The announcement of the resignation today of former Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy has sparked a by-election in the constituency of Dublin Bay South, that must be held within the next six months.
Mr Murphy said he had mixed emotions about leaving politics after 12 years and, while he was no longer a TD, he would remain a member of Fine Gael. He said this was a decision that he had been considering in recent months.
The Fine Gael TD said in a statement he will pursue a career in international affairs and has a passion for nuclear disarmament!!
His time in the brief of Housing in the last government led to huge criticism – he admitted that he was frequently heckled and abused, even if he admitted that it was part of the job.
Personal criticism stepped too far at times he told RTE’s Claire Byrne today and ”being responsible for housing during a crisis meant that people were going to have a problem with you.”
Running on Sandymount beach proved helpful as part of coping mechanisms for the abuse but he added that it had been tough to see the people around him get abused too, including a previous girlfriend who had faced “horrendous abuse.”
Two years ago former Minister Murphy suggested that co-living spaces are like “a very trendy” boutique hotel.
Murphy also delegates at a conference that year that co-living blocks offer an “exciting” choice” to young workers.
Minister Murphy following on from that received significant backlash from opposition politicians and members of the public over his statement.
A by-election will be held within six months and will be hotly contested with Fine Gael’s Kate O’Connell, Hazel Chu of the Green and Labour’s Ivana Bacik already cited as likely candidates.
Today I have resigned my position as Teachta Dála for @FineGael. I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the past twelve years in my positions as Councillor, TD and Minister.
Full statement here –https://t.co/TvhVwMR75F
— Eoghan Murphy (@MurphyEoghan) April 27, 2021
FGs ex-housing Minister, Eoghan Murphy, has stepped down from politics. Leo Varadkar has said “history will record his achievements” as Minister for Housing.
But what exactly will he be remembered for?
Let’s take a look back at his time as Minister for Housing.#housing pic.twitter.com/uSQ5ccaWxD
— Mick Barry TD (@MickBarryTD) April 27, 2021
the whole NIAC advice arriving today – in the midst of the Eoghan Murphy resignation and the charging of former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall for murder – has a definite Martin Prince from the Simpsons in his broken pool vibe pic.twitter.com/7650ztU60N
— Eoin Ó Catháin (@EoinKeane101) April 27, 2021
#EoghanMurphy was a disgraceful housing minister, achieving nothing on homelessness, and selling out on building standards and planning to developers.
Resigning because his reputation meant he was not getting advancement is typically spoilt.
Good riddancehttps://t.co/gMUf1jD9pU— Village Magazine (@VillageMagIRE) April 27, 2021
#EoghanMurphy resigning because he wasn’t promoted to ministerial office is the default act of privileged politicians. He should’ve resigned when he brought homelessness to record levels while worshipping at the altar of the private housing market. Untold misery caused in #dubw
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) April 27, 2021
Eoghan Murphy to pursue a career in international human rights is such a massive kick in the teeth, especially to the homeless who have passed away on our streets while he was minister and the few thousand children growing up without homes in Ireland due to his lack of action
— saz (@sazzeroni) April 27, 2021
