Post Script Post Script: politicians go podcasting, tech sector highs and lows, Seanad gets a visitor The Business Post takes a look at the scenes behind the stories
Politics Darragh O’Brien says government ‘committed’ to Budget measures for landlordsMinisters for Finance and Public Expenditure have “clearly signalled” a desire to attract and retain landlords in the rental system which he added has been under strain for years
Planning Pushback against ‘cosmetic exercise’ of renaming Bord Pleanála Staff union Fórsa, TDs and the Oireachtas Housing Committee have said the move would be costly, humiliating and unnecessary
A quarter of older tenants expect to stay in private rental sector for life– report42% of respondents felt stressed in the private rental sector due to accommodation insecurity
Tax Government to ‘fix’ land hoarding tax to remove threat to farmers - TaoiseachThe tax of 3 per cent per year is designed to release thousands of acres of zoned housing land and has been subject to backlash from farmers
Construction Taoiseach asks Darragh O’Brien for increased timber use in construction amid industry ‘frustration’Leo Varadkar also asked if there was any way of fast-tracking the measurement of embodied carbon in buildings ahead of EU regulations
Housing Darragh O’Brien urges banks to help Mica homeowners avoid mortgage defaults Housing Minister asks industry bodies for ‘fair and consistent approach’ after government warned demolition of damaged houses could trigger full mortgage repayment clause
Zoned Land Farmers gain ground in push to avoid paying zoned land taxNew tax is aimed at releasing 25,000 acres for housing, but many owners have no interest in selling land which they have been farming for generations
Housing ‘I believe in home ownership’: Darragh O’Brien defends progress on housingDarragh O’Brien, the minister for housing, said the government’s progress in addressing the housing shortage is gaining momentum
Housing Thousands of one-off homes to avoid levies and water connection charges under €1bn package The government measure announced this week is also set to benefit thousands of one-off homes which have faced rising construction costs
Housing Minimum 50 years for cost rental homes under government subsidy scheme for developersDarragh O’Brien believes that subsidies of €150,000 per unit would deliver 4,000-6,000 homes
Housing One-off rural housing to continue under new guidelinesPush towards compact settlements will see dramatic increase in density requirements for residential housing in towns, cities and suburbs
Housing Councils who built no homes ‘must do a lot more’ – Minister O’Brien’s department fell short of its social housing targets last year, with 10,263 homes built, leased or bought compared to the target of 11,820
Legal O’Brien expresses ‘shock’ that GSOC officer attended Hutch party The Minister for Housing was speaking after An Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission officer attended a party with Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch on the day he was cleared of a gangland murder
Housing O’Brien yet to address role in delay in publication of evictions dataHousing minister asked to clarify whether political pressure was put on Residential Tenancies Board to postpone release of vital information ahead of lifting of eviction ban
Housing Labour questions if ‘political pressure’ delayed eviction data until after Dáil voteDublin Inquirer has reported that the Department of Housing was aware of the number of evictions but told the Residential Tenancies Board not to release the data
Housing Peter McVerry apologises to Taoiseach over ‘inaccurate’ eviction ban claimThe homeless rights campaigner said the phrase used by his source was unfortunate and inaccurate but provided in good faith
Housing Housebuilding figures 20 per cent down on same period last yearWith homelessness figures at their second highest on record, the government is under pressure to deliver on commencement rate
Climate & Environment Vat rate on solar panels abolished Eamon Ryan said that it was a step towards cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy
investment Darragh O’Brien tries to calm growing fears from US firms over housing crisis Minister for Housing tells American Chamber of Commerce conference that tackling the housing crisis is the government’s top priority