Housing, healthcare, agriculture and the Budget will be discussed at the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in Dublin this weekend.
It is the party’s 80th party conference and its first full in person gathering since the pandemic.
The Budget is the hot topic among members of Fianna Fáil gathering in the RDS.
Party leader Micheál Martin drew a distinction between Ireland’s measures and the fall out from the UK’s uncosted tax cuts.
He said markets were clear about the public finances – that is something commentators say is lacking in Britain.
Politicians attending the Ard Fheis say the Government’s Budget has been well received in constituencies.
However, they are aware that this is before the full extent of higher energy prices becomes clear to business and families.
They know higher bills will be the real litmus test of this week’s budget.
Speaking ahead of the Ard Fheis the Taoiseach defended the Government’s housing policy following figures showing that there was a record number of people staying in emergency accommodation last month.
Mr Martin said that “the housing policy is going to get there but it is going to take time”.
He told reporters that there were “challenges” as the country emerged from Covid-19, such as an escalation in building costs.
But he said there was “not an absence of resources or an absence of strategy”.
He said that solutions to the housing crisis were not related to introducing a ban on evictions because the Government did not want to reduce the supply of rental accommodation.
He added that the Government would build a record number of social houses this year.
Mr Martin expressed confidence in Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien who he said was working “flat out”.
He also confirmed that Minister O’Brien would remain in housing after the December reshuffle.
The Taoiseach also welcomed developments at a meeting of EU energy ministers, which he said clarifies the way forward in terms of taxing windfall profits of energy companies.
He also condemned the annexation of parts of Ukraine by Russia today and said it escalated the “gravity” of the situation.
Budget hot topic among FF members at 80th Ard Fheis
Source: Viral Trends Report
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