Dublin – Tánaiste Simon Harris has raised concerns over the proposed €430,000 salary for the Government’s planned ‘housing tsar’, following reports that he objected to the immediate appointment of Brendan McDonagh, CEO of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), to the role earlier this week.
Appearing on The Late Late Show on Friday night, Mr Harris acknowledged discussions around the appointment but pushed back against claims that he had "blocked" it. “I don’t like the word block,” he said. “I just don’t think it was a good idea, being honest, to go straight ahead with the appointment of any individual on a set salary without just taking a little bit of time to think.”
The Tánaiste confirmed he had been consulted at a leaders’ meeting on Monday evening, where it was agreed to move forward with establishing a new Housing Activation Office, but that the formal appointment of a lead figure was postponed.
The controversy emerged after Housing Minister James Browne indicated Mr McDonagh’s likely selection for the position during an appearance on RTÉ News at One on Tuesday. Reports suggest the announcement prompted frustration among Fine Gael ministers, many of whom felt the decision had not been adequately discussed within Cabinet.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has since downplayed speculation of an internal dispute, denying that Mr Harris had blocked the appointment. “No, that’s not correct,” Mr Martin stated. “I met with Simon Harris yesterday and spoke to Seán Canney and Brendan McDonagh himself; he doesn’t want to be part of a controversy of this kind.”
The Taoiseach further emphasised the need to ensure the appropriate expertise and structure for the new office. “It is most important that we get the skillset right. I want to fully understand how we’re going to staff this office. And let’s be honest, this isn’t about any one person. If housing could be fixed by any one person, it would be long fixed.”
Responding to the political fallout, a spokesperson for Mr Harris reiterated that any such high-profile appointment “should be discussed by the leaders before being made public.”
As the housing crisis continues to dominate the national agenda, the Government’s handling of this senior appointment has underscored broader tensions around policy leadership, transparency, and accountability.
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