From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’ Brien visited the Housing Commission today (Tuesday 1 March) as they held an in-person Strategy Session at Dublin Castle.
In Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland the government tasked The Housing Commission with bringing forward proposals for a referendum on housing.
Mr John O’Connor, Chair of The Housing Commission, briefed Minister O’Brien that The Housing Commission has established a Referendum Subcommittee to consider the very complex constitutional issues and to propose appropriate wording which would then be put to the people in a referendum.
The subcommittee is being chaired by Ailbhe O’Neill, a barrister with extensive experience working in constitutional law and deep expertise around property rights. She is joined on the subcommittee by Sorcha Edwards Secretary General Housing Europe, Pat Doyle CEO Peter McVerry Trust and Patricia King General Secretary Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). The subcommittee has been supplemented by external members with expertise in this area. Members include:
The Housing Commission is proceeding with this work as a matter of priority with an aim to submit its proposals on a referendum on housing by the end of 2022.
The establishment of a Commission on Housing and a subsequent referendum on housing were commitments made in the Programme for Government.
Minister O’Brien commented:
“I had the privilege of speaking to The Housing Commission members 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, Chair of The Housing Commission, commented on today’s meeting, saying:
“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. 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."
Mr O’Connor also gave details on the Stakeholder Launch of The Housing Commission taking place on Thursday, 3 March. Mr O’Connor will be joined by Ms 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 members of the Commission are:
The Housing Commission has appointed a member of the Commission to chair the referendum sub-committee, along with three other members. The sub-committee will be supplemented by external members with the appropriate expertise and will examine the complex constitutional questions arising over various proposals that have been made around potential wording for an amendment to the Constitution. It will advise the government in an independent and objective manner regarding the critical factors for consideration and will make recommendations as to the appropriate wording to be put to the people. The Commission is dealing with this as a matter of priority.