Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 5, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:“3. Where the court grants an order of possession the court shall instruct the mortgagee to abide by the full terms of any tenancy agreement in place with respect to the property and for the mortgagee to assume the full responsibilities of the landlord as stipulated in that tenancy agreement.”.

The buy-to-let sector is the concern in amendment No. 11. We are seeking that any tenancy agreement in place for the property would be honoured. Whatever the outcome, the tenants' rights must be secured for the duration of the tenancy. Amendment No. 12 would give people at least six months, where adults are involved, and at least nine months, if children are involved, to make new arrangements to find a new home. Amendment No. 13 relates to the concern that a house in negative equity would be sold and the family in financial distress would be left to make up the shortfall. That is a very serious issue. Amendment No. 14 would seek the mortgagee to assume responsibility for that gap.