Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Minister about rogue landlords. Salvador Chavez Morales, a computer engineer, was left short of food and at risk of becoming homeless after he was evicted by landlord Marc Godart. What had Salvador done to prompt this eviction? He had made a complaint about being recorded in his home live on CCTV cameras and was evicted as a result. Marc Godart is renting out 208 beds across 19 properties in Dublin city centre. In one property alone on Cork Street, 33 beds are being rented out. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, has made multiple rulings against Godart. Fire safety notices have been issued against multiple properties that he rents. Damages owed to tenants have been left unpaid. He is operating with complete and utter impunity. Apart from the properties he owns, he has no connection with Ireland at all. He has simply spotted the opportunity to exploit our lax regulation and very weak protections for renters. What is the Minister going to do to stop rogue landlords like Marc Godart from flouting the law and exploiting renters?

See this speech in context