News Transparency

The Irish Times published a series of articles at the end of December 2018 based on an interview with Conor Skehan that took place on 2nd December in which they called him the "outgoing" chair of the Housing Agency, by the time the second and third articles were published he had been reappointed. His reappointment was only publicized in the state gazette on Friday, 5th January, 2018

It would have been helpful for the Irish Times to state when the interview occurred in their articles.


Baby boomers distorting housing market, agency claims Thu, Dec 28, 2017 Olivia Kelly

the outgoing chairman of the Government’s Housing Agency

Families in emergency housing ‘may be gaming the system’ Tue, Jan 2, 2018 Olivia Kelly

according to the outgoing head of the Government’s Housing Agency

No way to end homelessness, says Housing Agency chairman Tue, Jan 2, 2018 Olivia Kelly

Mr Skehan, who will finish his six-year role with the agency in the New Year

Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees Wednesday, 31 January 2018 Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government Role of Chairperson of Housing Agency and Related Matters: Discussion

On homelessness and my recent comments in the media on this matter, I draw members' attention to the fact that, prior to stepping down as chairman, I agreed to give one press exit interview. It took place on 2 December, lasted for about two hours and covered the topic of what I had learned in the past five years. Once it emerged that I was not going to be stepping down, I let the journalists know. The Irish Times subsequently published six articles based on my interview over a period of two weeks.

[The transcript says "journalists" he in fact said "journalist".]

When exactly did he agree to be reappointed? Conor Skehan says he told Irish Times he was staying on, if so why did that make it into the articles?

The Irish Examiner reported that he was due to step down on December 12th, so did he have agreed to the reappointment between December 2nd and December 12th.