerships Data, July 2013,
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates
%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2013071600112
Reeves, E. (2014) Public Capital Investment and Public Private
Partnerships in Ireland 2000-2014: A Review of the Issues and
Performance
https://www.socialjustice.ie/sites/default/files/attach/policy-issuearticle/4004/2014-11-18-eoinreeves-investmentandppps.pdf
Shiva, V. (2006) RESISTING WATER PRIVATISATION, BUILDING
WATER DEMOCRACY,
http://www.globalternative.org/downloads/shiva-water.pdf
The 2010 Department of Environment Report on the Value for
Money for Review of the Water Services Investment Programme
2007-2009
The Guardian (2016) Slovenia Adds Water to Constitution
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/18/sloveniaadds-water-...
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The publication of the report by the Expert Commission on water

has vindicated everything the Right2Water campaign has been
saying for almost three years. Water should be paid for through
general taxation which is the most socially equitable, economically
beneficial and environmentally sound.
Frustratingly, had an arrogant government and media listened to
our campaign and people in communities across this country, we
would not have wasted 1 billion on water meters and establishing
Irish Water as a commercial entity. Even Engineers Ireland warned
the government back in 2010 that bringing in water charges would
mean "spending 1bn of money we dont have on something we
dont need.
The key findings of the report include:
That Irish people already pay for their water through taxation and
that water funded through general taxation is not free but paid for
by the taxpayer.
Access to adequate clean water for living requirements should not
be determined by affordability.
A referendum is necessary to protect our public water system from
privatisation.
Ireland has one of the highest rates of water availability in the
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world, with water availability per person four times higher than
France and fifty times higher than Israel.
The expert commission has not seen any evidence that Ireland
has particularly high levels of domestic water usage and Irish
people are at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to
comparing water usage among other European countries.
Irish people use between 15-25 percent less water than the UK,
where water charges have been in place since 1989.
Water charges do not result in water conservation unless they
include education and information. Therefore, it can be established
that it is education and information which results in water
conservation, not the charges.
Commercial companies are not paying their water bills with almost
half refusing to pay. Ensuring a comprehensive commercial water
charges regime should reduce dependence on general taxation.
There are no abstraction charges for our natural spring water on
private companies like Britvic (Ballygowan) who pay nothing when
bottling our natural spring water for profit. This should be
addressed.
Metering should only be done on an optional basis.
Group schemes should have an allowance in order to create
equity.
There is a need for investment of 5.5bn in our infrastructure by
2021.
The water charges regime does not have political support or
popular acceptance.
Flat rate charges are regressive and do not address the issue of
conservation. Also, a water charge added to a property tax leads to
unfairness in the system.
The water charges regime was intended to reduce household
consumption of water by a mere 6%, yet the system leaks 41% of
all treated water. The best way to reduce waste is to fix the leaks.
While considerable weight must be given to the opinion of the
European Commission, the definitive interpretation of European
law is a matter for the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Borrowings?
Importantly, the Commission states that because the funding of
domestic water should come from general taxation in public
ownership, it will no longer achieve the off balance sheet
exercise. This will reduce or potentially eliminate the need for
borrowing which inevitably leads to debt and the servicing of that
debt by households diverting money directly into the financial
services sector instead of the water infrastructure.
Leakages
The report says that there are 7% of households using six times
more water than the average household, although Irish Water have
indicated that customer-side leaks contribute to this anomaly.
However, it is estimated that up to 97% of leaks do not come from
the household side of the infrastructure and the report states it
should be noted that water leaks waste not only water but also
energy and public money. Therefore, it makes sense to divert all
money from the domestic metering programme towards a district
metering programme as recommended in the report.
Water Charges
The Expert Commission has suggested that where water is used
at a level above what is necessary for normal domestic purposes,
that the user should pay for this through tariffs. The suggestion is
that an allowance is determined and this allowance could be
regularly reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted to reflect changes
in water use patterns in Ireland.
As stated earlier, the evidence provided shows that Irish people
are not profligate with their water and in fact use less water than
almost any other country in the Europe despite having more water
available to us.
There are also very serious concerns about any allowances being
eroded over time, like bin charges.
Therefore, continuing an expensive water metering programme
with the added costs of highly paid consultants, advertising,
postage, call centres and other costs, for no conservational benefit
would be an extraordinary waste of valuable resources, costing up
to 300m per year and returning potentially nothing.
The government and the Oireachtas sub-committee should accept
the will of the electorate two thirds of whom voted for parties and
individuals who promised abolition. This is now also backed up by
an Irish Times MRBI poll which also says two thirds of the
population want to scrap the charges.
With all of this in mind, it is essential that water charges are
abolished outright.
Funding?
In addressing the funding of water services, the Commission
suggests that the funding requirements which were to be allocated
through domestic water charges are now made through the
exchequer rather than by householders directly.
The current government and the previous government must take
responsibility for the leakages and deteriorated infrastructure that
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Irish people currently have to rely on. In the last three Budgets
alone, tax cuts of 2.9 billion have been implemented. The
beneficiaries of those tax cuts are the top 20% of earners and also
employers. In ensuring our water system is fit for purpose, the
government should immediately:
Cease all cuts to progressive taxation.
Stop the metering programme and wasting money on the vanity
project that is Irish Water.
Increase taxation revenue by implementing the Fiscal Framework
Document set out by the Right2Water Trade Unions in 2015
which could raise up to 10 billion. This would not only fix and
upgrade the water infrastructure, but could also address our
housing and homelessness crisis, along with our healthcare,
education and other underfunded public services.
Media Failure
It is felt that the majority of the Irish media failed in their duty to
facilitate an honest and democratic debate about the Irish
governments water policy.
While a number of trade unions, political representatives and
community groups were attempting to raise real and valid issues in
relation to water charges and their implications locally, nationally
and internationally, a compliant media refused to accept the
arguments put forward and even refused to allow a debate to
ensue.
Even now, faced with all of the evidence which shows that Ireland
is a water rich country and that Irish people do not waste water,
many media outlets refuse to accept the fact that water charges
are economically inefficient, theyre environmentally unsound and
socially destructive.
Furthermore, protesters were and continue to be demonised and
vilified for their stance on water charges, yet this report now
vindicates what they have said all along: that paying for water
through progressive general taxation is the fairest and most
equitable method possible.
As Maude Barlow, environmentalist and expert on water from the
Blue Planet Project and the Council of Canadians said, The Irish
system of paying for water and sanitation services through
progressive taxation and non-domestic user fees is an exemplary
model of fair, equitable and sustainable service delivery for the
entire world.
Right2Water remains committed to its stated objective of the
abolition of water charges and Irish Water.
EWM says Irish campaign to forefront of "European

movement to democratise water"
Funding through progressive taxation best way to secure
human right to water
Ahead of the National Right2Water demonstration set to take place
this coming Saturday (September 17th), the European Water
Movement today said that the Irish Right2Water movement forms
part of "a real movement of people to democratise water
management and achieve the human right to water that no country
in the EU has yet implemented".
The European Water Movement, a network of organisations whose
goal is to reinforce the recognition of water as a commons and
access to water as a fundamental universal right, made a
Submission to the Expert Commission on Water which is available
here.
In a statement issued today (Thursday September 15th), the
European Water Movement said:
"It is clear that the best method of securing access to water, and
securing funds for infrastructural investment, is through general
taxation.
"The European Water Movement views the struggle of the Irish
people to abolish water charges, and to secure a referendum

enshrining public ownership of Ireland's water system, as yet more
evidence of a real European people's movement to democratise
water management.
Ireland's Right2Water campaign, like other campaigns throughout
Europe, is seeking to achieve the human right to water that no
country in the EU has yet implemented. Right2Water is to the
forefront of this growing movement", the statement concluded.
Next week, on Wednesday, 9th November, Joan Collins TD will

move a Bill to hold a referendum to insert into the Constitution an
amendment which would rule out any future privatisation of water,
or water services.
Forty TDs have signed the Bill including Independents4Change,
Sinn Fein, AAA/PBP and a number of independent TDs. A number
of others including the Green Party, the Labour Party and the
Social Democrats have said publicly that they would support a
referendum on public ownership of our water, so the Bill has a real
chance of passing.
Put simply, this Bill will only pass if supported by Fianna Fail.
Therefore we are asking everybody concerned about the
ownership of our water to use every means they can to contact
their local TDs, especially Fianna Fail, by email, letter, phone call
or direct lobbying and demand they support the Bill.
We expect the Government (and possibly Fianna Fail) to argue
that they are waiting for the Expert Commission on Domestic
Water Charges to present their report to the Oireachtas but
public ownership of water is not in the Terms of Reference for the
Commission, so this is a smokescreen.
The government deliberately omitted public ownership from the
terms of reference in full knowledge that the Commission might
actually make a recommendation to enshrine ownership in the
hands of the public. This is something they clearly dont want.
At this very moment in time, any government, including the current
one, could legislate to sell off our public water system.
Furthermore, even if a government did not want to sell off our
water, the EU, IMF or ECB could force the sale in the future like
they did in Greece and Portugal so we have to protect our vital
public water system now!
The devastating impacts of water privatization have been felt all
around the world. In the UK, one in four people are now
experiencing water poverty. In the US, Rome and parts of France,
tens of thousands are having their water shut off. We can prevent
much of this by putting ownership of our water in the Constitution.
There are no TDs in the Dail, even in Fine Gael, who will come out
and argue openly for privatization. But can you take their word on
this? If they dont want water privatization, they can prove it by
simply supporting this Bill next Wednesday.
Here are the details of Fianna Fail TDs:
FIANNA FAIL TD LISTINGS
Carlow/Kilkenny
Bobby Aylward
056 7764726
Carlow/Kilkenny
John McGuinness
056 7770672
087 2855834
Cavan/Monaghan
Brendan Smith
049 4362366
Cavan/Monaghan
Niamh Smyth
042 9666666
087 9982222
Clare
Timmy Dooley
065 6891115
Cork East
Kevin O Keefe
022 25320
Cork North Central
Billy Kelleher
021 4502289
Cork North West
Aindrias Moynihan
026 45828
Cork North West
Michael Moynihan
029 51299
Cork South Central
Michael McGrath
021 4376699
Cork South Central
Micheal Martin
021 4320088
Cork South West
Margaret Murphy OMahony
086 8529275
Donegal
Charlie McConalogue
074 9373131/074 9177282
Donegal
Pat The Cope Gallagher
074 95 21364
087 2238925
Dublin Bay North
Sean Haughey
01 6183695
087 3494888
Dublin Bay South
Jim O Callaghan
01 4758943
Dublin Fingal
Darragh O Brien
01 6183802
Dublin Midwest
John Curran
01 6183792
Dublin South West
John Lahart
01 4939608
Dublin West
Jack Chambers
086 4177335
Galway East
Anne Rabbitte
087 2424704
Galway West
Eamon O Cuiv
091 562846
Kerry
John Brassil
066 7133112
087 2362330
Kildare North
Frank O Rourke
087 2555257
Kildare North
James Lawless
086 8348869
Kildare South
Fiona O Loughlin
045 436792
087 2345160
Laois
Sean Fleming
057 8732692
Limerick City
Willie O Dea
061 454488/ 061 454522
Limerick County
Niall Collins
061 300149
087 2749659
Longford/Westmeath
Robert Troy
044 9334857
Louth
Declan Breathnach
087 2697638
Mayo
Dara Calleary
096 77613
Mayo
Lisa Chambers
094 9250577
Meath East
Thomas Byrne
01 6183310
Meath West
Shane Cassells
086 3399198
Offaly
Barry Cowen
057 9321976
Roscommon/Galway
Eugene Murphy
071 963 3000
Sligo/Leitrim
Eamon Scanlon
071 9197903/ 071 9302537
Sligo/Leitrim
Marc Mac Sharry
086 2674764
Tipperary
Jackie Cahill
087 2820663
Waterford
Mary Butler
087 7425020
Wexford
James Browne
086 8575387
Wicklow
Pat Casey
086 2649483
DRAFT SUBMISSION.
Irish Water should be abolished immediately and a public
enquiry into what all the money they got was spent on.
The responsibility for our water management should lie on
a county by county basis on the County Councils. Water
quality then would be a major election issue in the Local
Elections. All issues relating to both ground water and
surface water should be the responsibility of the County
Councils and a Local Agenda 21 type solution found for all
issues as they arise. All Group water schemes should
remain under the control and management of the Local
Communities.
WATER QUALITY We can find no record of any person or
group ever been convicted of polluting aquifers and all
reports sent to Europe by our government states that we
are in compliance with the Water Framework Directive
regarding our closed aquifers. All reports of pollution in

open aquifers and surface water should be properly
investigated and those found guilty of polluting water
sources fined heavily (in compliance with the Polluter Pays
Principle) and the fine money to be paid directly to the
councils. All water should come from a closed aquifer and
piped directly to the houses with no chemicals added.
WATER CHARGES. Water charges are necessary for us to
comply with the Water Framework Directive/Polluters Pays
Principle. All groups and bodies that does not fall under
the 9.4 exemption should pay for their water. The charge
they should pay should be decided on a County by County
basis and determined by the County Councilors.
Businesses' that use multiple chemicals should be charged
according to the amount of chemicals they use. Our 9.4
exemption should apply to all domestic water and if
agreed by the councilors our 9.4 exemption should also
apply to Organic Farmers. All major infrastructure repairs
etc for example the removal of all the lead pipes should be
paid for through Local Agenda 21 funding and all the
remaining lead pipes should be removed asap. None of our
taxes should be used to fund our water supply and all the
VAT on food should be removed immediately.
Bacterial Infections. An independent group should be set
up immediately headed by Tony Rochford to investigate
the issues raised by Mr Rochford relating to serious health
hazard connected to stagnant water.
Water Meters. All water meters to be removed
immediately from Domestic users properties and all toxic
water meters removed from business properties until a full
investigation on their suspected dangers in compliance
with the Precautionary principle is done.
Water Supply. All water for human consumption is to come
directly from aquifers. The idea of piping surface water
from the Shannon to be scrapped immediately. The open
aquifer in Blessington should be cleaned immediately and
should be used as a back up supply. All water should come
directly from the nearest aquifer.
Now we know for sure that our 9.4 exemption still exists and is part
of the Polluter Pays Principle/Water Framework Directive. Irish Water
cannot charge for Domestic water as we pointed out in our
submission and the way they want to get around this it to claim that
all water over their estimated amount needed for domestic use is
out side the scope of our exemption and as such can be charged for.
Under the EU rules all submissions must be addressed and the fact
that the line """based on their needs""" was in a submission re
domestic water has given them the excuse to put in meters and
charge for water more than the amount they deem is need for
domestic use.
Our submission to the river basin Management Plan is now vital. Our
position on Domestic water is that all water used by domestic water
users is domestic water and as such is covered by our 9.4
exemption. And there is no need for meters
Irelands biggest landlord: I

feel bad for the Irish people
Ires Reits David Ehrlich talks about soaring rents and
increasing supply
Fri, Nov 18, 2016, 06:49
Fiona Reddan
David Ehrlich, chief executive of Ires Reit, says the Irish way of devising
planning legislation needs to change. Photograph: Maxwell Photography
Its just a brief comment, but a telling one.

Be kind, says David Ehrlich, chief executive of Ires
Reit, in parting.
Yes, investors in the residential property investment

company may be pleased with progress but the
double-edged sword of greater returns is greater rents.
And there is a tension in running Irelands largest
landlord at a time when rents are rocketing past Celtic
Tiger highs and having a disastrous effect on society,
as Daft.ie put it recently.
There is also the negative perception of being lumped
in with so-called vulture funds, who come in, buy, and
sell when values recover something he takes
umbrage with.
Were the opposite of a vulture were here for the
long-term, he says.
Were talking at the funds offices, deep in the heart of
Dublins shiny new docklands a place where Googlers
and Facebookers can rent a two-bedroom apartment in
the nearby Marker residence, owned and managed by
Ires Reit, for the not insignificant sum of 2,813 a
month.
Running Irelands largest residential landlord in such a
climate must be an enviable position; residential rents
have rocketed in recent years, and supply is such that
filling apartments is done with ease.
Its a great market, Ehrlich agrees. Weve never seen
rental increases like this in any jurisdiction that were
aware of.
Soaring
Indeed, such is demand that the fund is already getting

calls from people looking to put a deposit down on its
new development of 68 apartments in Beacon South
Quarter in Sandyford, south Dublin.
And The Maple, as its called, which is Ires Reits first
construction, wont be completed until next July.
Meanwhile rents are soaring.
The latest figures from Daft.ie show that rents in
Dublin are now almost 10 per cent higher than they

were in their previous peak back in 2008, as renters
look to commit to renting rather than buying off
plan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ehrlich is not ignorant of the financial difficulties the

situation is causing.
I truly feel badly for the Irish people, he says of
climbing rents.
But, answerable to the Reits investors, hes not going
to put the brakes on just yet.
Background
Ires Reit, an offshoot of Canadian investment group

Capreit, first got involved in the Irish market back in
2014 through Capreits acquisition of 338 apartments
for 42.2 million (or an average of just 124,852 each)
in Smithfield, Inchicore, Sandyford and Tallaght at a
Lloyds auction.
The property fund had an established business in
Canada owning and renting about 48,000 apartments
across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
We saw an opportunity that the Irish economy would
rebound; the housing statistics in terms of supply and
demographics looked very good, things like the highest
birth rate in Europe, recalls Ehrlich.
So that part of it made sense to us but the question
then was what competitive advantage would we have in
Ireland? And the answer was there never was a
professionally managed apartment sector here.
It was the latter point that convinced them.
It wasnt just building a business it was building an
industry.
Critical also was the publication of legislation, in 2013,
which provided for the creation of real estate
investment trusts (reits), with Ires Reit listing on the
Irish Stock Exchange in 2014 and Ehrlich had some

expertise in the area.
Property forms a large part of his background; hes
known as the grandfather of reits back in Canada,
and helped put Canadas reits legislation together in
his previous job as partner at Toronto law firm,
Stikeman Elliott.
He moved to Capreit in 2013 the same time that the
legislation was being put into place here. So, why leave
the law?
I think this was a good opportunity for me. The
challenges are different and Im always one to look to a
new challenge . . . it would have been interesting in
Canada but its even more interesting in Ireland.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/ireland-sbiggest-landlord-i-feel-bad-for-the-irish-people-1.2870230
If the Government were to fall over rents, would you vote

the same way again in another election?
9 341 Votes /react-text
j
j
I
Yes41%
No50%
I don't know8%
Our corrupt politicians just the 3 rd behind Brazilian

politicians
1 in 5 of our politicians is a landlord. Now you know why Simon
Covney (a landlord) can't/won't fix the housing the crisis.
Share if you think this is a disgrace.
It's a scandal. There are 8 registered charities working with the
homeless in Dublin. The government gives them millions but all of it
is being spent on huge salaries. In fact the money they get from the
government doesn't cover the big fat salaries in some cases and a
lot of the work they do is duplicated. The money these charities get
every year is more than enough to house the homeless. Dublin
Simon, the Peter McVerry Trust, Depaul Ireland and Focus Ireland got
a total of 33.6 million in grants from State agencies in 2014, but
spent 35.8 million on staff costs for the 875 people they employed
in 2014.
In 2014, Dublin Simons total income was 12,519,761. It received
6,194,218 from the State. Its average number of employees was
188 at a total cost of 7,420,022, including wages and salaries,
social security and pension.
Its chief executive, Sam McGuinness, was on a salary of 93,338 a
year, with five employees altogether on over 70,000 per annum. In
2014, Dublin Simon also spent 84,980 on motor vehicles.
The Peter McVerry Trust had a total income of 10,656,737 in 2014,
of which 6,842,691 came from the State. It employed 146
employees in 2014 at a cost of just under 8.1 million.
Chief executive Pat Doyle is paid 96,211 (98,382 since June
2016), the same level as director regional health office).

The trust pays a 16 per cent employer contribution to the chief
executives defined-contribution pension scheme.The income of all
senior employees is in line with HSE pay levels.
The Depaul Ireland homeless agency had 213 employees in 2014.
They cost it 6,469,677. Almost all its 9,184,802 income for 2014
came from State agencies.
Four employees there earned over 60,000 each in 2014, with chief
executive Kerry Anthony on between 80,000 and 90,000.
Focus Ireland had an average of 328 employees in 2014 at a cost of
13.82 million, including pensions and social insurance costs. In
2014, State agencies granted it 11.38 million.
Its chief executive, Ashley Balbirnie, was paid a salary of 115,000
plus approximately 5,000 in medical insurance which amounted to
a total of 120,000.
The most recent annual accounts audited accounts available for
Threshold are for 2014 and show that they received 1.3 million in
government grants, while 479,000 was raised through donations
from the public.
1.2 million of this was spent on a staff of 46. In other words almost
all of the money given by the government went on wages.
Several of Fianna Fil's "Final Official" Water Charges

positions are to go on sale shortly.
Traditionally, FF 'Official Positions" were sold exclusively to
bankers and developers but with their new position as
servants of FG,,things are changing.
New Politics dictates that prices be slashed and the down
trodden masses will now be able to fork out a bit of dosh
and jump on the FF merry-go-round.
State to get 280m from

IBRC liquidators
First payout to unsecured creditors of former Anglo Irish
Bank and Irish Nationwide
Tue, Dec 13, 2016, 16:30
Cliff Taylor
Kieran Wallace, special liquidator of IBRC. He announced on Tuesday that

most unsecured creditors are to receive 25 per cent of what they are owed
The State is to receive a 280 million payout from the

IBRC liquidators in the next fortnight, as they make
their first payout to the unsecured creditors of the
former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide.
The joint special liquidators of IBRC, Kieran Wallace
and Eamonn Richardson of KPMG announced on
Tuesday that most unsecured creditors are to receive
25 per cent of what they are owed in an interim
dividend.
The State has a 1.12 billion claim as by far the biggest
unsecured creditor, relating to money it paid to
depositors in the failed financial institutions under the
State guarantee when they were wound up. The
payment will reduce the final total for cash borrowing

by the Government this year.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said the outcome
of the liquidation had so far exceeded expectations
significantly. Anglo and Irish Nationwide were bailed
out by the State at a cost of 35 billion. The amount
raised by the liquidator indicates that this cost will not
rise further and that in time a small amount may be
recouped.
In their progress report published last May, the special
liquidators said they expected that unsecured creditors
would eventually receive between 75 per cent and 100
per cent of what they are owed. Other unsecured
creditors include credit unions who held Anglo Irish
bonds, local authorities and trade creditors.
Statement
The special liquidators said in a statement on Tuesday

there is no further update on the expected dividend
range at the moment. The final outcome, they said, will
depend on the price received for selling the remaining
assets, the level of unsecured creditor claims ultimately
agreed and the outcome of various court proceedings.
All told, at the time of IBRCs liquidation, the group
owed about 5 billion to unsecured creditors.
However, almost 3 billion of this was made of
intergroup borrowings between various units. The
agreed unsecured creditors must be paid in full before
any cash is paid to a group of junior bondholders, who
are owed 285 million.
Losses
Most junior bondholders in the former Anglo Irish

