Latest news with #JamesBrowne
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Simon Harris confirms delay to yet another Government plan
The Government announced yet another delay to plans as Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed that health warning labels being put on alcohol bottles will be delayed. Housing Minister James Browne, meanwhile, insisted that the decision to delay the new housing plan was "common sense". In May 2023, then-health minister Stephen Donnelly signed the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023. It was envisaged that the law would ensure that the labels of alcohol products would state the calorie content and grams of alcohol in the product. They would warn about the risk of consuming alcohol when pregnant and about the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption. A three-year lead-in time was built into the legislation to allow businesses to prepare and it was expected to come into force from May 2026. However, the Tánaiste has now confirmed that it will be delayed as he expressed concerns about making the changes at a time of uncertainty due to impending US tariffs. Mr Harris said: "I'm extremely proud that we brought in legislation that has helped, I think, create a healthier relationship with alcohol in Ireland and help protect children and young people in relation to alcohol. "Of course, so many parts of that legislation have already been commenced and enacted. Indeed, if you walk into any local supermarket, any local convenience store, you'll see the structural separation, the restrictions in terms of where advertising can be in terms of proximity to schools, to playgrounds, on public transport. "A lot of good changes have been made. Of course, minimum unit pricing, which wasn't easy, came in as well. "It is true that there's a decision to be made now in terms of when to proceed with the issue of labelling. "It is my view that we will need to delay that. I think we need to do that for a variety of reasons, most particularly the situation in relation to trade and tariffs. "We have to protect jobs, we have to protect investment and we have to support Irish businesses and Irish industry at a really key moment of economic turbulence. "The government as a whole will make a decision on this in the coming weeks, but this is about providing a breather or a delay, as opposed to changing the legislation, which is clear in relation to labelling." When asked if it would be brought in in the next five years, Mr Harris said the delay will not be that long. The Tánaiste, who is also the Trade Minister, said that Wednesday marked 13 days until the end of US President Donald Trump's 90-day pause. This, he said, meant there was very little time for the EU to negotiate a deal with the US. He added: "We need to find a deal that works. "I think there's an air of pragmatism beginning to come back into the discussion and I now intend to convene the Government's trade forum early next week to tease through issues with key stakeholders and key Government departments." Meanwhile, Housing Minister James Browne confirmed that the housing plan will be delayed. He said: "It's just common sense in terms of we won't be able to finalise and publish the housing plan until the National Development Plan is completed."
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
West Cork woman (88) faces looming prospect of homelessness
The Minister for Housing has agreed to examine the case of an 88-year-old woman in County Cork, who is facing homelessness. Jennifer Marley is being forced to vacate her rented Bantry home, after receiving a notice to quit. Advertisement She had been living in the private rented accommodation for the past six years, but the landlord now plans to sell the property. James Browne says his department will work with Cork County Council in an effort to resolve her situation. "My department is reaching out to the County Council to see what measures can be put in place and we also gave significant funding to local authorities around Tenant In Situ and to prioritise older people as well," he told Newstalk. "We'll engage with the local authority to see if this particular lady's situation can be resolved." After receiving a notice to quit, Jennifer Marley from Bantry registered for social housing some time ago and is actively seeking assistance from Cork County Council. Advertisement But with no suitable accommodation being offered and the clock ticking, she fears being forced into emergency homeless accommodation or a nursing home. Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins raised Ms Marley's case in the Dáil, saying homeless accommodation is not suitable for someone like her, and since she is capable of living independently, a lack of housing should not force her into a nursing home. Nor, he added, should she be made to leave the locality she has long called home. "This woman is part of the fabric of our community — and now, at 88, she is being abandoned," said Mr Collins. "We cannot continue to treat elderly Irish citizens with such contempt." Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded to Ms Marley's case after it was raised in the Dáil, requesting that her details be passed on for further engagement. He said it should be possible to accommodate her in a council house.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Councillors' job is to build houses and not object to them
