Reality hits home on Simon’s first day

CALL FOR ELECTION OVER HOUSING CRISIS

Sinn Fein’s spend was on 88 ads, comparable to the 83 ads Fine Gael paid for. Fianna Fail’s €7,070 spend was spread across 334 ads, many of which were for short periods of time. Labour’s money was spent on eight ads, while the Social Democrats paid for 16 ads.

Sinn Fein’s spending, at just under €45,000, was far higher than the other parties combined, which totalled €18,570.

Report author Damien Mulley said: “The 2024 political ad campaigns in Ireland reveal a strong focus on addressing immediate economic and social concerns, notably the housing and healthcare crises.

“With new leadership in Fine Gael and a new Taoiseach that knows the power of social media, the strategic recalibration of policy and ministerial roles might also come with a change in spend and tone in Fine Gael social media.”

INCOMING Taoiseach Simon Harris is facing calls for an immediate general election on his first day in the job due to his Government’s chronic failure to tackle the housing crisis.

A damning new report released just 24 hours before Mr Harris will be anointed as our new Taoiseach in the Dail this afternoon has shown that house prices are rocketing once again as supply reaches a record new low.

It comes after the new Fine Gael leader had promised at his party’s Ard Fheis at the weekend that he would build 250,000 new homes over the next five years.

However, the latest report from MyHome.ie and Bank of Ireland shows house price inflation is running at 6.5 per cent, the highest since the end of 2022.

Sinn Fein’s housing spokesman Eoin O Broin said this showed how the Government’s housing policy is pushing up house prices.

He said: “This is yet more evidence as to why we don’t need Simon Harris to be elected Taoiseach.

“We need a general election, a change of government and a new housing plan that focuses on the delivery of tens of thousands of affordable homes at prices working people can afford.”

Mr Harris is due to be elected Taoiseach in the Dail today after Leo Varadkar announced he was standing down last month.

TDs will vote on the new Taoiseach this afternoon, with Mr Harris expected to have enough numbers on his side to comfortably win.

Spin

He is expected to get the support of all TDs in coalition partners Fianna Fail and the Green Party, as well as a number of Independent TDs.

However, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said the Taoiseach-in-waiting has political spin in spades without any discernible plan to tackle the housing crisis.

Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Fine Gael’s new leader has stated that he wants to build 250,000 homes over the next five years, equating to 50,000 homes each year.

“In doing so, Simon Harris is finally admitting to what has been obvious for some time — that this Government’s targets have been totally inadequate and their delivery record abysmal.

“What the incoming Taoiseach has failed to outline is how he actually intends to build thousands more homes than are currently in the pipeline.

“Simon Harris’s spin-heavy speech at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis was big on rhetoric but light on detail.

“People cannot live in housing targets. WithoutamajoroverhauloftheGovernment’s housing policy, we will continue to see this crisis deepen.”

Labour’s Finance spokesman Ged Nash added: “As the Simon Harris coronation takes centre stage, we see record homelessness, rents, and house prices, with no tangible solutions in sight.”