Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party has been examining the issue of rent controls. I was brought up in a rented home, which is something I am not sure many Members were. While it is a very good way to provide homes for families, those families need security of tenure. Traditionally in Ireland, people want to own their own properties. Young couples who are working and raising families desire ownership of a house, which is a good thing. However, there should be various models available. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the courts struck down in a series of judgments provisions in relation to rent control. While it is something that will have to be examined, the courts at the highest levels have ruled on the matter which meant the old system was dismantled. It is something we will need to address as a society.

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