Tánaiste Simon Harris has indicated personal support for the retention of rent pressure zones (RPZs), and warned the Government should not “make policy on the hoof”.
He was speaking after Taoiseach Micheál Martin trailed the possibility of replacing the RPZs in recent days.
“It’s very important Government doesn’t develop policy on the hoof in relation to this,” he said.
“It’s important that everything is considered in the round,” he said, noting renters already feel “extremely overburdened” by the cost of rent.
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He pointed out that, while the programme for government commits to a review of the RPZs, his party had fought the general election on the basis they would be retained.
“That gives you an insight into where my views and the views of Fine Gael are in relation to this.
“For me to be convinced of any changes, I’d need to be convinced that renters are going to be protected, that renters are going to be more secure, and any measures we take are actually going to result in more properties being available.”
The Cabinet subcommittee on housing meets on Monday to consider further measures to stimulate housing supply.
Mr Harris said completion figures for housing last year were “very disappointing”. He and the Taoiseach agreed there was a review of RPZs but his view was that it needed to be “very careful” and should focus on making renters feel more secure.
“I’d start there rather than the issue of rent pressure zones.”
He said the Taoiseach was “perfectly entitled” to his contribution. “I’m just very conscious of the fact – and I know that he and everyone in Government is – that renters already in Ireland feel insecure.
“I want those people to know that Government is not going to do anything that sees the rent goes up,” he said.
Speaking in advance of a meeting of EU trade ministers scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Mr Harris said that tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed by US president Donald Trump did not leave Ireland with a significant direct exposure, nonetheless any action that was bad for the European economy “can have knock-on effects” on the Irish economy.
He urged a “calm and mature” response, and said the last thing that was needed was “tit-for-tat tariffs”, preferring an engagement with the US administration focusing on the benefits of trade for both the bloc and the US. He said the worst thing to do now would be to withdraw from engagement.
The Cabinet is also to approve the ministerial travel itinerary for the St Patrick’s Day trade missions, with 14 US cities due to be visited as part of the diplomatic push. Mr Harris is to visit New York and Philadelphia, he said, with Mr Martin visiting Washington, DC.
[ Cabinet prepares to sign off St Patrick’s Day blitz of US Republican statesOpens in new window ]
Mr Harris said it was not unusual that the invitation to visit the White House had not yet been issued. “These things tend to come rather late in the day,” he said, due to the demands of the US president’s schedule.
“There’s no indication that the trip won’t be happen or indeed that the traditional trip to the White House won’t happen.” He said it was very important it takes place, despite suggestions from some Opposition parties that the government should boycott the trip.
“That would be entirely against our national interest,” Mr Harris said.
He added the ceasefire in Gaza was “now more fragile than ever”, calling for rhetoric to be dialled down, and also for Hamas to release the remaining hostages held following its October 7th, 2023, attack on Israel.
Speaking to reporters on his way into a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, Mr Harris also defended how Fine Gael handled Martin Conway’s resignation from the party and the Senator’s candidature for the party during the recent Seanad election.
Last weekend it emerged that Mr Conway had been arrested after being found in an intoxicated state on O’Connell Street earlier this year, while the Dáil heard on Tuesday he was involved in an incident in 2018 of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a young woman.
Mr Harris said the circumstances which led to Mr Conway’s resignation were distressing but that it was appropriate that he resigned the whip. He remains a Senator and a Fine Gael party member.
The Dáil was told on Tuesday that Mr Conway had previously been involved in an incident in 2018 of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a young woman. Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly called in the Dáil for the Ceann Comhairle to set time aside for Mr Harris to address the Dáil.
The Fine Gael leader said he first learned of the earlier incident, which he said predates his leadership by many years, late in 2024.
“I became aware of this late last year,” he said. “From my perspective, when the issue was examined, when an apology had been issued, and when it was deemed at that stage that no further action was required. It would be a very unusual thing for a new leader to then reopen a matter that in that context was deemed to require no further action many years past.”
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