Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the exceptional work done by both of their organisations. I have two quick questions on which I would value their views. I am dealing with situations where there are tenants in possession who have come into financial difficulty as a consequence of Covid. They apply successfully for HAP, but when they inform their landlord, suddenly the landlord produces a relative who needs the accommodation. I see all the committee members are reacting to that, so it is clearly a common problem. Has either organisation instigated or been party to equal status cases? I am interested to know how that has been used or deployed.

That brings me to the second point. I value the witnesses' views on the mechanism where a family member may be used as a reason for an eviction notice.

It has always struck me as establishing a hierarchy of tenants because if someone is a relative of a landlord he or she is more important as a tenant than someone who is not. There is an inherent injustice in that. That is not an issue where there is an abundance of accommodation but where there is not and where there is a challenge with accommodation, it is an issue. Within that there is a belief in the conferring of a benefit that may be justified and may not be. That is probably contrary to a whole heap of policies but I would value the witnesses' views on that. Has any review of that policy ever occurred?