The Taoiseach did not discuss the Mother and Baby Homes report, illegal adoptions or the transfer of the National Maternity Hospital in several meetings with religious leaders.
Limerick playwright to perform as left-wing party launches local branch
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TOP Limerick playwright Mike Finn is among the performers as People Before Profit (PBP) launches a new local branch this Thursday.
The left wing alliance, which counts Dublin TDs Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd-Barrett among its number, is to start a new branch in the region, with former local councillors Paul Keller, Joe Harrington and Cian Prendiville supporting it.
Mr Prendiville, a City North councillor from 2014 to 2018, said: “I joined People Before Profit recently as I believe the left needs to unite to build a voice for workers and socialist policies. PBP has been growing rapidly recently, bringing together a broad array of community, trade union and socialist activists, and I believe we can build a strong branch here in Limerick. Limerick has a strong left and socialist history, from the water charges movement right back to the Limerick Soviet a century ago.”
The protections in place were due to expire on 12 April. By Christina Finn Tuesday 9 Mar 2021, 7:31 PM Mar 9th 2021, 7:31 PM 15,651 Views 24 Comments
Image: Shutterstock/wjapinto
Image: Shutterstock/wjapinto
PROTECTIONS for renters who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic have been extended until July.
The protections in place were due to expire on 12 April, however, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien sought Cabinet approval today to extend the provisions.
The legislation brought in last August, replaced the temporary measures, which prevented evictions and rent increases for tenants in financial difficulty in the pandemic.
The measures in the Bill include protections to renters who have fallen into rent arrears, giving them 28 days to pay owed rent before they can be evicted.
Short-term measures
But the Minister for Housing said that refusing to use the private sector in housing âwould be fighting with one hand tied behind our backsâ.
Mr OâBrien stressed the need to âuse short-term measures to boost [housing] supply while other supports such as direct State building of affordable homes comes on streamâ.
Home ownership levels had fallen from 82 per cent in 1991 to 67.6 per cent, which is below the EU average, he said, adding that the proposed scheme would bridge the affordability gap in housing and create jobs as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.
There was some conditional support for the scheme from a number of Independent TDs. Regional Independent Denis Naughten said the principle of the scheme âhas meritâ and should focus on assisting families in moving to regional towns and areas where there is a significant level of vacant housing.