Homelessness is ‘too high and we have to do better', admits Harris
Homelessness
is too high in Ireland and we have to work every day to do better and do more,' Tánaiste
Simon Harris
has said.
He made the admission after fresh criticism on how
homelessness is affecting children
in emergency accommodation and news coverage about rough sleepers in Dublin.
On Tuesday, Nuala Ward, a senior official at the office of the Ombudsman for Children, told the Oireachtas housing committee that child homelessness is a 'national shame' with a 'devastating impact' on the children involved.
Of the 15,580 homeless people living in emergency accommodation in April, 4,775 were children.
READ MORE
Separately, The Irish Times reported on how up to a dozen rough sleepers are
living in a makeshift camp surrounded by rubbish and rats under the M50 road
.
Mr Harris admitted that homelessness is 'too high', while also defending the record of the Government in its attempts to resolve the crisis.
He said the key to tackling the homelessness issue is the 'supply of a whole variety of homes, including social homes'.
He said the Government is working on making it easier for local authorities to get through the approval process for new social homes more quickly.
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The Fine Gael leader also said: 'Last year, we did see the highest number of social homes allocated than any year since the 1970s, so that's part of the record of my party and of Fianna Fáil in Government, actually delivering more social homes last year than any time in my lifetime.'
He said the Government's 'North Star' is to 'get to 300,000 homes over the next five years, and I believe that's what success will look like'.
Mr Harris also said: 'I don't in any way, any way, underestimate the scale of the
housing crisis
. It is a housing emergency.
'It's a very real and acute emergency for people, particularly families, challenged in relation to their housing today, and that's why we need to break down every silo that exists in the State.
'Housing can't just be an emergency for the Minister for Housing, the Department of Housing or people in need of housing.
'It has to be an emergency for every part of the State' including the chief executives of local authorities and utilities such as Uisce Éireann and the ESB and 'every county councillor who needs to realise their job isn't to object to houses, but build houses'.
Mr Harris was speaking as he accompanied Minister for Housing
James Browne
to officially open 133 new cost-rental homes delivered by South Dublin County Council in Tallaght.
Mr Browne, a Fianna Fáil TD, said homelessness was 'foremost' in his mind when he became Minister earlier this year and the first thing he did was meet homelessness organisations and visit emergency accommodation.
[
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He said higher rents cause higher homelessness internationally, and that by increasing supply 'we get rents down and we'll also help to get homelessness down'.
He said the extension of Rent Pressure Zones and plans to improve security of tenure for tenants 'will help to prevent people going into homelessness as well.'
Mr Browne said: '40 per cent of everybody going into homelessness is as a result of a notice to quit' and when the new legislation comes in people will have security of tenure.
While homeless numbers reached a new record high in April Mr Browne also said there is 'record prevention' of homelessness as well and people are being exited from homelessness as quickly as possible.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, August 1st: On asylum, Spotify and the arms trade, and tariffs
Sir, – In Michael McDowell's article, ' Whatever about his tariffs, Trump's 'helpful advice' to the EU is on the money, ' July 30th, the Senator refers to a 'racket' involving people seeking asylum who are, in his view, simply migrants. The data does not support this claim. So far this year, 40 per cent of asylum applications have been successful. What about the other 60 per cent? Some applicants may not meet the strict legal definition of a refugee; others may lack the documentation to substantiate their claim. That does not mean they applied in bad faith or without genuine belief in their need for protection. The Senator also refers to a 'racket' of spending on asylum accommodation. One-off, dead-end spending on substandard accommodation benefits no one – least of all the people living in it. However, responsibility for this lies with successive governments' failure to invest in State-owned accommodation. The Senator himself served as minister for justice for five years and it's hard to recall significant progress on this issue during his tenure. READ MORE He then repeats the mistake made by Minister for Justice Jim O' Callaghan several weeks ago on the forthcoming decision of the Court of Justice of the EU. It is troubling that both have publicly commented on the case but appear to have not understood the Advocate General's opinion or its legal significance. The court is not poised to order the Irish State to compensate homeless asylum seekers imminently. The issue before the court is whether 'force majeure' is a valid defence to a damages claim for breach of an EU obligation that stems from the fundamental right to human dignity under Article 1 of the Charter. An important but relatively technical question of EU law. The Senator's only solution on this issue is for asylum policy to go back to member states. This would result in chaos and a race to the bottom with a domino effect caused by member states rushing to have little or no asylum policies and those that do shouldering the burden. As for the Senator's comments that there is a 'veritable domestic Irish legal industry