THIS WEEK THERE was another chapter in the Irish Water saga with news that landlords would have additional responsibilities in collecting charges.

Also, the CEO of the Bank of Ireland, Richie Boucher, was up in front of the banking inquiry to answer questions about the bank’s behaviour during the boom years, where he made the admission that 100% mortgages were “wrong”.

The Big Movers

Landlords and Irish Water 

The head of the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) group has come out in opposition to government plans to give landlords the power to withhold tenants deposits if they do not pay their Irish Water bills.

Speaking about this, Fintan McNamara from the RLA, said that the new function was an “outrageous imposition” and that it would essentially make them “debt collectors for Irish Water”.

The government proposals also aim to make it possible to collect charges through deductions on social welfare payments or as an attachment on earnings.

Bank of Ireland 

This week Richie Boucher, the chief executive of the Bank of Ireland, said:

We can never fully repay in moral terms, we’ve tried to do it in financial terms.

Appearing before the banking inquiry Boucher also said that he thought it was “wrong” for the bank to grant 100% mortgages and that the bank was “absolutely” over-dependent in terms of property and land.

Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher Leon Farrell / Photocall Leon Farrell / Photocall / Photocall

Ireland’s oldest gay bar

The oldest gay bar in Ireland has announced its imminent closure.

Loafers, on Douglas Street in Cork, was opened 1983. It has been reported locally that the bar is closing as its building is being sold.

Loafers in Cork Google Streetview Google Streetview

In a post on Facebook, owner Ted O’Connell has said that it is with “profound sense of sadness” that he has closed the bar.

Under Construction

• A group of properties on Dublin’s Grafton Street has come onto the market as part of a €118 million portfolio. 
• One of Ireland’s fanciest night spots, The Dawson on Dublin’s Dawson Street, has come onto the market with a guide price of €15 million. 

The Dawson Savills Savills

• Squatters in Grangegorman have been allowed to stay in the derelict compound for another week.  
• Homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said that he would be “embarrassed” if he was Environment Minister Alan Kelly.   

Des Res

This week Business Insider has featured a house designed by Hal Moldstad, who has famously designed homes for Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The property extends to more than 4,500 sq. ft. and is on the market for €2.5 million.