Change of approach on evictions ban provokes fierce backlash

After the late night drama of Monday’s decision by the leaders of the Government parties to end the moratorium on evictions, the political backlash began early yesterday, even before the Cabinet had confirmed the decision.

Green deputy Neasa Hourigan lambasted the decision, and her own party leader’s role in it, on Claire Byrne’s radio show declaring that it was “completely the wrong decision”, describing it as “heartless” and expressing her disappointment that Green Party leader Eamon Ryan did not “speak up for Green Party values and Green Party policy”.

Whatever you think of Hourigan’s criticisms, she’s bang on the money when she characterises the decision-making process at the State’s highest level as the three party leaders going into a room, making a decision and the Cabinet rubber-stamping it. That’s exactly what happens.

Anyway, Opposition parties and housing campaigners weren’t long getting in on the act, though many of the activists acknowledged that the decision was not a straightforward one, and there were arguments both pro and con. The Opposition, in the main, did not indulge in such nuance. “Heartless, cruel and shameful”, said Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin, deputising for Mary Lou McDonald in the Dáil. There was lots more in the same vein.

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In fear of a revolt among TDs and activists, the Green Party sent out reassurances in the afternoon that the package of renter protections which accompanied the ending of the moratorium was a marvellous achievement altogether. It’s not clear how much this reassured the deputy leader Catherine Martin, who expressed reservations at Cabinet. Before going along with the plan, that is.

Closer examination revealed that the plans seemed to have been thrown together at the last minute, some of them previously announced, some of them not taking effect for months. It was thin enough stuff. The truth was the Government decided to grasp a nettle now rather than in a few months’ time. The fierce reaction confirms housing as the Coalition’s Achilles heel, but the decision to confront it marks a change of approach. You’re likely to hear plenty more about it today.

Lead story here.

Reaction from housing and homelessness charities here.

Jack Horgan-Jones has the background to the decision here.

Analysis here.

And The Irish Times view.

Rubber hits the road on climate action

A busy Cabinet meeting barely had time to approve the publication of the annexes to the Climate Action Plan yesterday. But they didn’t escape Harry McGee’s attention.

The plan – which details how much carbon emissions must be reduced from various sectors – was published before Christmas but the annexes contain more than 400 actions which specify how the cuts can be brought about. This is the beginning, in other words, of where the rubber hits the road on climate action. People tend to be very much in favour of achieving climate targets; whether they are as enthusiastic about some of the measures that might bring that about is rather more open to question. Certainly on a related issue – the introduction of congestion charges in urban centres – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dropped it like a hot potato earlier this week. The Greens will have to come back to that one; it’ll be a battle.

Expect these sorts of disputes to reoccur over the next two years. Climate action measures will become more difficult; Government politicians will become more nervous.

Referendum

The Cabinet also decided that a constitutional referendum will be held on gender equality and removing the reference to a woman’s life in the home. There’ll be more details announced today, but a wording to be inserted into the Constitution in place of the current provision won’t be produced for a few months yet. The vote is likely to take place in November. Mark Hilliard has the story.

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The Burkes are back in town, well, back in court. High jinks at the Court of Appeal, where Martina Burke accused the judges of “prostrating at the altar of transgenderism”. You know, you can believe whatever you like, but you can’t roar your head off at a judge in court. Raucous scenes followed as the family was forcibly removed, while a group of transition year students simply had the time of their lives. Reports here.

And here is Mary Carolan’s report of the actual judgment.

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Playbook

The Taoiseach, Roderic O’Gorman and Norma Foley are out for a morning press conference on the plans for a referendum on gender equality later this year. It is, of course, International Women’s Day today.

A lighter schedule today in the Dáil, starting soon after 9am and finishing before 9pm after the weekly votes. In between there’s a Private Members’ Bill from the Independents about protecting the use of cash as legal tender, Leaders’ Questions at noon, a few hours of statements on International Women’s Day and Government legislation to provide for emergency power generation.

Not to be outdone, the Seanad is also hosting a few hours of statements on International Women’s Day, as well as another hour of statements on Seachtain na Gaeilge. Form an orderly queue.

Lots of committee action. The health committee will discuss the role of pharmacists, the European committee welcomes Minister of State with responsibility for EU affairs Peter Burke, the enterprise committee will meet officials to discuss offshore renewable energy while the committee on Budgetary Oversight continues its examination of the Commission on Taxation’s report. And lots more besides. Full schedule here.