involved in securing EU-guaranteed Irish residence for asylum seekers and their family dependants', this is low blow against hard-working barristers and solicitors, many of them at the beginning of their careers, often working for a pittance, who are only advocating for the implementation of the law that the Irish government voluntarily subscribed to. His remarks, suggesting that this work solely focussed on profit, also seem to be inconsistent with the Bar Council's code of conduct that barristers should not engage in conduct which may bring the barristers' profession into disrepute or which may injure the dignity and high standing of the profession. – Yours, etc. NICK HENDERSON, CEO, Irish Refugee Council, Dublin. Sir, – Once again, Michael McDowell recycles the arguments, language, and ideas of the far right on migration. Mr McDowell refers to asylum rights as a 'disastrous inclusion' in the EU Charter, calls asylum seeking an 'international racket', and urges Ireland to 'get real'. At the same time, he argues that it's the labelling of his rhetoric as far right that is dangerous. What's dangerous is the drift towards the Trump world view, someone Mr McDowell has been sharply critical of in the past, yet now quotes approvingly on migration. It is deeply disappointing to see a former minister for justice endorsing 'helpful advice' from Donald Trump, whose legacy includes caging children at the US border, separating families, and systematically undermining asylum protections. To suggest that the EU should take cues from such a record is shocking. Despite the fact that international protection applicants make up only a small share of inward migration, there is no acknowledgment of this, or of the essential contribution migrants make to Irish society. Mr McDowell frames his discussions on migration around the challenges of the international protection system. It is fortunate for the body politic that Mr McDowell has ruled out a presidential bid. His views on migration would likely have made him the candidate of choice for Ireland's small but vocal far right, especially if one of their Trump-lite or martial arts hopefuls fails to secure a nomination. – Yours, etc, SÉAMUS WHITE, Dublin 7. Sir, – In his thought-provoking opinion piece, Michael McDowell correctly calls out what has turned into an asylum industry in Ireland. For all the Government spin, processing of international protection claims is similar to a slow-spinning roulette wheel, with large numbers awaiting interviews and almost 14,000 in the appeals process. To compound the current ¤1.2 billion being spent on a kafkaesque asylum process, the Government is determined to sign up to an EU migration pact whose deadlines will prove impossible to meet and is highly likely to turn into a lawyer-fattening exercise. No wonder the still minuscule far right is likely to make political gains in forthcoming elections. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL FLYNN, Bayside, Dublin 13. Busy, busy Sir, – In relation to 'The greatest part of any job is learning to look busy,' (July 26th), and ensuing comment, seniors in my organisation know I am extremely busy when there is a dearth of letters in The Irish Times bearing my appellation. Probably prudent not to publish this one. – Yours, etc, FRANK J BYRNE Glasnevin, Dublin. Sir, – When working from home and in the absence of any covert surveillance, and when I really must get a move on, I'm minded to return my chair to the upright position and retract the footrest. –Yours, etc, TOMÁS FINN, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. US presidents and tariffs Sir. – Accepting and recognising the obvious frustration and the challenges expressed by the critics of the US/EU agreement, I wonder if can it really be absolutely argued this is 'a total capitulation' to the bully Donald Trump where the US won and the EU lost ? Unless EU exporters swallow the entire 15 per cent where applicable, US importers and/or ultimately the citizens of the US will pay more for their imported goods. However the citizens of the EU won't face the direct potential of increased costs on US imports. Who really are the winners, and who really are the losers ? History clearly shows that on the three occasions where US presidents oversaw the implementation of a tariff regime (in the 1820s/1890s/1930s), the outcomes each time proved disastrous for the US economy and its citizens, and were ultimately reversed. Who were the big losers in the end? Trump may appear to have won the battle, but chances are he will lose the trade war he so recklessly started. – Yours, etc, CRAIG DOUGLAS, Belfast. Sir, – To all those armchair commentators and negotiators who think the EU should have entered a trade war with Donald Trump, I have a simple question: Would you be prepared to give up your job so the EU could make a point? – Yours, etc, JOHN COTTER, Ferrybank, Waterford. HSE paying on the double Sir, – I note that the company which was paid in excess of ¤720,000 twice by the HSE on foot of the same invoice is now in liquidation (' Company paid €720,000 twice by HSE for same invoice is now in liquidation ,' July 31st). I suppose putting the HSE into liquidation and starting again would be out of the question? – Yours, etc, PAT O'BRIEN, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Give us a break Sir, –Is there any way the commentators could be inveigled upon to cease commentating for a couple of minutes and allow us listeners and viewers at home hear the wonderful playing of the Artane Band during our All-Ireland finals at Croke Park? While they are leading the two teams around the pitch might be a good time. – Yours, etc, URSULA HOUGH-GORMLEY, Donnybrook, Dublin. A definite bargain Sir, – Without a doubt, the €45 million spent on the Dundrum to Dún Laoghaire cycle lane is a bargain – to those who use it without ever being expected to pay a cent in road tax, insurance or licensing. – Yours, etc, RITA O'BRIEN, Co Dublin. Spotify and the arms trade Sir, – Mark O'Connell (' If you didn't have qualms about Spotify before, wait until you hear what its founder has done ', July 26th) will presumably become a conscientious objector should Europe find itself at war with Russia. For if he finds 'something particularly galling' about Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek 'ploughing a massive amount of his personal wealth into the arms trade', who on earth does he imagine is going to build the defence industry Europe needs if it is to protect itself from Russian president Vladimir Putin's imperial visions? In the real world, strong militaries, supplied by high-tech defence manufacturers such as Helsing, the firm Ek has invested in and is now chairing, are needed precisely to give peace a chance. Perhaps he and Deerhoof, the band he cites as deserting Spotify on this news, should talk to Helsing's Ukrainian customers. Rather than sneering at AI drones as deadly products of the profit-seeking 'military-industrial complex', might Ukrainians instead see such weapons as an essential part of saving lives and their country's independence from an imperialist invader? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the cold wind from Moscow. – Yours, etc, BILL EMMOTT, Killiney, Co Dublin. Recognising Palestine Sir, – British prime minister Keir Starmer has threatened to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel improves the situation in Gaza. Palestinian groups have rightly called this stance 'outrageous'. Surely Palestine should be recognised on the basis of rights, not as diplomatic leverage? Ireland's recognition of Palestine was a principled stand. But recognition alone cannot substitute for immediate, concrete action which includes a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and accountability for atrocities. Ireland must now continue to press for these urgently at the international level. – Yours, etc, PETER MALBASHA, Booterstown, Co Dublin. Germ warfare Sir, – Norma Jessop's letter reminding us all of the existence of our immune system, and its function in keeping us in good health, was refreshing (Letters, July 31st). Is it not likely that all the stress caused by worrying constantly about the 'scary germs' we may encounter in everyday life is far more likely to finish us off than the occasional, mild and short-lived illnesses we may experience if and when the odd germ manages to break through our natural defences? – Yours, etc. KATHERINE QUIRKE, Co Dublin. Saving details of bank cards Sir, – I recently made a modest purchase from a supplier advertising through a social media platform. I completed the transaction using my credit card, believing that it was a straightforward purchase, using the usual security inputs. Thereafter, I received a 'welcome' email from the social media platform, advising me that my card details had been 'saved' and assuring me of the value of the benefits of this course of action. Since then, I have endeavoured to decouple my card from the platform. Having established the process for withdrawing from this 'service', I went through the interminable maze of conditions on the website, to submit my request. When submitted, I received the message: 'something went wrong with this request, please try again later'. Several failed attempts later, I gave up trying to shake this particular dog off my leg. Call me a cynic, but a platform that can harvest my card details, by stealth, within micro seconds of completing a transaction, should be able to facilitate a withdrawal from the same integrated payments platform without placing obstacles in my way. Perhaps both domestic and EU financial regulators might better inform consumers of their rights in this regard, and ensure that the process of cancelling such facilities be made less cumbersome. – Yours, etc, FRANK WALSH, Co Wexford. Not so open Golf Open Sir, – My husband and I recently purchased re-sale general admission tickets for day two (Friday) of The 153rd Open in Portrush. We intended to bring our eight-week-old exclusively breastfed newborn baby. We had (wrongly) assumed that a newborn baby could freely accompany their mother, as they generally can in society – on airplanes, at concerts, sporting events generally, etc. We had overlooked The Open's policy which required 'all children under the age of 16' to have their own ticket. On contacting The Open, we were advised that no junior tickets were available to purchase and an exemption could not be made to this policy. The Open advised that our only option was to purchase a full price general admission ticket for £110 for our eight-week-old. We made the decision not to attend. The Open clearly needs to reconsider this policy for babies under the age of one, who should be entitled to attend on a parent's ticket. We query whether any women were consulted in the making of this policy. An interesting policy to have strictly enforced for a sport looking to entice women. Available to be consulted for the 154th Open! – Yours, etc, CLARE McADAM, Ringsend, Dublin. An ear for radio Sir, – Marion Walsh says Ita McCormack should not fret (Letters, July 31st). I agree. I use my smart phone and can pick up almost all the BBC stations. BBC4 and World Service are also available on the app. – Yours, etc, GRÁINNE MEYER, Germany.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Government to discuss impact of EU-US trade deal
