TD Barry: I’m no greedy landlord
TD STANDS OVER DECISION TO SELL HIS PROPERTIES
CORK EAST TD Tom Barry has accused Sinn Féin of acting in a “silly way” for dubbing him a greedy landlord after it emerged he is to sell his portfolio of 10 rental properties.
The revelation about the pending sale of Deputy Barry’s properties comes in the same week that the government announced sweeping reforms across the rental sector. Reforms proposed by Environment Minister Alan Kelly include a two-year freeze on rents.
Deputy Barry was criticised by Sinn Féin election candidate Pat Buckley for putting the houses on the market, with the Midleton-based councillor saying Deputy Barry was “completely removed from the real difficulties faced by ordinary people.”
“It is sad and infuriating to see he is more concerned with his property rights than the imperative of providing affordable housing,” said Cllr Buckley.
However, Deputy Barry rejected Cllr Buckley’s comments, insisting he was not “out of touch” with the situation on the ground in relation to the burgeoning housing crisis.
THE Cork East Fine Gael TD Tom Barry has stepped out from the eye of the storm to refute an allegation that he was out of touch with the public over the issue of housing rents.
Deputy Barry hit the headlines this week after he confirmed he was in the process of selling his entire portfolio of 10 rental houses, saying he believed legislation to reform the rental market had not been properly thought through and warranted further examination.
He warned that the homelessness crisis would get worse if proposals by Environment Minister Alan Kelly to reform the rental sector, which include two-year rent freeze, were introduced.
However, his stance was widely criticised with the Sinn Fein Cork East election candidate Cllr Pat Buckley describing Deputy Barry as “deluded and detached”
“He is completely removed from the real difficulties faced by ordinary people as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. It is sad and infuriating that Tom Barry is more concerned about his property rights than in the imperative of providing affordable housing for a huge number of people throughout Cork,” said Cllr Buckley.
“Deputy Barry is clearly disconnected from the reality on the ground in our communities. He must be completely insulated from the hardship and poverty that has resulted from the austerity agenda,” he added.
However, Deputy Barry has accused Sinn Fein of reacting in a “silly way” by dubbing him a greedy landlord, saying they are providing no solution to the housing crisis.
“People tell me I’m out of touch. Why am I out of touch? Because I run a business? Because I employ people? Because I’m actually involved in the rental market, about which there is so much discussion? Am I out of touch because I managed to keep people in employment throughout the recession?”
“Tinkering with rents is fine, but the problem is that is doesn’t create extra accommodation. If you provide enough accommodation, the rents will take care of themselves. This is not rocket science, this is common business sense.”
HE IS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY ORDINARY PEOPLE CLLR PAT BUCKLEY PEOPLE TELL ME I’M OUT OF TOUCH. WHY AM I OUT OF TOUCH. IS IT BECAUSE I RUN A BUSINESS? IS IT BECAUSE I EMPLOY PEOPLE? TOM BARRY TD