Bank accepted losses as part of a Government offer
which imposed significant losses on their holdings.
However a group challenged the State in the London
courts and retain a claim. These junior bondholders
stand at the back of the queue and are unlikely to

receive anything before a legal battle between the
family of businessman Sen Quinn and IBRC is heard,
in 2018 at the earliest. The Quinns claim the lender,
the Anglo Irish Bank, lent them billions of euro illegally
in 2008 to shore up their investment in the bank.
A victory for the Quinns would see them join the list of
unsecured creditors.
The liquidators were sitting on 2.2 billion of net cash
as of February after selling off most of the groups loan
book.
This is the face of the man who sold 13,500 residential
mortgages to vulture funds .Most of these people have
lost or are now facing the eviction courts while they pay
out unsecured bondholders .They also facilitated Denis O
Brien with massive write downs to buy Siteserve the
company that went on to receive the lucrative state
contract to install water meters .Mothers and Fathers were
left with a choice of whether their children would be better
off without them .Filthy parasites have blood on their
hands .But at least the top execs and banks got big
bonuses .
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/state-to-get280m-from-ibrc-liquidators-1.2904189#.WFBIIlvWG7M.facebook
The current housing crisis is not an

accident
It is the new landlords who are
influencing housing policy, not the needs
of the thousands of people facing
spiraling rents and evictions, writes Rory
Hearne.
THE MINISTER FOR Housing Simon Coveney indicated

last week that he is not going to introduce rent regulation
or rent certainty as it might deter the supply of private
rental accommodation. This shows that it is the new Irish
landlords the wealthy global real estate funds that are
influencing housing policy and not the needs of the
hundreds of thousands of tenants facing spiraling rents
and evictions.
The current housing crisis is not an accident. It is a direct
result of the particular strategy for economic recovery
pursued by successive Irish governments in response to
the 2008 property and financial crash. These policies have
focused on demonstrating to the international markets
that Irelands banking and property crash has been solved
through two things: Irelands bad bank, Nama, being a
success and wound up early, and by the Irish banks
becoming profitable again.
This strategy required firstly, a re-inflation of Irish
property prices (rental prices in particular, plus tacit
government support for future increases in property prices
and rents) and secondly, the attraction of international
property investors and vulture funds to buy up the toxic
loans and assets off Nama and the Irish banks. All other
issues particularly the impact on Irish housing and its
affordability for citizens were not given a priority in
policy. The economy came first. And yet this approach
has left us with a housing crisis which is a social
emergency with major economic implications.
Nama has been the governments key vehicle to attract
international investment by selling off key residential and
development land assets at knock-down prices. But they
also sold key residential property on the basis of future
rising rents and prices.
The influence of REITs
The other key measure introduced by government to
attract international property investment funds was the
low tax regime for Real Estate Investment Trusts
operating in Ireland. In 2013 Michael Noonan made rental
profits arising in a REIT exempt from corporation tax.
This was on top of other existing tax avoidance and
reduction loopholes available to investors (such as the
Section 110).
As the housing crisis developed and worsened in 2014 and
2015 the government found another major argument in
defence of this approach. According to government these
new REIT investors and international global property
funds would play a major role in addressing the supply
crisis in the private rental sector.
But the problem with that approach is that this particular
investor is seeking high returns which requires high
rents which means policies to keep rent affordable, such
as rent regulation, are not seen favourably by them. And
this is what we have seen happen.
In the run-up to last years Budget it was reported that
there was a possibility of rent regulation (which would link
rent increases to inflation) and increasing security of
tenure being implemented. However, following intense
lobbying, including by a major US real estate investment
company, the government instead introduced the two-year
rent freeze which has done little to stem the rising rents.
In a letter to Minister Noonan on 30 September 2015

which was later published by the Irish Examiner, Peter
Collins, the managing director of US real estate
investment company Kennedy Wilson Europe, wrote:
Investors and their funding banks will see the new
proposed regime (some form of rent certainty) negatively .
This will certainly limit and, potentially eliminate, future
investment.
The government doesnt want to change this
From the governments perspective, their policy is working
in attracting in big investors.
Michael Noonan, speaking at the Oireachtas homeless and
housing committee in April this year explained:
This intervention [the favourable tax regime for REITs]
has been successful in encouraging large-scale investment
into the commercial and residential property markets.
There are currently three REITs operating in Ireland
[and] it is estimated that the market capitalisation of the
three REITs is now approximately 2.3 billion.
In 2011, Ireland had one landlord with more than 400
properties, and now there are five. There are two REITs
amongst Irelands biggest 20 landlords. There has been a
27% increase since 2011 in landlords with 20 or more
tenancies since 2011 (926, up from 730).
These big investors are making major profits from
Irelands housing crisis. Kennedy Wilson started investing
in Ireland after the crash and now has 2bn of assets in
Ireland. A representative of the company told the Irish
Times last month that Dublin is the most attractive
property market in Europe. Kennedy Wilson is now one
of Irelands biggest landlords as it has over 1000 rental
units.
Irish Residential Properties REIT (Ires) generated net
income of 5.5 million between July and the end of
September 2016. This compares to 3.6 million for the
same period last year, a gain of 53%. They told the Irish
Times earlier this month that the current housing crisis,
with a deep imbalance between demand and supply in

Dublins housing market means their profit outlook is
very positive.
And global wealth funds from across the world are looking
at Ireland, and Dublins property in particular, as a
potential site for investment. The PWC Europe 2017
Emerging Trends in Real Estate report shows how
government policy has been successful in making Irish
private rental property an attractive global asset. The
report notes that REITs are seen as good investment.
And the private rental sector is a compelling opportunity
because of the limitless demand. And in particular, cities
like Dublin are seen as good investment locations:
One of the biggest changes is the way that residential is
now viewed by institutional investors and their desire to
have at least part of their portfolio in this sector. In
addition to established multi-family markets in Germany,
Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, an institutionally
backed build-to-rent, or private rented sector (PRS), is
beginning in Ireland.
One US investor described the attractiveness of investing
in the private rental sector in Dublin:
The private rented sector in Dublin is a home run, he
said.
The report stated that equity is flowing into Europe from
all corners of the globe and all types of investors and
residential is on the radar and is undervalued because it
gives long-term, stable returns.
There is an alternative
I have shown here how successive government policy has
led to a deeper commodification of Irish housing and the
attraction of investors who expect high returns and thus
high rents and low levels of tenants rights. This is a
disaster for the provision of affordable housing in Ireland
as it is locking in the existing high and unaffordable rents
into the future.
This housing crisis also worsens and reproduces our
already unacceptably high levels of economic inequality.
We now have low income households and younger

generations spending a significant proportion of their low
and moderate incomes on rent which is flowing to the
renter class of the Irish and global wealthy.
An alternative approach is available to government.
Introduce rent regulation and security of tenure which
would provide affordable housing and attract in a different
type of investor the global pension funds and ethical
investment funds willing to take lower levels of guaranteed
returns over a longer term, which would respect, and
expect, high levels of tenants rights. Secondly, the State
must lead in an emergency development programme of
not-for-profit, de-commodified, affordable mixed income
housing provision from social to cost rental to shared
ownership and cooperative housing.
Dr Rory Hearne is a senior policy analyst with the
independent progressive think-tank TASC.
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/rory-hearne-housing-crisis-ireland3081213-Nov2016/
Focus-Ireland-Annual-Report-2014 We supported over 11,500
people in 2014 Focus Ireland Annual Report 2014
Focus Ireland Annual Report 2015 Call 1850 204 205 Visit
focusireland.ie Find us on CHY 7220 2015 the worst year for
family homelessness
MEET THE CORRUPT TD LANDLORD FUCKERS NOW

Meet the Td Landlords of the Corrupt Fuckers Sitting and Billing
Draft Bill 4 Themselves in the Dial Force Team FG, FF, Ind what a
Bunch of Waste bags, Fuck Them out Now
https://www.scribd.com/document/334290384/Meet-the-TdLandlords-of-the-Corrupt-Fuckers-Sitting-and-Billing-Draft-Bill-4Themselves-in-the-Dial-Force-Team-FG-FF-Ind-what-a-Bunch-ofWaste-bags
Continued Evictions (Courts Bill

2016) Passes Final Stage in Dail
For the Bill FF, FG, Lab, Independent Alliance, Michael Lowry
Seamus Healy TD Amendment to Formally

Declare a Housing Emergency and Stop
Evictions Defeated by the same parties (see
below)
Question put: That the Bill do now pass.
T
Staon Nl
Aylward, Bobby.
Bailey, Maria.
Barrett, Sen.
Brassil, John.
Brophy, Colm.
Adams, Gerry.
Barry, Mick.
Brady, John.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Buckley, Pat.
Browne, James.
Collins, Michael.
Burke, Peter.
Butler, Mary.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Byrne, Thomas.
Crowe, Sen.
Cahill, Jackie.
Cullinane, David.
Calleary, Dara.
Daly, Clare.
Canney, Sen.
Doherty, Pearse.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Ferris, Martin.
Carey, Joe.
Casey, Pat.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Cassells, Shane.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Chambers, Jack.
Healy, Seamus.
Chambers, Lisa.
Kenny, Gino.
Kenny, Martin.
Coveney, Simon.
McGrath, Mattie.
Cowen, Barry.
Martin, Catherine.
Curran, John.
Mitchell, Denise.
DArcy, Michael.
Munster, Imelda.
Daly, Jim.
Murphy, Catherine.
Deasy, John.
Murphy, Paul.
Deering, Pat.
Nolan, Carol.
Doherty, Regina.
Broin, Eoin.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Caolin, Caoimhghn.
Doyle, Andrew.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Snodaigh, Aengus.
English, Damien.
OBrien, Jonathan.
Farrell, Alan.
OReilly, Louise.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Pringle, Thomas.
Flanagan, Charles.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Fleming, Sean.
Shortall, Risn.
Griffin, Brendan.
Smith, Brd.
Halligan, John.
Stanley, Brian.
Harris, Simon.
Tibn, Peadar.
Haughey, Sen.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kenny, Enda.
Lahart, John.
Lawless, James.
Lowry, Michael.
McConalogue, Charlie.
McEntee, Helen.
McGrath, Finian.
McGrath, Michael.
McHugh, Joe.
McLoughlin, Tony.
Madigan, Josepha.
Martin, Michel.
Mitchell OConnor, Mary.
Moran, Kevin Boxer.
Moynihan, Aindrias.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murphy OMahony, Margaret.
Murphy, Eoghan.
Murphy, Eugene.
Naughton, Hildegarde.
Neville, Tom.
Noonan, Michael.
Cuv, amon.
OCallaghan, Jim.
OConnell, Kate.
ODea, Willie.
ODonovan, Patrick.
ODowd, Fergus.
OLoughlin, Fiona.
ORourke, Frank.
Phelan, John Paul.
Rabbitte, Anne.
Ring, Michael.
Rock, Noel.
Ross, Shane.
Ryan, Brendan.
Scanlon, Eamon.
Sherlock, Sean.
Smith, Brendan.
Stanton, David.
Troy, Robert.
Varadkar, Leo.
Zappone, Katherine.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
A message shall be sent to the
Seanad acquainting it accordingly.
Deputy Seamus Healy: I move amendment No. 5:
In page 8, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:
9. Dil ireann formally declares that a housing emergency exists
in the State and while this emergency continues the right of any
person
(a) accordingly no court or other authority shall order the removal
of the current occupant of a dwelling, or by its decisions enable
such removal notwithstanding the provisions of any Act currently in
force including the provisions of the Land and Conveyancing Law

Reform Act 2013,
(b) the housing emergency declared in this section can only be
terminated by a vote of Dil ireann, and the Government including
any Minister of the Government are precluded from annulling the
housing emergency without approval in such a vote,
(c) in view of the Housing Emergency declared here, the power of
any Minister of Government to raise the market value threshold of
75,000 for single or multiple dwellings for consideration of
possession of dwellings cases by the Circuit Court by activating or
commencing sections of existing Acts without approval by a vote of
Dil ireann, is cancelled..
Amendment put:
T
Staon Nl
Adams, Gerry.
Aylward, Bobby.
Barry, Mick.
Bailey, Maria.
Brady, John.
Barrett, Sen.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Brassil, John.
Buckley, Pat.
Brophy, Colm.
Collins, Michael.
Browne, James.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Burke, Peter.
Crowe, Sen.
Butler, Mary.
Cullinane, David.
Byrne, Thomas.
Daly, Clare.
Cahill, Jackie.
Doherty, Pearse.
Calleary, Dara.
Ferris, Martin.
Canney, Sen.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Carey, Joe.
Healy, Seamus.
Casey, Pat.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Cassells, Shane.
Kenny, Gino.
Chambers, Jack.
Kenny, Martin.
Chambers, Lisa.
McGrath, Mattie.
Martin, Catherine.
Coveney, Simon.
Mitchell, Denise.
Cowen, Barry.
Munster, Imelda.
Curran, John.
Murphy, Catherine.
Daly, Jim.
Murphy, Paul.
DArcy, Michael.
Nolan, Carol.
Deasy, John.
Broin, Eoin.
Deering, Pat.
Caolin, Caoimhghn.
Doherty, Regina.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Snodaigh, Aengus.
OBrien, Jonathan.
Doyle, Andrew.
Durkan, Bernard J.
OReilly, Louise.
Pringle, Thomas.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Ryan, Eamon.
Smith, Brd.
Stanley, Brian.
Tibn, Peadar.
English, Damien.
Farrell, Alan.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Flanagan, Charles.
Fleming, Sean.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harris, Simon.
Haughey, Sen.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kenny, Enda.
Tellers: T, Deputies Seamus Healy and Brd Smith; Nl, Deputies

Regina Doherty and Tony McLoughlin.
Amendment declared lost.
It Was Left To Seamus Healy TD To

Call A Vote At Second Stage in The
Dail against The Planning,
Development (Housing) And
Residential Tenancies Bill.
(Otherwise Known As The
PRETENCE, Hypocracy and
Continuation Of Evictions Bill)
Missing 157-136= 21
Tellers: T, Deputies Joe Carey and Tony
McLoughlin; Nl, Deputies Seamus Healy and
Catherine Murphy .
Question
declared carried.
For the Motion: FG, FF , Michael Lowry, Finian
McGrath,Dr Michael Harty, Katherine Zappone.

Shane Ross, Sean Canney, Boxer Moran,
Michael Fitzmaurice, Stephen Donnelly, Noel
Grealish
Missing :John Halligan, Joan Burton, Willie
Penrose, Sean Sherlock, Danny Healy-Rae,
(Some FF and FG Deputies were Also missing)
Staonadh (Staon) (Abstain) None (Deputies can effectively abstain
by not voting but this is not recorded)
SEAMUS HEALY TD CALLS FOR AN

END TO EVICTIONS AND FORMAL
DECLARATION OF A HOUSING
EMERGENCY
Government Must End Pretense of Concern
and Hypocrisy
Speech on Planning Development (Housing)
and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016
Video Link
From Official Dil Record 07/12/2016
In the short time available to me, I will
address in the main the residential tenancy aspects of the Bill. The
Bill is a pretence. It purports to give protection to tenants when
properties in which there are existing tenants change ownership.
Cruelly and grotesquely, it provides that where a landlord can get
20% more money with vacant possession in the sale, the tenants
must leave. It also provides that if apartments are sold in lots of
under 20, the tenants have to go. I understand that this number
has been reduced to under five by a Seanad amendment. However,
80% of tenants evicted from apartments are evicted by landlords
with under five rental properties. In a word, the Bill continues the
cruel system under which tenants are evicted when rental
properties are sold. The Government continues to put the rights of
property owners over the right to home. It is fast-tracking evictions
in the Courts Bill, which is also before this House. The largest single
group among the homeless has previously been in private rented
accommodation. This Bill will ensure that this continues.
I will be proposing the amendment suggested by Focus Ireland, the
homelessness charity. The amendment provides tenants in buy-to-
let properties will continue in residence despite the sale of the

property in all circumstances. Focus Ireland, the leading charity
working with homeless families and those facing homelessness,
says up to 20 families are becoming homeless each month simply
because their buy-to-let landlord has been forced to sell by his or
her bank. This means that 40 children every month are losing their
homes and joining the record 1,200 families who are already
homeless across the country.
Along with escalating rents, these evictions are one of the leading
causes of family homelessness. There are hundreds, if not
thousands, more families waiting to face the same trauma.
According to the Central Bank, there are a further 15,000 buy-to-let
mortgages that are more than two years in arrears. Whether they
know it or not, all tenants in these properties are at risk of eviction.
Other countries have found solutions to this. Just up the road, in the
North, banks that repossess a buy-to-let property are prohibited
from evicting the tenant. We must do the same. If the Focus Ireland
amendment is passed, the grotesque escape clauses in this Bill
enabling eviction of buy-to-let tenants will fall.
I will also be proposing the formal declaration of a housing
emergency by Dil ireann. This would put the right of families to a
home above the property rights of vultures and other landlords.
Landlords and the Minister for Finance would then be unable to
block a halt to convictions and be unable to block a halt to rent
freezes by citing a qualified right to private property in the
Constitution, which is of course subject to the public good. The
Government itself has formally certified the continuation of a
financial emergency as recently as June of this year to enable it to
continue with pay and pension cuts under FEMPI legislation. The
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government,
Deputy Coveney, has said that a housing emergency exists. My
amendment would formally declare that to be the case. The
Taoiseach has asked the European Union to relax the provisions of
the EU fiscal treaty to enable borrowing to build social housing but
he has not declared a formal housing emergency at home. Of
course, the European Union knows the Irish Government is only
going through the motions because a housing emergency has not
been declared. I noted over the weekend that the Minister for
Finance, Deputy Noonan, called on the European Union to give
flexibility under the fiscal treaty at the EU Finance Ministers
meeting. He and the rest of the Government can now show they are
serious by formally declaring the housing emergency. It is time for
an end to pretence and hypocrisy. We must halt evictions for
mortgaged and rented properties as a first step in tackling the
housing emergency.
Committee Stage Of Courts Bill

Adjourned as it is revealed that
State-Owned PTSB has appealed
Hogan Judgement to The Supreme
Court
But No Media Coverage Despite Circulation of
Report and Full-Time Dil Correspondents
Employed???
Government Bill TO FAST-TRACK EVICTIONS (Courts Bill) Adjourned

Government Caught out in double try-on
Government attempted to Appeal Hogan Judgement through State
Owned PTSB appeal to Supreme Court while at the same time
taking Courts Bill designed to overcome Hogan Judgement through
DilCommittee Stage of Courts Bill has been adjourned after
Government found out !
Minister Staunton claimed Minister Noonan knew nothing about
state owned PTSB appeal to Supreme Court!!!!
Explanation
If tenants and mortgage holders could not be evicted in future, the
value of property in dwellings would fall sharply. NAMA would get
far lower sale price for blocks of apartments. Vultures who have
already bought apartment blocks would make far less profit. Banks,
including state-owned AIB and PTSB would be worth far less as their
loan books would fall in value. Under the Eu Fiscal Treaty which
cedes all Irish economic sovereignty, the state debt to GDP ratio
must be progressively reduced. FF/FG/Lab have no intention of
doing this by taxing the huge assets of the Irish rich.(See Irish
Super-Rich Awash with Money in another post on this blog.) Instead
they hope to do it by selling off Irish assets and using the proceeds
to repay debt. Already the Dundrum and ILAC centres are in
majority foreign ownership as are many shopping centres and much
commercial and other property throughout the country. The
government intends to sell off AIB, PTSB, EBS and use the proceeds
to pay down state debt. It also wants to sell off its shareholding in
other banks for the same purpose. Consequently it wants to keep
interest rates on mortgages and loans to small business kept very
high by European standards. It wants the value of bank loan books
kept high by accelerating evictions so that banks can recover
distressed bank loans.(AIB has reduced its bad debts by 18.4bn
since the peak in June 2013 a reduction of 63pc over the three
years.This leaves 10.8 billion of impaired loans on its books to-day).
Government is also accelerating the sell-off of properties owned by

the state through NAMA.
It is in the interest of the Irish Government and the very rich Irish
whose interest it represents to accelerate repossession of dwellings
and the eviction of residents.
The Land and Conveyancing Act 2013, introduced by Fg-Lab, was a
major step in the acceleration of evictions of tenants and distressed
home owners. It transferred the majority of repossession cases
from the slow and clogged-up High Court to the county Circuit
Courts. However a case was taken to the high court against
Permanent TSB by a borrower and the court reluctantly ruled that
the Circuit Court had no Jurisdiction (right to rule) in a whole series
of cases involving commercial property and buy-to-let dwellings.
This judgement known as the Hogan Judgement would slow up
repossessions and consequent eviction of tenants if not altered. The
Government acted quickly through the initiation in the Dil of the
Courts Bill 2016 to restore the jurisdiction to the Circuit Courts
which had been removed by the Hogan Judgement. It was generally
believed that this was the means by which the government intended
to restore the pace of eviction of tenants.
The amendments tabled by Seamus Healy TD (carried below) were
designed to formally declare a housing emergency, to halt evictions
and to resist the intent of government to speed them up.
Amendments were to be given detailed consideration at the
Committee Stage of the Bill on Dec 1, 2016.
However the Committee Stage of the Bill was adjourned because it
was discovered that Government through PTSB, which it owns, was
seeking to speed up evictions by appealing to the Supreme Court to
strike down the HOGAN JUDGEMENT at the same time as it was
proposing the Courts Bill in the Dail for the same purposeThat is speeding up evictions.
For some reason the Government must fear that the Bill alone will
not be effective in this regard. Hence it is attempting to use a twintrack approach.
The government is pretending that it was unaware of the Supreme
Court Appeal though this was reported in Irish Times on November
17.
Department of Finance, headed by Minister Michael Noonan, has a
special banking affairs section. It is not credible that Noonan was
unaware of the Appeal
The majority of the Oireachtas Committee reused to continue to
discuss the Bill and the session was adjourned
Amendments to Court Bill (FastTracking Evictions) from Seamus
Healy TD
Seamus Healy TD has submitted the following amendments for the

Committee Stage of The Courts Bill,2016:
Amendments
First Amendment Formally Declaring a Housing Emergency
From lines 15 to 22 Inclusive insert new section 1, paragraph 1 of
the Courts Bill,2016:
R
(1)Dil Eireann formally declares that a housing emergency exists in

the state and while this emergency continues the right of any
person including that of landlords
Accordingly no court or other authority shall order the removal of
the current occupant of a dwelling or by its decisions enable such
removal notwithstanding the provisions of any Act currently in force
including the provisions of the Land and Conveyancy Act 2013
The housing emergency declared in this section can only be
terminated by a vote of Dil Eireann and government including any
minister of government are precluded from annulling the housing
emergency without approval in such a vote
and renumber existing sections accordingly
Second Amendment Stopping The State RETROSPECTIVELY
MAKING FLAWED EVICTION CLAIMS LEGAL
From lines 15 to 22 Inclusive delete section 1, paragraph 1 of the
Courts Bill,2016 as set out below
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where proceedings have, before the
passing of this Act,
been initiated in the Circuit Court, being proceedings that
(a) are referred to in a specified provision, and
(b) relate to a property that is not rateable,
and which the Circuit Court would have jurisdiction to hear and
determine if the
relevant associated provision had been in operation immediately
before the
2
proceedings initiation, then the Circuit Court shall have, and be
deemed always to
have had, jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings.
AMENDMENT TO PLANNING and

DEVELOPMENT (Housing) and Residential
Tenancies ACT (2016)
( government is pretending to protect tenants when buy-to-lets are

sold)
AMENDMENT RECOMMENDED BY FOCUS IRELAND TO MAKE
PROTECTION OF
TENANTS REAL in Sale of Buy-to-Lets
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016
Committee Stage Amendment
________________
New Section 16.

