Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

It is my understanding that there has been no increase in rents by those agencies. However, I will seek further clarification and confirmation for the Deputy. He raises the wider issue of the Government's intention to seek to do away with upward-only rents. This matter is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality but the advice of the Attorney General is that it was not possible to do away with these rents without the State or the taxpayer paying compensation to those who would be adversely affected.

The industrial agencies manage their portfolios with the knowledge of the pressures on businesses. As I outlined in my reply, they have responded in cases where clients have been in difficulties.

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