By Damien Tiernan
A leading housing expert claims he is the victim of a Fine Gael led campaign to undermine him which he says is close to slanderous at times.
Dr Rory Hearne, who's from Tramore, is Assistant Professor in Social Policy at NUI Maynooth. He has written extensively on the housing crisis and contributes to many national media outlets.
Speaking to Damien Tiernan on Déise Today he said he believes there is a public relations strategy campaign against him by Fine Gael to undermine him and his message, adding that some FG national politicians have recently raised his past and were having a pop at him.
He was responding to comments by Waterford FG Senator John Cummins who told Damien Tiernan on “Deise Today” that just because someone puts the title "Dr." in front of a name doesn't make a person an impartial commentator.
"Rory is a former People Before Profit candidate in Dublin and a former public relations officer with that party - so much of what he says has to be viewed through that lens. He's fully entitled to be that and to his views but I don't think he should present himself as in some way impartial," said the FG senator.
"I haven't been a member of People Before Profit for over 12 years," Dr Hearne told WLR, adding he left that party because he held differing political viewpoints.
"I would consider myself broadly on the left, rooted in equality and social justice but I haven't been politically involved with any party for over 10 years. This is trying to get away from the points I'm making. It's quite a petty attack by a national politician in my view."
Dr Hearne said he believes it's part of a campaign to undermine him.
"I've had it on Twitter also by national Fine Gael representatives who have tried to do everything they can to sling mud at me about my political past to try and get attention away from what I’m writing about...some have questioned my academic credentials and qualifications. It's pathetic in my view.”
Dr Hearne emphasised his research, his PhD qualifications and his publishings, saying that national politicians such as Richard Bruton of FG attacked his past recently on Virgin Media.
"They are trying to delegitimise the academic position I have. It's close to slanderous at times what they are doing and I think it's quite an immature and personal attack rather than engaging with the issues. It indicates their level of worries about what I'm raising. It's sad as well because when you are speaking out about these issues, it's not that I take any joy about criticising the government but it's something I care deeply about, the state of the county and the housing crisis.
"The fact that I'm attacked like this makes it very difficult for others to raise their head above the parapet. They talk about having politics of respect and we saw the Tanaiste talking in the Dail about there should be no bullying of politicians but I think what they are doing to me is a form of bullying."
In response, Senator John Cummins said he has never engaged in bullying of any form and totally refutes the claim that there is any kind of campaign against Rory Hearne.
