Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I was a Member of the Opposition there was disparate advice available with regard to this matter and how it might be addressed in a manner that was compatible with the Constitution. Ultimately, the Government must abide by the advice received.

Like every other Member of this House, I urge landlords of commercial properties to deal in a pragmatic and reasonable way with tenants. It is in the interests of landlords and tenants, in the context of rent reviews on commercial leases, that the rents agreed are realistic and enable tenants to continue to run viable businesses. That is to the benefit of landlords. To insist on an unrealistic rent would result in vacant premises, in respect of which the landlord would ultimately receive only the lesser reasonable rent that he or she could have made available to the original tenant.

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