The proposal to accommodate people waiting on housing lists in flotels by Fine Gael deputy leader Mr Jim Mitchell resulted in a row at a party meeting yesterday. According to deputies, Mr Mitchell was criticised at the weekly parliamentary party meeting for the proposal, mooted at a conference last weekend, that people could be temporarily housed for up to two years in this way. The matter was raised by Dublin TD Mrs Nora Owen who asked if the idea had been discussed beforehand or if it was now party policy, which apparently caused an angry response from Mr Mitchell.
"Jim let fly at Nora Owen and said she was never helpful to him," said a deputy. "But people were irate about it and were asking if it was now party policy. The view of people is that he should keep his mouth shut on these matters so close to a general election. We all need to be on message."
Another deputy said it was contradictory of Mr Mitchell to put forward this proposal. "We objected very strongly to putting asylum-seekers in these flotels; you don't then propose that you'll put your own in them," said another deputy. But Mr Mitchell said it had just been one of a number of proposals he put forward to solve the housing crisis. He said he had the pleasure of being on a cruise in the Caribbean two years ago for a break, when he was sick, and it had been luxurious.
"All of the liners are luxurious. Quite a number of them are available relatively cheaply because there are modern ones being built." Mr Mitchell said if dockland areas were nicely developed the ships could be docked alongside. Ms Owen, when contacted, said it was not her policy to comment on parliamentary party meetings. However, she confirmed she had raised the matter because she was unhappy with the party being associated with such a proposal. Mr Michael Noonan also told deputies that an internal report on the party, which examined how staff were being deployed, had been completed.