In page 48, after line 37 to insert the following new section
dwellings.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 is amended by inserting the
following section after section 34
dwellings.
34A. (1) A Part 4 tenancy may not be terminated by the landlord
on the ground specified in paragraph 3 of the Table to section 34
where the property to which the tenancy agreement relates is the
subject of an existing investment mortgage.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to all tenancies, including a tenancy
created before the coming into operation of this section.
(3) Where, immediately before the coming into operation of this
section, a notice of termination has been served on a tenant in
reliance upon a ground provided for in paragraph 3 of the Table to
section 34, section 34 shall continue to apply to that notice as if this
section had not been enacted.
(4) In this section, investment mortgage means a mortgage which
has been taken out as security in respect of a residential property
that was not at the time of its purchase intended to serve as the
principal private residence of the mortgagee, and is subsequently
the subject of a tenancy agreement..
GOVERNMENT OWNED BANKS

AND OTHER LENDERS SEEK TO
EVICT OVER 2000 FAMILIES
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
More than 2,000 HOME REPOSSESSION Cases listed in the courts
before Christmasplacing stress on families before the festive season
Significant escalation in enforcement orders since the

middle of the summer
Mark ORegan Sunday IndependentPUBLISHED20/11/2016
The rise of family home repossession court cases is set to continue
in the run-up to Christmas, with figures currently at 2,600 a month.
There are 650 family court appearances a week, and experts have
predicted there will be this many into next year.
It came amid claims of a significant escalation in enforcement
orders since the middle of the summer.
The Sunday Independent has learned more than 2,000 cases will
come before the courts in the next five weeks placing stress on
families before the festive season.
New Beginning a group of lawyers providing representation for
those facing repossession said 100 cases on average are being
heard a month in Limerick, with the figure for Cork running at 200.
In Meath, 150 cases are being heard on average each month, with
100 in Tipperary, 46 in Kilkenny, 88 in Mayo, and 83 in Kerry.
Central Bank figures have revealed the number of repossessions of
a primary dwelling home has dramatically increased in the past
four years.
In 2015, 726 homes were repossessed. This compared with 315
dwellings seized by banks and financial institutions in 2014, and 251
in 2013.
In the first six months of this year, 240 homes were retaken by
financial institutions.
Founder of New Beginning Ross Maguire said there had been a
marked escalation in enforcement orders in recent months. He
added: There is a cohort of people in the country who, no matter
what they do, cannot afford their mortgage, and are facing
inevitable repossession.
David Hall, director of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, said
the system is failing families grappling with mortgage debt. He
called on Housing Minister Simon Coveney to declare a national
emergency on the issue.
He said: There are 34,000 cases in arrears of more than two years
and 59,000 between one and two years.
VOTING ON SECOND STAGE OF

COURTS BILL IN DAIL
Bill removes legal obstacles to continued repossession of dwellings
which are not principal private residence of the owner through the
Circuit Court. The Government has also announced that it will
seperately raise the threshold for the market value for such
properties to be considered by Circuit Court from 75,000 to 3
million by Ministerial Order.
These measures cannot fail to increase the number of evictions of

tenants from apartments and houses, increasing homelessness.
This will restore the value of such properties to Vultures, Banks,
Nama. This had been reluctantlydamaged by a Supreme Court
ruling
FF, FG, Labour, Independent

Alliance(Including Finian McGrath)
,INDEPENDENT Dr Harty (Clare), VOTE FOR
COURTS BILL (Second Stage) INCREASING
EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS
VOTED AGAINST:Seamus Healy,Sinn Fein, AAA-PBP, Independents

for Change, Social Democrats, Greens, 3 Rural Independents
(Michael Fitzmaurice, Michael Collins, Mattie McGrath)
DID NOT VOTE: Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Healy-Rae (2)
Bill has now Gone to Committee Stage. A final Vote on Bill in Dail is
expected before Christmas Recess.
Question put:
T
Staon
Aylward, Bobby.
Adams, Gerry.
Bailey, Maria.
Barry, Mick.
Barrett, Sen.
Boyd Barrett, Richard.
Brassil, John.
Brady, John.
Breathnach, Declan.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Brophy, Colm.
Buckley, Pat.
Browne, James.
Collins, Joan.
Bruton, Richard.
Collins, Michael.
Burke, Peter.
Burton, Joan.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Butler, Mary.
Crowe, Sen.
Byrne, Catherine.
Cullinane, David.
Byrne, Thomas.
Daly, Clare.
Cahill, Jackie.
Doherty, Pearse.
Calleary, Dara.
Ellis, Dessie.
Canney, Sen.
Ferris, Martin.
Cannon, Ciarn.
Carey, Joe.
Funchion, Kathleen.
Casey, Pat.
Healy, Seamus.
Cassells, Shane.
Kenny, Gino.
Chambers, Jack.
Kenny, Martin.
FORMAL DECLARATION OF
HOUSING EMERGENCY NEEDED
TO REDUCE OUTRAGEOUS
MORTGAGE RATES
MINISTER NOONAN OPPOSES
MOVE TO REDUCE RATES BY
CITING PROTECTION OF
PROPERTY RIGHTS OF BANKS IN
THE CONSTITUTION
LENDERS CHARGE UP TO 5% INTEREST
WHILE ACCESSING MONEY FROM ECB AT 0%MORTGAGE HOLDERS BEING USED TO BAIL
OUT BANKS
The protection of property rights in the constitution is not absolute.

It is subject to the public good. Governments introduced a formal
declaration of a financial emergency to enable them to confiscate
private property in pensions.But the government is refusing to
formally declare a housing emergency which would enable the
private property rights of banks, vultures and landlords to be
overcome in order to halt evictions.
Now NOONAN has given another reason for the refusal-it could
prevent lenders being allowed to fleece mortgage holders
These huge interest rates are making it impossible for many
householders to escape from mortgage distress which means they
are constantly threatened with eviction
From Irish Examiner 21/10/2016
Dil Report
Mr McGrath(FF) said banks here are being allowed by the Central
Bank to charge borrowers up to 5% when they themselves are
accessing the money at close to 0% rates.
Real constitutional issues will need to be considered as this Bill is
further progressed by the Oireachtas. As it is drafted, the Bill will
clearly impact on the existing property rights of some creditors,
Minister Noonan (FG) said.
SPEECH ON HOUSING AND
EVICTIONS
Seamus Healy TD IN Dil
Listen Live
Seamus Healy TD - HOUSING CRISIS AND

FAILED CLONLARA EVICTION
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class="submessage"><ahref="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AW346vAb0o"
target="_blank">Trywatchingthisvideoonwww.youtube.com</a>,orenable
https://wuag.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/housing-crisis-and-failedclonlara-eviction/
Deputy Seamus Healy: The proposals in respect of social
housing in this budget are grossly inadequate. Housing is a
fundamental right of human beings but shamefully the Taoiseach
has written to the EU seeking permission to borrow the money
required to build social housing. Ireland does not have the
sovereignty to house its own people.
There are 140,000 people on local authority waiting lists and in the
first four months of this year an additional 3,527 have been added
to that figure. This probably underestimates the situation because
people now availing of the housing assistance payments, formerly
rent supplement, are being removed from local authority lists. We
need an emergency house building programme of at least 10,000
houses per year to address this situation. The Governments target
of 47,000 houses to be provided between now and 2021 will fall far
short of dealing with the problem. In 2021 we will be, as we are
today, in a housing crisis. There is an absolute necessity to declare
a housing emergency. The Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, said publicly in
July that he believed we had a housing crisis. The Minister for Public
Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, signed off on an
emergency measure to ensure that public service pensioners were
deprived of their pensions under the Financial Emergency Measures
in the Public Interest Act 2015 but this Government refuses to
declare a housing emergency which is absolutely necessary to halt
evictions generally and in rented and mortgaged properties. The
Government, through the banks it owns, Allied Irish Banks, AIB,
and Permanent TSB is effectively allowing evictions. It is also

allowing them through other banks, and landlords, including vulture
funds. These evictions are continuing. As a result, many unfortunate
families have been devastated by suicide.
A shocking eviction was attempted last week in Clonlara in County
Clare. I demand that the Minister for Justice and Equality instruct
the Garda to investigate the conduct of security companies at that
failed eviction of a family. Will the Minister establish what security
companies were involved and did those security firms possess an
execution order for taking possession of that family home? Did they
present an execution order to the owners of the property? If they
had no execution order or did not present it to the family, were they
guilty of trespass? Were all the security firms involved in this horrific
event licensed according to the law? Had all the individuals involved
in this attempted repossession legal authority for their actions?
Were all the individuals registered employees of the security firms.
Were children unlawfully detained during that incident? Were all
involved acting on behalf of the Bank of Ireland in which the State
has a significant shareholding? This was a shocking and horrific
attempted eviction. Thankfully, it failed. In a year when we
celebrate the 100th anniversary of 1916, when we promised to
cherish all the children of the nation equally, what would Pearse and
Connolly and the signatories to the Proclamation think of the
eviction battering ram of 2016?
I compliment the family, their friends and neighbours, and the antieviction task force which successfully stopped this eviction. People
power stopped this eviction. People power will force this
Government to stop evictions and to declare a housing emergency.
The sooner the Government does that, the better.
Supply of new houses to fall short

amid surge of demand-ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
INSTITUTE (ESRI)
Irish Examiner By Caroline ODoherty,Senior Reporter
05/12/2006
House building is set to fall even further behind demand based on
new forecasts that put the number of extra homes needed at a
higher level than previously thought.
The Economic and Social Research Institute says that demand for
new homes will grow to more than 30,000 a year within eight years.
Under the Governments current housing plan, a target of 25,000
per year has been set for the coming years but nowhere near that
number has been provided this year and there are doubts that the
figure can be reached next year either.
Population growth, fuelled in part by net immigration which
returned this year for the first time since 2009 and is likely to
strengthen because of Brexit, will be the key driver of demand.
Apart from the challenges for the construction industry, the ESRI
says domestic banks would struggle to provide the necessary level
of credit without affecting safeguards around deposit to loan ratios.
In a report published today, the ESRI warns: Results of our
analysis suggest that in the future the traditional deposit base will
be unable to fund the level of credit required to meet the housing
demands of the economy. This will require significant changes in the
domestic financial sector.
Given the calamitous events of the past decade, a significant
expansion in the lending capacity of the domestic banking sector
will immediately give rise to concerns about the emergence of
another credit- fuelled bubble.
It suggests there may be a case for the entry of foreign banks into
the Irish retail banking sector.
CLARE FM REPORT REVERSAL OF

ATTEMPTED EVICTION AT
CLONLARA
http://www.clare.fm/news/garda%C3%AD-investigate-allegationsassault-following-attempted-clonlara-eviction
CLARE FM WEBSITE
GARDA INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF

ASSAULT FOLLOWING ATTEMPTED CLONLARA
EVICTION
R
18 October, 2016 08:18

General
Garda are investigating allegations of assault following an
attempted eviction in South East Clare.
Its understood the court-sanctioned reposession of a home in
Clonlara on Friday has since been abandoned.
A video of the incident was posted on Facebook in recent days.
The video of the attempted court-sanctioned eviction in Clonlara has
been viewed tens of thousands of times since it was uploaded to
facebook on Friday.
It appears to show a number of men, believed to be from a security
company, being confronted by members of the Anti Eviction
Taskforce.
Its understood the eviction was subsequently abandoned, after
family members gained access to the home, which had been sealed
off with steel shutters.
A senior Garda Spokesperson has confirmed to Clare FM that
members of An Garda Sochna responded to a call-out to the area
to prevent a breach of peace.
An allegation of assault has been made, but no arrests have yet
been made.
Garda are continuing with their investigations.
REPORT ON CLONLARA HOME

SEIZURE BY LIAM DEEGAN ON
FACEBOOK
(Seamus HEALY TD HAS PUT DOWN A
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ASKING
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE FRANCIS
FITZGERALD TO INSTRUCT THE GARDAI TO
INVESTIGATE ALL THE ALLEGATIONS SET
OUT IN LIAM DEEGANS REPORT)
THE LAND OF SHAME AND WHERE BAILIFFS

PLAY HIDE AND SEEK FROM THE LAW
THE CIRCUIT COURT
In another illegal and shameful attempt at an eviction by the Bank
of Ireland, again in County Clare and this time on a mother with
seven children. The mother of seven had been understood to be in
the Circuit court on Tuesday last having an appeal heard and had
arrived home only to find that one or more security companies had
broken into the house.
The possession order had originally been given in the Circuit Court
on the basis of rateable valuation as previously used in civil bills by
the banks. It is not yet clear as to why the Circuit Court dismissed
the families appeal on Tuesday.
Ironically the Circuit Courts are still hearing cases based on rateable
valuation even though it has been ruled that the Circuit Court no
longer enjoys any such jurisdiction due to a judgement given by Ms
Justice Murphy some months ago and added to by having had the
verdict subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal within the last
number of weeks.
CHILDREN LOCKED IN A BEDROOM
The security companies involved immediately moved in to take

possession, having been seen by passers-by to be hanging around
the area earlier that morning. Metal shutters were fitted to the most
of the windows and doors of the property to stop anybody trying to
enter or leave, with the exception of one bedroom window which
remained unfitted with the shutters.
Meanwhile, members of the family have claimed that they remained
locked inside the property unable to access bathrooms and the
kitchen area as security personnel remained in situ with them. Calls
were made for help by the family and as more family, neighbours
and friends arrived at the scene, the situation appeared to turn
nasty with one security man seen to block and assault a man trying
to gain entry into the house to get access to the children locked in a
bedroom by security personnel.
Witnesses allege that the security team had taken chairs and
mattresses from the childrens bedroom leaving them nowhere to
sleep. Two of the children have further alleged that they were
physically assaulted by members of the security team in the
bedroom.
According to eyewitnesses and a video shown on social media sites
and seen by thousands of people, the security operative with grey
hair and clearly seen in the video is alleged to have assaulted a man
attempting to gain entry and can be seen to leave the house to
confront another bystander in the garden. It appeared from the
video that a verbal altercation ensued between the two men, with
the security operative going head to head with the other man in a
very intimidating manner and then seen to back off.
The identity of that particular security operative has now been
established as Kevin Maguire from Carrigaline in County Cork.
Maguire was not wearing any form of identification including any
Private Security Authority issued ID card and refused to identify
himself when asked to by people at the scene. The PSA register has
no record of Maguire as an individual licence holder under that
name.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Maguire claims to work as a
director for Senture Security Limited; however there is no record of
him or anyone of that name on record in the CRO acting as a
company director. Maguires wife Mary is listed instead as a director
of Senture Security Ltd.
Further to that Maguires wife Mary also is named as a director of
Secure Management Solutions Limited with an address in Citywest,
Dublin 24. Maguire, according to his LinkedIn profile has claimed
that he is a director of this company and again there is no record of
him in the CRO listed as holding such a position.
According to sources, Maguire was on the board of management of
Carrigaline Community School from 2012 and was made Chairman
during the period of 2014 to 2015.
SECURITY COMPANIES ON SITE

The primary security company/companies allegedly involved were
named locally and on social media as Nightsafe Security Services
Ltd and Active Security Management Ltd, both with the same
address in Melitta Rd in Kildare town and both owned by ex-soldier
Ross Howard and fellow director Tristan Hogan. Their website has a
Vina Skehan (otherwise known as Vina Horgan) listed as sales
director.
After an initial investigation it was discovered that Horgan-Skehan
who was clearly witnessed to be in attendance at the attempted
eviction is not registered with the Private Security Authority (PSA)
under either of her assumed surnames. Another individual who goes
by the name of John McShera and who is living in Boyle, County
Roscommon was later identified as one of the security personnel
from his Facebook profile and by witnesses on the ground and is
alleged to be unregistered with the PSA under that name.
Another member identified on social media and by witnesses at the
scene was named as Anthony Hobbs from Kerry. Hobbs is alleged to
be unregistered with the Private Security Authority under that
name.
Another individual clearly identified at the scene was named as
Czech national, Roman Fako. Although Fako is registered with the
Private Security Authority, it is understood from sources that
information pertaining to his licence has been passed to the Private
Security Authority.
Other members of the security team have now taken down their
Facebook pages after they were identified by eyewitnesses at the
scene. However ongoing investigations are continuing into
confirming their identities.
NO ID WORN BY SECURITY
None of the security personnel wore any form of PSA issued ID card
and had refused to identify themselves when questioned. Witnesses
have indicated that they will be making complaints to the PSA about
Nightsafe Security Services Ltd and their sister company Active
Security Management Ltd, a company that Horgan-Skehan claims
that she also works for, according to her Facebook page.
THREATS
It is further alleged that Horgan-Skehan when contacted by
telephone by an individual who had been at the eviction attempt
claimed that she has now resigned from the company and that G4S
Security has taken over and that there would be 40 people sent
from G4S to take the house back. No one from G4S turned up at
the site.
On Saturday evening, in a telephone call with an individual who was
on scene, Vina Horgan-Skehans sister had made claimed that
Horgan-Skehan was in hospital and that she was distressed and
suicidal. The sister went on to claim that everyone blocking the
eviction would be held liable if Vina Horgan-Skehan was to commit

suicide.
She also claimed that Garda have all of the names and that arrests
would be made. She went on to state that the Sunday World was
going to do a story on the individuals who were present at the
scene.
However, claims were made by eyewitnesses that Vina HorganSkehan was heard and seen to physically threaten a female
bystander with actual bodily harm and that she (Horgan-Skehan)
had allegedly shouted to the bystander that she would dig the head
off her.
It was further noted and observed that Horgan-Skehan had used
threatening language in a Facebook private message sent to one
individual who had been at the scene and in which Horgan-Skehan
was seen to have threatened an individual with words to the effect
of Get your facts right, the guards will be dealing with you and I
have your address, youll be dealt with.
It is alleged by eyewitnesses that Vina Horgan-Skehan took an
active part in the eviction attempt as seen on the many videos
circulating on social media. It was further alleged that HorganSkehan was seen back at the property later that night (Saturday)
by witnesses who were still on scene.
The directors of Nightsafe Security Services Ltd and a sister
company Active Security Management Ltd were contacted for a
response. A man calling himself Ian refuted any allegations put to
them in regard to their legality of their actions at the scene. He also
refuted allegations made by Horgan-Skehan that G4S were now the
new owners of Active Security Management Ltd. When it was
pointed out that they were using unlicenced operatives in evictions,
Ian refused to engage any further after an initial denial of same
and ended the call.
Nightsafe Security Services Ltd/Active Security Management Ltd has
failed to reply to emails sent to their office.
CONFUSION OVER COMPANIES AT THE SCENE
There was some confusion in the initial stages as to which security
company or even how many security companies was involved. AOC
Specialist Services of Ratoath, Co. Meath were contacted for
clarification as to their role in the eviction. They have not responded
to any telephone calls made to their company.
It should be noted that AOC Specialist Services acting on behalf of
Bank of Ireland employed ex-detective Garda Michael Murphy at a
previous attempt at an illegal eviction in Corofin County Clare some
months back.
Murphy has now lodged an affidavit into the courts claiming that he
was obstructed from carrying out his duty as agent for the bank and
is looking for a committal order against an Anti-Eviction Taskforce
member and the home owner Tommy Collins. This was the
attempted eviction where the security men wore balaclavas and

taped up the registrations of their cars in a misguided attempt to
hide their identities.
Another company named for its part in the latest eviction was
Dwellguard owned by John Murray and based in Ballincollig in
County Cork. Dwellguard supplied and fitted the shuttering on the
family home. Murray was not available for comment at the time of
publication.
Sources have indicated that allegations are now being made that
the some of the security personnel were being paid cash in hand as
they are not employees of some of the companies named here.
These same sources have indicated that they have bought the
matter to the attention of the Revenue Commissioners and the
Department of Social Protection.
The Department of Social Protection now have opened an
investigation into certain named individuals who were part of the
security team.
NAME AND SHAME CAMPAIGN
Meanwhile, anti-eviction activists throughout the country have
vowed to step up the campaign to publically name and shame
companies and individuals actively involved in evictions anywhere in
the country. In a chilling warning, a spokesman for the groups
involved, stated that any companies or individuals who take part in
any eviction attempt on a family home would be named and
shamed not just on social media but in other more visible and public
ways.
GARDAI ON SCENE
According to eyewitnesses, Garda only attended the scene after as
they had received a report of an incident on Saturday but did not
appear to get involved in any real effort to assist the security
companies. Garda left the scene shortly thereafter and did not
return.
Later on Saturday afternoon, family members, neighbours and
friends peacefully removed the security companies occupying the
premises and regained possession of the family home.
THE AUTHORITIES NEED TO GET TOUGH
In what is becoming glaringly obvious, security companies are using
unregistered individuals while hoping not to get caught in the act.
The Private Security Authority need to be seen to be strictly
enforcing the law surrounding the misuse of licences or in many
cases the enforcement of the law on security companies that use
unlicenced people as appears to be the case in this story. It further
appears and is alleged that criminals from other countries are
routinely slipping through the vetting process and are obtaining
licences using false personal details.
The security industry already has a bad name and its about to get a
lot worse. This is a nightmare scenario for any law abiding security
company trying to rise above the severely tarnished image

presented by security companies who have a lot less regard for the
law.
Banks must also be taken to task in regards to their liability in using
unlicenced operators, and legal action needs to be taken against
them accordingly for shirking their responsibility in the matter. It is
now quite clear that the law is being flouted by some security
companies and the banks jointly, and wholeheartedly supported by
a very questionable judicial system operating on the Circuit Court
level.
It seems incredulous that the security industry still has its cowboys
even after the big clean up by the Private Security Authority. It
would make sense for the law abiding security companies to push
the cowboys out of the market and help mop up what is essentially
an important industry mainly populated by decent people just
looking to make a clean living.
Family Home With Several Children

In Clonlara Co Clare : Possession
Recovered
by PEOPLE POWER AND ANTIEVICTION TASK FORCE AFTER
HOUSE SHUTTERED UP
BY SECURITY FIRM EARLIER IN
THE DAY
Congratulations To All Involved
Footage of the events which took place on Friday Oct 14 can be
found by clicking below and scrolling down to view several posts
Patrick Hannon
https://www.facebook.com/banjo.hannon?fref=ts
Homeless at Increased Risk of

Suicide-Official Report-Gerry
Raleigh, Director of National Office
of Suicide Prevention on RTE

Stop Evictions! Stop SUICIDES!
HEART-FELT APPEAL FROM KEN
SMOLLEN-TIRELESS ANTIEVICTION CAMPAIGNER
I was talking to Paddy Healy on the phone earlier today.