The Tánaiste has taken a swipe at county councillors, saying they 'need to realise' their job is to build houses, and not object to them. Simon Harris also said every part of the State needs to treat the housing crisis as an emergency, including the chief executives of Uisce Éireann and ESB. Advertisement Mr Harris made the comments as he and the Minister for Housing James Browne visited the site of new cost rental apartments in Tallaght, Dublin. The Department of Housing said it is the first local authority funded, standalone, cost rental development in Ireland. Tánaiste Simon Harris said every part of the state needs to treat the housing crisis as an emergency, including the chief executives of Uisce Éireann and ESB (Liam McBurney/PA) Both ministers said that 'key' to eliminating homelessness is supply of housing. 'Supply of a whole variety of homes, including social homes,' Mr Harris added. Advertisement 'I know one of the issues that the minister (for housing) is working on, and that we fully support across government, is making it even easier for local authorities to go through the approval process for new social homes more quickly, and looking at how we can improve a standardisation in terms of how we develop social homes so they can be delivered more quickly. 'We're in the early stages of this new government. 'That's why we're making big and bold decisions, including decisions that will be unpopular and difficult at times in relation to housing, including decisions that, quite rightly, people will be able to parse and analyse and critique, if they look at each decision individually. 'But actually, as the Minister (Browne) has rightly said, it is about putting together pieces of the jigsaw that will get us to those 300,000 incomes. Advertisement 'I don't in any way anyway underestimate the scale of the housing crisis. It is a housing emergency. 'It's very real and acute emergency for people, particularly families and challenge in relation to 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 every part of the state. 'It has to be an emergency for the CEO Uisce Eireann, the CEO of the ESB, every chief executive of every local authority, every county councillor who needs to realise their job is not to object to houses, but build houses. Advertisement 'This is where we've got to get to break down the silos.' Last week, emergency legislation that saw rent pressure zones extended nationwide was signed into law. The system, which caps rent increases at the rate of inflation or 2 per cent, whichever is lower, have also been extended until the end of February after originally being due to expire at the end of the year. Mr Browne said more time is needed to assess the impact of the changes in law. Advertisement He said that landlords have been leaving the system in 'substantial numbers' for years because of the previous laws around Rent Pressure Zones. 'We wanted to bring in stronger tenants' rights, that's really important,' Mr Browne added. 'And also be able to activate supply because of when it comes to the prices of homes, the only way we're going to get the prices to stabilise is through the increase of supply. 'That increase of supply will bring down rents, will increase the supply of homes to stabilise those and help eliminate homelessness as well. 'It is all about supply, supply, supply, supply, and that's what we're all aiming at towards now while protecting our renters and ensuring people can live in their local communities.' He said that around 40 per cent of people going into homelessness is a result of notice to quit in tenancies. He claimed the new legislation will bring in security of tenure. 'We know internationally, where you have higher homelessness, it is where you also have higher rents,' he added. 'By getting that supply up, you get rents down, and we'll also help to get homelessness down, but also the measures we've made around Rent Pressure Zones, around security of tenure, will help prevent people going into homelessness as well. 'With this legislation in that we have security of tenure. 'We also have a large population moving from Ipas centres, who have had their situation regulated, but don't have somewhere to live, coming into our homeless situation as well. 'I'm very conscious that well over 70 per cent of everybody who's homeless is also in Dublin. 'So there was a lot of moving parts in terms of the homeless situation. 'We're trying to address them all. 'But for those coming into homelessness to prevent them, we have record prevention as well, with people going into homelessness and getting people exited out as quickly as possible.'
