Press release
Housing Commission holds Strategy Meeting at Dublin Castle
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The Housing Commission has today announced details of its Referendum Subcommittee, which will examine the complex constitutional issues around housing rights and propose appropriate wording to Government for a referendum on this issue.
The Programme for Government commits to holding a referendum on housing rights, and the government’s housing plan, Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland, tasks The Housing Commission with bringing forward proposals for the wording of such a referendum. The details of the new Referendum Subcommittee were announced today as part of a Housing Commission strategy session at Dublin Castle.
The subcommittee is being chaired by Ailbhe O’Neill, a barrister with extensive practical experience in Constitutional Law and a former advisor to two Referendum Commissions. She is a member of the School of Law at Trinity College Dublin. Ms O’Neill is joined on the subcommittee by Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe; Pat Doyle, CEO of the Peter McVerry Trust; and Patricia King, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). In addition to these four Housing Commission members, the subcommittee has been supplemented by external members with relevant expertise, including:
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, will attend part of The Housing Commission’s strategy session later this morning – to be briefed by Housing Commission Chair, John O’Connor, on the new Referendum Subcommittee.
Commenting in advance of the strategy session, Minister O’Brien said:
“I had the privilege of speaking to The Housing Commission on the occasion of their first meeting at the start of January and I was heartened today to hear all the progress already made since then. The Housing Commission is undertaking a critical body of work and I wish them well for the process ahead.”
John O’Connor commented:
“I greatly welcome the opportunity today to brief Minister Darragh O’Brien on the work being undertaken by the Housing Commission. Our new Referendum Subcommittee will examine the complex constitutional questions surrounding a referendum on housing rights. By doing so, it will advance one of the key tasks charged to the Housing Commission in our terms of reference."
Mr. O'Connor continued:
“We are proceeding with this work as a priority with an aim to submit our proposals on a referendum on housing rights by the end of 2022. We will also be creating further subcommittees to focus on other important areas under our remit such as the affordability of housing, its accessibility, availability and sustainability.”
John O’Connor also gave details today of a launch event for The Housing Commission. The launch will take place this Thursday, 3 March at 2pm. Mr O’Connor will be joined by Housing Commission member Michelle Norris on a virtual webinar and, together, they will give a presentation on The Housing Commission and how it intends to carry out its programme of work.
This webinar is open to attendance from stakeholders working in housing in a state, semi-state and NGO capacity.
The Housing Commission was established in to fulfil a core commitment in the Programme for Government to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing and will consider long-term housing policy post 2030. The Commission will also bring forward proposals on the Referendum on Housing referred to in the Programme for Government.
The Commission will submit report(s) on the areas within its Terms of Reference to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage by no later than end July 2023, with such interim reports as the Minister may require in consultation with the Chair.
The Commission consists of 12 Members, including the Chair John O’Connor who was appointed by the Minister in May 2021. The 9 ordinary Members were appointed by the Minister following the campaign seeking expressions of interest in membership of the Commission. A further two international experts were appointed by the Minister.
When composing the Commission, consideration was given of the broad range of expertise that would be required from across the range of relevant areas. Members of the Commission participate in the individual capacity and are not on a representative basis.
Throughout the course of its work, the Commission will seek to build consensus on issues of importance to stakeholders. It is envisaged that the Commission will carry out structured engagement, including through the establishment of a number of subgroups. Subgroups will be made up of Commission members and individuals with relevant expertise. It is also envisaged that public consultations will be carried out at various points.
The Housing Commission has been tasked with making long-term and sustainable policy recommendations to government that will improve Ireland’s housing system.
In conducting its programme of work, The Housing Commission will be guided by its term of reference and will examine core areas such as:
The members of the Commission are:
The Housing Commission will host an information session on the Housing Commission for Stakeholders on Thursday, 3 March from 2pm – 2.30pm.
Mr John O’Connor, Chair of The Housing Commission will be joined by fellow commission member Ms Michelle Norris and they will deliver a presentation covering the following: