Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for being here to discuss the proposed Bill. Concerns were raised at a meeting earlier this week and it is great to have the opportunity to put those concerns to Ms Comer and Mr. Smyth. I thank them for their time. I am very supportive of the principle of the proposed Bill. When I was a tenant, I was offered the opportunity to purchase from my landlord. This does happen and it is good practice that it happens. I wish to ensure that when this comes into law, it does so in a way that is as user-friendly as possible and does not create delays when it comes to purchases and sales.

My question relates to eligibility criteria. I ask the witnesses to talk us through the eligibility criteria from the perspective of a tenant and then from the perspective of a landlord, in terms of exemptions. An issue raised in that regard related to properties that are not going on the open market but are being transferred to a family member. I ask the witnesses to provide clarity on those two points.