PBP TD says Simon Harris is more right-wing than Leo Varadkar

Michael Bolton

A People Before Profit TD has claimed Simon Harris has been more right-wing than Leo Varadkar since taking over as Taoiseach.

Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy was speaking on Fianna Fáil's plans to decriminalise possession of cannabis for personal use.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has urged caution over any move to decriminalise drugs, as he suggested the Fianna Fáil proposal risked creating a mixed message over public health.

In the People Before Profit manifesto, they said they would legalise cannabis and promote not-for-profit cannabis clubs.

Speaking to Breakingnews.ie, Mr Murphy says he has been surprised by the reaction from Fine Gael to the proposal.

"Gino Kenny has been chairing the Oireachtas committee on drugs and the outcome on the Citizens Assembly.

"Fine Gael has also agreed with the idea that we need to move to decriminalisation of possession of drugs. This is the first time Fine Gael have come out to oppose this.

"I actually thought, at least in words, there was a broad consensus that the so-called war on drugs has utterly failed, a fundamentally different approach is needed that is not based on criminalising individuals.

"The Fine Gael reaction I think it's quite cynical, very right-wing. It interestingly indicates, Fine Gael under Simon Harris, is surprisingly in a sense, to the right of Leo Varadkar.

"Simon Harris has deliberately chosen to play quite a conservative card on a range of a different issues, but now drugs are added to it. I think it is a cheap attempt to win votes from conservative voters."

Housing

People Before Profit are among those who have called for the foundation of a State construction company to build 30,000 social and 5,000 affordable housing units per year, financed through the Apple back-taxes.

Elsewhere on housing, it would introduce rent controls and reinstate the eviction ban.

Mr Murphy said the income limits for social housing should be removed, and explained how creating a state construction company will bring down housing prices.

"This reliance on the market has failed. What has resulted, to the extent there is supply, is a lot of unaffordable housing.

"It is build-to-rent schemes to two and a half, three grand, 90 per cent of apartments built in Dublin last year were bought up by 'vulture funds'.

"The state needs to intervene directly with a state construction company that would prioritise the building of social and genuinely affordable housing.

"The income caps on eligibility for social housing should be abolished. We should have universal access to social housing. The rent is based on a percentage of your income; if you are earning higher income, you pay higher rent.

"Of the average cost of a house, between €100,000 to €150,000, of €450,000 is profit. By cutting out profit, you cut out that cost, and it is a lot cheaper to deliver.

"We are not saying to eradicate private developers and private building. But if you have added into the mix an additional 35,000 social and affordable homes that mostly would not have been built if not for the state construction company, you are adding supply into the market in general, which should have an impact in terms of reducing rents and keeping prices low."