Paddy works tirelessly for his brother, Independent TD for
Tipperary Seamus Healy. Both of these men are the only
people who work within the confines of Leinster House and
who are actively calling on the Government to declare an
Official Housing Emergency However, they are alone and
receive little or NO support (you cant be upsetting the
markets).Its unfortunate that in order to make the other
removed from reality elites sit up and take notice, that its
now becoming necessary that members of some family in
Ireland do the unbelievable brave thing of being willing to
speak about a family member who has taken their own life
as a result of being in mortgage distress and facing the
horrifying thought of facing one of the EVICTION Courts. The
death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie close to The Dail
made the elites take notice of the homelessness crisis.The
elites are not interested in attending any of the EVICTION
Courts, and are so removed from reality to think they know
what its like for people in this situation as all of them spout
on about distressed mortgage holders approaching them in
the comfort of their constituency offices.NONE OF THEM have
the faintest idea what so many people are enduring on a
daily basisIm not expecting anyone to come forward to
tell their own story about a family member taking their own
lives as a result of this very hidden crisis, but its a terrible
indictment on our uncaring TDs that I should even have to
ask and all I can do is hope that someone is brave enough
to do so!
Ministers John Halligan and Finian McGrath

,Shane Ross, Boxer Moran, Sean Canney of
the Independent Alliance must Force
Government to HALT ALL EVICTIONS NOW
EVICTION RELATED SUICIDES

CONTINUE
Ken Smollens post on Facebook
It has just been confirmed to me in the last few minutes that the
father of a number of young children who was due to appear before
one of the EVICTION Courts this week has sadly taken his own life.
Out of respect for his family I will not be naming the location.
Suffice to say that our uncaring TDs have more blood on their
hands as they DO HAVE the power to put a stop to the never ending
nightmare thats being experienced by thousands of innocent
victims of the bailed out banks and vulture funds!
May he Rest in Peace-Ken Smollen
GOVERNMENT, FF, LAB, INDEPENDENT

ALLIANCE ARE RESPONSIBLE
But Sinn Fin and Independents for Change
Must Share Some of the Blame
ONLY Ruth Coppinger Dissented from Flawed

Recommendation
The Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessnes

recommended that there be a pause in eviction proceedings until
new debt resolution procedures were in place

are in place. AND
The Government should urgently seek flexibility from the European

Commission on the application of the EU fiscal rules to the financing
of social housing
temporary basis) in Minister Coveneys housing plan. Unfortunately
Sinn Fin and Independents 4 Change(Mick Wallace, Maureen
OSullivan) went along with this easily rejected recommendation.
(The same attorney general had advised Alan Kelly against it)
Shamefully, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has written a letter to EU seeking
flexibility under the Fiscal Treaty which would give permission to
Ireland to borrow money to build social housing for the Irish People!
This permission has not been given.
Government has also consulted its own the Attorney General,
Labours M. Whelan but evictions have continued.
Hence, the government can claim to have complied with two
key recommendations of the Committee. But the evictions
and the suicides continue.
The anger at the continued evictions is more than justified.
However, my bother Seamus Healy TD(Tipperary) has repeatedly
called in the Dil for the formal declaration of a housing emergency
and a total halt to evictions. The formal declaration of a housing

emergency is required to overcome the qualified protection of the
private property of banks and landlords in the constitution.
But Government,itself, continues to evict people through banks
owned by state (AIB, PTSB, EBS)

months!!!!!
Obstacles to Solving The Housing Crisis further down)
repossessions until such time as the Governments proposals are in
place.
Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessnes-Majority Report
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/32housinga
ndhomelessness/Final-Report-.pdf
MINORITY REPORT
http://antiausterityalliance.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2016/06/Housing-doc-2.pdf
on debt resolution.
Michael McGrath TD
politically.
19/06/2016
flexibility
investment
members
greater state
private
those most


A Chirde,
evictions.

in one day.
resolved.
challenge.
Yours sincerely
Paddy Healy
086-4183732
PRESIDENT HIGGINS TELLS

GOVERNMENT:
IGNORE FISCAL TREATY! BORROW
NOW TO BUILD HOUSES AND TO
INVEST IN HEALTH AND
EDUCATION
Well Done President Higgins!!
He (President Higgins) insists that seeking
access for all to housing, health and education

what he calls values for decent living are
not wild, Bolshevik ideas.
And at a time of low interest rates, there is
opportunity to invest in these services. Better to
spend now when money is cheap, he appears to
suggest, than be overly concerned with sticking
to EU fiscal rules.Paul Melia Irish Independent
17/09/2016
Instead of borrowing the money to build the
houses, Taoiseach ENDA KENNY HAS WRITTEN
TO THE EU SEEKING PERMISSION! IRISH
SOVEREIGNTY-HOW ARE YOU!!!
Seamus Healy TD has repeatedly told the government in the Dil:
STOP THE EVICTIONS: Borrow the money immediately to build the
houses and rescue the homeless! Dont ask the EU. TELL the EU
that the government is doing it, he said.
Italy, Spain, Portugal and other countries are ignoring the Fiscal
Treaty when it suits them. We should do the same!
AS THE BUDGET APPROACHES,

GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THE ADVICE OF
PRESIDENT HIGGINS
From Martina Doyle and the HUB-IRELAND
5349118
PHONE NO
01-
A Sheriff has NO AUTHORITY to

take a property
Even a receiver cannot trespass on
your property
If they do, and you are fearful, call the Gardai, and tell them that
you fear for your safety.
Quote Section of the Section 13(1) of 1 of the Criminal Public
Justice Act, and ask the Receiver/trespasser to leave.
If they refuse, they are committing a criminal offence which can
incur hefty fine or a prison sentence.
Stay in your homes. Fight the banks. We will help you. We are FREE
ANOTHER HUGE TAX GIVEAWAY

BY GOVERNMENT AND Michael
Tommy Cooper Noonan
How did the Government shaft
mortgage holders and taxpayers in
one fell swoop?
The State may well have missed out on huge
tax profits through its sale of distressed
home loans
Stephen Donnelly
Sunday Independent Published 10/07/2016 | 02:30

Questions to answer: Finance Minister Michael Noonan the
Government refused to let people bid on their own distressed
mortgages Photo: Tony Gavin
The Irish Government could be complicit in wholesale tax avoidance
by foreign investment firms, which are generating huge profits in
Ireland off the backs of Irish mortgage holders.
Sarah and Dominic (not their real names) live in Kilkenny
with their two children. They bought their home in 2007.
The shop Sarah worked in closed during the recession she
lost her job and they started to fall behind on their mortgage
payments.
Theyre getting back on their feet now, but with lower
wages, theyre struggling to make full payments. Their
mortgage was with Irish Nationwide, which was
nationalised, so it ended up in state ownership, along with
about 13,000 other mortgages.
Two years ago, the Government sold these mortgages at big
discounts, mainly to US investment funds. The Government
refused to let individual mortgage holders bid on their
mortgages. Sarah and Dominics mortgage was bundled with
about 1,400 others and sold to Mars Capital. According to
finance minister Michael Noonan, this was done with funds
managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
Oaktree is a very large US-based distressed-debt firm that
has bought up many of the mortgages sold by the
Government.
Until recently, we didnt know how big the discounts were
that the State was selling peoples mortgages at. Mars
Capitals newly filed 2015 accounts show they paid 42 cent
in the euro.
Sarah and Dominics mortgage was about 350,000, so Mars
Capital got it for about 140,000 an amount the couple
could have afforded. Instead, they still owe the full 350,000
to Mars Capital and face the prospect of eviction.
It gets better (or worse if you are Sarah and Dominic, or an
Irish taxpayer). Mars bought these 1,400 mortgages for
155m. About half of this was financed by a loan from
Citibank, with the remaining 80m being, presumably, the
funds managed by Oaktree Capital. The 2015 accounts of
Mars Capital forecast that this 80m investment will harvest
almost 400m (net of the Citibank loan) in mortgage interest
and principal repayments (so thats the 80m back, plus
almost 320m extra, less administration costs). And this is
just Mars Capitals first estimate. It assumes a level of nonpayment on the mortgages they bought. But as the Irish
economy recovers and payment rates improve, profits could
become much higher.
In May 2014, Ireland was borrowing 10-year money at 2pc.
Mars Capitals accounts show them earning 14pc on their
80m, just taking into account mortgage interest payments,
from the likes of Sarah and Dominic. Why sell an asset
yielding 14pc when your cost of funds is 2pc? The Irish State
could have given every one of those Irish mortgage holders a
60pc discount on their loan and still have made 14pc per
annum in repayments. Wasnt Nama set up to do this?
However, it gets even better (and definitely worse, if you are
an Irish taxpayer). The funds managed by Oaktree Capital
Management seem to be accounted for in Mars Capital as
notes.
Essentially, the 80m was loaned to Mars Capital, and Mars
must pay it back, plus interest. The interest on these notes is
set at 10pc + variable residual.
In other words, the interest payable on the 80m can be
hiked to soak up any, and all, profit Mars Capital makes.
The accounts of Mars Capital clarify that these notes will
suck nearly all of the profits (interest and capital) from the
company in excess of the Citibank loan. The 2015 accounts
claim exactly 1,000 as taxable profit, while paying millions
in interest on the notes.
This tax-management structure is similar to what is used by
some multinationals based in Ireland. Often, such notes are
registered in an offshore zero-tax location such as the
Cayman Islands, where their note interest payments are
made and accumulate tax-free, and get lent back to the
parent as needed. As such, the profits are taxed neither in
Ireland, nor in the US.
Irish accounting and legal firms provide the expertise to the

multinationals to help them minimise their tax obligations.
So what? Sure arent they providing jobs here? Well yes,
they are.
But if that same expertise is now being used to help foreign
investment firms suck huge profits out of Ireland without
paying tax on them, then were all worse off.
We dont know where are the loan notes of Mars Capital
located. We do know, from Oaktrees US SEC annual filings,
that many of their funds linked with European distressed
debt (ie Sarah and Dominics mortgage), are listed in the
Cayman Islands.
So, if the Mars Capital notes happen to have been issued by
an Oaktree Capital fund located in the Caymans (and we
have no evidence that they are), and if the interest on the
notes is adjusted in a way that leaves Mars Capital with very
little taxable profit (say the 1,000 filed for 2015), then not
only will the State have missed the opportunity to retain
hundreds of millions of euro of value (and maybe spare
Sarah and Dominics family the threat of eviction), it would
also be the case that none of the profits will be taxed in
Ireland.
To be clear tax avoidance is, by definition, legal (as
opposed to tax evasion, which is illegal). There is no
suggestion that Mars Capital, or Oaktree Capital, have done,
or are doing, anything illegal. They are clever investors who
saw an opportunity and took it if they are structuring their
investments to minimise tax obligations, then they are acting
rationally. The Irish Government, however, is not.
If very little tax ends up being paid in Ireland on the Mars
Capital deal, the tax leakage could reach well over 50m.
And this is a very small deal in the scheme of things if
other investment firms have structured their affairs to avoid
paying taxes here, the total missed tax take will be in the
hundreds of millions, conservatively.
Why did the Government not seek assurances from all
foreign bidders that their structures would ensure they pay
fair Irish tax on their Irish-generated profits? If some
bidders organised themselves to move their profits offshore,
did the Irish Government know? Did the investment firms
seeks assurances from the Government that any proposed
off-shoring of profits would be acceptable? Just how
complicit is the Government in what could be large-scale tax
avoidance on profits earned off the backs of ordinary
families trying to recover from the collapse?
Best little country to do business in? I doubt Sarah and
Dominic would agree. Neither would those using our
underfunded public services and infrastructure.
RENT OF HOUSES ROCKETTING

FISCAL TREATY RESTRICTIONS ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND
BORROWING IS THE CAUSE
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has written a letter to EU seeking permission
to borrow money to house our people!!!
THe IRISH PEOPLE must establish ITS OWN

SOVEREIGNTY
A 32-county assembly wielding Peoples Power
is The Answer
At the end of 2015, there were 139,359 or almost 140,000 people
on local authority waiting lists for housing. This is because virtually
no local authority houses have been built for years. Now due to the
restrictions of the FISCAL TREATY, Ireland is not allowed to borrow
money to build social houses. This is despite the fact that
governments can now borrow money ay rock bottom rates. Enda
has written a letter to EU seeking permission to borrow money to
house our people. Irish People have been reduced by FF,Fg,Lab,
Greens to the staus of beggars.
Now over 140,000 people have to seek private rented accomodation
to get a dwelling place!
Thousands of distressed mortgage holders are being driven from
their homes each year. They too must seek rented accomodation.
Massive and growing demand-No additional supply!!!This is driving
the cost of rented accomodation through the roof. The crisis is
rendered even more acute when third level colleges re-open.
The only answer is for The Irish People to establish its own
sovereignty
Stay in your homes-HELP IS FREE!

FROM Martina DOYLE THE HUB-IRELAND ON
Facebook
PHONE NO
01-5349118
#thehubirelandrepealtheevictionbill
Dont suffer in silence.
There is help in hand.
It is FREE.
Stay in your homes.
If anybody tries to charge in our name, they

are scamming you.
Get a receipt
Please share as you never know who might
need our help.
Thank you.
Seamus Healy TD Supports the Call by THE
HUB-IRELAND to Repeal the Land and
Conveyancing Act, 2013
Seamus voted against The Land And
Conveyancing Act (2013)
Seamus Healy repeatedly Called for a Halt to
Evictions and the Declaration of a Housing
Emergencyin the Dil
Irish Times:Minister Noonan Replies to
Seamus Healy on Evictions
Irish Times Thu, Jan 14, 2016

Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
He was responding to Independent TD Samus Healy who
asked Mr Noonan, as the majority shareholder in AIB and its
subsidiary EBS as well as the majority shareholder
in Permanent TSB, to call a meeting of the boards of the
banks and to instruct them not to repossess family homes.
He said that if the bank directors would not agree to that
then sack those members. You have the power to do that as
majority shareholder.
There are thousands of families in this country, irrespective

of what you say Minister, facing homelessness by these
banks, of which the Government is a majority shareholder.
the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.
Government Evicts Families-Statement by Seamus Healy
TD
Jan 18 2016
homes.
Stopped Now!
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Senior Minister Alan Kelly (Lab) and Minister of State

Hayes(FG) must now intervene at Cabinet to have a Housing
Emergency Declared and all repossession applications
withdrawn.
Land and Conveyancing Act 2013
Second Stage
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Richard Bruton
Joan Burton
Ray Butler
Jerry Buttimer
Catherine Byrne
Eric Byrne
Ciarn Cannon
Joe Carey
Paudie Coffey
Michael Conaghan
Sen Conlan
Paul Connaughton
Ciara Conway
Ciara Conway
Michael Creed
Jim Daly
John Deasy
Jimmy Deenihan
Pat Deering
Robert Dowds
Bernard Durkan
Damien English
Alan Farrell
Frank Feighan
Peter Fitzpatrick
Charles Flanagan
Terence Flanagan
Eamon Gilmore
Brendan Griffin
Dominic Hannigan
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Noel Harrington
Martin Heydon
Phil Hogan
Brendan Howlin
Heather Humphreys
Kevin Humphreys
Derek Keating
Paul Kehoe
Alan Kelly
Sen Kenny
Sen Kyne
Anthony Lawlor
Ciarn Lynch
Michael McCarthy
Helen McEntee
Nicky McFadden
Dinny McGinley
Tony McLoughlin
Michael McNamara
Eamonn Maloney
Peter Mathews
Olivia Mitchell
Mary Mitchell OConnor
Michelle Mulherin
Dara Murphy
Eoghan Murphy
Gerald Nash
Dan Neville
Derek Nolan
Aodhn Rordin
John OMahony
Joe OReilly
Jan OSullivan
Ann Phelan
John Paul Phelan
Pat Rabbitte
Michael Ring
Brendan Ryan
Alan Shatter
Emmet Stagg
David Stanton
Joanna Tuffy
Liam Twomey
Jack Wall
Brian Walsh
Nl
Richard Boyd Barrett
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Tommy Broughan
John Browne
Joan Collins
Niall Collins
Barry Cowen
Sen Crowe
Clare Daly
Pearse Doherty
Stephen Donnelly
Timmy Dooley
Dessie Ellis
Martin Ferris
Luke Flanagan
Tom Fleming
John Halligan
Samus Healy
Michael Healy-Rae
Joe Higgins
Billy Kelleher
Michael Lowry
Pdraig MacLochlainn
Charlie McConalogue
Mary Lou McDonald
Finian McGrath
Mattie McGrath
Sandra McLellan
Michel Martin
Catherine Murphy
Denis Naughten
Patrick Nulty
Caoimhghn Caolin
amon Cuv
Sen Fearghal
Aengus Snodaigh
Jonathan OBrien
Willie ODea
Thomas Pringle
Shane Ross
Risn Shortall
Brendan Smith
Peadar Tibn
Robert Troy
Mick Wallace
Voting was also as above on the Report and Final Stage of the Land
and Conveyancing Bill (2013)
3,041 families up for eviction in court in this

month of July
A grand total of 3,041 families up for eviction in court thi

month of July. Ignoring the mortgage arrears crisis is
fueling homelessness at a horrifying scale. I am tired
contacting all the people who are paid to care. What else
can we do?Martina Doyle, The Hub-Ireland
Limerick 146 and 5.
Dundalk 55 and 52.

Tullamore 19 and 71.
Waterford 34 and 18 and 20 and 70 .
Dublin 57 and 4 and 4 and 55 and 1 and 50 and 59 and 5 and 10 and 2 and 5 and 5
and 8 and 57 and 62 and 2.
Cork 72 and 98 and 32 and 87 and 20 and 5 and 59.
Monaghan 102.
Trim 75 and 80 and 76.
Carrick on Shannon 35.
Bray 125.
Castlebar 78.
Portlaoise 40 and 32.
Naas 9 and 71 and 101 and 16.
Letterkenny 89.
Cavan 39 and 100.
Wexford 43 and 60.
Kilkenny 33 and 40.
Sligo 30.
Roscommon 75.
Ennis 84.
Clonmel 46.
Nenagh 58.
Carlow 41.
Tralee 64.
A grand total of 3,041 families up for eviction, one month = July.
John McManus Business Editor

Irish Times: 23/07/2016
Housing plan looks very like a

bailout for big builders
Its not that the Government cant bring
down house prices, more that they dont
want to
Irish Times Sunday, July 24, 2016, 11:18
When it comes to sorting out the housing crisis, the Government
really has two choices. They can try to bring down the price of
houses to a level people can afford or they can help people buy
houses at their current unaffordable prices.
Affordability is hard to define but for Irish purposes it equates to the
limit put by the Central Bank on how much a bank can lend you,
which is 3 times your gross income. For two people on the
average wage, this is about 245,000. This is not a million miles
away from the average house price in most places other than south
Dublin, but if you are a single-income or low-income family, you are
not buying a house any time soon.
The Government would argue they have done a bit of both with the
action plan for housing and homelessness published this week, but
the true picture will not be clearer until the details of the measures
to help first-time buyers and house builders are unveiled at budget
time. Of the two options, bringing down house prices is by far the
hardest one. Assuming you could actually come up with a way of
doing it that did not borrow from the Khmer Rouge handbook, it
would still be deeply, deeply unpopular.
The losers would include pretty much everybody who has a house.
People would see their positive equity eroded or their negative
equity increased. The precarious buy-to-let sector would be
decimated. Builders and developers would be ruined and the banks
would be bust once again.
Strange though it may seem, a policy that underpins high house
prices is the rational political choice in a representative democracy.
Consequently, you should not expect the measures announced this
week to bring down the price of houses to any significant degree. If
you are in any doubt, you should know that one of the bigger
developers, Cairn Homes, has welcomed the plan. Turkeys dont
vote for certain Christian winter festivals.
Downward pressure
Its not that the Government couldnt bring down the price of
houses. The main levers at their disposal are social housing and
rent controls. These are viable long- term solutions to home
ownership and if they are provided in sufficient quantities at the
right price, they exert downward pressure on prices.
But the targets for social housing set out in the plan will not put a
tooth in the problem. The plan calls for the construction of 125,000
houses by 2021, of which only one in five or fewer will be social
housing built by the Government.
The rest will presumably be provided by the private sector, and we
can take it as read that they dont plan selling these houses for any
less than they are selling them at the moment . They argue they
are not even making money at current prices.
If prices are not coming down and wages are not going up and the
Central Bank wont let banks lend people more than they can afford,
you get the sort of stalemate that prevails in the Irish market. The
Government, to its credit, is trying to solve the problem by
providing a limited amount of cheap housing but the bulk of its
effort seems to be going into subsidising the building industry either
directly or indirectly.
The measures to be announced in the budget in October are
expected to include a 10,000 package for first-time buyers and
other measures to increase the profitability of house-building. At
best, this will allow more people to buy houses at current prices and
also allow more builders to build profitably at current prices. At
worst, it will trigger a jump in prices.
No costing has been put on this part of the plan but if, for
arguments sake, you assumed that half of the buyers of the
100,000 houses that will be built by the private sector got the
money, it would be 500 million over five years.
It represents a massive subsidy for an industry that is
fundamentally uncompetitive because it has overpaid for land and is
now sitting on sites, refusing to develop and playing chicken with
the Government. Those who worship market forces would argue
these builders should all be made go bust and the price of land
should drop, allowing profitable house-building by new entrants. In
a socialist version of this fantasy, the State would then spend 500
million building 200,000 council houses.
It doesnt really matter because neither of these things are going to
happen. It may not be the Governments intention but the housing
plan looks like a massive State bailout for an industry that is being
protected from the consequences of its mistakes. Sound familiar?
2016 irishtimes.com
Eviction Proceedings-No Pause in

Government Action Plan On
FALSE PROMISE TO FIRST TIME BUYERS!
Bonanza for Developers!
Now we Know why the Oireachtas Committee

refused to invite Ken Smollen and THE HUBIRELAND to address it!
Plan is just a pre-election gimmick
The Oireachtas Committee recommended that there be a pause in

eviction proceedings until new debt resolution procedures were in
place

are in place.

temporary basis) in Coveneys plan. Unfortunately Sinn Fin and
Independents 4 Change(Mick Wallace, Maureen OSullivan) went
along with this easily rejected recommendation. (The same attorney
general had advised Alan Kelly against it)
But now government promises to introduce more favourable
resolution procedures for distressed mortgages have been seriously
watered down
The number of people presenting as homeless has doubled in the
last 12 moths
Opposition members of the Oireachtas Committee say the Coveney
Plan for building social houses contains half the investment
recommended by the committee.
The EU have been resisting informal government requests to allow
money to be borrowed by Ireland to build social houses despite the
restrictions of the Fiscal Treaty for months..
NOW Taoiseach Kenny is going to WRITE A LETTER to the EU asking
that Ireland be allowed to borrow money to house Irish people?
(Decisive action that!!!)-Irish sovereignty how are you?
Eoin OBroin (SF) wrote in an opinion piece in Sunday Business Post
19/06/2016
flexibility
investment
in tackling the crisisThe Committee should, of course. have recommended that the
government TELL THE EU THAT IRELAND WOULD BE BORROWING
THE MONEY TO HOUSE IRISH PEOPLE IN THIS EMERGENCY, as
advocated by Seamus HealY TD.
Instead Sinn Fin and Independents 4 Change joined FF and FG in
a shamefully compliant recommendation in the frame work of the
Fiscal Treaty
BONANZA FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS-FALSE PROMISE TO FIRST

TIME BUYERS
Before any extra houses are built, financial supports will be given to
first time buyers in the budget next October (and backdated to today) to help them to purchase houses! But there will be no freeze
on house prices! In the context of miniscule supply this cannot fail
to raise the price of houses. This will be of no benefit to first time
buyers but will provide a bonanza for developers. Others moving
jobs will also have to pay the higher prices!
Developers will also be given publicly owned land at cheap leasing
rates on which to build private houses.
IRISH HOUSING NETWORK-In effect, it looks like this will mean
leasing public land to private developers who will decide whats
affordable. Without secure rent controls and more public housing
this will leave people as vulnerable as they are now, with evictions
and rent hikes commonplace as the markets decide peoples future
for them. This hasnt worked before and it wont work now.
According to Minister Coveney these measures willfix the housing
market!
NO Housing Emergency Formally Declared

Despite verbal recognition of a national housing emergency by
Minister Coveney earlier this year, no formal declaration of a
housing emergency will be laid before the Oireachtas.
Such a declaration would enable the public good to out-weigh the
right to private property in accordance with the Irish Constitution.
Former Minister Howlin explained to the Dil that annual
certification of a financial emergency was necessary to enable
continued confiscation of private property in pensions. Minister
Donoghue has done this recently
The absence of such a formal declaration could enable banks an
landlords to continue evictions even if the government ordered a
pause.
Also, it is at least possible that private owners (including vulture
funds) will be able to block even some of the inadequate
improvements contained in the Action Plan.
My DIT colleage, Dr Lorcan Sirr ( Faculty of the Built Environment)
has pointed out that thousands of dwelling houses are becoming
obsolescent each year, thus reducing the number of houses
available for habitation. Government or local authorities are unable
to intervene unless the building becomes a physical danger to the
public. No account is taken of these obsolescences in the
government targets for housing provision.
The absence of the formal declaration of a housing emergency
enables the owners to resist any interference with their private
property no matter how outrageous their disregard for the common
good!
Misleading Government Spin

People Laughed at Richard Bruton when he said he would create
100,000 jobs but he did it. Simon Coveney will drive the housing
plan in the same way-Brian Hayes MEP(FG) on Today with Sean
ORourke(RTE) 22/07/2016
In fact the government were cutting public service jobs while jobs
increased in private sector. These private sector jobs were created
despite the government austerity policy due to favourable external
circumstances-weak euro, cheap oil, strong demand for multinational exports produced in Ireland. These circumstances are
already changing rapidly and a new world recession will completely
reverse them.
But government politicians never !miss an opportunity to reinforce a
misleading story!
CONCLUSION
Like many previous Plans and Reports this ACTION PLAN is bound to
fail
I believe that the government ACTION PLAN is a combination of a
pre-election gimmick and a bonanza for private developers.
FINAL WARNING TO
GOVERNMENT-HALT EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS NOW!
-KEN SMOLLEN
Next Saturday 25th June, the Standing Together meeting at 1.30

pm in The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise can see real progress being
made in our fight against the bailed out banks and the vulture funds
who have engaged in a hidden onslaught on thousands of decent,
hardworking citizens in our country and their families. There can be
no doubt that in years to come there will be an inquiry into how and
why 3 successive Governments not only allowed the terrorising of
so many of their own people but actually gave this great injustice
their full support. Such an inquiry will undoubtedly lead to proper
justice being meted out to those directly responsible and also to
anyone who helped facilitate this wrong doing!
For real progress to be made it is imperative that all genuine
people, groups, political parties and other determined organisations
must work together. Any division in this very justified campaign will
not only please the very many uncaring TDs in Leinster House; it
will also lead to failure to achieve our ultimate aim. That aim should
be to achieve fairness for our people and a fair and sustainable
solution to the mortgage distress crisis where families should no
longer have to go without some of the basic necessities of life in
order to keep a roof over their heads!

