Minister not taking qa at kilmore conference a disgrace


Paul Neilan
A disappearing act by a junior minister was labelled a “disgrace” by councillors at their re-branded national conference in the Hotel Kilmore today, Thursday (October 30).
The inaugural AILG (Association of Irish Local Government) meeting took place in the hotel this morning when councillors from all over Ireland were briefed and discussed the state of housing in the country.
However, the morning speech from Paudie Coffey, the minister over housing, left a bad taste in the mouth as he dashed to Bailieborough to inspect housing issues there.
Independent councillor from Meath Nick Killian was one of many councillors who thought that the minister not staying long enough for a question-and-answer session on the housing crisis facing the country was a “disgrace”.
Around 100 councillors heard from Fr Peter McVerry, who works with troubled and homeless young people in Dublin with his trust, that the country was facing a deepening housing crisis and that if the waiting lists were to continue as they are people would be waiting until 2051 for a home.
In addition to the junior minister’s absence, councillors were further dismayed that Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly, who received top billing on the brochure as after-dinner speaker, would not be able to attend and was thought to be out of the country.
The €100-a-head conference attracted councillors from all over the country and was hosted by AILG President Councillior Padraig McNally, who just yesterday called for the board and chief John Tierney of Irish Water to step down.

Do you think the minister’s behaviour was a “disgrace”?


For more on the housing crisis conference and the missing minister check out this week’s Anglo-Celt.