Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. Deputy Dessie Ellis is correct in what he says. The people with whom we are dealing are often vulnerable and feel a need for support. They are frustrated by the system and, in many instances, believe this measure would be helpful. Deputies Dessie Ellis and Bernard J. Durkan may agree with me that, on rare occasions, we engage with local authority bodies and are told it might be better if a public representative did not get involved as the question of access to information arises. It would, therefore, be good if the Minister of State accepted this as an addition to the Bill to signal clearly to housing authorities that the idea of tenants or prospective tenants being supported in their engagement with local authorities could be part of the daily routine and was acceptable, provided that those supporting the prospective tenant fitted the categories outlined.

See this speech in context