Towering apartment block could be our own TDs’ Birnam wood

THE news of Manhattan coming to Ballsbridge (August 29) is as unwelcome as Birnam wood coming to Dunsinane for the small number of TDs who describe themselves as ‘full-time’ on their websites, and require a respectable base within commuting distance of the Dáil.

Many of our public representatives are, of course, successful businessmen with extensive business interests and an international property portfolio.

They would be entirely indifferent to Dublin prices; they currently operate outside The Pale or have invested in ‘value cities’ such as London, Warsaw, Prague, etc.

However, the news that city “starter homes” (ie, two-bedroom apartments) in Ballsbridge will cost €1.2 million, without a parking space, is a looming disaster for some.

This amount of money would, of course, buy you a schloss in Salzburg, or a chateau in Chantilly (and a deal with Ryanair might get you to the Dáil on time) but if banks return to prudent lending criteria as a result of increasing repossessions in Ireland, poorer politicians will not even qualify, on their meagre salaries, for listing on the Dublin City Council’s ‘social and affordable allocation’ in Sean Dunne’s prestige Ballsbridge project.

Even if such TDs received a whiparound from friends (and who could deny them that?) or a special supplementary ‘housing benchmark’ salary increase in the coming civil service wage boost, they would first have to win the council’s lottery for one of these rare and highly sought after ‘affordable apartments’ in Dublin 4.

Then — if Manhattan-style exclusivity laws were to apply — they would be thoroughly vetted by a committee of other apartment owners as to their suitability to reside there at all.

Their wealth and status in high society would be scrutinised and examined in minute detail — a veritable, accursed tribunal.

However, it is on the latter qualification (social standing) that I fear most would be ‘hoist on their own petard’.

John McDermott

Puerto Rico

Gran Canaria