HOUSING MINISTER JAMES Browne is facing criticism from Opposition TDs for his attendance at a global property investment event in Cannes, France, where he is promoting the Irish housing market to overseas investors. 

Browne is leading the Irish delegation at MIPIM (Marché International des Professionels de l’Immoblier) 2026, where yesterday he gave a keynote address to attendees and “emphasised that Ireland is open for business as an attractive venue for investment in new homes”.

A core component of Ireland’s involvement at the conference is an “Ireland Pavilion” which is hosting panel discussions and information sessions to highlight the growth potential for residential development in Ireland.

The pavilion is being organised by the Department of Housing, while organisations across the banking, property development and professional services sectors are providing support and sponsorship to Ireland at MIPIM 2026.

Ireland at MIPIM Ireland at MIPIM

Social Democrats TD and housing spokesperson Rory Hearne described Ireland’s attendance at the conference as “highly inappropriate”. 

“Essentially, the minister will be using the conference to send out the message to international investor funds and institutional landlords that Ireland offers an opportunity to set rents at whatever level they want – and then reset them to market rates every six years,” Hearne said. 

The Dublin North West TD said the minister should be focusing on delivering social and affordable homes. 

He added: “Yet again, it shows that this government’s only solution to the housing crisis is to continue bringing in vulture funds to buy up Irish homes and turn them into financial assets.”

Likewise, Sinn Féin junior spokesperson on housing, TD Thomas Gould, accused the government of “rolling out the red carpet for vulture funds” instead of tackling the issues that cause the housing crisis. 

“While ordinary families panic about whether they will be able to pay their rent, the government and high-level officials are boasting about their policies at the ‘Davos of real estate’,” Gould said.

He added: “A minister who was serious about the housing emergency would be here smashing through barriers and delivering public homes on public land.”

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Minister Browne likened Ireland’s attendance at the conference to the work done by the IDA and said it is all about promoting Ireland as a place to “do business”.

“It is a lazy narrative from the opposition to suggest that investment is a dirty word, which is essentially what they are saying.

“You can’t ignore private delivery. We have to have a mix of homes available to rent and to buy for people and their families,” the spokesperson said. 

She added that the Irish State is investing one in every three euros of capital funding towards housing delivery currently and said “well over half of housing in some shape or form” was supported by the State in 2024.

“Comments from the Opposition indicate a deliberate misrepresentation of what Ireland is doing by being at MIPIM…Seeking considered engagement and having a visible presence with investment opportunities to support building is only one part of that plan, not the panacea or the magic bullet, and no one has said it is,” the minister’s spokesperson said.

Getting to 300,000 new homes 

The Government argues that because an estimated €20 billion per year in development finance is required to deliver at least 300,000 new homes by 2030, international investment and private capital are key elements of getting to the target. 

“International events like MIPIM are a specific action for us in driving that priority. This is a very timely and important engagement for us,” the Minister said yesterday.

Marché International des Professionels de l’Immoblier is a significant conference for international property investors, attracting over 20,000 delegates and €4 trillion in assets under management.

This year’s conference runs from March 9th to March 12th, with attendees including property investors, funders, developers and politicians. 

The Irish pavilion at the conference sits alongside Belfast, Liverpool, Birmingham, Madrid, and other European cities.

Ireland’s space is highlighting, in particular, Dublin City and the Cork Docklands regeneration as areas for potential investment.

This is the first year Ireland has sent a full delegation to the conference; last year, a small representation attended on what has been described as a pilot basis led by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund.