Taoiseach Simon Harris plans an early dialogue with the forthcoming UK government with the aim of fostering enhanced relations between the two island governments. He voiced this intention at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, stating the approaching UK election on Thursday as a ‘significant and opportune moment’ to revamp ties with our proximate ally.
In a non-predicative manner, he emphasised the need for immediate discussions about sustaining amiable relations with the UK in the ‘post-Brexit era’. Speculations are rife about the Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, ending the unbroken chain of Conservative rule for 14 years, emerging with its biggest majority in a century.
Further, Mr. Harris disclosed that the Summer Economic Statement would be shared next week, and encouraged his party peers to utilise the summer season for introducing innovative ideas to combat living cost issues. Regarding nonoperational childcare settings, Mr Harris confirmed his demand for an audit to determine the number of such facilities constructed but not yet functional.
When mentioning future funding for RTÉ, he said a resolution will be arrived at by this month’s end. His three primary navigational principles, he clarified, were sustainability, acknowledgement of commendable public service broadcasting by all broadcasters and not merely RTÉ, and the implementation of reforms at the national broadcaster.
Deputy Michael Ring’s proposal urging the government to exempt working farmland from the Residential Zoned Land Tax was officially accepted by the parliamentary party. Mr Ring expressed this tax as a source of considerable ‘discontent and distress to legitimate farming families resistant to selling their property’.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party disclosed that over 500 first-time property buyers were prevalent weekly. This, he noted, was the steepest rate since 2007. He also said there had been 52,000 beginnings of house construction from January to May this year.
Party chief Micheál Martin accepted the existence of challenges in the housing sector, but also acknowledged several positive transformations since Fianna Fáil took up the role in 2020.
Lastly, the hospitality industry’s representatives met parliamentarians from both parties at Leinster House on Wednesday. They sought the restoration of the 9 per cent VAT rate on food.
They posited that lowering to such a rate could possibly halt the continuing shutdown of eateries and coffee shops. They further maintained that it could restore sustainability to the hospitality industry in the long run. A participant in the discussions revealed that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael lawmakers strongly backed the proposal. They added that, should it secure the approval of the newly appointed Finance Minister Jack Chambers, it would represent the sole aid package for the hospitality sector in the Budget.