There can be no doubt that many of the people who will attend on
Saturday will be living through this ongoing nightmare every day.
Others attending will simply be aware of the crisis and see the
urgent necessity for a resolution to be found. We can also be
reasonably certain that a number of politicians will also attend, with
most if not all of them being fully supportive of our unified
campaign.
It is for that reason that I urge anyone who intends to be there on
Saturday NOT to bring banners of any kind, and NOT to bring coffins
or coffin lids with slogans written on them. This is NOT a protest
meeting. IT IS a meeting where we must give the Government a
final warning or an ultimatum that they must force the banks who
operate within this jurisdiction to find a fair and sustainable solution
for all mortgage holders, and while that solution is being sought,
that ALL Eviction proceedings in the courts throughout Ireland be
halted. We cannot afford to give them or any of the media who will
be present reason to see us as just a group of disorganised
protesters. We MUST be seen as reasonable people demanding a
reasonable resolution to a hidden and growing humanitarian crisis
that affects probably well over ONE MILLION people in our country!
I have requested that the reporter and camera crew from RTE not
to film or show the faces of anyone in attendance unless they do so
with the full permission of anyone concerned. They have agreed to
this and before any filming or photo is taken of the attendance that
it is done from the back of the room with a warning beforehand.
This is to ensure that we protect the identities of everyone in
attendance. I would therefore ask that anyone who intends to take
photographs or film the proceedings to please adhere to the same
principle as we must not cause distress of any kind to anyone in
attendance.
It is highly likely that the uncaring TDs in Government will call our
bluff as many of them will be of the opinion that there is very little
we can do if they fail to take the necessary and appropriate action
in forcing the banks to engage fairly with their customers and if
they also fail to ensure that there is a moratorium on the Eviction
proceedings in the courts.
This is where I am of the opinion that their thinking is very flawed. I
have no doubt that a properly organised group of people can have a
huge effect on the workings of the courts, solicitors, MABS, the
Personal Insolvency Service and other such Government backed
organisations and all without the need for protest of any kind.
I have discussed such a plan with a handful of people and it will be
openly discussed at Saturdays meeting. I feel that its better that it
not be revealed until then for the simple reason that we dont want
to show our hand before we need to. It will be simple to implement,
does not involve protests, but will require a minimum of about 10
dedicated people in each county that takes part. I believe that

together we can achieve great success by working closely with
people who genuinely want a resolution to this desperate crisis.
On Saturday if we decide to implement this plan, it should be
enough to cause a huge ripple effect that will cause major problems
for the cosy cartel who obviously feel that they will always have the
upper hand. The more people there are per county will result in our
aim in those counties being achieved in a shorter period of time.
Even though Saturdays meeting begins at 1.30pm, I and a number
of other people will be in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise from
11.30am. Its not for me to decide who the seriously committed
people are who will lead the way. That decision must be made by
each individual themselves.
We must have a proper plan in place in order to succeed. As the
saying goes, If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
Finally, thanks everyone for your continued support. I hope to meet
as many of you as possible before the meeting and Im looking
forward to meeting everyone else at the meeting which must
commence at 1.30pm sharp.
Ken
INVITATION TO TDs AND SENATORS-KEN

SMOLLEN
Dear Member of the Oireachtas,

I would like to personally invite you to our third meeting in The
Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday 25th June at 1.30pm
concerning the desperately hidden mortgage distress crisis and the
associated Courts repossession hearings crisis that currently exists
in Ireland.
Unfortunately the number of people taking their own lives as a
result of this hidden crisis continues to grow every day. The vast
majority of these deaths go unreported, meaning that the problem
remains a very hidden and personal one for thousands of people in
Ireland.
This is our 3rd such meeting and again all TDs, Senators and MEPs
are being invited to attend. We appreciate the fact that a number
of TDs and County Councillors attended the two previous
meetings. At the last meeting it was unanimously agreed that all
TDs should again be invited to attend on Saturday 25 th June.
Your personal attendance at the meeting in Portlaoise would be very
much appreciated, when this extremely hidden crisis must be
openly discussed and REAL solutions found.
Since retiring from An Garda Siochana in 2012, I have been
highlighting the mortgage distress/eviction crisis and working
closely with many families in distress for the last few years. It has
been suggested by the many groups who volunteer their help and
support to families in mortgage distress, that its possible there
could be as many as 10 people or even more taking their own lives

every single week.
I have attended many repossession courts throughout the country
to offer my support to the families who are being summoned to the
courts by the banks and many people have told me their own
harrowing stories of hardship and desperation. One case involved a
family who were advised to go into bankruptcy. They raised the
4,000 required for the process by selling the cooker and all of their
furniture. They then removed the radiators from the walls and sold
them. The family, including their 14 year old daughter are now
living in a car in a secluded place close to Tullamore.
It is very clear that the Personal Insolvency arrangement and
services such as MABS are not the solution and are very far from
resolving this crisis. This has led to a number of voluntary groups
coming together in an attempt to offer genuine help to thousands of
people who simply have nowhere else to go.
The meeting in Portlaoise is not a protest meeting. It will be
attended by many families who find themselves in this desperate
situation and by others who are naturally concerned by the
continuing assault on thousands of families by financial institutions.
We are attempting to find possible solutions to the crisis and your
attendance at The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday 25th June
at 1.30pm would be very much appreciated.
Kind Regards, Ken Smollen, 085 143 2898


months!!!!!
Obstacles to Solving The Housing Crisis Below)

are in place.

MINORITY REPORT
http://antiausterityalliance.ie/wpcontent/uploads/2016/06/Housing-doc-2.pdf
on debt resolution.
Michael McGrath TD

politically.
19/06/2016
flexibility
investment
members
greater state
private
those most



A Chirde,
evictions.
in one day.
resolved.
challenge.
Yours sincerely
Paddy Healy
086-4183732

PQ REPLY YESTERDAY TO SEAMUS HEALY TDNOONAN REFUSES TO HALT EVICTION

PROCEEDINGS BY BANKS HE OWNS DESPITE
NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY
ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER COVENEY
ONLY 301 Home Loans Repossessed Last Year By AIB,

PTSB-MICHAEL NOONAN
and 118 for AIB and Permanent TSB respectively in 2015-Minister
Noonan
Just as he did in a previous reply on in Jan 2016(Dail Record further
Down), Minister Noonan seeks to minimise the horror facing families
by misrepresentation and omission of key information.
The 301 repossessions of family homes are 301 too many. These
are the 301 cases in which the state owned Banks Only were
granted repossession orders. (See I.T., KITTY HOLLAND further
down)
Noonan omits the no of repossession cases taken by the state
owned banks. Most of these never reach the stage of the issuance
of a repossession order. People are too terrified to appear in court,
of the publicity in small communities, the stress on young children
at school etc. it is common to surrender the house and to go to live
with relations in often overcrowded conditions. Some have
committed suicide due to the extreme stress of the threat of
repossession.
Mr Noonan says he has no role in the matter of repossessions by
AIB, PTSB, EBS. He cites the Framework Agreement with Banks.
This Agreement has no statutory force. Mr Noonan adheres to the
Agreement in order to wash his hands. Mr Noonan does have a role
in evictions. As owner of these Banks on behalf of the State, he
knowingly permits repossession cases to be taken though he can
forbid this.
Please recommend that all repossession proceedings affecting
dwelling houses, owned or rented, be halted immediately
Paddy Healy
PQ as originally Submitted
To ask the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD,
if, in view of the statement by Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney
TD that there is a NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY,
he will insist that Allied Irish Bank and its subsidiary the Educational

before the Courts and
if these bodies refuse to comply, will he call a special general
meeting of shareholders and use his majority share-holding to
dismiss and replace directors refusing to comply with his instruction
and
if he will make a statement on the matter ?
QUESTION NO: 175
DIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Finance (Deputy
Michael Noonan)
by Deputy Seamus Healy
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 14/06/2016
To ask the Minister for Finance if he will insist that a bank and its
subsidiary (details supplied) which are in majority State ownership
desist from seeking repossession of family homes through the
Courts and withdraw all such existing applications before the
Courts; in the event of the bank and its subsidiary refusing to
comply, if he will call a special general meeting of shareholders and
use his majority share holding to dismiss and replace the directors
who refuse to comply with his instruction
REPLY.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have no role in the day-to-day
running of the banks in which the State is a shareholder. These
institutions are run on an independent and commercial basis and
the details of the formal relationship between my Department and
these institutions are set out in the respective Relationship
Framework Agreements, which can be found via the following links.
AIB: http://finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Allied-Irish-Banks1.pdf
PTSB: http://finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Relationship
%20Frameworks%20for%20the%20Irish%20Banks%20Irish
%20Life%20and%20Permanent.pdf
In relation to the individual institutions referred to in details
supplied Permanent TSB, Allied Irish Banks and its subsidiary EBS:
AIB and Permanent TSB have informed me that they prioritise
keeping customers in their homes. Repossession is a last resort.
and 118 for AIB and Permanent TSB respectively in 2015. In
comparison AIB and Permanent tsb have entered formal
forebearance measures in respect of 29,514 and 28,532 Home
Loans respectively at December 2015.
While there are some differences between the banks referred to,
their processes are similar. In cases where customers do not
meaningfully engage or do not engage at all with the bank, reject
the offer of a sustainable mortgage restructuring solution or do not
prioritise their mortgage payment, both banks are likely to pursue

enforcement through the court process. Its important to note that
the initiation of legal proceedings does not necessarily result in
repossession and both banks seek to engage constructively with
borrowers at all times. Both banks offer a wide range of solutions
and operates multiple engagement channels that facilitate the
maximum possible levels of engagement with customers in
difficulty.
Within the Programme for Government there are several policy
proposals detailed which are being worked on at present. The
objective of these proposals is to accelerate the restructuring of
mortgage arrears cases and keep families in their homes in so far
as possible.


information.
Kitty Holland in the Irish Times Last November is: Of
the 1,088 court orders for repossession made in the three quarters
of 2015 up to September 30, 758 were for primary homes, 131
were for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. -Irish
Times
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.
12, 2015.

2015.
privatisation
Fil- as well!

so!

Repossession

R
Deputy Seamus Healyasked the Minister for Finance if he will

insist that Allied Irish Bank and its subsidiary the Educational
matter. [1426/16]
practice.

options.

to work.
the family home.
immediately.
all.


refusal
12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
shareholder.

the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.
homes.
Stopped Now!
Castlebar Court Anti-Eviction

Protest
https://www.facebook.com/cashin3/videos/
vb.100001246297556/1173381982713334/?
type=2&theater
13/06/2016
We have being contacted by RTE Over the passed few days over the
selling of family home mortgages to vulture funds across the county
When Gerry O Boyle campaigned in the last general election on this
issue the matter was not allowed to be high-lighted. Now it has
come the light with the assistance of Gerry O Boyle. RTE has
decided to do a documentary on corruption of Irish banks and the
cover up. RTE is now expected to do full coverage from Castlebar
Eviction Court on June the 13th
Men in balaclavas evict families for vulture capitalists invited
in by government to feed on the public
Irish Mirror Pat
Flanagan 15:33, 3 Jun 2016 Mass evictions loom after it was
revealed that 46,000 mortgages the equivalent to all the
homes in Drogheda and Dundalk are now in the hands of
vulture funds. The sight of men in balaclavas attempting to
evict families from their homes as gardai stand idly by
confirms that we are living in a very sick state. Tens of
thousands of families face being evicted by the vultures. When a
Government invites vultures into our country to feed on the misery
of families in danger of losing their homes, you know Irish society
has lost its moral compass. The sight of men in balaclavas
attempting to evict families from their homes as gardai stand idly
by confirms that we are living in a very sick state.Ireland is indeed a
warped country which poisons golden eagles and venerates vultures
selling off thousands of distressed mortgages at knockdown prices
while refusing to give homeowners a writedown.
It is perhaps a metaphor for a country in terminal social decline
where the vulnerable are fed to unscrupulous wealth funds who
have not the slightest inkling of concern for their welfare.

There are few more reviled birds then the vulture yet our Finance
Minister is a fan and believes they play a pivotal role in nature.
This is what he actually said: Vultures provide a very good service
in the ecology through cleaning up dead animals that are littered
across the landscape.
The dead animals he is talking about are the tens of thousands of
people whose mortgages have been sold to foreign wealth funds
without them having the opportunity of doing a deal with their
former lender.
Ulster Banks decision to sell 900 home mortgages to vulture funds
at a huge discount could lead to most of the families involved being
evicted from their homes.
This rotten bank is not only heartless, they are gross hypocrites as
they claim they do not do debt forgiveness yet sell off huge
property portfolios to vulture funds at a fraction of their worth.
Ulster Bank is a private company which is in business for profit,
what possible excuse can the State have for selling off thousands of
homes in the middle of the worst housing in our history.
Vulture lover Noonan recently had the gall to claim he put
safeguards in place to prevent the vultures kicking people from their
homes when the mass evictions have already started.
Such protection as vultures give to lambs, said the 18th century
Irish dramatist Richard Brinsley Sheridan. he could have been
talking about our Finance Minister.
The spiralling number of evictions has not come about by accident
but as a result of actual Government policies which specifically set
out to sell off huge property portfolios which could only be bought
by vulture funds.
Around 90% of the States bad bank Namas assets have been sold
to international speculators who have got them at a fraction of their
true worth.
What is even more disturbing is that it appears the gardai are
allowing hooded agents of the vultures terrorise families in the
course of evictions as the Royal Irish Constabulary did for absentee
landlords in the 19th century.
It is something of a sick joke that the country has been losing the
run of itself celebrating 1916 and the beginning of the end of British
rule when our government has handed over the homes, and the
lives, of tends of thousands of families to anonymous foreigners.
Both Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan have taken time out to
actually meet and greet the vultures and invited these scavengers
to our country to feast on Irish families.
To help them digest the financial flesh the law here allows wealth
funds to avail of favourable tax deals which are outside the reach of
the Central Bank.
On the subject of the Central Bank, two years ago the then
Governor Patrick Honohan said he was very unhappy about the sale
of mortgage books to vulture funds and highlighted the
consequences for tenants.
But Fine Gael and Labour were determined that the vultures be fed
and allowed the sell-off which saw property portfolios worth tens of
billions of euro go ahead with massive writedowns.
It is estimated that around 46,000 mortgages the equivalent to all
the homes in Drogheda and Dundalk are now in the hands of
vulture funds.
The newly-created Dublin Tenants Association has called for new
laws to stop vulture capitalists from forcing families out of their
homes.
DTA spokesman Patrick Bresnihan said: This is not a natural
disaster. The reality is government policy has been to facilitate
vulture funds at every turn, without any research into the impact of
international funds on the Irish housing system.
The dreadful situation which families find themselves in is a direct
reflection of the ethos and ideology of the previous government.
Vultures by their nature rarely attack healthy animals, but will prey
on the weak and sick and thats exactly what the Coalition did.
So we shouldnt be too surprised about Michael Noonans love of
vultures its a case of birds of a feather flock together
1,700 homes promised a year ago

not one has been built
Irish Independent June 7,201
Some 1,706 homes were approved in May 2015. Another 134 were
sanctioned the following July, and 890 last January a total of
2,730 across 145 individual schemes.
The Irish Independent asked each local authority to provide an
update on how the projects were progressing. Three Kerry, Offaly
and Wexford failed to respond. The data shows:
No social houses have been built by the local authorities from the
2,730 sanctioned as long as a year ago.
Just 26 are under construction in Donegal, Tipperary and Louth.
Louth County Council said it expects 12 to be completed this month.
Architects and design teams are only now being appointed for
many of the schemes. A significant number have yet to proceed to
planning.
Some units have been purchased Fingal has secured 44, Cork
City another 28 and Louth another eight. But some councils are only
beginning to purchase homes now.
In some cases, including Cork and Galway, the number of units
has been increased, which has resulted in delays as projects must
be redesigned.
Some other projects have also been cancelled or delayed.

In Longford, no work has started on 13 houses approved in
Lanesborough last July. Trial holes are being organised for the site,
the council said.
A land swap is also being organised with the HSE in Meath to
facilitate construction of 19 units in Summerhill, approved in May
2015.
In one case a 3.1m scheme of 20 units at Strandhill in Co Sligo
construction work is not expected to begin until November next
year, 30 months after it was approved.
The minister said special teams would be sent into local authorities
to drive delivery.
Last year, 72 social houses were built, and around 1,160 acquired.
David Walsh Released unconditionally by

High Court 03/06/2016
David had spent 4 days in Cork Jail. David was

convicted of criminal contempt in Waterford
Circuit Court when he insisted on representing
his sister who was up for repossession of her
home.
David has done all those threatened with eviction a great service
Well Done to Waterford the HUB-IRELAND and Noel Brophy!
WOMAN LOSES HOME TO BANK AND

HER BROTHER TO PRISON
Press Release By THEHUB-IRELAND June 2, 2016
The Hub-Ireland DATE: 1-6-2016 PRESS QUERIES: info@thehubireland.com (enter Press Query Subject line) Tel: 01 534 9118
(office hours)
WOMAN LOSES HOME TO BANK AND HER BROTHER TO PRISON
At Waterford Circuit Court on Monday, a woman lost her home and
her brother was taken away to prison after Judge Alice Doyle made
a possession order in favour of the bank and held the home-owners
brother to be in contempt of court.
He was sentenced to two weeks in prison and escorted out of the
courthouse by Garda after voicing his objections to the proceedings
in which the Judge had refused his sister the right for him to
represent her, as is allowable. The home-owner had intended to
defend her home because she believed she had an arguable case
and wished to exercise her right to due process. She wished to
bring certain matters before the Judge for consideration before any
possession order would be given. However, she was unable to afford
legal representation and did not feel able to carry out the role of
representing herself in such an already stressful situation, where
she would be up against the banks professional legal team,
including a barrister. In previous proceedings in the same case, but
in front of a Registrar, her brother had been allowed to represent his
sister.
On Monday, she had signed a Power of Attorney for her brother to
represent her again, but Judge Doyle disallowed the request.
The Hub-Ireland, a voluntary group working to help distressed
mortgage-holders, is extremely concerned at how mortgage cases
are being dealt with by the judicial system generally and for the
personal plight of the woman in this particular case, who has not
only lost her home without being able to present her defence, but
has also had to watch her brother being carried away to prison.
The Hub-Ireland is repeating its call for an end to the Evictions
Courts. Its members have been observing the workings of such
courts throughout the country and have reported many similar
cases where home-owners, who could not afford to employ a legal
team to match the banks one, have their rights to justice severely
compromised as a result. This is wrong and it has to stop, said
Byron Jenkins of The Hub-Ireland. Tonight there is a man in prison
and a woman faces eviction, having lost her home. This is a
personal tragedy for this family, but it also highlights all that is
wrong about how the mortgage-crisis has been dealt with. We again
call on the government and all in the political system to act
immediately to put an end to the barbaric suffering being caused to
good Irish people, whose only mistake was to borrow to put a roof
over their heads.
The Dil will break for summer holidays in a few weeks time, but it
will be a long hot summer for those facing eviction as a result of
political inaction, said Jenkins.
The Hub-Ireland is a voluntary, self-help community organisation
that offers free help, support and information to homeowners who
are in danger of eviction from their homes by mortgage companies.
It has launched a campaign to have the Evictions Courts abolished
and asks for the public to support the initiative. It invites anyone in
mortgage distress to contact them at info@thehub-ireland.com or
phone 01 534 9118.
/ends press release
Please Note: The Hub-Ireland has a number of expert
spokespersons who are available to appear as panelists on radio
and television programs dealing with the issues of mortgage
distress. They are also available to give interviews to print media.
Please contact The Hub-Ireland at info@thehub-ireland.com (enter
Press Query in Subject line) or phone 01 534 9118 during office
hours.
-
Brother of Woman Facing

Repossession JAILED FOR TWO
WEEKS FOR CONTEMPT in
Waterford Circuit Court
SHOCKING INHUMANITY OF EVICTION
SYSTEM
He Had Been Prevented From Speaking on

Behalf of his sister in Court though she had
given him her Power of Attorney
Waterford The Hub-Ireland
In Waterford court today a man who had been given power of
attorney by his sister was denied by justice Doyle the right to
speak on behalf of his sister in opposing the repossession of her
home. When the man Questioned the Judge he was put in contempt
of court. Another man questioned her decision also. He was also
put in contempt. Later both were questioned by garda and brought
back into court. The brother was jailed for two weeks
Earlier,he had handed to the judge the document stating that he
had been given power of attorney by his sister. The judge left the
bench for 10min and came back with a decision that he could not
speak for her in court. She wouldnt allow him question her
jurisdiction in the matter. She put him in contempt and later jailed
him for two weeks
He had repressented his sister 2 months earlier on the same matter
in front of a different judge who had agreed to this procedure
Further Post on Facebook By HUB-Ireland

(A male young man appeared in court to swear the affidavit on
behalf of the bank. The signature on the affidavit was that of a
woman!!!-PH)
WANTED:
We need the ID of this child: this is the young man that came to
court yesterday as a competent witness for the Banks: he was
never sworn in / or gave his name; the only words he uttered from
the back of the courtroom was Yes, after Judge Alice Doyle had
asked did you sign the affidavit for the Banks.
Funny that:: the deponent of the Affidavit was in fact a woman, so
how come??
The Judge then replied; thats good enough for me and granted a
possession Order on a Family Home and Jailed the Brother for two
weeks for contempt for wishing to represent his sister.
The two hooded balaclava wearing individuals entering the Garda
Squad Car are not prisoners!

They are employees of a security company leaving the scene having
failed to evict a householder in Co Clare recently
Stop Evictions Picket on Ennis Banks

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER CLARES TDS
FAIURE TO ATTEND DEMONSTRATION AT
ENNIS BANKS
Clare FM 30 May, 2016

Clares Oireachtas representatives are being condemned for their
failure to attend a demonstration outside Ennis banks this morning.
Groups led by Midwest Right2Change launched the picket in protest
at the repossession of houses by financial institiutions, as well as
the ongoing housing crisis.
As the sun shone down on Ennis town centre this morning, groups
picketing the towns three main banks say the situation isnt so
bright for many people facing homlessneess across the county.
Todays protest, organised by Right2Change, began outside Ulster
Bank in the Height and from there moved on to AIB and then onto
Bank of Ireland.
A small group of public representatives and locals highlighted their
concerns following a recent high-profile attempted eviction in

Corofin.
One of them, Anti-Austerity Campaigner Niamh OBrien says
something needs to be done to stop banks from reposessing homes.
Protestors hit out at Clares Oireachtas representatives for failing to
attend today.
Shannon Sinn Fin Counillor Mike Mc Kee says they need to put
pressure on the Government to deal with the housing crisis.
Limerick City TD Maurice Quinlivan, who represents part of Clare
also attended todays protest.
The Sinn Fin representative is a member of the Dil Homeless and
Housing Committee and he says an adequate Mortgage to rent
scheme would help ease the crisis for some families.
Noonan feeds the vulnerable to the

vultures
Rather than Minister Noonan giving the unfortunate
mortgage defaulter a break, hes been fraternising with their
enemy
Carol Hunt, Sunday Independent, 29/05/2016
1Support: Michael Noonan will be happy with evictions Photo: Tom
Burke
The video footage is shocking. It shows a number of men, hooded,
black scarves covering their faces, attempting to gain access to a
private home. To even the most trusting of observers, they dont
look as if they can be up to any good.
Beside them, the car they allegedly drove up in and which we will
see them later drive off in has no insurance or tax disc displayed
and the registration number is covered over with tape. This is
undoubtedly illegal.
Local men confront them, clearly agitated. Thankfully, there are
gardai present and the traffic violations are quickly pointed out to
them.
Except that, as the video footage unfolds, it becomes disturbingly
clear that the gardai have no intention of noting these offences, that
they are there purely to assist the hooded men in gaining access to
the house. They are on the side of what looks like the bad guys.
Welcome to a modern-day Irish eviction. (There was a doubling in
the number of properties repossessed by mortgage lenders in
Ireland between 2010 and 2013, new research has found.)

