Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we get the balance right in this sector and that we do not end up with unintended consequences.

I have a few specific questions to ask of the witnesses from the Irish Property Owners Association. I am fully aware there is a significant number of good landlords and tenants out there. We all know there are also bad landlords and tenants. We need to make sure we have a balance.

The association's statement clearly states that it should be one's right to determine the level of deposit a tenant should pay. That could lead to landlords choosing people who qualify for private rental accommodation and excluding people who cannot afford more than one month's rent. Do the witnesses think that is fair in today's society?

Does the association have a definition in mind of what is substantial refurbishment?

I agree with what has been said here about rent pressure zones. As I said in the most recent session, the whole country should have been included in the rent pressure zones. The criteria should have been around how to exit a rent pressure zone rather than how to get into one and maybe we would not have the inconsistencies we are having around the country.

The representatives from the Irish Property Owners Association are showing reservations about the data register. What are their fears about that? We all believe it is important that we get down to that level of detail to control this.

We have spoken before about the fact that 86% of the market is controlled by small landowners and only 14% are commercial landowners. We could all give examples of people who bought an apartment in the boom times, got married and had a family, moved out and are renting their own property while trying to get rent. They are getting to the stage where they need to offload that apartment they bought to be able to move on with their lives. Should we be focusing on getting a greater percentage of commercial landlords into the marketplace? Are they easier to manage and control? Is that the direction the State should be moving?

I welcome Ms Byrne from the Union of Students in Ireland before the committee again; she was with us in November. She is a constituent of mine from Dunlavin. Deputy Darragh O'Brien introduced the Residential Tenancies (Rent Pressures and Student Accommodation) (Amendment) Bill 2018 which specifically deals with the union's concerns. That Bill gave a clear definition of student accommodation and put them into the picture of the rental pressure zones. Do the union's representatives think that Bill would help to control the majority of the issues they have raised here today?