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Dáil talk
State of the Nation: Does cutting property tax make homelessness worse?
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…
EACH WEEKDAY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you a comprehensive guide to what’s happening in the political world.
Everyone’s talking about…
Dublin City Council last night voted to cut local property tax in the region by the full 15 per cent, a decision which the council’s chief executive, Owen Keegan, says could hit homeless services. This view appears to be shared by Labour who wanted a smaller cut in the LPT.
Ironically, the warning comes as the Dublin Simon Community says today that homelessness in the capital is spiralling out of control. Labour placed a new emphasis on housing by demanding the portfolio (as part of Environment) in the Cabinet reshuffle but we’ve still yet to see what Minister Alan Kelly’s plans are. Simon warns this morning that the goal of ending long-term homelessness by 2016 is unachievable – a reality the government must face.
The agenda
- The National Ploughing Championships get under way in Co Laois with all political parties there for the next three days. Follow our Daragh Brophy for updates.
- The Taoiseach is in New York for a special one-day global Climate Summit. He is expected to get four minutes to address the summit at around 11.30am (4.30pm Irish Time).
- With Enda in New York, the Tánaiste is chairing the usual Tuesday Cabinet meeting.
- In the Dáil, someone who is not Enda Kenny will take Leaders’ Questions at 3.15pm
- The Transport Committee is meeting with the chairman designate of Dublin Bus, Ultan Courtney, at 2pm.
- In the UK, Labour leader Ed Miliband will address his party’s conference in Manchester.
What the others are saying…
- Most papers carry a Today FM report last night that Fine Gael’s Seanad nominee, John McNulty, was appointed to a state board six days before nominations for the vacant Senate seat closed.
- Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féín are making inroads on Fine Gael’s traditional hold over the farming vote, according to an Irish Examiner/ICMSA survey (Page 1).
- Scrapping water charges will be a precondition of Sinn Féin entering into coalition after the next election, Mary Lou McDonald has told the Irish Times (page 7).
In case you missed it
- Protesters blocked Joan Burton’s car from leaving an event in Dublin.
- Councillors got late notice of the Poolbeg incinerator contract.
- The Oireachtas TV channel was officially launched.
- The government was warned to stick to €2 billion cuts in the Budget.
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