This time it fails. The heavy gang leave in their car which still lacks
a visible registration number. This time there was no paperwork
which allowed them to legally enter the property but if members
of the Anti-Eviction Taskforce had not been present to vociferously,
but peacefully, protest, yet another family would have found
themselves homeless by nightfall.
Well, thats what happens isnt it? When you cant pay your debts,
when you fall behind on your mortgage, when the bank lent you
money with no questions or queries beyond how much? and sure,
would you not like a few thousand more? But now, kiddo, its
payback time.
Well, for some people it is anyway. But we know a few things now
that we didnt know back in 2007. We know, courtesy of Ajai
Chopra, that the EU issued an ultimatum to Ireland at the time of
the bailout. We know that the ECB would not allow us to burn senior
bondholders. We know that we are still paying billions in interest
because of this unfortunate mistake.
We know this week, thanks to NTMA chief executive Conor OKelly,
that every worker in the country pays an extra 3,400 in tax every
year compared with just 900 in 2007. We know we were taken for
a ride by banks, the bondholders, and the head honchos in Europe
as well as our own crowd. And we know, as OKelly said, that our
State debt pile of 207bn, 102,000 per employee, is easily the
highest in Europe, by a mile. To be clear he added: Its one of the
highest ratios in the world.
Which may explain why so many people are finding it so difficult to
service 2007 mortgages with 2016 wages (thats if theyre still lucky
enough to be working).
Half the bloody economy is going into a black hole of debt
repayments. The average Irish worker took the hit for all those
bondholders and bankers who were allowed play financial roulette
with no consequences to themselves if they lost everything.
Youd think the Government would feel a little bit sheepish about
that now, wouldnt you? Youd presume that they would go a bit
easy on Joe and Josephine Soap who were unfortunate enough to
need a mortgage when prices were beyond the moon and the banks
were happy to feed the insanity? And youd certainly think that, in
light of our enormous State debt (remember, the highest in
Europe, by a mile!) Michael Noonan would still be in the market for
a bit of debt forgiveness from the EU or IMF.
Youd think, maybe theyd listen to people like those in the AntiEviction Taskforce, The Phoenix Project, Irish Mortgage Holders
Organisation, The Hub and all those other groups working at the
coalface of people who are in despair at the prospect of losing their
homes, and maybe ask the banks to share a bit of the risk, the cost,
the fallout?
But no, seemingly everything is going swimmingly in Noonan Land,

because earlier this month he said we didnt need any deals on
debt, because were in a pretty good place now.
Which will come as news to the hundreds of thousands of people in
the country in mortgage distress particularly if their mortgages
have been sold on to vulture funds at cheap prices not offered to
them terrified to answer their doors in case its the bailiff with a
crowd of hooded men and a few gardai backing them up.
It will also come as news to people like Fr Peter McVerry, whose
Trust last Friday appealed to the Government to do more for people
at risk of becoming homeless and particularly the dangers that the
vulture funds bring with them.
Michael Noonan is a fan, seemingly. Of vulture funds. I know, thats
hard to believe, but then some people have hard necks. They can
afford to.
Fine Gael TD Catherine Byrne got terribly upset when David Hall, of
Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO), called Mr Noonan a
vulture [fund] lover at an Oireachtas Housing and Homelessness
committee meeting recently.
After a face-to-face meeting with the minister, Hall said: He was
very clear about his love for vultures. We had a very robust
exchange in relation to it the self-confessed predators. They
circulate for five years, they suck an asset dry and they move on.
Last week Ulster Bank announced that it would be selling over
2,900 of its customers mortgages to vulture funds.
Of those, 900 are family homes, the others, one presumes, are
rental properties. (Most evictions in Ireland actually arise when
people cant pay escalating rents, as opposed to mortgages.)
According to the recent report by the Debt and Development
Coalition Ireland (DDCI) our Government wholeheartedly embraced
vulture funds, which pretty much tells you everything you need to
know about their attitude to Joe or Josephine mortgage problems.
Or families like my friend Danielles, who have just been given a few
months to leave the home they have rented for 10 years.
Their landlord is sorry, but the mortgage has been sold on to vulture
funds and all he can do is commiserate and say that they were
exemplary tenants.
Like many other families in similar situations, they havent a hope of
finding affordable accommodation near their jobs and childrens
schools.
An EU-wide report headed up by NUIG academic Padraig McKenna
also found that there were relatively high numbers of evictions
(including illegal evictions) in the [Irish] private rented sector.
According to the DDCI report, the arrival of vulture funds means an
increased likelihood of people being evicted from their homes.
Well, duh as my kids would say; it shouldnt take an academic
report to deduce that.
The people evicted will probably end up in hotels at the States

expense but hey, the vulture funds and Minister Noonan is happy
so thats all right so.
Groups like the Anti-Eviction Taskforce look set to have their work
cut out for them in the immediate future.
Welcome to the new politics, and old-style land repossessions.
KEN SMOLLEN, THE HUB IRELAND BRIEF

DEPUTIES AND SENATORS AT LEINSTER
HOUSE AT INVITATION OF SEAMUS HEALY TD
CALL FOR STOP TO EVICTION PROCEEDINGS

IN COURT, FORMAL DECLARATION OF
NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY BY DAIL
REPORT ON BRIEFING BY KEN SMOLLEN
18/05/2016
This evening is probably not a good time to write a report on todays meeting with T
Senators and their representatives in Leinster House as I usually need a day to fully
analyse any event or meeting.
However, it was an absolute pleasure to meet what I would describe as three very lik
minded people, namely Byron, Adrienne and Martina in The Hub office in Dublin befo
heading off to Leinster House. Adrienne had the job of looking after callers to The Hu
while Byron, Martina and I went to the meeting where we first met Seamus Healy TD
and his brother Paddy. We had a cup of coffee in the caf there while discussing the
approach we would be making when presenting our case on behalf of thousands of
people who find that they are the totally innocent victims of the bailed out banks wh
want to legally steal their family homes!
There were approx. 20 TDs present at different stages during our presentation inclu
the following Sean Crowe, Eugene Murphy, Pat Buckley, Thomas Pringle, Dara
Calleary, Martin Ferris, Sean Fleming, Carol Nolan, Ann Rabbitte, Eoin OBroin and
others. Represented were Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins. Needless to say no
representative from either Fine Gael or the Labour Party was there. It surprised me
not one representative of the Independent Alliance made the effort either as all TDs
were invited there by Seamus Healy TD and by myself.
I began the presentation by describing to those present what actually happens in the
Eviction Courts and how people are being treated in a shameful way in particular by
County Registrars. I described the intimidating atmosphere in these places and the
absolute horror, despair and desperation that I see on a regular basis in these awful
places. I also informed them that during the month of May alone there are well over
2,000 Eviction cases listed in the courts throughout the country and with an average
3 or 4 members of each household it would be the equivalent of the population of a
large town being hauled before the Eviction courts and thats just this month alone
also impressed on them that not only are there approx. 100,000 families in mortgag
distress but that there could be a further 200,000 families going without some of the
basic necessities just to pay their mortgages and that many of these people were als
slipping into mortgage distress. Again I said that with an average of 3 to 4 people pe
household we are looking at over ONE MILLION people in Ireland being in this awful
situation with no resolution in sight.
I then explained how the banks were refusing to engage with many mortgage holder
any way even though the banks claim that its the other way around. I also said to th
that the Government must FORCE the banks to engage fairly with mortgage holders
that a fair and sustainable solution must be found for ALL mortgage holders before t
would be any recovery for the people of Ireland.
Martina then spoke about and gave an excellent presentation on the Land &
Conveyancing (Law Reform) Act of 2013 [The EVICTION Act] and explained how it m
be repealed as it gives the bailed out banks easier access to repossessing family hom
Byron then gave an exception explanation of how The Hub-Ireland is helping families
every day for FREE and also urged those present the need for an urgent solution to t
desperate crisis.
The politicians who were present then made their own contributions with all of them
agreeing that a real recovery for the people of Ireland could only take place once the
people of Ireland were treated fairly by the banks. They were all in agreement that t
must act in the best interests of the people that they represent.
Our next step with the help of Seamus Healy is to gain an invitation to make a
submission to the housing committee where we can again impress on them the
necessity for two things 1) The urgent need for a STOP to be put on EVICTION Cou
proceedings in the courts while the banks are forced to find a fair and sustainable
solution for all mortgage holders and 2) To have an official EMERGENCY declared in
relation to this crisis. Such a declaration would put a stop to Michael Noonans nonse
about the Government being unable to interfere in private property transactions.
All in all it was a very good day and Im sure that by keeping the pressure on these
people we can achieve real change for the better, not only keeping families in their
homes but in the process, saving many lives.
I was not expecting to see Fine Gaels representative from Offaly there as she was o
of those who unashamedly voted YES for the Eviction Bill and because there werent
photo opportunities for her to take advantage of. I am however extremely disappoin
with the non-appearance of the Fianna Fail TD for Offaly. When the meeting was ove
walked as we were talking outside the meeting room, he looked and grinned, as muc
as to say Who let those peasants into this important place.
Finally, I would like to thank Paddy Healy and his brother Seamus for arranging this
meeting and I have absolutely no doubt that we will now gain the support of other T
in our justified fight for fairness for thousands of our people. With the help of these
good men we certainly hope to receive an invitation to make a submission to the
housing committee.
KEEP SUNDAY 19th JUNE FREE 1.30pm in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise EVERYO
WELCOME!
Thanks everyone,
Ken
Claire Byrne Live on Housing and
Homelessness
http://www.rte.ie//sh/claire-byrne-live30003252/10576915/
Listen to First 30 minutes on Housing and
Homelessness
Housing is national emergency says

Simon Coveney, Minister for
Housing
Why does he not formally lay a certificate to this
effect before the Dil?
Because then there would be no constitutional prohibition to
stopping evictions and compusorily purchasing the property of
vulture capitalists in order to ease the housing crisis
-
Why Cant State Just Borrow 10 billion at

very low interest rates to begin Building
50,000 publicly owned houses immediately
as advocated by David McWilliams Below? He
claims the loan would be self-financing at
much lower than current rents!
ANSWER? HINT -Read the provisions of the Fiscal Treaty!
David McWilliams IRISH INDEPENDENT 11/05/2016
Easy for the State to Build 50,000 houses ??
Lets examine how the State could involve itself in financing a

housing trust using the international financial markets to massively
reduce housing costs in Ireland.
Currently, the markets will finance any good opportunity. When
interest rates are zero, the obvious thing to do is borrow for
infrastructural projects and housing is the most significant
infrastructural development that one can think of right now.
Lets look at the numbers.
Builders will tell you that building costs are around 120/130 a
square foot. For a large scheme, this could be lower and could move
towards 100.
Now lets say that the average unit in Dublin or any urban centre in
Ireland is 1,400 square feet. This means that the average building
cost of a house/apartment of this size is 140,000. Add to this VAT
of 13.5pc and we get 158,200.
Now on top of this there are professional fees for architects and
surveyors and the like. These could be 12pc of the contract price
plus 23pc VAT. So this is close to 19,000 on top of this price,
bringing the 140,000 initial cost, up with all the fees and taxes to
around 166,000.
Then on top of this are development levies which are the costs per
unit that are added by the council to pay for new roads, water pipes
and sewage. These are typically 9,000 per unit. So we are now up
to 175,000 per unit.
Now we have the cost of the build with all the charges and taxes
before we talk about site cost.
In 2011, Dublin probably had enough houses to deal with the
population. However, there should have been 60,000 built since to
keep up with population growth but only 8,000 have been built, so
we have a shortfall of around 50,000 for the sake of argument.
Imagine the State was to build or fund the build of 50,000 houses.
At 175,000 each, this would cost 8.7bn. This is a big number but
the Irish State can borrow for 10 years at 1pc, according to
Bloomberg yesterday. Therefore, the State could issue a Housing
Executive Bond, which it could sell to Irish residents who are sitting
on 94bn of deposits in the Irish banking system. Servicing this
debt would cost 87m per year.
Traditionally, countries dont pay back the principal of their national
debts, they simply roll it over.
So it would be prudent to suggest that we would do the same for
this Housing Executive Bond.
Now we have a situation where the total annual cost of 50,000 units
is 87m. This means that the annual cost per unit is 1,740. The
implication is the rent that would be needed to be charged per unit
per year to pay the cost of this build, funded by a Housing Executive
Bond, is 1,740 per year. Lets round this up to 2,000 per unit per
year, to include maintenance.
So total rental cost of a new house or apartment is not 12,000 per
annum, as is the case right now, but 2,000 per annum or 38 a
week.
This is feasible. You have seen the numbers. The major cost omitted
is the site cost and this is where we come into the land issue.
At a density of 60 units per hectare, this would mean about 833
hectares of development land, or about 2,000 acres, is needed.
There are 28,000 acres in Dublin in total but just one bank, Ulster
Bank, put a portfolio of 1,850 acres of development land up for sale
this year. So the development land portfolio of just one bank could
almost cover this total city requirement! Now we are talking.
The State could simply CPO this land at cost and be done with it.
You could add the repayment cost of this land to the annual rent.
This would bring up the annual cost of the rent needed to cover
everything to 3,000 per year or a quarter of present average rent
paid.
Thus, the great Irish housing crisis is solved for less than 60 per
week for a family of four in return for a new house, fixity of tenure
and peace of mind!
Thats how its done in proper countries. The choice is ours.
Lets join the 21st century and stop gouging each other for the basic
right of a roof over our heads.
Unlike the lads on the Magic Bus, these are the numbers, no one is
smoking funny stuff, just seeing things clearly through the haze of
vested interests and inertia.
Problem solved.
Organised by former garda Ken

Smollen, this is yet another meeting
attended by many groups who are
at the coalface of the mortgage
crisis. And a crisis it is
PUBLISHED08/05/2016 | 02:30 Sunday Independent
Vulture funds circle as mortgage crisis exacts its toll of suffering
Thousands of homeowners left at the mercy

of the banks bear a burden of daily fear and
uncertainty, with many contemplating
suicide, and some acting on those feelings,
writes Carol Hunt
My name is Sandy and I am in mortgage distress, says a woman

at the back of the room. She clears her throat and continues: It
was my little secret, because I told nobody, I was too ashamed. My
friends didnt know, my family didnt know. I felt I had failed and I
had made a huge mistake. She pauses, I catch her eye and then
look away, embarrassed.
Were in the Hotel Killeshin Portlaoise. There are over 300 angry,
frustrated and emotional people here all united by a common goal
of stopping the evictions.
Organised by former garda Ken Smollen, this is yet another meeting
attended by many groups who are at the coalface of the mortgage
crisis. And a crisis it is.
According to Smollen, as well as the 100,000 mortgages currently in
distress, there are another 200,000 in danger of slipping into
difficulty.
Plus, there are many small businesses and farms on the brink of
insolvency. Extrapolate that to include families and that is over a
million people affected, he says.
These are not accidental landlords or developers rescued by Nama.

These are people who cannot pay back Celtic Tiger-size mortgages
in a post-crash economy. Consequently, they are faced with eviction
by their banks and, increasingly, by vulture funds.
They are ordinary people, most of whom have never asked for
anything or fallen into debt before and they are shocked and
sickened at the sudden realisation that they may find themselves
homeless.
These are the people for whom debt is seen as a sacred obligation,
a moral duty.
If they dont pay what they owe, the economy as we know it will
collapse and moral hazard will ensue.
Or so we are told.
So why isnt mortgage debt front-page news? Why isnt it an issue
garnering the same attention as those damned water charges?
Shame, is the simple answer. People are sometimes quite literally
dying of shame at the thought that their friends and neighbours
will find out their dirty little secret.
Sandy wasnt given the option of choosing to get her problem off
her chest by sharing it with others in the same situation. She didnt
decide that she was going to be brave and f**k the begrudgers.
She had been outed by her local newspaper, who put details of her
indebtedness on the front page.
Its obvious that the indignity and disgrace she feels still rankle.
People will be too ashamed to come out and protest, she insists.
But there were some who disagreed with her.
One elderly man stands up and admits: The only wish myself and
my wife have is that we can die in our own home Am I suicidal?
he asks us as he clings to the microphone. Yes, I am, he answers
bluntly. Its a companion of mine. Every morning I wake up and
think of it.
He looks around at the sea of emotionally distressed faces. We
need to tell our stories, he insists. There are so many, many
people in similar situations. We need empathy we need a hug. We
need to work with everyone, but, he warns with the tired voice of a
man who has seen much betrayal and hurt, put your faith in no
one.
Ciaran Doyle explained that his mortgage was sold to vulture funds
without his knowledge. Smollen recalls how one woman said she
would rather set fire to my house and set myself alight in it than
hand it over to the moneylenders.
Martina Doyle from The Hub Ireland (a voluntary organisation which
helps people in mortgage distress) explains how the Land and
Conveyancing Reform Act 2013, which gave clarity and comfort to
the banks, has led to the so-called eviction courts and needs to
be immediately repealed.
Her organisation gets phone calls of desperation from a mother or
father panic-stricken as to where they are going to go, the single

person who feels they have no rights, as they are on their own, the
elderly couple who are frightened to death of the knock at the door
that will drag them out in front of their neighbours.
Examples are given of how the eviction courts can intimidate such
vulnerable people most of whom are totally unused to courts of
any kind.
There is a huge misconception in the public arena that these
people just dont want to pay their mortgages and are freeloaders.
Anyone who thinks that, she says, just needs to come to The Hub
for just one day and listen to the calls we take.
But still these people, in despair and anguish, are told, a debt is a
debt is a debt. They borrowed money from a bank and they are
therefore legally and morally bound to pay it back. Unlike say, the
well-heeled speculators who found themselves in Nama.
Earlier this month, it was revealed by Michael Noonan that Nama
has written off debts totalling 1.5bn owed by just 80 debtors to the
agency.
Noonan explained that the debt is only written off where all of the
underlying assets have been realised, there are no further assets to
be realised nor any additional recourse available to Nama to recover
borrowings from the debtor.
Which is the same situation that would apply to most of the
ordinary people in unsustainable mortgage debt that I have met up
and down the country. And yet it doesnt.
Why one rule for one group and a much harsher one for the other?
Because, bluntly, when debt is racked up by governments,
corporations, banks, or by privileged insiders, it can always be
renegotiated or written off. Thats how the system works. Its only
when debts are owed from the poor to the rich that issues such as
moral hazard are introduced.
Only then does debt become a sacred obligation. Its a way of
keeping the cash/power flowing upwards. Its also a way of keeping
people in their assigned places.
In the past, precautions were taken to protect debtors from
unscrupulous lenders. Yet today it is creditors who are protected at
the expense of debtors, corporations at the expense of citizens,
banks at the expense of nations.
Theres no political will to solve this issue, said one man at the
Killeshin Hotel last week. Because there are no votes in it. Unlike
the water charges, people are too ashamed to protest.
He may be right. An invitation was issued to every TD and senator
in Leinster House. Five attended none from the last government
parties. We know that people are going to die [due to debt] he
added.
Another man spoke passionately and bitterly of debt-related
suicides occurring daily as he urged people to act now before there
are further deaths.

You may think this is emotionally charged exaggeration, but a
recent survey by the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO)
found that of 488 people aged between 29-70 who are in debt
(questioned by clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy), 44pc said
they felt depressed all or most of the time; 31pc have had suicidal
thoughts in the past four weeks; 22pc had active plans to kill
themselves and 45pc indicated harmful levels of alcohol abuse.
Now, just think of the thousands of people in mortgage distress in
this country and you can begin to imagine the depth of human
suffering in our midst.
So what can we do? This week, we heard promises about putting
pressure on banks to offer sustainable solutions to those in
mortgage distress and there are suggestions for a new court to deal
with arrears; but, judging by the numbers at risk and the distress
involved, this will not suffice.
Certainly we need people to be offered split mortgages, term
extensions and long-term interest rate reductions.
But for many families, what is needed is debt-forgiveness. And
quickly. But the banks who brought the country to its knees
through their reckless lending and were rewarded for doing so with
billions of our euro wont play ball.
They are so confident of their power that they are currently
swindling variable-rate mortgage-holders with high interest rates.
They are selling off homes to vulture funds at a cost not offered to
the now homeless occupiers. They are doing pretty much as they
please.
The new Government is making noises about putting manners on
them. But for many families in mortgage distress, it may already be
too late.
@carolmhunt
The Hub Ireland: http://www.thehub-ireland.com/ Phone: 01 534
9118
IMHO https://www.mortgageholders.ie/contact/
Phoenix Project Ireland 1850203040
Samaritans 116 123.
Aware 1800 80 48 48.
Pieta House 01 601 0000
Sunday Independent
-
NO COMITTMENT TO STOP EVICTIONS IN FFFG DEAL FOR GOVERNMENT

This is so vague that it could mean nothing.
There is no comittment to declaring a housing emergency
FF-FG DEAL on Minority Government

Securing Affordable Homes and Tackling Homelessness
Significantly increase and expedite the delivery of social housing
units, remove barriers to private housing supply and initiate an
affordable housing scheme
Retain mortgage interest relief beyond the current end date of
December 2017 on a tapered basis.
Increase rent supplement and Housing Assistance payment (HAP)
limits by up to 15% taking account of geographic variations in
market rents, and extend the roll out by local authorities of the HAP,
including the capacity to make discretionary enhanced payments.
Improve supports and services for older people to live
independently in their own home, including a provision for pension
increases.
Provide greater protection for mortgage holders, tenants and
SMEs whose loans have been transferred to non-regulated entities
(vulture funds).
GREAT ANTI_EVICTION MEETING Took Place Saturday, April
30 IN PORT LAOISE
MEETING HAS GIVEN FG-FF 6 weeks to END
EVICTIONS Listen at Links Below
Port Laoise Anti-Eviction Meeting-Proceedings Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYkC_QrkZZoPort
Laoise Anti-Eviction Meeting-Proceedings Part 2
v=UX_2e8dPQLw&feature=youtu.be
Arrival of Vulture funds set to fuel

evictions, report reveals
Irish Times Colm Keena
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 3, 2016, 01:00
The arrival of vulture funds in the Irish property market means an
increased likelihood of people being evicted from their homes,
according to a report published today.
The funds that have bought into the Irish commercial and
residential property market, mostly by way of buying loans from
State-owned institutions, will want to see big yields on their
investments, which in practice means squeezing debtors hard.
The report entitled, From Puerto Rico to the Dublin Docklands,
Vulture Funds and Debt in Ireland and the Global South, by the
Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (DDCI), said that while
there is little research yet available on the effect of vulture fund
involvement in the European property market, research from the US
indicates an increased likelihood of people being thrown out of their

homes.
DDCI is a coalition of Irish development, faith-based and solidarity
groups concerned about the effects of debt on developing countries.
It is chaired by Sorley McCaughey, advocacy and policy officer with
Christian Aid. The report was written by Dr Michael Byrne of the
UCD School of Social Justice.
Distressed debt
Hedge funds or private equity funds that invest in distressed debt
vulture funds originally invested in sovereign debt but since the
financial crisis in 2008 have moved into buying loans linked to the
property market in the US and Europe.
The Irish Government, according to the report, has wholeheartedly
embraced vulture funds and their entry into the Irish market could
not have occurred were it not for two major public banking
institutions, the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), and
the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC).
Nama is the public entity that acted as Irelands bad bank for
property loans issued by Irish banks, while the IBRC, which is now
in liquidation, took over the collapsed Anglo Irish Bank and Irish
Nationwide.
Locals priced out

The report says that these two institutions sold assets under time
pressure and did so at high discounts. Because the loans were sold
in large bundles or portfolios, local investors were priced out. The
two institutions sell big, they sell quick, and they sell cheap,
according to the report.
This created a context which not only favoured vulture funds, in a
sense it meant that only vulture funds had the financial fire power
required to play this extremely high stakes game. The fact that the
Irish financial system is in crisis means it was very hard or
impossible for domestic actors to obtain credit to invest in Irish real
estate.
The creation of a direct link between Irish property and the
international financial system, via the vulture funds, exposes the
Irish economy and society to the possibility of sharp shocks
caused by events very much outside the control of the Irish political
or regulatory system, according to the report.
Global vulture funds, most of them US-based, are snapping up
distressed debt linked to European property, most especially in the
UK, Ireland and Spain. Global groups such as Cerberus, Lone Star
Capital, and Blackstone, are among the top investors here.
2016 irishtimes.com


information.
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.
12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation

Fil- as well!
so!

