Commercial Property

Colm Lauder: Why was the Irish housing minister not at Mipim to drum up investment?

Ireland, from national to local level, ignored the opportunity to pitch itself at Europe’s biggest deal show despite the lack of capital in the country

Fianna Fáil Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The Irish property industry joined over 20,000 colleagues at the annual Mipim real estate investment showcase in Cannes this week with a subdued air defining market conditions.

Optimism of increasing deal flow in the second half of 2024, especially at a corporate level, was a key talking point for international attendees. This was less so for Irish investors where access to equity capital for development, especially housing, was the key objective.

Given the obvious funding ...