‘Release the hounds' – Peadar Tóibín likens Micheál Martin to Montgomery Burns in ‘insulting' TV jibe at ard fheis speech
Peadar Tóibín yesterday compared Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the cartoon character Montgomery Burns, the nuclear plant owner in the TV series The Simpsons.
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Agriland
4 hours ago
- Agriland
State criticised for purchasing land for rewilding amid housing crisis
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been slammed for purchasing land for rewilding during the housing crisis. The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) has called into question what it said is the 'expressed policy of government ministers and our Taoiseach [Micheál Martin] to use state money in the purchasing of lands to increase the size and number of national parks'. Vincent Roddy, the association's president, said: 'It is absolutely mind-boggling that we have people inside the Department of Housing actively looking to purchase farmland for rewilding while over 15,000 people remain homeless, including 4,600 children. 'With numbers such as this you would expect the government and this department to focus on acquiring land to build houses or maybe developing existing state land for housing,' Roddy added. He went on to outline what he said was the impact of those land purchases for farmers and their communities. 'We are now seeing the state actively compete against farmers in the purchasing of land, which is having a detrimental effect on access to land, especially for young farmers, while also undermining economic activity in these communities,' Roddy said. The INHFA president also claimed that this policy is 'at variance' with the Irish constitution, which Roddy said 'outlines the need to retain as many families as is economically practicable on the land'. The wording of the constitution in this regard is: 'The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that there may be established on the land in economic security as many families as in the circumstances shall be practicable.' Roddy called for 'an immediate reassessment' of the current policy, amid 'growing concerns around food security and ongoing rural decline'. 'Through active engagement with farmers we can deliver much better outcomes in terms of economic and environmental sustainability while ensuring there is more funding available to address the housing crisis,' he said.
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Nursing home chain at the centre of RTÉ Investigates programme issues apology
LAST UPDATE | 20 mins ago THE NURSING HOME chain at the centre of a programme by RTÉ Investigates has issued an 'unequivocal' apology to residents and their families. Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea, operates 27 nursing homes across the country after entering the Irish market in 2022. The RTÉ programme that is to air tonight highlights poor treatment and practice within two of the homes under the chain's brand. Two RTÉ researchers worked undercover in two different homes; one in The Residence Portlaoise, and one in Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin. Taoiseach Micheál Martin today said that he is 'very, very concerned' about the investigation's findings. 'I think it's shocking what is likely to be revealed following the report,' he told reporters in Dublin. He said that it was 'unacceptable' that the operator had allowed the failures to occur within its nursing homes. A statement from the company said that it has begun a comprehensive review across both nursing homes as a result of the failures identified within the programme. 'The findings are deeply distressing, wholly unjustifiable, and entirely unacceptable. We express our deep concern, as the wellbeing, dignity, and safety of residents in our care will always remain our foremost priority.' It said that it has issued 'clear guidance' to all its employees, which it said would be reinforced through targeted training and enhanced supervision in 'individualised resident handling, continence management, and safeguarding'. 'We will not tolerate any individual or systemic neglect, nor any practices that compromise resident safety, rights, or dignity.' Advertisement Within the programme, which The Journal has previewed, staff at the nursing homes are seen to have left residents dressed in inappropriate incontinence wear, left unchanged for hours at a time, and being discovered in wet clothing after they had wet themselves. It also shows a man with dementia, recorded with secret cameras installed by RTÉ, being 'roughly handled' by staff. The company also said that it is reviewing the oversight and management of medical supplies and clinical practices across all of its nursing homes. 'Assistance programmes for residents, families, and staff are being established in response to the serious issues identified. 'Staff, residents, families, and members of the public have access to a confidential whistleblower portal through which concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal. 'All concerns are promptly investigated, reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities, and followed up with individualised safeguarding plans and strengthened oversight to mitigate the risk of recurrence,' Emeis said in a statement. Staff members at Emeis-operated nursing homes made protected disclosures to the Health Information and Equality Authority (HIQA), but it took 17 weeks for follow-up inspections to be carried out, the programme reports. Charity ALONE said that it is shocked and dismayed at the revelations featured within the programme. Its CEO Seán Moynihan said, 'But shock and anger aren't enough – the Leas Cross Nursing Home scandal was 20 years ago. This needs to finally be the wake-up call that sparks real change in how we support and care for older people.' 'Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes' airs tonight at 9.35 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. With reporting by Eimer McAuley 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
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach says decision on whether to scrap rent caps expected in next week
A DECISION ON whether the Government will scrap or retain Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) is expected in the next week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. The Taoiseach caused panic earlier this year when he said the Government was considering getting rid of the intervention which limits how much landlords can increase rent for properties in certain areas. The Government has been assessing whether an alternative system, which protects renters but, as the Taoiseach has said, 'also enables people to have a clear, stable environment in which to invest', can be established. It is understood that the new plan will form part of the Government's new housing plan, which is set to be published by July. Senior sources have told The Journal that it is likely that there will be no cliff edge or sudden rent increases for tenants currently in tenancies. However, landlords may be given the right to reset rents between tenancies. RPZs are in parts of the country where rents are highest and rising, and where households have the greatest difficulty finding affordable accommodation. Rents in an RPZ cannot be increased by more than the general rate of inflation or 2% per year, whichever is lower. Advertisement They were first introduced in Dublin and Cork in 2016 for a period of three years, but RPZs have since been expanded across the country. They were to remain in place until 31 December 2024 but last May, the Government agreed to extend them until 31 December 2025 . Replacing the use of RPZs was a recommendation of a landmark report by the Housing Commission last year. This was because it said the available evidence about the effectiveness of RPZ is 'mixed'. The Housing Commission recommended that a system of 'reference rents' be established in its place. The system of 'reference rents' would peg rent increases to a reference rent for local dwellings of similar quality. The Housing Commission said such a reference should be reviewed at regular intervals. 'Rent would not rise more than a certain percentage above this reference rent over a specific period,' noted the Housing Commission. It added that unsubsidised market rental dwellings should solely inform reference rents and that the percentage rent increase allowed should take account of relevant factors such as 'management and maintenance costs, interest rates, household incomes and affordability'. 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