Repossession

4
Deputy Seamus Healy
asked the Minister for Finance
if he
matter. [1426/16]
practice.

options.
to work.

the family home.
immediately.
all.

refusal
12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
shareholder.
the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.

homes.
Stopped Now!
legislation.
Seamus Healy T.D.
18/01/2016
Tel 087 2802199
BANKS IT OWNS
293 families and aprox 600 children have

become homeless in the first 3 months of this
year in Dublin Alone
From FOCUS IRELAND
85 families became newly homeless in Dublin in March and were

referred to our family services.
These latest figures mean that 293 families and aprox 600
children have become homeless in the first 3 months of this year
alone in the capital.
These latest figures come following a record total of 125 families
became homeless in Jan and 83 in Feb this year in Dublin.
The number of families and children in homeless emergency
accommodation at a national level at a point in time as of the end of
February has shot up by a staggering 112% in the last year from
429 families with 938 children in Feb 2015 to a current total of 912
families & 1881 children.
These shocking new figures come just ahead of the Dail sitting
today and there is also a joint Meeting of the Cross Departmental
Team on Homelessness and the National Homelessness Consultative
Committee.
We are very worried that despite all the talk about homelessness
the caretaker Government has taken no new actions to tackle this
worsening crisis since the Dail first sat over a month ago on March
10th.
Tackling the housing and homeless crisis must be at the heart of
any new Programme For Government, and we previously issued a
five point plan setting out the key elements which should inform
such a programme. These demands include calling for a cast iron
commitment to end family homelessness with a firm target date to
achieve this and also a commitment to build 40,000 social homes
over the next 5 years.
We must remember that while the horse-trading to form the new
government is taking place more than 3 families have become
homeless every single day so far this year. Todays joint meeting is
a positive development to discuss some pressing issues. However, it
is important to stress that there are a range of measures which can
be put in place while we wait for the new government to be formed
to ensure that they are not starting from scratch on putting
together a plan to tackle the housing and homeless crisis.
Some of these urgent actions Focus Ireland is calling for include:
Firm action to provide greater security for tenants in buy-to-let
properties as 27,492 of these properties are more than 90 days in
arrears. The Dail can easily fast-track amendments to current
legislation to provide this vital protection for tenants as we wait for
a new government to be formed.

Taking action to raise rent supplement so it reflects market rents
as this will help to keep families and individuals in their current
homes and prevent them from becoming homeless.
To confirm what action is required to ensure NAMA delivers more
social housing.
You can read more about this here:
http://bit.ly/300familieshomeless
-
HOMELESSNESS UP 50% AS
SOUTH DUBLIN CO COUNCIL
DECLARES HOUSING EMERGENCY
The number of people accessing emergency shelters
across the State was up by almost 50 per cent in
February, compared to the same month last year,
according to the latest figures on homelessness.
The figures, from the Department of the Environment,
show there were 5,881 people in emergency
accommodation in February, which represents a yearon-year increase of 49 per cent. Among them were
1,881 children, which represents an increase of 101 per
cent.
Simon Communities of Ireland spokeswoman Niamh
Randall said the figures were shocking and
demonstrate that existing measures to tackle
homelessness are failing.-Irish Times 14/04/2016
Open letter to Alan Kelly Dont

blame the housing crisis on the
Constitution
Edmund Honohan
Master of the High Court
PUBLISHED03/04/2016 | 02:30
Sunday Indepenent
In an open letter to Alan Kelly, the environment minister, the Master
of the High Court Edmund Honohan says the Constitution cannot be
used as cover for political inaction on the housing crisis
Dear Minister Kelly,
It is appropriate that you have, in this centenary year, called for a
debate about property rights in the Constitution. Faced with

repeated assertions about how the right to property is legally
watertight, politicians need to recover control which they have
ceded to the lawyers. To do so they need to understand that the
position is a lot clearer than they have been led to believe.
Echoes of 1916: The Constitution in effect provides that the State
may expropriate private property if the Oireachtas decides that to
do so is for the common good. Road widening is a good example.
Option A. At the moment there are long waiting lists for housing and
the private rental market is unable to provide dwellings at
affordable rents.
Consequently, if the Oireachtas is of the view that the State should
itself (or its local authorities) provide public housing in the
Common Good, the State can (and probably, legally, should) decide
not to wait the two/three years needed to build social housing but
instead to immediately acquire houses now in private hands.
If the owners of these refuse to sell, acquisition can be by
compulsory purchase with full compensation assessed by the
arbitrator.
It so happens that there is a stock of such housing which has
recently been bought by vulture property investment funds from
Anglo, Irish Nationwide, Nama etc. at knockdown prices.
Compensation for these funds would be that they would be repaid
the price they paid for the housing portfolios. That is the extent of
their Constitutional entitlement.
Option B. On the other hand, the Oireachtas might be concerned to
enhance tenants rights at the expense of the landlords. Rent
controls and the like are also a form of expropriation if their effect is
to rewrite contracts already operational. And the common good
rationale for such interference with contracts is not as clearly
unarguable as with Option A.
Option A wins hands down and the timing is right.
Cue now the lawyers alternative analysis: that the Constitution
enshrines marketplace rules; that the Supreme Court will determine
what is the Common Good. Publish the Attorney Generals advice to
the Government and have a fully informed debate.
But given that the Supreme Court has already decided, in 2000,
that the provision of affordable housing is an objective which is
socially just and required by the common good, what we do about
it now is a political decision, not a legal one.
The Constitution cannot be used as cover for political inaction.
Sunday Independent
Dail Debate: Government Knowingly and Deliberately
Causing Homelessness-Seamus Healy TD
The outgoing Government, knowingly and
deliberately, created and caused homelessness. I say this because
the State owns Allied Irish Banks, Permanent TSB and the
Educational Building Society. The Minister and current caretaker
Administration are allowing these financial institutions to evict
people from their homes. They can stop such evictions by telling the
banks to stop causing homelessness. No legislation is required to do
so because the Government, through the Ministers for the
Environment, Community and Local Government and Finance, could
issue a simple directive to stop financial institutions from making
people homeless.
The National Asset Management Agency which is owned by the
State is creating homelessness by evicting people and selling
residences and apartments to vulture funds that are engaging in
evictions. The State could also stop this practice by issuing a simple
instruction to NAMA. I reiterate that the State is deliberately
creating homelessness and should stop doing so immediately.
I will refer briefly to the Tnaistes reference to the housing
assistance payment. The HAP scheme is an outrageous rip-off of
tenants, most, if not all, of whom must pay differential rent to their
local authority and a top-up to their landlord, which is often as
much as 50 per week. The scheme should be stopped immediately.
If we are to address the homelessness and housing crisis, the
Government and the new Dil must declare a housing emergency
immediately. Otherwise, we will not be able to deal with the
problem. The Government should also take up the offer made by
the credit unions to provide between 5 billion and 8 billion to help
address the housing problem.
Deputy Mick Barry:
I agree with the points made by Deputy
Seamus Healy. I will make several points about the scandal that
recently unfolded on the Eden estate in Blackrock in Cork city where
tenants in 35 apartments received letters earlier this year
terminating their leases and giving notice to quit. Many of them had
lived in the properties in question for years. The letters were issued
by Grant Thornton, the receiver in charge of 127 apartments on the
estate, which was appointed by the State-owned IBRC in November
2010. This is the latest chapter in the saga of Anglo Irish Bank and
the Irish Nationwide Building Society.
KPMG has been the Government appointed liquidator of IBRC since
January 2013. As instructed by the Fine Gael-Labour Party
Government, the liquidators only interest is in maximising the
financial return to the State from the carcases of Anglo Irish Bank
and the Irish Nationwide Building Society and it has no regard for
the social impact of doing so. In this sense, it is an even more
heartless and anti-social arm of the State than NAMA.
As of January 2016, IBRC had netted 2.1 billion from sales such as
those envisaged on the Eden estate. This sum has not been used to
address the housing crisis because most of it has been ring-fenced
for distribution among IBRCs creditors which include Anglo Irish
Bank subordinated bondholders. Some of the money is intended to

be used for payment in full of certain employee and pension claims
prior to the date of liquidation. Does this include pension payments
to former members of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide
Building Society management such as Mr. David Drumm and Mr.
Michael Fingleton?
NAMA (Really the Minister for Finance) Worsening Crisis

Through Sale of Homes to Vulture Funds.
Government also evicting Families through Banks it Owns
McPeake Auctioneers (Tyrellstown in Irish Times March 16)
The supply into the market from the builders is much lower than
the market needs, and that is because of a number of reasons.
The first is that the control of sites into the market is being
controlled by a much smaller pool of players. The big developers
who were there all ended up in Nama or a financial institution.
The financial institutions have all now basically all sold off their
loans and Nama is selling off the balance. All of those loans have
gone basically to these venture capital funds.
Its a problem thats been created, in particular, Namas
desire to do away with Nama, to be able to say Namas now
gone, isnt that great, but what youve really done is
transferred the whole stock of development land and a
considerable number of private residential properties, that
may be rented or may not be rented, into the hands of
people outside the country.
High Court Master, Edmund Honahan, urges State to
nationalise repossessed homes
The Master of the High Court has called on the Government to
nationalise repossessed homes and buy-to-lets that banks have
sold to speculators and investment trusts and use them as social
housing.
http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/propertymortgages/high-court-master-urges-state-to-nationaliserepossessed-homes-34282536.html
BANKS IT OWNS
Its no Joke But More Tommy Cooper than Penn and Teller!
Irish Times Report on Dil Discussion Further Down
information.
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.

12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation

Fil- as well!
so!

12:03
Marie OHalloran
by the banks.
shareholder.
the banks.
the bank manager.
order in 329 cases.

homes.
Stopped Now!
legislation.
Seamus Healy T.D.
18/01/2016
Tel 087 2802199
BANKS IT OWNS
information.
Q1
314, Q2 586, Q3 188
being represented.
12, 2015.
2015.
privatisation

Fil- as well!
so!
Repossessions of Dwellings by Court Order-From Courts Service
(Q2)April to June 2015
Residence
buy-to-let
other
Total
383
97
106
586
(Q1)Jan march
233
29
2015
52
314
Q3 (July to September)
142
5
41
188
Q3 Central Bank
207 (properties)were
repossessed on foot of a court order.
Q1,Q2,Q3
758
131
199
1088
for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings. Kitty Holland
Irish Times Nov 12
These cases (court orders) in the statistics are not the only
cases in which a financial institution is foreclosing. The vast
majority of mortgages contain a foreclosure clause which becomes
operative, without the need for a court order, if there is any failure
in payment of instalments.
Accordingly, only figures supplied by the credit institutions would
disclose the overall number of properties being recovered or sold
by credit institutions.-Statement From Courts Service August
6,2015
Noonan in Dil Jan 14
Central Bank. During the third quarter of 2015, legal proceedings
were issued to enforce the debt security on private dwelling house
mortgages in 1,687 cases. During quarter three, there were 798
cases where court proceedings concluded but arrears remained
outstanding. In 329 cases, the court granted an order for
repossession or the sale of the property. A total of 422 properties
were taken into possession by lenders in the quarter, of which 207
were repossessed on foot of a court order. The remaining 215 were
voluntarily surrendered or abandoned.
Ml Noonan On the question of repossessions, 207 houses were
repossessed on foot of a court order(in 2015-ph), which does not
equate to the tens of thousands of houses sometimes mentioned in
commentary. Jan 14
More than 7,000 dwellings targeted by

lenders up to 2015, says Courts Service
Thu, Nov 12, 2015, 01:00

Kitty Holland
Some 889 applications for repossession were refused by the courts
so far this year. Photograph: Getty Images

Banks have sought to repossess almost 4,500 homes since the start
of the year, the latest figures from the Courts Service of Ireland
indicate.
These are in addition to the 7,100 dwellings lenders had already
moved to repossess by January 1st, 2015.
The figures, covering the first nine months of the year, show lenders
lodged 4,440 civil bills for repossession across the States 26 circuit
courts.
Some 3,638 (82 per cent) of these are for primary homes, 89 (2
per cent) are for buy-to-lets with 713 (16 per cent) for other
dwellings.
However, the number of bills lodged is down compared with the
same period last year when 6,420 bills were lodged, indicating a
possible levelling off in repossession activity by the banks.
for buy-to-lets and 199 were for other dwellings.
Dail Record Jan 14
Home Repossession
matter. [1426/16]
practice.
options.

to work.
the family home.
immediately.
all.

refusal to hand over her home to
bank
Claire Knowles was lawfully jailed for
contempt of court order, High Court judge
rules
Mary Carolan
Irish Times Dec 15
Claire Knowles (56) of Castlejane, Glanmire, Co Cork, who will
remain on bail until Wednesday evening after which time she will
return to Limerick Prison unless she has purged her contempt of the
possession order. Photograph: Collins Court
A High Court judge has ruled a woman was lawfully jailed for
contempt of a court order requiring her hand over possession of her
home to a bank.
Mr Justice Richard Humphreys told Claire Knowles she may remain
on bail until 7pm on Wednesday after which time she will return to
Limerick Prison unless she has purged her contempt of the
possession order in the interim.
Ms Knowles was jailed by a judge at Cork Circuit Court on
December 8th for contempt of a court order of January 2014
requiring she hand over possession of her home near Glanmire, Co
Cork, to Bank of Ireland.
She was freed on conditional bail on December 10th pending the
outcome of the inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution, into the
legality of her detention.
Giving his decision on Tuesday having heard arguments by Ms
Knowles and the State, Mr Justice Humphreys said he was bound by
other court decisions concerning Article 40 inquiries and, in all the

circumstances, must rule the detention is lawful.
He will give a written judgment outlining his reasons for that
decision at a later stage.
The contempt application was brought by solicitors representing
Bank of Ireland arising from a mortgage taken out with ICS Building
Society on Ms Knowles home at The Pines, Castlejayne Woods,
Glanmire, Co Cork.
An order for possession of that property was made by the Circuit
Court in January 2014 and the High Court dismissed an appeal
against that order in July 2014. Ms Knowles later got an order from
the Master of the High Court extending the time effectively for a
second appeal.
Attachment and committal proceedings were brought last October
against Ms Knowles for contempt over her failure to hand over
possession and were adjourned to December 8th when Cork Circuit
Court directed her detention in Limerick Prison.
Ms Knowles was freed on conditional bail on December 10th
pending the outcome of the High Court inquiry, initiated the
previous day under Article 40 of the Constitution, into the
lawfulness of her detention.
In his decision today, Mr Justice Humphreys commended Ms
Knowles for the manner in which she presented her case but said
his hands were tied by various rulings which meant he could not
direct her release.
Among arguments advanced by her to support her claim that her
detention was invalid, she argued there was an error in the title of
the committal warrant in that it was in the name of ICS when it was
lawyers representing BOI who sought her committal. She also
argued she was wrongly refused an adjournment of the contempt
application so as to allow her try and get legal representation.
Remy Farrell SC, for the governor of Limerick Prison, argued the net
issue in the Article 40 inquiry was if Ms Knowles was denied an
opportunity of getting legal representation, and it was his case she
was not.
The transcript of proceedings in the Circuit Court showed Ms
Knowles chose to proceed without legal representation after clearly
considering matters over the lunch break on December 8th, he said.
The Circuit Court judge had made the jailing order after Ms Knowles
refused to give an undertaking to leave her home and she was
manifestly in contempt, counsel said.
On that date, the transcript of the hearing referred to counsel for
the bank saying Ms Knowles was still in the house and she was in
flagrant breach of the order.
The Circuit Court judge warned Ms Knowles she was at strong risk
of going to jail, should get legal advice and the case would not be
adjourned unless she undertook to abide by the court order to leave
the house.
It was very clear what she had to do and legal advice would not
have altered that. It seemed clear Ms Knowles later decided to
represent herself as she was entitled to do but she must take the
consequences of that.
The Circuit Court judge had said he did not believe she was serious
about getting out of the house, he would jail her and refuse a stay,
given the brazen contempt.
In her arguments, Ms Knowles said she is being turned into a
criminal out of civil litigation and these are not ordinary times.
She said the banks had had months to get their paperwork in order
in her case but had failed to do so until much later and then used
the name of a non-entity in these proceedings. Lawyers for the
bank were unable to answer her when she had raised points about
the delay in amending the title of the case, she added.
She also said she had been refused legal aid for the Circuit Court
proceedings as she did not know how to get it and was given an
hour to do so.
I was given no choice, she said.
NEED HELP? PHOENIX PROJECT

FREE OF CHARGE SERVICE www phoenixproject ie
Helpline: 1850 20 30 40
Phone: 057 8636830
Email: support@phoenixproject.ie
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/thedebt-doctors-there-s-a-black-cloud-over-a-lot-of-people1.2463335#.Vmw231bKiG0.mailto
Claire Knowles, Resisting Eviction, Released On Bail by High
Court as large number of supporters attend court
PLEASE,Could a Legal Team Offer to Represent Her Pro Bono
Publico?
It is grossly Unfair That She Should Be Forced to Represent Herself.
Be there again NEXT MONDAY!
From Irish Times Breaking News

A woman jailed for contempt of a court order directing she hand
over possession of her Co Cork home to a bank has been freed on
bail by the High Court.
Claire Knowles (56) was jailed on Tuesday over her failure to
comply with orders obtained by Bank of Ireland over the property at
The Pines, Castlejayne Woods, Glamire.
She was brought to Limerick Prison where she was held until she
was brought before the High Court on Thursday for an inquiry into
the legality of her detention.
The inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution, was sought on her
behalf by anti-eviction campaigner Ben Gilroy, who said he had
assisted Ms Knowles in previous court cases relating to the
repossession.
Following a hearing, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys ordered her
release on her own bail of 100, with a condition she stay away
from her home, pending full determination of her legal challenge.
She is to come back to court next Monday.
The judge ruled the governor of Limerick Prison was obliged to go
behind the reasons for her detention. To do that, the governor
would have to apply to make Bank of Ireland a notice party in this
case, the judge said.
In those circumstances, the judge adjourned the inquiry to allow
that occur. In the meantime, he granted bail to Ms Knowles who
was supported in court by a large number of people.
Earlier, Remy Farrell SC, for the prison governor, said his client had
no relationship, legal or otherwise, with Bank of Ireland.
He could not compel witnesses to attend court or provide
documentation in order to justify the reasons for committing her to
prison, counsel said.
Ms Knowles told the court she was too traumatised to make the
case because she had been in Limerick Prison and wanted Mr Gilroy
to do it for her.
The judge ruled it was established case law only the person
detained could make the arguments before the court or could
employ a qualified lawyer to do so.
Following an adjournment to allow the judge consider the law on
representation in such cases, Ms Knowles said she was a little more
composed and would present it herself.
Support Release of brave Claire Knowles From Jail Tomorrow

High Court 10.30 tomorrow Thursday Nov 10
Jailed for Refusing to Hand Over Her Home to Bank Of
Ireland
Inquiry on legality of womans detention for contempt ordered
Claire Knowles jailed over contempt of direction to
hand over possession of home to bank
aIrish Timesbout 4 hours ago Updated: about 3 hours ago
Mary Carolan
A High Court judge has directed an inquiry into the legality of the
detention inLimerick Prison of a woman for contempt of a Circuit
Court order directing she hand over possession of her home to a
bank.
Ben Gilroy, of Direct Democracy Ireland, applied on Wednesday to
Mr JusticeMax Barrett for the inquiry following the imprisonment the
previous day ofClaire Knowles (56), who lives with her son at
Castlejayne, Glanmire, Cork.
During the application, Mr Gilroy said there was huge confusion
over possession orders made by the Circuit Court, an apparent
reference to conflicting High Court decisions of November and May
last concerning the Circuit Courts jurisdiction to hear certain
repossession cases.
Suffered difficulties
He said Ms Knowles suffered difficulties including depression after
the possession order was made in January 2014, and the Master of
the High Court later agreed to extend time for her to appeal that
possession order.
Ms Knowles has no recollection of getting a letter of demand of
November 2009 and there were issues about a signature on that, he
added.
In an affidavit, Mr Gilroy said he is a friend of Ms Knowles. He said
the warrant detaining her was invalid as it was in the name of ICS
Building Society and, as far as he was aware, the governor and
company of the Bank of Ireland had applied to the Circuit Court to
reconstitute the proceedings by substituting the governor and
company of BOI earlier this year.
Ms Knowles is in dispute with ICS, he said. On November 10th, the

Master of the High Court extended time for her and her son to
appeal the Circuit Court possession order of January 20th, 2014.
When a further extension was sought on December 2nd, the Master
granted an additional 72 hours, he said.
Notice of appeal
Ms Knowles did serve her notice of appeal on December 2nd, he
said.
He said the plaintiff bank in the Circuit Court proceedings appealed
the Masters order, and the High Court on Monday last dismissed the
appeal and affirmed the Masters order of November 10th.
Mr Gilroy said Ms Knowles previously appeared before Judge
Donagh McDonagh at the Circuit Court on October 27th. The judge
said he had no jurisdiction in the Circuit Court possession
proceedings, refused to make an order for attachment and
committal, and adjourned the matter to December 8th when Ms
Knowles appeared before Judge ODonnabhain.
A friend of Ms Knowles who was present had given a written
account stating the judge warned Ms Knowles she was at risk of jail
and should get legal representation. She was unable to do so and
was refused an adjournment to get a lawyer, the account stated.
Described as brazen
It was also stated, when her case was called, Ms Knowles began
reading from a prepared statement but was interrupted by the
judge who made the committal order. It was stated she continued to
read the statement and the judge said she was in breach of the
order and described her as brazen.
Mr Justice Barrett said he would direct an inquiry under Article 40 of
the Constitution into the legality of Ms Knowles detention and order
she be produced in court on Thursday morning for that inquiry.
Dublin child homelessness figure

doubles to 1,400
Kitty Holland:Shameful:Dublin
Simon has described the figures as
unacceptable and shameful, while
FOCUS IRELAND said they showed
Government action has so far
failed to halt the constant flow of
families becoming homeless.-Irish

Times
Olivia Kelly: But the deal is a far cry from the proposal by
ALAN KELLY, Minister for the Environment, to link privatesector rent increases to the consumer price index for four
years. The measures wont make a dent in existing rents,
and its far from certain that they will make renting a viable
long-term option.-Irish Times(further down)
Kitty Holland:IRISH TIMES

Saturday, November 14, 2015,
01:00
There are now more than 1,400 homeless children in Dublin more
than twice as many as a year ago, the latest figures show.
Data published last night by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive
show that during the week of 18th to 25th October there were
1,425 children in 677 families in emergency accommodation.
This represents a 109 per cent increase in the number of homeless
children since October 2014, when there were 680 children in
Of the total, 975 children in 461 families are in hotels, while 450
children in 216 are in supported homeless accommodation.
Shameful
Dublin Simon has described the figures as unacceptable and

shameful, while Focus Ireland said they showed Government
action has so far failed to halt the constant flow of families
becoming homeless.
Sam McGuinness, Dublin Simon chief executive, said he was
alarmed at the numbers. With no measures to stop the ever
rising flow of people into homelessness over the past year, we are
now faced with the very shameful situation where 1,425 children
are forced to lay their head in inadequate accommodation, scared
and vulnerable, without a safe home to look to this Christmas.
He said rent certainty measures announced by the Government this
week were inadequate, as rents remained unaffordable for the
poorest families dependent on rent supplement.
Mike Allen, director of advocacy with Focus Ireland, said the plan to
freeze rents for two years was welcome but added a rise in rent
supplement levels was necessary to keep poorer families in their
homes.
Cumulative impact
The families which became homeless in October did so primarily as

a result of the cumulative effects of rising rents over the last two
years, linked to a freeze in rent supplement, said Mr Allen.

