Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

They are not, however, completely successful, even in those areas. That is partly because there is not a rent register and, therefore, a new tenant does not know whether he or she is being charged more than the 4%. I accept the Minister has stated he is going to bring in an amendment on Committee Stage regarding that. That does, however, have to be dwelling specific, and Threshold has made that case as well. In other words, it is not just the rent on a particular road. It is the specific rent for the particular property a prospective tenant may want to rent.

Turning to the other issues, sale is the one with which the Chair is particularly concerned. Other European countries have legislation requiring that tenants have the right to stay in their homes. If we are going to expect people to live in long-term rental situations, which is a norm in many European countries, then there cannot be a situation where tenants do not know when the property is going to be put up for sale and they will be out on their ears. It is important to achieve that balance. I acknowledge we have many accidental landlords in Ireland. They might well just want to get rid of the property completely and the person likely to buy the property might not want to be a landlord. If, however, we are ever going to move our policy to have a situation where we have a secure private rental sector, then we need to grasp that nettle of sale as a ground for termination of a tenancy. That is why we have put it into this Bill. It is a matter of judgment. I would say it is not unconstitutional. Others might argue it is. Longer tenancies were also mentioned. We all agree we want to see Part 4 tenancies extended. Deputy O'Dowd made some general points. I will not answer them because they are not so much to do with the Bill itself.