O'Brien on shaky ground as Varadkar goes back to drawing board on housing targets

It was a clear signal to many that the State’s Housing for All plan was failing

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking at Government Buildings in Dublin, following a conference with housing stakeholders. Picture: PA

There's no doubt that it was not his intention but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar managed to undermine the Government’s own plan to tackle the housing crisis and the man with the responsibility of overseeing it.

The awkwardness and tension between Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and Mr Varadkar were very much felt among political reporters in the Italian room in Government Buildings during a press conference following their listening exercise with housing stakeholders including charities, developers, and approved housing bodies.