A meeting of the Government's Trade Forum will be held today to discuss the impact on Ireland of the EU-US trade deal. Officials from the Department of Finance are due to give a preliminary analysis of what impact the 15% tariff will have on the Irish economy. It is also expected that a joint statement could be issued today by the EU and US giving more details of the framework agreement. Today had been set as the deadline for reaching a trade deal, but following a breakthrough in talks last Sunday, an agreement was reached on a 15% levy on most EU exports to the US. The implications of the levy on Irish businesses, jobs and the economy will be the focus of this morning's meeting at Government Buildings. It will be the seventh meeting of the forum, which includes State agencies, business groups, unions and senior ministers, to map out Ireland's response to the trade deal. Speaking in advance, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said the deal between the EU and the US "means that the higher tariffs that had been threatened will not now take effect and that the EU will not impose its own countermeasures." Simon Harris said the framework agreement will provide "much needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world." "While the baseline tariff is 15%, we are still awaiting full details and will have to analyse these when received to understand the full implications," he added. The forum will receive an update on the government's recently agreed Action Plan on Market Diversification. The Action Plan, which has been developed jointly by the Departments of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is aimed at enhancing Ireland's trading relationships with existing, new and emerging markets. The Tánaiste will also brief the forum on the ratification EU-Canada trade deal, known as CETA. Simon Harris said: "The proposed amendment to the Arbitration Act 2010 is an essential enabling condition for the ratification of CETA and other similar Free Trade Agreements with third countries that include investment protection provisions, including Singapore, Vietnam, Chile and Mexico." "As such, this work is an important part of Ireland's diversification strategy, reducing concentration risk among our trading partners," he added.
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Labour backs Connolly in presidential race
The Labour Party has formally agreed to back Catherine Connolly's campaign to become the next president of Ireland, saying that while it has had "differences" with the Independent TD it believes she is "the left" candidate. Labour's executive board, which consists of representatives of different sections of the party and its parliamentary party of TDs, senators and MEP Aodhan O Riordain, made the decision after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting this evening. The meeting came after grassroots Labour members were asked for their views on whether to support the campaign of Catherine Connolly, who left the Labour Party in 2007 after a decision was made for her not to be then TD Michael D Higgins's general election running mate in Galway West. Catherine Connolly has since said in 2016 that Labour has "lost its soul", a comment which while almost a decade ago has previously led to some friction between her and her former party. However, Labour said that they would support her campaign after party members voted in a "clear majority". The executive board and parliamentary party voted in favour of doing backing Ms Connolly in a vote which is understood to have been significant but not universal. In a statement, which did not include a quote from party leader Ivana Bacik, Labour's TD for Dublin South-West Ciarán Ahern, who will now be the party's co-ordinator with the Catherine Connolly campaign, said: "At this evening's meeting it was agreed that the Party should support Catherine Connolly as the Left candidate for the presidency. "We are doing so in the spirit of supporting the development and growth of the Left across the country and demonstrating that an alternative politics is possible here, a cause which our party leader Ivana Bacik has led and promoted over recent years. "While there are issues where we have differed with Deputy Connolly, we are determined that the social democratic values of equality, justice and tolerance should shape the presidency over the next seven years and follow the legacy of Michael D Higgins. "We believe that Catherine Connolly shares those values, and has put them into practice during her political career. "Catherine will make an excellent president, campaigning and advocating for the common good." Catherine Connolly's campaign has already received the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity and a number of Independent politicians. However, while she was already highly likely to reach the quota of 20 TDs and senators needed to become a formal presidential candidate - the other route option being the support of four local authorities - Labour's support has underlined her credentials as the combined left candidate at this stage of the race. So far, the only other formal candidate is Fine Gael's former EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who has been nominated by her party but will not be officially confirmed until early September at a planned Fine Gael event. Rumours and speculation continue in relation to a number of other potential but at this stage unofficial candidates, in addition to ongoing questions over whether Sinn Fáin and Fianna Fáil will run their own candidates, support a different candidate, or remain out of the race. The presidential election must take place within 60 days or less of the end of President Michael D Higgins's second term, which will end on 11 November. This means the earliest the election can theoretically take place is 11 September, with an October date generally believed to be most likely.
