While it seems ridiculous enough saying it in words, I think history shows us that if you are going into Govt with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – you are doing business with people that think your career and the future of your party are fair things to sacrifice.
 
It’s not very fair is it… thrashing your political career and your party’s future.... but is it worth the sacrifice?
 
While I cannot see the benefits of people having to sign away their political careers just to please Fine Gael and Pat Leahy, nonetheless, I thought I’d outline what kind of deal I’d be willing to sign away my Dail seat for:
 
1. Sustainable housing 
A sustainable housing process is essential – delivery of low energy use homes
 
I like the Hugh Brennan model – and I like how Emma Osmundsen delivered passive house at Exeter Council in the UK. We need that type of stuff.
 
An excellent retrofit programme for existing housing stock is also essential.

2. Sustainable Agriculture 
How much longer are we going to skirt around the issue of the size of the national herd. Yes that question has got to be addressed. With all the talk of “hard decisions” the future of our Agri Sector is being brushed under the carpet.
 
Despite of all the rhetoric Fine Gael doesn’t want to upset farmers. Unfortunately we have to look hard at the herd size to reduce emissions.
 
This needs to be done in a way that’s fair for farmers – looking at alternative land use. Something like Agroforestry is a potential option – you are looking at trees and cattle etc sharing the same space. Trees/forestry planted for things like carbon sequestration – but the farm still has cattle on it – so you retain the social aspect of having cattle on your farm.
 
3. A Just Transition 
We will be moving to a world of lower emissions – so it’s important to ensure that we don’t shaft people in the process. People will lose jobs, the way we live may well change. People’s lives still need to be valued and planned for.
                                                                
We need to visualise how communities will work in the new lower carbon world. Where does Rural Ireland fit in – where is the dialog going to happen or come from. We need to be looking towards community and people led solutions. People need to plan their lives and future with as much confidence as possible.
 
4. Helicopters & Ambulances 
In a deal that limits my political career to 5 years – the first item on my shopping list is developing a top of the range system of EMS – that’s brilliantly resourced and fit for the 21st century.
 
Key to this is the development of a network of HEMS helicopters – and to facilitate 24/7 operations – I’d like accessible helipads/landing spots nationwide. I would require a well resourced Land Ambulance service too. I’m aiming for the best possible response to serious emergency calls even in rural areas.
 
I would also want to see development of the pre hospital doctor set up – plus study of the potential of Critical Care Paramedics.
 
5. Domestic Direct Investment  
We obviously will be continuing with foreign direct investment but it’s hardly the best strategy to rely on US boardroom decisions going our way. We should strive to develop domestically based companies. We need diversity of opportunity to create a more resilient economy over time.
 
We need to develop strategies to encourage start ups in Ireland – and to look at how to develop existing domestic companies.
 
Post by @olddiesel (http://olddieselblog.blogspot.com/)
Pic Soul Traders by Gordon Harris (http://artistgordonharris.com/)

This is a post from Old Diesel Blog by @olddiesel who has been blogging regularly since 2013. Originally titled ‘So Skehan gets to keep his job’, Old Diesel clearly didn’t approve the reappointment. Before we continue it’s worth remembering some of Conor Skehan’s best quotes on housing:

“Baby boomers are part of a housing market distortion that’s happening all over the western world. They have this enormous amount of money, they’re very interested in property and they regard property as a particularly cosy thing to dip into,”

“An awful lot of Irish Times readers are owners of a second house, and probably a holiday home as well and they are, unwittingly, part of what is creating a shortage of availability of housing.”

“We unwittingly created a problem by prioritising self-declared homelessness above all other types of housing need, which created a distortion in the waiting list system and may have encouraged people to game the system.”

“If you were a social scientist analysing it, you might find people who had chaotic lives suddenly being displaced by people who had two or three kids and who have found a way of gaming the system. If you were systematic about it, you might find that one or two constituencies were places where that happened more than anywhere else in the country.”

“One of the tragedies of living on an island is that we are people who indulge in insular thinking.”

“Our housing crisis is completely normal. Every country in Europe has equivalent issues in terms of affordability, in terms of homelessness”

“Homelessness is a dreadful thing when it happens to someone, but it is a normal thing, it happens” 

The post touches on maladministration in Ireland and how our complacency keeps us from viewing alternatives, I hope you enjoy:

So Conor Skehan has been reselected to continue his role as chairperson of the housing agency – in spite of spouting nonsense about how people “might be gaming the system by presenting homeless to skip the queue”. 
Most sensible people will of course be aware that the actual problem is that there are more people then available housing. This means that too many people are left without a home – even if they’ve had no problems that might have caused having no home.  
 
What I’m wondering is if there are people out there that would be better suited to the position of chairperson of the housing Agency. I suspect there is – there has to be – the days of we couldn’t find anyone better have to be over, unless the person you get in is actually excellent.  
 
I would like to suggest some superior to Skehan contenders for the role of chairperson of the housing Agency. 
 
Michael Bennett and Hugh Brennan.  
Michael Bennett delivered 3 bed Passive house for 190 k a unit – and via Co op housing with O Cealunn in Ballymun Hugh Brennan delivered A2 BER rated 3 bed for 170 k. While there’s little doubt small land cost contributed to both projects coming in at a very reasonable cost – this also serves to highlight just how big a problem land cost is. In any case – both Michael and Hugh have actual house delivery experience behind them – using cost effective approaches to building excellent homes. One of Hugh’s buyers was quoted as saying her MORTGAGE for her Hugh Brennan delivered home was 600 euro a month. The possibilities are off the scale at such a low level per month.  
 
Erica Fleming 
A fearless campaigner – not afraid to openly challenge Fine Gael or Labour. Passionate, with actual experience of being homeless herself, determined, willing to drive through barriers. You just know that anyone who puts a barrier in her way is probably going to lose – painfully. Happily if Erica is demolishing barriers – the people are probably going to win. HANDSOMELY. 
 
Lorcan Sirr  
Housing expert and lecturer on said topic – always makes very relevant points. Lorcan is switched on to the BIG issues surrounding housing. Ideal qualities for a chairperson of a housing related portfolio.  
 
Nice shortlist in my opinion
 
Pic once again by the very talented @EoinKr