Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is saying that the family members who are here today, and who have an increase in their rent from €900 to €1,300, can go to the CWO to get the increase. If they do not get that increase, will the Minister join me in advising these family members to break the law to keep a roof over their heads and to refuse to remain in that property? That is the only advice I can give them.

The Minister of State brought in the Residential Tenancies Act before Christmas. Not only has it proved to be ineffectual but I would argue that it has made the situation worse. Landlords are now bringing in double rent increases, knowing they cannot do it next year. All of the families who have contacted our office, and who I am sure have contacted the Tánaiste's office in the same constituency, are getting double rent increases rather than a single rent increase.

Another issue is discrimination against people on rent allowance. A law was passed on that with the support of the Labour Party but there are two advertisements on the Daft.iewebsite, which I can see before me, targeted at people in the local area who are looking for accommodation and which say, "Unfortunately, no rent allowance accepted". What is the Government going to do about that?

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