The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., today (Monday) chaired the fourth meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF). This meeting brought together representatives of employers and trade unions with Government Ministers for an in depth exchange on housing market conditions.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, T.D. started the conversation with an update on Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s response to the challenges in the housing market.
While housing supply continues to lag demand, activity levels are improving. It was agreed in discussion that more can be done to meet the overall objective of delivering a sustainable housing supply of approximately 25,000 new homes a year by 2020.
In commenting on the Forum, Minister Donohoe, stated that: ‘the discussion today was an opportunity for serious engagement on housing solutions with representatives of employers and trade unions. This is an area where clear consensus on the need exists. From a competitiveness perspective and to meet citizens’ needs, access to housing is a core challenge both for our economy and for our society. Increased housing supply is an absolute priority for this Government, Minister Murphy and I will be working on creative solutions to make this happen’.
Following the discussion on Housing, the Forum also discussed recent developments on Brexit with Minister Donohoe providing the Government’s impression on the recent round of negotiations between the EU and the United Kingdom. Contributions from all sides of the Forum focused on the development in the UK’s positions across citizens’ rights, financial matters, ‘separation’ issues and the unique Irish concerns and priorities.
A further meeting of the LEEF is expected to be scheduled to further discuss issues to be dealt with in the housing sector.
Ends
Notes for Editors:
The meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum was chaired today by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, T.D. In attendance was the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D.
Employers were represented by; Mr. Danny McCoy, Mr. David Duffy, Mr. Tom Parlon and Mr. Ian Talbot
Labour was represented by; Ms. Patricia King, Mr. Tom Healy, Mr. Kevin Callinan and Ms Sheila Nunan.