Paul Murphy on Collison Brothers' influence in housing policy
Paul Murphy challenged the origin of the "Shed-Sit" long-term rental idea in the Dáil, alleging links to the Collison Brothers and Progress Ireland. He argued the World Economic Forum is where billionaire policy preferences reach political leaders, and pressed ministers for clarity.
Paul Murphy asked who authored the proposal to convert sheds into long-term rentals and pointed to Progress Ireland, which he said is funded by the Collison Brothers. He framed the question as part of a broader concern: the transmission of billionaire interests into government policy.
Murphy opened by arguing that the World Economic Forum is a space where billionaires and senior politicians meet and where policy ideas aligned with wealthy interests are shared. He suggested those ideas can become public policy when adopted by political representatives.
The Taoiseach responded emphatically, denying he represents any billionaire class and defending the Collison Brothers as successful entrepreneurs who have brought investment and jobs. The exchange highlights a clash over influence, transparency and the source of policy proposals.
The debate raises questions about how ideas move from private initiatives to public policy, who benefits from deregulation, and what level of scrutiny proposals should face in parliament. Paul Murphy pressed for records and attribution; ministers stressed investment and job creation as their motivation.
Allegations about policy origins
Paul Murphy asked who authored the proposal to convert sheds into long-term rentals and pointed to Progress Ireland, which he said is funded by the Collison Brothers. He framed the question as part of a broader concern: the transmission of billionaire interests into government policy.
World Economic Forum and billionaire influence
Murphy opened by arguing that the World Economic Forum is a space where billionaires and senior politicians meet and where policy ideas aligned with wealthy interests are shared. He suggested those ideas can become public policy when adopted by political representatives.
Government response and defence
The Taoiseach responded emphatically, denying he represents any billionaire class and defending the Collison Brothers as successful entrepreneurs who have brought investment and jobs. The exchange highlights a clash over influence, transparency and the source of policy proposals.
Political context and consequences
The debate raises questions about how ideas move from private initiatives to public policy, who benefits from deregulation, and what level of scrutiny proposals should face in parliament. Paul Murphy pressed for records and attribution; ministers stressed investment and job creation as their motivation.
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Transcript
The World Economic Forum is a place where billionaires, multi-millionaires gather together with heads of government and ministers and effectively it's a place where the policy interests of the billionaire class are transmitted to their political representatives, the likes of yourself. In this country, the richest billionaires that we have, they're obviously not resident, but is the Collison Brothers. The Collison Brothers, like many of the tech bros, share a libertarian ideology about deregulation of everything, so-called Yimbyism, which has the happy coincidence of also maximising their ability to maximise their profit. Taoiseach denied earlier that the Shed-Sit idea is an idea that has come from the Collison Brothers. You might tell me, where did this idea come from, if not from the Collison Brothers? I don't mean in terms of family members, but in terms of the idea of these becoming long-term rentals. I think it's clear, if you check the record, this is coming from Progress Ireland, funded by the Collison Brothers. Sean Keyes, the head of Progress Ireland, has claimed this idea. Deputy, your time is up. Deputy Morphy, I don't represent any billionaire class, it's just nonsense and stupid stuff to be articulating in here. People really are fed up with that. I just represent the country, represent the working people of this country. I said to you before, I remember the 1980s here when we had 17% unemployment. That's what motivates me to participate in these events and to be always hungry for more investment and more jobs in the country. I noticed today the Collison Brothers are in your target zone, they are your new target, the Collison Brothers. They came through the Young Scientist competition many, many, many years ago as Young Leaving Certificate students. One of them won it. They're particularly bright, they're able, they created a world product that is global in its reach and that is impactful. A lot of people celebrate that, but I think that's a very good achievement for them. They brought back some of that investment to Ireland, both in terms of the company's health and employment and in terms of investment in biodiversity and other projects. It's a positive. They don't have to. There are many authors of the units in the Back Gardens and so on. The Humble TD has been as proactive about the Back Garden as the Collison Brothers have. It's not a new idea.