Latest news with #MikeAllen
NZ Herald
18-06-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Is there a connection between prejudice and eating meat?
In 2000, the Journal of Social Psychology published 'Values and beliefs of vegetarians and omnivores', a paper I co-authored with friends Mike Allen and Mike Dunne and academic supervisor Sik-Hung Ng. This was one of the first psychology papers about people who choose to eat, or abstain from eating, meat.
Irish Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Proposed changes to rent rules will incentivise evictions, housing charity warns
Proposed changes to regulations in the private rental market will only act to incentivise evictions, the housing charity Focus Ireland has said. Its advocacy director, Mike Allen, said he was surprised by the timing of the move, which is expected to see rent levels in newly constructed build-to-let properties in rent pressure zones (RPZs) tied to the rate of inflation rather than capped at 2 per cent. It will also likely give landlords in affected areas the ability to reset rents between tenancies. Mr Allen, who has not been party to the proposals going to Cabinet on Tuesday, said they 'would clearly create incentives for landlords to evict their current tenants so that they could avail of higher, market-related rent for new tenants. READ MORE 'How do you make sure people are safe in those circumstances?' He was speaking at a Raise the Roof press conference on Monday. The trade union-backed group has announced protests over a lack of housing provision, scheduled to take place outside the Dáil next Tuesday, June 17th, and in Cork on Saturday, June 21st. Mr Allen also questioned why the rent moves did not come as part of a broader housing plan due this summer. Focus Ireland's Mike Allen, Siptu's Ethel Buckley, Kate Mitchell, of National Women's Council, and Patrick Nevin, of Irish Traveller Movement, at the Raise the Roof press conference. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw The reported plan is 'essentially a Government policy to increase rents' so as to stimulate investment, he claimed, but there was no reason to believe it would work. 'And if the only housing that can be produced is housing that people can't afford, then that isn't a solution to the housing crisis and it's very, very far from being a solution to the homeless crisis .' [ Housing RPZs: What will a new rental regulation system mean for renters in Ireland? Opens in new window ] Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, one of a number of politicians to attend Monday's event, said the Government 'needs to answer the question: when is rent too high?' The Raise the Roof protest outside the Dáil at 6pm on June 17th, organised by Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), will coincide with a Private Members' Bill tabled by Opposition parties. Sinn Féin's housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said it would 'focus on emergency action, things that the Government can do now'. The measures, he explained, would include a faster return of vacant and derelict properties to social affordable use, as well as initiatives aimed at 'protecting renters'. Siptu deputy general secretary Ethel Buckley said the Government needed to ensure everybody had adequate housing and that workers were able to afford to live in the communities where they worked. 'This is a huge issue for the trade union movement,' she said, 'one that comes up with our members all the time because if they are not struggling with housing themselves, they have grown-up kids who can't afford to move out living with them or have other friends or family impacted by the crisis'. [ Average monthly rent exceeds €2,000 for the first time Opens in new window ] Other backers of the Raise the Roof campaign include advocacy groups representing women, the Traveller community, children and students. Meanwhile, the Irish Property Owners Association said it was concerned the proposed reforms were over-complicated and that a six-year minimum security of tenure would have 'a serious negative impact on private, non-institutional landlords, and on the rental market'. '[They] are unfair on the individual who – for good reason – wishes to, and needs to, rent out their home for a short period, and points to a flaw on the part of the Government thinking which – by going after institutional landlords – has ignored the implications for individual, private landlords,' said its chairwoman Mary Conway.
The Irish Sun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘It is totally unacceptable' – Irish homeless accommodation figures hit record high AGAIN amid ‘it's time' to act plea
THE number of people in emergency homeless accommodation across Ireland has increased to a record of 15,580, according to the latest Government figures. The data shows that 10,805 adults and 4,775 2 Homelessness in Ireland is at a record high Credit: Getty Images - Getty In general, the number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been steadily increasing from approximately 8,000 in mid-2021. The statistics do not include people sleeping rough, couch-surfing or Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the figures show the 'Government's current approach to homelessness is failing'. He said: 'With the introduction of the new Housing Plan, the incoming minister has a vital opportunity to reset the policy. We have outlined our evidence-based recommendations in a detailed submission to support this change. Read more in News 'It is totally unacceptable that there's a record number of 4,775 children homeless as we approach summer. 'This should be a carefree time for children as they look forward to school holidays and the longer evenings. 'Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are studying for exams while living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to even do their homework.' The Simon Communities of Ireland urged the Government to 'act decisively' on homelessness. Most read in The Irish Sun Ber Grogan, executive director of the organisation, said: 'This is the highest level of homelessness Ireland has ever seen, and it's unacceptable. 'Behind every number is a person – a family, a child, a life in crisis. We are pleading with Government leaders and local authorities to act decisively before this emergency becomes completely irreversible.' 'UNACCEPTABLE CONSTRAINTS' The organisation said there should be 'real investment' in prevention. 'On top of the rising numbers, we're now facing unacceptable constraints on our ability to respond. 'In certain areas, there is no funding for second-hand 'We are deeply concerned that these decisions will result in reduced supply and increased vulnerability for those already most at risk.' ROUGH SLEEPER COUNT The The number of individuals engaged with by outreach teams during the week was 121, a decrease of 13 (9.7%) on winter 2024 when 134 were found to be rough sleeping during November 4-10 week. It represents a decrease of seven (5.5%) on the spring 2024 count carried out in the week of April 8-14. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin TD said the Government must 'urgently fund vital homeless services and reverse recent funding cuts'. 'SHOCKING BUT NOT SURPRISING' 'The latest increase is shocking but not surprising. It is a stain on this Government and our society. 'We cannot allow ourselves to accept this as normal. We must continue to be outraged by the fact that so many children are forced into emergency accommodation due to Government decisions. 'It is clear that we need urgent emergency action to tackle this crisis. Government must immediately reverse the funding cuts to vital homeless supports such as Housing First and the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'It is time to get feet on the street and put as much pressure on Government to take emergency action now to tackle the housing and homeless crises.' 2 The number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been steadily increasing from approximately 8,000 in mid-2021 Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Belfast Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Emergency accommodation figures hit ‘shocking' all-time high
The data shows that 10,805 adults and 4,775 children were accessing emergency accommodation during the last full week of April. In general, the number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been steadily increasing from approximately 8,000 in mid-2021. The statistics do not include people sleeping rough, couch-surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, or those who are in shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres. Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the figures show the 'Government's current approach to homelessness is failing'. He said: 'With the introduction of the new Housing Plan, the incoming minister has a vital opportunity to reset the policy. We have outlined our evidence-based recommendations in a detailed submission to support this change. 'It is totally unacceptable that there's a record number of 4,775 children homeless as we approach summer. 'This should be a carefree time for children as they look forward to school holidays and the longer evenings. 'Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are studying for exams while living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to even do their homework.' The Simon Communities of Ireland urged the Government to 'act decisively' on homelessness. Ber Grogan, executive director of the organisation, said: 'This is the highest level of homelessness Ireland has ever seen, and it's unacceptable. 'Behind every number is a person – a family, a child, a life in crisis. We are pleading with Government leaders and local authorities to act decisively before this emergency becomes completely irreversible.' The organisation said there should be 'real investment' in prevention. 'On top of the rising numbers, we're now facing unacceptable constraints on our ability to respond. 'In certain areas, there is no funding for second-hand housing acquisitions under tenant in situ (TIS) or the Homeless Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). 'We are deeply concerned that these decisions will result in reduced supply and increased vulnerability for those already most at risk.' The Dublin rough sleeper count for spring, carried out over the week of March 31 to April 6, was published earlier this month and showed a decrease in rough sleeping since winter and spring 2024. The number of individuals engaged with by outreach teams during the week was 121, a decrease of 13 (9.7%) on winter 2024 when 134 were found to be rough sleeping during November 4-10 week. It represents a decrease of seven (5.5%) on the spring 2024 count carried out in the week of April 8-14. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin TD said the Government must 'urgently fund vital homeless services and reverse recent funding cuts'. 'The latest increase is shocking but not surprising. It is a stain on this Government and our society. 'We cannot allow ourselves to accept this as normal. We must continue to be outraged by the fact that so many children are forced into emergency accommodation due to Government decisions. 'It is clear that we need urgent emergency action to tackle this crisis. Government must immediately reverse the funding cuts to vital homeless supports such as Housing First and the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'It is time to get feet on the street and put as much pressure on Government to take emergency action now to tackle the housing and homeless crises.'
The Journal
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Record 15,580 people in emergency accommodation last month, including 4,775 children
THE NUMBER OF people in Ireland living in emergency accommodation stood at 15,580 in April. The figure includes 4,775 children – 100 more than last month. This doesn't account for those rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those experiencing 'hidden homelessness', such as sleeping in cars, on couches, or other unsuitable living conditions. The figures are taken from the week of 21 April. Of the adults accessing emergency accommodation, 7,652 were in Co Dublin. Some 650 adults were in Cork, 496 were in Limerick, and 249 were in Galway. There were 3,559 children living in emergency accommodation in Dublin. There were 230 in the West (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon), and 219 in the Mid-East (Kildare, Meath and Wicklow). Advertisement 'Possible to end homelessness' Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the number of children homeless is 'unacceptable'. 'This should be a carefree time for children as they look forward to school holidays and the longer evenings. 'Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are studying for exams while living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to even do their homework.' He said the government's new housing plan, which is due to be published in July, must deliver a 'radical policy shift' to meet the growing needs across society. 'It is possible to end homelessness, and we must all learn the lessons from what is working and has worked in the past and so more of the same.' Rory Hearne TD, housing spokesperson for the Social Democrats, says the homelessness figures are a 'shameful milestone' and a direct result of government policy. 'Failing to take an interventionist approach in coordinating a national emergency response to homelessness across all local authorities, destroying the Tenant in Situ Scheme, and threatening to end rent caps have collectively pushed more and more people into homelessness,' he said. Hearne called them 'intolerable and excusable' failures. 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