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
State-backed student accommodation to have twin rooms and shared bathrooms to boost bed capacity
STATE-BACKED STUDENT accommodation will have shared bathrooms, twin rooms, and communal kitchens in a bid to increase bed capacity. Cabinet will today note the new national design standards which aims to ensure faster delivery of much-needed student accommodation. The current reliance on individual ensuite units is to be replaced with the new model which will enable greater use of 'shared facilities', ministers will hear today. The new design will support higher bed capacity, faster delivery and procurement savings, Cabinet will be told. Higher Education Minister James Lawless will also state that shared and communal areas will 'encourage a more sociable, integrated student experience'. In November 2022, the government decided to to get involved in the development of new student accommodation for higher education institutions. This was the first time the State stepped in to provide funding to build student accommodation. Advertisement On the back of a construction cost study carried out two years ago, students, providers, planners and experts were consulted on what might make the best possible design for student accommodation. The new design principles published today follow such engagement. Lack of student accommodation The lack of student accommodation has been a long-standing factor during the housing crisis, particularly at the start of each academic year. Student representative bodies have been sounding the alarm over the lack of accommodation for many years. On the back of new Rent Pressure Zone legislation signed into law last week, Housing Minister James Browne confirmed that there 'won't be any special measures' put in place to protect students renting in the private sector from rising rents. Browne said he would be meeting with the Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless to 'see what proposals we can to ensure that students are protected in student-specific accommodation'. On a separate issue, Lawless, along with Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan, which aims to expand public sector participation in apprenticeship. It aims hit 750 yearly registrations, with registrations rising from 67 in 2022 to a projected 554 in 2025. New apprenticeships have been developed in key areas such as social work, digital marketing, spatial planning and public service operations. Leaving Cert reform Separately, Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on the new Leaving Cert curriculum and the outcome of recent ballots held by post-primary teacher unions. Related Reads Govt to expedite legal change to stop student accommodation providers mandating 51-week leases Landlord letting room by college campus asks students for 20 hours' childminding in lieu of rent Students told to pay year's rent of over €8,000 in two cash installments or risk losing tenancy The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland rejected the measures aimed at enabling Leaving Cert reforms, and voted in favour of industrial action. ASTI members voted to reject the Senior Cycle Redevelopment – Implementation Support Measures' by 68% to 32%. The turnout was 73%. TUI members voted by 73% to 27% to accept the supports package. The reforms, which are due to be implemented this September, propose allocating a minimum of 40% of Leaving Cert marks to project work or practicals across all subjects in an effort to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student's skills. But teachers have voiced concerns about how the moves will affect the way students are assessed and marked, especially in the context of the risk of students using artificial intelligence to complete assignments. The minister will say that while supports for teachers included in the Senior Cycle reform package will benefit TUI members, the implementation of targeted supports for students contained in the package will not be affected by the outcome of the ballots, and that the department will engage with representatives of teachers and school management bodies over the summer in respect of the implementation of senior cycle reform. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
More shared bathrooms in student accommodation under new design guide going to Cabinet
Higher Education Minister James Lawless will bring a memo before the Cabinet to formally note the design guide for state-supported student accommodation, developed after a construction cost study two years ago. The new design standards will include higher bed capacity in the purpose-built student accommodation, with greater use of twin rooms. There will also be more communal kitchens and shared bathrooms, which will replace the reliance on individual en suites. The design guide will look to help faster delivery and procurement savings in student accommodation development. The guide had stakeholder input from groups including experts, planners and students. It is hoped the new designs will encourage a more sociable experience for students. There will be ongoing engagement with the Department of Housing to integrate the design guide into Section 28 planning guidelines, which will see planning decisions made consistent across the country. It is expected that further refinements will be made to the guide. The new design guide comes as measures to protect students from rent increases in the new rental market system are yet to be fully agreed. Last week, when announcing that all current tenancies were to be brought in under a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ), Housing Minister James Browne confirmed that students in private rental accommodation will not have additional protections in the new rules. Concerns were raised in relation to students who rent for a limited period for the academic year and for trainee doctors who regularly move around the country. Those groups could be subject to increases in rent on a regular basis under rules to be brought in on March 1, 2026, which will allow landlords to reset rents to market rates when a tenant voluntarily leaves, or every six years. While students in the private market will not have additional protections, Mr Browne confirmed last week that measures will be brought in to support students in student-specific accommodation. Those measures have not been finalised yet.
