Sir, – Does Una Mullally really believe that the solutions she presents to aspects of Ireland’s housing crisis are viable (“Berlin has dimmed the lights while Dublin’s are still blazing”, Opinion & Analysis, October 13th)?
Her most recent suggestions include compelling landlords to immediately reduce rents by at least 50 per cent, a total ban on evictions save for two circumstances, and a ban on corporate landlords raising rents. Has she considered even some of the consequences – intended and unintended – of such actions on, among other things, housing supply, incomes, and potential legal cases?
Does she think that a constitutional referendum would be required for her suggestions to transpire?
What would she recommend the Government do if the people then rejected, as is likely in my view, significant restrictions of their private property rights? What evidence can she present that objections to housing developments are not a substantial issue in housing supply? Can she give examples where similar measures to those she advocates were successfully introduced in comparable countries?
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Finally, has she engaged with the views of housing academics who would disagree with her suggestions, and what does she make of their arguments?
While it is not the job of a columnist to be expert in the myriad intricacies of housing policy, it is incumbent on them, at least when writing for a broadsheet newspaper, to cast at least some more light than heat on one of the most challenging areas of public policy in Ireland and throughout the world. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW QUINN,
Clongriffin,
Dublin13.
A chara, – While she touched on many of the issues currently facing this country, Una Mullally’s request to turn the lights off in city centres should be considered with a note of caution. Illuminated office buildings, public works and even advertisements make our streets more hospitable and safer at night, especially for the most vulnerable in our society. Indeed, these very pages have recently featured stories of an increase in anti-social behaviour on city streets; turning the lights off would only make this situation more acute. Novel thinking is needed for the current crisis without doubt, but there are safer ways to see us through the dark months ahead. – Is mise,
CIAN MARTIN,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.