Paul Murphy slams government for pro-landlord, pro-developer stance
Paul Murphy criticised the government’s pro-landlord, pro-developer policies and accused the minister and government of enabling tax avoidance and failing to deliver adequate social housing. He warned the housing crisis will worsen and called for the minister and the government to resign.
Overview of criticism
Paul Murphy accused the minister and the government of standing with landlords and developers, arguing their policies enrich landlords and allow corporate tax avoidance. He described the government's messaging as spin and compared it to the style of Boris Johnson.
Allegations about political allies
He singled out allies relied on to support government policies, calling one named individual a liar and a convicted tax cheat and accusing a landlord of using racist dog-whistle tactics. He also criticised Fianna Fáil as aligned with large developers and the Galway tents.
Tax and landlord income figures
Paul Murphy cited figures showing total rent paid to landlords rising to 13 billion euros a year, up from 5.5 billion in 2009. He argued that REITs are engaging in "legalised tax dodging," saying REITs paid nothing in corporation tax on profits of 120 million last year.
Housing delivery and targets
He challenged government housing claims, saying a promised 10,000 social houses this year contrasts with a plan that has 2,000 — many leased from or owned by private developers rather than the state. He noted just 1,000 houses were built in the first six months of the year and questioned the expectation that 5,000 will be built in the second half.
Call for resignations and policy change
Paul Murphy concluded by stating the crisis will get worse under current policies and demanded the minister and the government step down, calling for an end to neoliberal, pro-developer landlord policies.
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By their friends shall ye know them, and look at the friends that Minister Murphy and the Government are relying on tonight to maintain their pro-landlord, pro-developer policies in power. It's a verifiable rogues gallery, a liar and a convicted tax cheat, Michael Lowry, a landlord who has used racist... It may be, but it's a fact to be found by the courts. I would ask you not to use un-parliamentary language, that sounds like that. She's cheating on taxes fairly un-parliamentary. A landlord who has used dog whistling of a racist kind in order to distract from the true causes of the housing crisis. And the party of the Galway tents and the big developers, Fianna Fáil. And it suits you, Minister, because you represent the same developer, the same landlord interests. You've overseen an increase in the total rent going to landlords to 13 billion euros a year, up from five and a half in 2009. Because you stand over legalised tax dodging by the REITs. IRS REITs paying nothing in corporation tax on profits of 120 million last year. And because you are engaging in spin and lies that are worthy of Boris Johnson. When you talk about 10,000 houses, social houses this year, when your own plan has 2,000 of them, leased from and owned by private developers, not the state. And when just 1,000 houses were built in the first six months of this year, and you expect us to believe that 5,000 will be built in the second half of this year. It's just like Johnson with his nurses and his hospitals. The truth is, this crisis is going to get worse. Fianna Fáil support it. So it's time for the Minister to go, it's time for the Government to go, and it's time for your neoliberal, pro-developer landlord policies to go.
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