Even if the Governments package does has the effect of slowing
down rents it will make no difference to the families who will
continue to lose their homes because of the cumulative impact of
rent rises over the last two years while the Government took no
action.
A spokeswoman for the DRHE, which manages homelessness
services in the capital, said month-on-month the provision of
emergency accommodation for families was being increased.
In addition the executive was working to ensure 500 modular
homes would be delivered next year to provide temporary
accommodation for homeless families. National homelessness data
for October are to be published by the Department of the
Environment over the weekend.
2015 irishtimes.com
Irelands rental crisis: Will new

measures help?
Olivia Kelly
Irish Times Saturday, November 14, 2015, 01:00

After months of inter-Coalition wrangling, and years of escalating
rents, the Government has come up with a solution to Irelands
rental-accommodation crisis: landlords can raise rents only every
two years instead of every year. As showpieces go its hardly
dazzling. But is it enough to make a difference?
There is a bit more to the package that the Government is calling its
new deal for tenants. There will be increased notice periods both for
ending a lease and for increasing rent. The long-promised depositprotection scheme, whereby tenants deposits would be held by the
Private Residential Tenancies Board rather than by a landlord, will
be set up.
But the deal is a far cry from the proposal by Alan Kelly, Minister for
the Environment, to link private-sector rent increases to the
consumer price index for four years. The measures wont make a
dent in existing rents, and its far from certain that they will make
renting a viable long-term option.
At other times this may not have mattered quite so much. Ten years
ago one in 10 households lived in privately rented accommodation.
Now its one in five, and another 10 per cent live in rented social
housing. Numbers renting are even higher in urban areas: a quarter
of Dublin city homes are privately rented. Historically, most Irish
people have viewed renting as a temporary measure, a stopgap
between leaving the nest and having the wherewithal to buy your
own place.
Even with so many more people renting, this perception hasnt
changed. A report late last year by the economic consultancy DKM
on the future of the private rented sector, commissioned by the

Housing Agency, showed a low appetite for long-term renting.
Almost three-quarters of renters planned to leave the rental market
this year or next. Just 17 per cent saw themselves as lifelong
tenants, and for most of those it was not because they wanted to
but because they had to. The majority in this category cited an
inability to afford a house as the main reason they had continued to
rent.
Separately, a large group of the population rent from landlords with
State assistance, and they dont seem to want to stay as privatesector tenants either.
We dont know for certain how many people want a council house.
The last national assessment of need, completed in 2013, showed
that just under 90,000 applicants were on local-authority waiting
lists. Dublin City Council had 16,000 on the list at the time; last July
the figure had increased to almost 21,600. More than 100,000
applicants are now likely to be waiting.
And these are just the people who have had their need for a council
house approved; many more are skittering around the eligibility
threshold and would like the stability of a council house in effect a
home for life, something the private rental sector certainly does not
guarantee.
What all these figures show is that almost nobody living in private
rental accommodation, supplemented or not, wants to be there.
And its easy to understand why.
The high cost of renting and the inability to control and predict that
cost in the medium or long term is a major drawback. Rents have
been rising steadily since 2013, particularly in Dublin. The rises
havent been minor: rents in the capital went up by 9.2 per cent in
the year to the end of June, and rents across the State went up by
5.8 per cent, according to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.
This means that the average Dublin renter, who had been paying
1,275 a month for a house or 1,152 for an apartment in the
summer of 2014, is now paying 1,387 for a house and 1,260 for
an apartment. Rents for houses outside Dublin increased from 656
to 695 in the year, and for apartments from 623 to 660.
Why has this happened? Its a simple equation of supply and
demand. To give the short version of the housing boom and bust:
we spent a few years building too many houses (more than 93,000
in 2006), many of them in the wrong places, then spent a few years
building far too few (8,301 homes in 2013) anywhere.
Things improved a little last year: 11,016 homes were completed,
but thats fewer than the number the year records began, 1970,
when 13,887 houses were built. The 11,016 built last year are just
over half what the Housing Agency says is the minimum needed to
meet demand.
Theres an inevitable trickledown effect. Without enough homes for
sale, would-be buyers keep renting. More people renting in a

market with fewer homes pushes up rents. More people renting who
in a normal market would have the money to buy pushes it up even
further.
Real solution
At the end of the chain are people who cant afford to rent
anywhere, and for whom social housing isnt available.
The only real solution is to build more. Construction 2020, published
in May 2014, was the Governments first response to this need. To a
large degree it was a strategy for strategies, recommending the
setting up of taskforces and working groups.
The recently announced Budget 2016 has more solid housingconstruction measures. Four thousand houses are to be provided
next year under the first phase of an initiative to build 20,000
homes on sites controlled by the National Asset Management
Agency by 2020. About 90 per cent will be in the Greater Dublin
Area, and three-quarters will be starter homes.
This weeks housing package also included an initiative aimed at
kick-starting the construction of 7,000 more affordable homes in
Dublin and Cork. Developers will receive rebates on construction
levies where a scheme has more than 50 homes and where houses
are priced at less than 300,000 in Dublin and 250,000 in Cork.
These initiatives should help to speed up supply, but building houses
takes a couple of years on average, so this doesnt alleviate the
immediate pressures on the rental market.
Thats where the new deal should help. The two-year rent freeze
gives private tenants breathing space to muster a deposit towards
their own home if they so wish or to find a better deal if measures
to increase supply and reduce prices work.
One announcement this week could bring a glimmer of hope to
tenants reliant on State support. Tax relief will be introduced to
encourage landlords to rent their properties to tenants in receipt of
social-housing supports such as rent supplement. These landlords
will be able to claim 100 per cent tax relief, up from the current 75
per cent. This carrot is more likely to yield results than any of the
Governments rent-regulation sticks.
The Government also hopes to boost the market by making
apartment construction more appealing to builders. Its guidelines
on apartment standards enforceable by ministerial direction are
to be issued early next year.
Apartments for hipsters

Here the Government is following the example of Dublin City
Council, which has put forward the notion of smaller apartments for
renters only described by one councillor as apartments for
hipsters. With 63 per cent of renters aged under 34, and
multinational firms that the Government is so eager to attract
saying that they cant find accommodation for their workers, there
may be a case for allowing these smaller units.

Another form of rental provision, which is likely to prove more
popular, is the idea of public housing. This would involve having
private developers and investors build housing on council land,
combining social rental with private rental.
Two schemes put forward in the Budget seem similar in intent. One
is the concept of an affordable-rental scheme, for which 10 million
from the sale of Bord Gis has been set aside to fund a pilot project.
This will be aimed at people whose incomes are above the threshold
for State rental assistance but who cannot afford private rents.
The other, for social-housing tenants, involves a new form of publicprivate partnership in Dublin. In the new scheme, sites stay in the
ownership of the State, and the developer receives payments for 25
years, after which the houses or apartments return to State
ownership.
These are positive moves that could stave off a similar rental crisis
in future. But they are unlikely to help people who right now cant
afford, or cant find, a place to rent.
2015 irishtimes.com
Alan Kelly (Labour) Backs Down on Rent Control.

Government plans to solve Irelands rental crisis could see
landlords hike rents immediately, will not prevent future
rises, and risks marking the return of low-quality bedsits to
the market.
Threshold chief executive Bob Jordan said the charity has
alerted officials to concerns rent would be inflated during
the review period a view shared by housing expert Dr
Lorcan Sirr, who said landlords will frontload rises because
they will not be able to next year. Irish Examiner Nov 7
Kelly had sought that rent increases be pegged to the cost of living.
But Minister Noonan(FG) backed by 25 Landlord TDs, and American
developers Kennedy Wilson forced him to bend the knee and
retreat.
Landlords can only increase the rent every two years now rather
than every year as before. Landlords must get three local examples
of rents to justify an increase.!!! This will make almost no
difference.In a situation where there is no competition between
landlords due to shortage of accomodation,landlords can simply
raise the rent by double the yearly increase every two years! AND
WORSE STILL, THE LANDLORD CAN HIKE THE RENT BEFORE THE
NEW LAW COMES IN.The Dil Sat All Night to Bail Out the Banks
bondholders, but there is no urgency to protect tenants!
And, of course, Alan is preparing to take water charges from your
pay or welfare cheque.
Focus Ireland Spokesperson said:However, we are highly
concerned it will fail to stem the constant rising flow of 70 to 80

families becoming homeless in Dublin alone very month. The
measures are far from a convincing response to the scale of the
problems we are facing, he added.
Housing Crisis is Due to the Restrictions of the EU Fiscal
Treaty and by PROHIBITION by the FG/Labour Government
of Local Authority Borrowing for House Building Purposes to
comply with these restrictions.
This policy leaves Government completely at the mercy of private
developers. US investors Kennedy Wilson advised Mr Noonans
officials(before Budget) by letter that investment in property here
could be eliminated if rent controls were introduced Irish
Examiner Nov2 2015
borrow again for social housing provision Dr Michelle Norris, UCD
Government found it more Important to give away 750 million in
tax relief including 100 million to the Super-rich rather than allow
local authorities to borrow 750 million for housing purposes
THE HOUSING POLICIES of THIS GOVERNMENT and THE
PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAVE LEFT THOSE IN NEED OF
SOCIAL HOUSING IN A STATE OF VIRTUAL TOTAL NEGLECT
(I have brought together below articles by DR Rory Hearne, Dr
Michelle Norris and Fintan OToole on the housing crisis)
The housing crisis is due to the implementation of a policy under
which the ability of the rich to make profits out of housing provision
and the opportunity for the rich to pay low taxes on their incomes
and assets to the to the state, are prioritised over the need of all
citizens to have security of tenure in an adequate dwelling. The Free
Market IDEOLOGY to which Fintan OToole refers is being deployed
by governments and economists to justify this prioritisation.
The implementation of these pro-rich policies is enshrined in
legislation and EU treaties. Why cannot Local authorities borrow
money to fund a social house building programme? As Dr Michelle
Norris UCD attests (below)local authorities, are currently debarred
from accessing Housing Finance Agency loans, due to concerns
about its implications for the national debt.
Under capitalism, borrowing by the state to provide assets that will
endure for 100 years or more makes perfect sense. But FF,FG and
Labour supported an EU Fiscal Treaty which places restrictions on
state debt irrespective of human need. This leaves these parties
with three options in order to provide housing:
a) IMPOSE SERIOUS TAX INCREASES on INCOME AND ASSETS OF
THE SUPER-RICH
b) Leave the Provision of Housing to the Free Market
c) IMPOSE NEW TAXES ON the Majority of the Population
It is not surprising that governments of the rich opt for a

combination of b) and c)
KEY QUOTES FROM ARTICLES BELOW
Rights of the Child.The current crisis results from decades of
housing policy that followed the private free-market approach
which treated housing primarily as a commodity and speculative
investment asset-Dr Rory Hearne, Tasc .
by the private sector.There is an almost obsessive fear of stating
the obvious that a large proportion of people will never be
decently housed by the market. Those citizens need a State thats
not afraid to clear the ground of narrow ideology and build on the
foundations of real human needs. That might involve relearning
another forgotten word republic. Fintan OToole Irish Times
Columnist
supplements.-Dr Michelle Norris UCD
Rory Hearne: The STATE MUST INTERVENE IN THE HOUSING
MARKET
Last Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 05:15
The Irish housing system is in an unprecedented crisis. This is
visible in escalating rents, economic evictions, mortgage arrears,
repossessions, waiting lists, substandard accommodation and the
growing numbers of those unable to buy a home.
Rights of the Child.
The current crisis results from decades of housing policy that
followed the private free-market approach which treated housing
primarily as a commodity and speculative investment asset.
This continues today with the crisis being analysed as one of
demand outstripping supply and discussion focused on how to

incentivise the property industry to build more housing stock.
However, during the boom there was plenty of supply and still prices
rose to unaffordable and unsustainable levels contributing to the
crash. This is because price is determined not simply by demand
and supply but also by profit seeking, costs of investment, and
government regulation.
Developers can and do sit for decades on land or leave property
derelict until they consider it profitable to commence building. Right
now there is 2,233 hectares of undeveloped zoned land in the wider
Dublin region which could provide 102,500 new housing units.
The basic problem with a free market approach to housing is that
the private market only caters for a demand that can provide a
profit. If you cant provide a sufficient profit, as is the case with
many low income households, then you dont count. The current
crisis is not just a once-off market failure it is the modus operandi
of the private housing market. Predominantly free market or
neoliberal housing systems like ours are characterised by persistent
boom and busts, affordability problems, and exclusion.
That is why the state must intervene to protect people from the
market. It could do this in two ways which would fundamentally
address the crisis. Firstly, there is an immediate need for rent
certainty (where rents cannot be increased beyond a certain index
such as inflation) and improved tenant protections in the private
rented sector. Rent regulation exists in many European countries
(who incidentally have plenty of supply).
There is no constitutional impediment to such a measure, as Article
43.2.1 of Bhunreacht na hEireann states that the right of private
ownership ought to be regulated by the principles of social justice
and the State may, delimit by law these rights for the common
good. The introduction of rent certainty, as with other measures, is
clearly a political choice and the Constitution should not be hidden
behind as an excuse for inaction.
Secondly, a State Homes and Housing Agency should be formed to
deliver a historic social, rental and affordable house building and
refurbishment programme of well-planned, sustainable, and mixed
communities. This would be a partnership between local authorities,
government departments, housing associations, NAMA and
the Housing Finance Agency. It would have access to land, finance
and institutional expertise. It should have 1.5bn of annual capital
funding from the state. The current allocation of 500 million to new
social housing building in the Capital Investment Plan is inadequate
as it will only provide 1400 new units nationally next year with
fewer than 300 of those in Dublin City.
The Agency could build on the 30 hectares of land that Dublin City
Council is currently being forced to sell off through a Public Private
Partnership because it does not have the finances to build on it
itself. It could redirect into social use the 4.5billion NAMA plans to
invest with various vulture funds on high end office and apartment
developments. A Housing and Homes Agency could draw on finance
from the European Investment Bank. It could also compulsory
purchase vacant and derelict buildings and take over buy-to-lets in
arrears and convert them to low cost rental housing.
As it currently stands the 20,000 units the government has outlined
NAMA will provide in order to address supply will not be social units
but are to be delivered on a commercial basis and are more likely
to be sold to international investment funds rather than as starter
homes. Indeed NAMAs promotion of and involvement with global
wealth funds in the Irish property market must be questioned as to
how it is benefitting the Irish housing system. It is facilitating the
trend where housing is increasingly becoming a global investment
asset for the wealthy 1per cent.
Problems in our housing system are affecting economic
competitiveness, contributing to rising deprivation, inequality and
poverty, and lowering educational and employment prospects of
those affected. The 2008 crash should be a stark warning that a
rising property market is not necessarily a good thing. The housing
system will only be fixed when policy treats housing in the first
instance as a home, a social necessity and a human right, not a
speculative investment asset or commodity.
Dr Rory Hearne, Senior Policy Analyst, TASC Think-tank for Action
on Social Change
2015 irishtimes.com
Fintan OToole: Opposition to social housing is matter of
ideology not economics
Fintan OToole Irish Times : Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 04:00
Fellmongery is the preparation of animal skins for tanning. A pollard
is an animal that has had its horns removed. In 1949, official
statistics still listed Irelands principal products as including
fellmongery, laces, pigs heads, pollard and snuff.
Yet in that same year, 1949, my mothers family moved into the
Dublin Corporation house where I would later grow up. A poor,
primitive, backward economy could build social housing on a large
scale for people who lacked decent homes.
And the rich, developed, globalised Irish economy of 2015 cant.
In the late 1940s, when my family was housed, Ireland was still
recovering from the drastic economic effects of the second World
War. The average industrial wage was 5.59 a week for men and
2.97 for women.
In real terms, thats less than a third of average industrial wages in
1998 before the Celtic Tiger bubble. Fewer than a third of
households in 1949 had more than four rooms to live in. More than
60 per cent of households had no piped water supply. Nearly half
had no sanitary facilities only 255,000 houses had a flush toilet.

Health and education
Infant mortality was about a hundred times higher than it is now.
Kids still died in large numbers from pneumonia, TB, whooping
cough and diphtheria. Male life expectancy at birth was less than 65
years.
People were badly educated in 1950, a grand total of 4,500
students sat the Leaving Certificate exam and the number in all our
universities combined was 7,900. The entire output of Irish
broadcasting was seven hours of radio a day. There were just
43,000 phone lines in the State, only a third of them domestic.
The Irish economy, dominated by agriculture and food production,
was a paltry thing: total exports in 1949 amounted to just 61
million.
Almost all of this went to the UK as raw product the characteristic
Irish export was a live cow in the hold of a cattle boat. In order of
scale, the leading Irish exports in 1949 were cattle, horses, fresh
hen eggs, ale/beer/porter, chocolate crumb, dead turkeys and
tinned beef. This makes tinned beef our leading manufacturing
export.
The estate I grew up in, Crumlin in southwest Dublin, was built by
the local authority, Dublin Corporation, with funding from the
central government. The process actually started in the 1930s,
during the Great Depression: 250 acres of south Crumlin were
acquired by compulsory purchase in 1934 and the building of over
3,000 houses began more or less straight away.
The project was far from perfect. The houses were too small
most, like the one I grew up in, had just two bedrooms for big
(often extended) Irish Catholic families. (Our household, by no
means untypical, had three adults and five children.) Services and
facilities were slow to follow.
But the rent was affordable and the houses were a hell of a lot
better than what most people had before.
My mother had been living (with seven other people) in what was
essentially a one-room cottage in the Liberties; my father grew up
in a little hovel off the Dublin quays.
The market never had and never would give them a decent place
to live the State did so instead. For all the problems, people in
Crumlin had a secure roof over their heads and the chance to build
a good community. We had homes.
Why could the State do this in the hungry 1930s and the postwar
1940s but not now?
Not because we cant but because, as Enda Kenny put it last week,
interference in the market must be avoided. The desperation to
avoid the simple conclusion that government should build houses

for people who need them is about ideology, not resources. Fine
Gael, in particular, seems incapable of understanding housing as
anything other than a market.
Free-market ideology
It is striking that the decline in the building of social housing in
Ireland follows directly from the rise of so called free market
ideology in the Thatcher/Reagan era. In the mid-1970s, social
housing made up a third of all new houses. The shift in which that
proportion dropped to just 5 per cent was as disastrous
economically as it was socially the property bubble could not have
inflated without it.
by the private sector.
There is an almost obsessive fear of stating the obvious that a
large proportion of people will never be decently housed by the
market. Those citizens need a State thats not afraid to clear the
ground of narrow ideology and build on the foundations of real
human needs. That might involve relearning another forgotten word
republic.
2015 irishtimes.com
From Dr MICHELLE NORRIS UCD Letter to Irish Times
Sir, Fintan OToole (Opposition to social housing is matter of
ideology not economics, Opinion & Analysis, October 20th) in part
answers his own question when he asks why the State could afford
to fund a major social house-building programme during the
hungry Fifties when there was no free secondary education and
many of the social welfare benefits available today did not exist.
Relatively low spending on most other public services facilitated
levels of public investment in housing which were the highest in
western Europe at this time.
Growing spending on social welfare and health, particularly during
the 1970s, is one of the reasons why spending on social housing
was cut back. Therefore, unlike its counterparts in the inter-party
government of the 1950s, the current Government faces the
challenge of concurrently funding a social house building
programme and a comprehensive system of benefits and public
services.
However, the other part of the answer to the question raised by
Fintan OToole sheds light on how the current Government can meet
this challenge. High levels of social housing delivery were possible in
the 1950s because the funding method spread out the costs of
provision and kept them affordable for government. At this time
social housing was funded by very long-term loans, which were
repaid using a mix of central government subsidies, tenants rents
and the proceeds of domestic rates.
This funding model collapsed when domestic rates were abolished in

1978 and after that the exchequer paid for social house building in
lump-sum grants. The latter arrangement was less affordable
because the costs of provision were paid up front rather than spread
out over a long period, which helps to explain why insufficient
numbers of social houses were built even during the Celtic Tiger
period.
This lesson has been partially taken on board by policymakers and
in recent years loan finance had been provided for social housing
provision by non-profit housing associations by the Housing Finance
Agency, which borrows on capital markets and from EU institutions
for this purpose. The agency currently has some 500 million
available for lending to this sector at a fixed interest rate of 3.25
per cent.
However, despite great work by some housing associations, it is not
realistic to think that this sector, which delivered 25 per cent of
social housing prior to the bust, has the capacity to meet the full
scale of current housing needs, at least in the short term.
supplements.
Local authorities were traditionally the main providers of social
housing in Ireland, and Fintans OTooles article eloquently
describes the huge contribution which council housing made to
improving the lives of his own family in the 1950s.
I agree that they have to play a central role if we are to solve the
current housing shortage. However, I disagree with his assertion
that achieving this is a matter of ideology; an affordable method of
resourcing this work has to be put in place as well. Yours, etc,
Dr MICHELLE NORRIS,
School of Social Policy,
Social Work and
Social Justice,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney Is A Landlord Traitor

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Housing Minister Simon Coveney Is A Landlord Traitor

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Housing Minister Simon

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides

It is the responsibility of TDs to register rentals when their

Michael Healy Rae is one of the biggest political landlords

houses in Kenmare, Castleisland and Killarney, and

The Irish Examiner reported that at least 30 of the 158

The revelation has emerged at the same time that one of

that they, their spouse or child lives in.

The Irish Examiner reported that at least 30 of the 158

IRES Reit chief executive David Ehrlich told the Irish

1 Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae: At least 8 properties:

Housing Minister Simon

Housing Minister Simon Coveney is a landlord

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides

He has had to declare he owns a rental property in Hartys

Ministers Coveney and English launch

Simon Coveney hopes to welcome up to

immigration of 10,000. That figure combined is more than all of

The water charges fiasco: a

Illustration: Dearbhla Kelly

A year ago, The Irish Times published the first

Why havent we built up a system of government which

in the country, continues to leave the average citizen

All in one quango

Eddie Molloy, a management consultant who began his

every other State-conceived fiasco to that word

Dr Tracey Cooper, an outsider brought in from the UK

things go wrong. The problem is we have never had any

The concept of putting the public interest at the heart

The civil servant paper

Among the several papers produced on Civil Service

that it is in the public interest and their interest to

crucial for everyone to understand how politics works

There Are 8 Registered

Revealed - how charities

IRELAND'S leading charities received more

The Sunday Independent contacted 40 of some of the

packets that top the 100,000 mark, with some having

Christmas, and warned it wouldn't be able to continue to

Dublin, Cork landlords

Landlords in Dublin and Cork will only be able to

Existing measures introduced last year by then Labour

Fianna Fil will not support

Fianna Fail will not support proposals to cap annual

The designation of the zones will automatically fall

Impact of 4% annual increase

Senior figures say several other parts of the country

is the Central Bank is recommending.

Dublin, Cork landlords limited to 4% rent rises

Dublin, Cork landlords limited to 4% rent rises

Campaigners have urged the Government to give tenants stronger

Official figures show 1,023 families were in homeless

also found 1,368 mothers or fathers with 2,110 children

Latest stats show v slight

number of homeless children

Property outlook 2017:

interest rates globally

Johnny Horgan: There is potential for rental growth in secondary and

What effects will Brexit and the proposed tax

already affected the price that some investors will pay

equation and particularly in the forward-funding

Visitors to fiannafail.ie don't think homelessness is

Dublin residents take action over