Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is obviously aware of the issue of the 51-week leases now being required by vulture fund-owned student accommodation, and he is of course aware of the detrimental impact that this is having on students and the study abroad sector. Over the past number of months, the Taoiseach has raised his intention to introduce legislation to ban this practice. However, given the tight timeline between the coming academic year and the present, why is he planning on using primary legislation? Is that what he is planning to do? If it is, then it will have to pass all five Stages in the Houses, and we are obviously under a very tight timeframe. Has the Taoiseach considered bringing in secondary legislation like a ministerial order or regulation, which is much quicker? We need to make sure this is sorted before September. People and students are already struggling, and we need to sort it now.

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