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Irish Post
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Protest outside the Dáil over Ireland's housing crisis
LARGE demonstrations have taken place outside the Dáil Éireann over Ireland's escalating housing crisis. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions organised the "Raise the Roof" protest to coincide with a parliamentary debate on the issue. The union labelled the crisis "the greatest political failure of our time". Ethel Buckley, deputy general secretary of SIPTU, stated: 'Workers are being priced out of home ownership and can only access housing by taking on unsustainable financial burdens.' She went on to add: 'This has serious consequences, not just on a personal level, but across society. We're seeing vital jobs go unfilled and more young people emigrating.' 'What's urgently needed is a complete overhaul and long-term strategy to provide secure, affordable housing.' Ireland's housing crisis has forced the government to navigate the wide gap in priorities between renters, landlords and property developers. Homeownership is simply out of reach for many young people due to high demand and low supply. According to recent data from property site Daft, average monthly rent has now surpassed €2,000 nationwide. In response, the government has tried to introduce policies that both limit rent hikes and encourage construction by developers and investors. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that the government aims to considerably boost construction to meet national demand. However, Sinn Féin has repeatedly criticised the government for not taking enough action to resolve the crisis. The opposition described the situation as a severe emergency prior to the protest. Eoin Ó Broin TD, Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson, said: 'We're calling for measures that genuinely protect renters, not the weakening of rent pressure zones that we've seen so far, but a total freeze on rent increases and concrete support to bring costs down.' Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are areas where rent increases are legally limited to shield tenants from sharp price hikes. The Raise the Roof campaign has widespread public support, but it remains uncertain whether this will alleviate Ireland's housing woes any time soon.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Republic of Ireland housing: Raise the Roof protest takes place outside Dáil
A major protest is taking place outside the Dáil (lower house of the Irish parliament) over the Republic of Ireland's growing housing Raise the Roof protest has been coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which has described the crisis as "the greatest political failure of our time".The rally on Tuesday evening coincides with a Dáil debate on the issue."Workers are being priced out of homes or can only rent or purchase with considerable financial burden," said Ethel Buckley, SIPTU deputy general secretary. "Alongside the human cost of this, we are seeing the serious knock-on effects, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in key sectors, and young people once again choosing to emigrate."What is needed now is a radical reset with sustained action to deliver secure, affordable housing." Renting The growing housing crisis across the country has left the government walking a tightrope between the interests of tenants, landlords and number of people who are now living in rented accommodation goes to the heart of the current is the only option for many people, especially young people, who cannot afford to buy their own home because of the cost of domestic rates now average more than €2,000 (£1,700) a month nationally, according to a recent report by the property website and are higher in government has been trying to introduce measures aimed at restricting rent price increases while also encouraging developers and investors to come into the building (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin says the government wants to introduce proposals which will "dramatically increase the supply of housing and apartments to the country, to get from 30,000 to 50,000 per annum for a sustained period of time".But, the opposition, led by Sinn Féin, has consistently accused the government of failing to take the correct action to address the crisis. Damien moved to Dublin a few years ago from Tyrone and was at today's protest. The 27-year-old said he has, "no hope of ever owning a home of my own in Dublin". "I am paying the majority of my salary every month on rent, it leaves me with a thousand euros". "It leaves it really hard to get by", he added. Liam is 22-years-old and has just finished college, he still lives at home with his studying he commuted daily from the Trim, "it was a draining journey to college every day, the commute was two to three hours every day", he said he knows people who dropped out of his course because "it was so draining". He made the choice to commute because of the "mad money" required to rent in Dublin. Ahead of Tuesday's protest outside the Dáil, the opposition characterised the situation as "an emergency".Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, says opposition parties have joined together to introduce a motion in the Dáil "to tell the government very clearly that we need an emergency response to the housing emergency they have created"."It means taking action to protect renters - not what we have seen from the government in terms of the hollowing-out of rent pressure zones, but actually banning rent increases for all renters as well as supports to reduce the cost of rent," he Pressure Zones (RPZ) are designated areas of the country where rent increases are capped to protect the interests of Dáil motion on the issue has been drawn up by the combined opposition of Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, the Green Party and members of the progressive independents technical well as trade unions, the Raise the Roof campaign is also backed by housing and homeless agencies, women's groups, political parties, representatives of older people, Traveller groups, children's advocacy groups, community organisations and student unions.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Politicians' actions will speak louder than words when it comes to housing crisis
