“Political responsibility and the crisis in accommodation”

Dear Editor,

The editorial works of Michael McDowell generally display an impressive level of research and offer considerable insight. While I may not concur with his views on certain matters, his writings have always been engaging. However, his recent commentary on the Housing Department and the associated national housing issues caught me off guard.

His stance, that faults in these pivotal housing policy decisions over the past decade and a half can entirely be attributed to the department and its civil servants, appears highly contentious. It’s arguable whether the decisions made, as pointed out by your columnist, were justified. However, setting these debates aside, these policy decisions were undoubtedly deliberated and sanctioned not only at a ministerial level but also by the Government.

The indication given in his column suggests that ministers merely accept policy recommendations from officials without having the ability or inclination to alter or dismiss them. This is clearly not the situation, as evident from the actions of successive housing ministers and their government counterparts. To paraphrase President Harry S. Truman, irrespective of whether the decisions are right or incorrect, the responsibility ultimately lies with the minister.

Yours faithfully,
KP Smyth,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.

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