Fianna Fáil to choose ‘definitive position' on Irish presidential election by the end of the month
The Taoiseach has said his party will take 'some definitive position' by the end of this month, and has already 'taken soundings'.
Highly placed sources said the party needs a 'run out' for the presidency for the first time since backing Mary McAleese, from Northern Ireland, in 1997.
Mrs McAleese was unopposed when she nominated herself for a second term in 2004. By its expiry in 2011, Fianna Fáil was being blamed for the disastrous economic crash and chose to sit out the contest that elected President Michael D Higgins.
Independent Seán Gallagher, acknowledged as being from the Fianna Fáil gene pool, contested both the 2011 and 2018 elections, with Fianna Fáil backing President Higgins for a renewed mandate on the basis of his performance over the first seven years.
The Executive Council will decide in the coming weeks the timeline and process for the selection of a Fine Gael candidate
It is believed Micheál Martin wants the party to run a candidate this time round, although he has made clear it will not be himself. The parliamentary party will officially select a candidate – with the leader looming over it.
Mr Martin previously oversaw the expulsion of Bertie Ahern from Fianna Fáil, which he has since rejoined, which does not bode well for a possible run by the former taoiseach – a three-time general election winner.
'We'll assess it in the next few months,' a senior source said of the election. 'It will be a different election to the ones we've had for the last while. Things generally don't firm up until after the summer.'
It is certain that there will be no agreed government candidate backed by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. A spokesperson for Fine Gael said: 'The Executive Council will decide in the coming weeks the timeline and process for the selection of a Fine Gael candidate for the forthcoming presidential election.'
Tánaiste Simon Harris has already made it abundantly clear that Fine Gael, which has never won the presidency, and which chose not to run a candidate in 2018, will be doing so this time.
Its last candidate, Gay Mitchell, garnered just 6.4pc of first preferences in 2011 and was placed fourth, after beating Mairead McGuinness to the nomination.
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A spokesperson for the Labour Party said it 'continues to work with cross-party colleagues in the hope to run a candidate to continue the legacy of President Michael D Higgins'.
Mr Higgins was formerly nominated by the Labour Party, which now requires the support of the Social Democrats to reach the 20 Oireachtas members needed to nominate. Both parties were elected with 11 TDs, but Eoin Hayes has since been suspended by the Social Democrats over his sale of shares from a company which supplies technology to the Israeli military.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik is understood to have been sounding out one or two targets, with some reluctance expressed in return that any 'combined left' effort would be badged with Sinn Féin.
Ms Bacik wrote to the Social Democrats at the start of the year in pursuit of a joint venture, and also to Roderic O'Gorman, the sole Dáil representative of the Green Party.
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
This is a housing strategy written by Flann O'Brien
When they were introduced in 2016, rent pressure zones (RPZs) represented a courageous move by Simon Coveney and Fine Gael , a party that prefers to let the market determine what happens in housing . The first generation of RPZs limited rent increases to 4 per cent annually in 21 locations. These increases were subsequently reduced to a maximum of 2 per cent annually. RPZs now encompass 83 per cent of all tenancies. Owners of properties in a RPZ being rented for the first time, or after two years' vacancy, can set a market rent but are then restricted to the percentage limit. Outside RPZs, rents can be set every two years to the market rate. Have they worked? Although too often ignored, the rules have mostly been successful, maintaining some affordability and keeping people housed. Have they reduced the supply of new properties for rent? Anti-rent regulation proponents are convinced they have. But although apartment development has slowed down, there is no concrete evidence this is due to rent controls. Similar trends of funds leaving the rental sector have been observed in other countries where there are fewer rent controls, so it's plausible that different factors have convinced investors to punt their cash elsewhere. Ignoring recommendations of the Housing Commission, the Government is now to keep the 2 per cent rent increase maximum for existing tenants, which is welcome. For new-build rental housing, increases will be linked annually to consumer price inflation. After March 1st, 2026, landlords of new ' tenancy arrangements ' will be allowed reset the rent to market rates at the end of every six-year tenancy. The entire country will now be an RPZ, effectively negating the concept. READ MORE Conor Pope takes a closer look at the newly announced rent reforms. Video: Dan Dennison These changes are linked to increased security of tenure from March 2026, which will mean landlords with more than three properties cannot evict a tenant except in limited circumstances, and smaller landlords can evict at any time due to some 'particular hardship' (examples given in the Government's press release include somebody facing bankruptcy, marriage breakdown or homelessness, but the concept is almost certainly open to abuse); for use by an immediate family member; and for sale at the end of a six-year tenancy. There are several likely impacts of the Government's plans. The first is that there will be multiple categories of renters: those with an existing pre-June 2022 tenancy who are currently vulnerable to being legally evicted for any reason after six years; those in an existing post-2022 tenancy; and those in a new-build rental property. This will create more 'rent insiders' and 'rent outsiders', who are generally younger people . Critically, the ability of landlords to reset rents to the market at every new tenancy arrangement should alarm tenants. In the last six years, average new market rents nationally have increased by 41 per cent (to €1,680), and by 31 per cent in Dublin (to €2,177). Many thousands of renters who have to move each year (say, for work or study) will get hammered by this provision, while other tenants are more likely to stay put. Inflation-linked rent rises are attractive when rates are low and economies booming, but not when inflation is high and economies and employment may be at risk. The new system will be so complicated vulnerable renters such as the elderly and those whose first language is not English are far more likely to experience exploitation. Already a challenge, enforcement will increasingly be an issue. Will new rent rules help or hurt tenants - or fix the housing crisis? Listen | 21:19 The Government will bring its latest housing fix to Cabinet today when it presents new rules on rent levels for at boosting supply – by encouraging large institutional investors to build and small landlords to stay in the market – the plan primarily concerns rules around Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ).Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. These changes are all driven by one overarching aim: a desperate desire to attract the international investment the Government thinks it needs to increase rental supply and help resolve the housing crisis. If new rental supply is triggered by rent inflation, our rising rent problem is apparently going to be solved by allowing rents to rise. Flann O'Brien is now writing housing strategy. On Tuesday, Minister for Housing James Browne couldn't say when rents would fall on foot of these changes, hardly a ringing endorsement of his own policy. (Hint, Minister: no realistic amount of new supply will reverse the 100 per cent increase in rents in the last decade.) The Government also seems content to funnel a generation into long-term expensive renting, while simultaneously overseeing a commensurate decline in home ownership. As UCD professor Aidan Regan has said , for the first time ever this generation of young people may be poorer than its parents. These renters will be paying the pensions of comfortable, retired homeowning teachers in the US and elsewhere as they face years in housing – and wealth – oblivion. The Government is trying to expand a rental sector already twice as large as it should be, and for which there is little public desire compared to housing for sale. The Government is conveniently ignoring its own research which shows that 87 per cent of renters aged 25-49 want to be homeowners. Do we even need this international money? The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has suggested the establishment of a specific private savings fund devoted to housing to allow citizens to invest some of the €143 billion sitting in low interest-paying deposit accounts. So too has Fianna Fáil's own Barry Andrews MEP. Such a fund should be used to build affordable housing for sale, the housing we need. This is also financially efficient: build, sell, recycle the money, go again. You don't need gazillions of international euro to build housing for sale. Better on security of tenure than affordability, the proposals to reform Ireland's imperfect but functioning rent control feels very much like a Government in panic. This impression is not helped by a mismanaged launch, including patchy performances in TV interviews and a botched press release, which had to be reissued a few hours later. By incentivising the rental industry, the Government is anxious to see house completion numbers increase quickly after last year's politically arrogant broken promises – but at the expense of a generation of aspirational homeowners. Once again Government is trying to control a market it can't. Only two things are certain beyond death and taxes: the private sector will not solve our housing problems and, barring global mayhem, rents are not coming down any time soon. Dr Lorcan Sirr is senior lecturer in housing at the Technological University Dublin
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Central Bank governor says question marks over Israel's financial stability
The 'intensity' of the conflict in Gaza 'puts a question mark' over whether the financial viability of Israel 'still remains secure', the Central Bank of Ireland governor has said. The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) insisted that it cannot 'impose sanctions' on Israel or stop facilitating the sale of so-called 'Israeli war bonds'. It also said that it does not have to consider the Genocide Convention when reviewing or approving prospectuses. The comments were made at the Finance Committee, which was held several hours before the Dáil was due to vote on selling the bonds for the second time in as many weeks. The CBI is the designated authority for the sale of Israeli bonds in the EU. It is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus is in compliance with the requirements of the EU Prospectus Regulation. Gerry Cross, Director of Capital Markets and Funds at CBI, told TDs and senators at the Finance Committee that they must ensure that relevant information is included, such as 'does this disclose the things that an investor needs to know to understand their financial risks' before they invest. Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the CBI, confirmed that Israel has yet to contact the bank about renewing the prospectus before it expires in September. Labour's Ged Nash asked Mr Makhlouf the questions and issues the CBI would 'raise with the Israeli State' if they seek to renew the prospectus before it expires in September. The Governor said that he would expect Israel to divulge that its war on Gaza is affecting its financial stability. He said: 'I would expect [the prospectus] to set out any new developments that are relevant. 'It depends at the moment when they actually write to us, but I think the intensity of the conflict in Gaza probably does put a question mark over whether you know the financial viability of the [Israeli] State still remains secure. 'The fact that the European Union has indicated that it's going to look at its cooperation agreement with Israel, I think that's a factor. 'The fact that the Finance Minister [Bezalel Smotrich] has just been sanctioned by a number of countries, that may be a factor. 