The opposition is 100pc correct to highlight government failings. In March 2019, Leilani Farha, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, said: 'Contrary to international human rights obligations, investment in housing in the Republic of Ireland has disconnected housing from its core social purpose of providing people with a place to live in with security and dignity.' The Raise the Roof protests today will target Government failings and highlight the human toll taken through being unable to rent or buy at affordable rates. The campaign, which also has the backing of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, wants to see an increase in public housing investment and more punitive taxes imposed on vacancy and dereliction. It has also fought for a re-introduction of the ban on 'no fault' evictions. Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, several Independent TDs and the Green Party have tabled a motion calling for the implementation of all of the above. By now, the Coalition should not require a mass demonstration to recognise the risks it is running by not getting on top of the single issue on which the whole country desperately demands more progress. We have reached a moment where only big gestures and bold thinking can restore confidence in its ability to deliver on housing. Ten years into the housing crisis, it remains the greatest political failure of our time As targets are continually missed and rents keep rising, a consensus is forming around a view that inaction speaks louder than words. As Ethel Buckley, deputy general secretary of Siptu, said recently: 'Ten years into the housing crisis, and that crisis remains the greatest political failure of our time. Workers are being priced out of homes or can only rent or purchase with considerable financial burden.' It is critical that due attention is paid when people say our broken property market must be fixed. Expecting it to happen immediately is unrealistic, but a show of intent and evidence of total commitment to identifying and implementing vital solutions is not. Protests matter, though not as much as agreeing on ways to rapidly expand our housing supply. The Government needs to bring the opposition on board so that a national drive to ramp up the construction of affordable homes can be achieved. As things stand, young people are profoundly disillusioned about their prospects. They are frustrated by repeated speeches from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris about 'challenges'. Mr Martin said he wants 'courage and ambition' to be matched with careful planning and management on the issue. He must lead by example. He speaks of taking 'brave and difficult decisions' on housing and in other areas. True, it is a time for initiative and innovation, but for them to be taken and not simply talked about.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Campaign grows for Ireland to get another public holiday, honouring St Colmcille
Ireland could get another public holiday if proposals to have our third patron saint granted a day in his memory go through. Following the addition of St Brigid's Day in 2023, we now enjoy 10 public holidays. Our third national saint after St Patrick and St Brigid is St Colmcille – and a campaign to have a public holiday named after him is growing. Donegal County Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh proposed a motion for the local authority to ask the Government to establish a new public holiday in honour of St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba. On the saint's feast day yesterday, he said: "Ireland is two days behind the European average of 12 public. "St Colmcille is Ireland's third patron saint but isn't recognised with a public holiday. We're looking to even that up." St Colmcille was born near Lifford, in Donegal in 521AD and established over 50 Christian sites throughout Ireland. Despite the addition of St Brigid's Day, the Irish tally remains lower than the EU average of 12. For example, France has 12 this year, while Spain and Portugal both have 13. Public holidays, which are sometimes called a bank holiday, commemorate a special day or other event. Most businesses and schools close, while services like public transport operate with reduced schedules. In Ireland, the 10 days are New Year's Day, St Brigid's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, May Day, the June Bank Holiday, the August Bank Holiday, the October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St Stephen's Day. Good Friday is not a public holiday, but it is a bank holiday, meaning some businesses do close, although workers are not legally entitled to a day off. There have been several proposals for extra public holidays in Ireland, with a Government taskforce for the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-23 having considered an off-peak public holiday date. It said this would "create additional domestic high spending short break demand and would extend the tourism season." In 2021 Senator Fiona O'Loughlin called for one to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show. The then-Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said at the time that there were discussions about having a public holiday in February, March or November. Last year, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) called for two more public holidays in Ireland and said: "The minimum number of public holidays should be the EU average of 12." In January, People Before Profit proposed two extra holidays for the last Mondays of September and November. A spokesman said: "Workers in Ireland are still lagging behind their European counterparts. "Ireland has 10 public holidays. In contrast, Germany and Sweden have 13 paid public holidays, Italy has 14 and Austria has 15." Dublin City University's Dr Brenda Daly, who is an Associate Professor of Law, last month called for more public holidays. She said: "I certainly would advocate that there is a benefit to it." A Department of Enterprise spokesperson said. "Any proposal for the provision of another public holiday would require very careful consideration, including on the additional costs this would impose on employers." The idea of a day off in Ireland was introduced in 1871, when the country was still under British rule. After independence, the Bank Holidays Act was replaced by the Public Holidays Act 1924. The Government has the authority under Article 28 of the 1922 Constitution to proclaim a new holiday. In a letter to the Government, Mr Kavanagh wrote: "The June Bank Holiday could be renamed in honour of St Colmcille, but that wouldn't solve Ireland having less public holidays than the rest of Europe. "We could go for a new public holiday on the first Monday in July. We don't have a public holiday in July. "St Colmcille's story is a great story. "I think it would be an excellent bank holiday. "We hope the Government will look at the proposal."
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Workers to observe nationwide moment of reflection for Gaza
Workers across Ireland are expected to participate in a moment of reflection at lunchtime today amid the going violence in Gaza. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has asked that at 1:05pm, participating workers mark a moment of respectful reflection, as a simple act of solidarity and remembrance for the loss of life over the past eighteen months. Today is the International UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. "As the appalling violence in Gaza continues, our members asked that the trade union movement lead in reflecting on this terrible loss of life," said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy. "Since announcing the moment of reflection last week, we have been heartened by the response from the 800,000 union members across the island." "The UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on these tragic events and their devastating impact on the people of Gaza, particularly the children who have suffered so greatly," Mr Reidy said. Workers who wish to participate are encouraged to observe the moment of reflection respectfully, whether in their workplace, at home, or wherever they may be. ICTU said the moment of reflection is not a work stoppage, and is encouraging participating workers to coordinate with their employers where possible. SIPTU staff and members will stage a solidarity action at 1.05pm, on Butt Bridge in Dublin across from the 'Ceasefire Now' banner on the side of Liberty Hall.
