Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Carroll for her presentation. In our session earlier this morning, Deputy Funchion and I commented on how helpful Ms Carroll's submission was. First, it was helpful because we agree with the Residential Tenancies Board's interpretation of the Act as it applies to student accommodation licences in the private sector. It is also important for us because we take our role seriously in proposing alternative legislation. If the people at the front line are saying there are weaknesses in this that need to be addressed we must take those comments seriously. As the sponsors of the Bill we are more than open to ensure that if it comes to Committee Stage, we amend it as appropriate.

Our preferred option has always been for the Government to do this because it has a level of expertise in the drafting of this legislation, including better access to the Residential Tenancies Board and its advice. It would also mean that the legislation would happen because it would get through more quickly. Deputy Darragh O'Brien and I met the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and made a clear commitment that were the Minister to bring forward his own Bill or amendments to his upcoming residential tenancies Bill that satisfied the intent of our proposals, then we would withdraw our proposal from the table and support the Minister's Bill. There was some very good news today when Paul Dunne from the Department said that this is precisely what they are doing. Mr. Dunne indicated his hope that the Government will be in a position to bring forward amendments on Committee Stage of that Bill to deal with what we want and which reflect all the concerns outlined by Ms Carroll. We expect this to take place in the first quarter of next year. While I was not expecting it, it was particularly welcome that the Department said it wants to ensure the legal clarification - which is what the Department called it - applies to all student-specific accommodation. This would mean the publicly-provided accommodation, as well as the private accommodation. This was certainly a very important development.

Our view remains that until such a time as we see their amendments we would like to continue to progress our Bill, as much as a pressure point as anything else to be honest. Ms Carroll's comments here today make sure that whatever we do - be it teasing out the Minister's amendments or some other form - we are better informed. I do not have any questions but would say that as the sponsors of the Bill, we fully accept the concerns Ms Carroll has raised. In whatever format it comes back to the committee, we will do our very best to address those in a way that makes her job much easier when the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, is implementing this legislation later next year.