How the government was forced into a housing policy shift

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy (right) with Vice-President of the European Investmen Bank Andrew McDowell at St Michael’s Estate, Inchicore Pic: RollingNews.ie

A “mad hatter’s party” was how one local described the very public row between Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy and Minister of State Catherine Byrne at the launch of the St Michael’s Estate regeneration plan last Monday.

Unfortunately the bizarre behaviour of the Fine Gael deputy for Dublin 8 distracted the media from the real significance of the announcement. For the first time in 20 years, central government was allowing a local authority ...