Danger establishment will learn nothing from Troy controversy- Tóibín

"There is a danger that the establishment will learn nothing from the Robert Troy debacle," according to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín.

Welcoming the resignation of his Deputy Troy last Wednesday, Deputy Tóibín said that he worries "that once the media cycle moves on nothing will be done".

"There must be consequences and accountability for actions within the political system for there to be a change of culture. I believe there was a reluctance on behalf of Mícheal Martin and the Tánaiste to do anything on this as there is a fear that there may be other FF and FG TDs who are landlords who have not declared their interests and assets clearly. Each political party should carry out an audit of their TDs, make sure they are compliant and make it public.

“I am not saying that TDs cant be a landlord. The often transitory nature of being a TD means that citizens with property should not be precluded from being a TD. But in society in general 1 in 50 people are landlords. In the Dáil nearly one third of TDs are landlords and nearly half of Senators are landlords. On the other side of the equation I doubt many TDs are tenants.

“The Dáil should be as representative as possible. Its clearly not in these terms in the middle of the largest housing crisis that the state has ever seen. I am a big fan of TDs having real life experience before they are elected. But TDs once elected should be where possible, full time TDs. Its not good practice for a TD to have numerous other financial interests. Political parties through their own selection processes can help develop good practice in this area," Deputy Tóibín said.