'We haven't drawn up a list of the things that we'd expect to see. But clearly, you'd expect, in view of what's happened in this conflict, some impact on the financial affairs of the State will be material. 'Now, in the end, it is for the [Israeli] State to make the judgment whether it does affect its financial standing or not. 'We don't make that assessment. I would expect them to address that.' Mr Makhlouf said it is up to Israel to decide who they want to apply to another EU country to be the designated authority for the sale of bonds. In his opening statement, Mr Makhlouf stated that CBI is 'established by law, we are empowered by law, and we must always act within and in line with the law'. He said: 'One of the powers that has been assigned to us is to perform the functions of a competent authority under the European Prospectus Regulation. 'This means that we must approve a prospectus once certain conditions are met.' He insisted that the CBI does not 'issue, sell, trade or list these bonds' and that it does not 'authorise or supervise them' in the case of Israeli sovereign bonds. Mr Makhlouf continued: 'It is for international bodies such as the UN or the EU to determine how to respond to breaches or alleged breaches of international law, including to determine whether sanctions are necessary. 'The Central Bank cannot impose sanctions on Israel – for example, by refusing to approve the Israeli bond prospectus – in circumstances where the EU has not imposed any such sanctions itself.' While he condemned the war in Gaza and the blocking of aid, Mr Makhlouf said the CBI must 'carry out the statutory tasks and functions which have been assigned to us'.
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Israeli fire kills 60 in Gaza and many were near aid site, medics say
Israeli gunfire and airstrikes killed at least 60 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them near an aid site operated by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the centre of the enclave, local health officials said. Medical officials at Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals said at least 25 people were killed and dozens wounded as the approached a food distribution centre near the former Jewish settlement of Netzarim before dawn. Israel's military, which has been at war with Hamas militants since October 2023, said its forces fired warning shots overnight towards a group of suspects as they posed a threat to troops in the area of the Netzarim Corridor. "This is despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone. The IDF is aware of reports regarding individuals injured; the details are under review," it said. Later yesterday, health officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza said at least 14 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire as they approached another GHF site in Rafah. Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says five members killed in Hamas attack The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused militant group Hamas of attacking a bus carrying its staffers to an aid distribution center, saying at least five people were killed and multiple others injured. The group said in a statement that around 10pm local time "a bus carrying more than two dozen members of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation team... were brutally attacked by Hamas." "We are still gathering facts, but what we know is devastating: there are at least five fatalities, multiple injuries, and fear that some of our team members may have been taken hostage," the statement read. In an email to AFP the group said all the passengers on the bus were Palestinian and all were aid workers. They were en route to GHF's distribution centre in the area west of Khan Younis. "We condemn this heinous and deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms," the group said in its statement. "These were aid workers. Humanitarians. Fathers, brothers, sons and friends, who were risking their lives every day to help others." An officially private effort with opaque funding and backed by Israel, GHF began operations on 26 May after Israel completely cut off supplies into Gaza for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. The Israeli military faces allegations of shooting into crowds of civilians rushing to pick up aid packages near GHF sites. Israeli authorities and the GHF - which uses contracted US security - denied any such incident took place. The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. The GHF earlier said it was unaware of incidents involving civilians but added that it was working closely with Israeli authorities to ensure safe passage routes are maintained, and that it was essential for Palestinians to closely follow instructions. "Ultimately, the solution is more aid, which will create more certainty and less urgency among the population," it said by email in response to Reuters questions. "There is not yet enough food to feed everyone in need in Gaza. Our current focus is to feed as many people as is safely possible within the constraints of a highly volatile environment." GHF said it distributed 2.5 million meals, the largest single-day delivery since it began operations, bringing to more than 16 million the number of meals provided since its operations started in late May. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says that since then, 163 Palestinians had been killed and over 1,000 wounded trying to obtain the food boxes. The United Nations has condemned the killings and has refused to supply aid via the foundation, which uses private contractors with Israeli military backup in what they say is a breach of humanitarian standards. Elsewhere in Gaza, its health ministry said at least 11 other people were killed by separate Israeli gunfire and strikes across the coastal enclave. The war erupted 20 months ago after Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on 7 October 2023, Israel's single deadliest day. Israel's military campaign has since killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than two million people. Most of the population is displaced and malnutrition is widespread. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday there had been "significant progress" in efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, but that it was "too soon" to raise hopes that a deal would be reached.
