Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the thrust, will and desire of the Bill from Sinn Féin this evening. I acknowledge that strong rent certainty measures are necessary to help alleviate the record rent rates we have seen in recent years which have reached huge levels, were unforeseen and are contributing to the homelessness situation. Far too much of people's disposable income is being contributed to rent, and in many cases not enough income is forcing people into homelessness. We have what has become an abnormal market which needs abnormal intervention for it to be normalised. Any intervention which has at its core a rent certainty model or measure would only be for set period - a sunset period - until such time as we can see a normalisation of the market. I acknowledge that much of what is necessary for the mid to long-term resolution of the housing crisis is in hand and will take time to materialise. We can have debates, and we can seek to exert our influence on supply measures to help with that, on the provision of housing units and also in the area of the rental sector. Any form of a rent certainty model has to be well thought out. Our amendment, as the Minister has alluded to, would oblige the Minister to bring forward rent certainty measures within one month if they are not contained in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill that is going through the Houses and that will be in the Dáil in a couple of weeks. I expect there to be some measures contained in the Bill to address this issue on Committee Stage. Regulations that are constitutional and targeted, especially in areas in which it is most vital that we interfere, are required at this time when it is not too late, although in many cases it is too late unfortunately.

By virtue of the configuration of the Dáil, as I have said on many occasions, there is an opportunity for consensus. There is an opportunity to resolve this issue and for a consensus to be arrived at in order for results to be achieved. When we set out to facilitate this Government, we did so in recognition of the numbers that were presented to us and with the view that we did not feel that the electorate needed or wanted a general election. We saw fit to give some value to those who voted in our favour by agreeing a confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael to facilitate the formation of Government and ensure that it went in a certain direction to address many pressing issues, while at the same time dealing with the other inevitable decision that had to be taken on water. There is a pathway in place to deal with it and we are moving on to the next chapter following the commission's report this week.

The confidence and supply arrangement affords us, as a political party, the opportunity to represent those who give us the privilege to do so and to yield some influence on Government in the preparation of policy initiatives to achieve results in areas where we want to see results. The special Committee on Housing and Homelessness was also a product of the configuration of the Dáil whereby a consensus was sought. Much hard work was done by our party, the Government parties, Sinn Féin, and Members from other parties and none in an effort to consolidate an opinion and a set of proposals to Government for inclusion in the Rebuilding Ireland document that has been produced. The various pillars within that have been announced on a couple of occasions but more particularly in this instance on the rental strategy, which will be forthcoming in the coming weeks. We hope that committee for all its hard work, dedication and commitment will be in a position to yield influence.

In recent weeks, Fianna Fáil and others, including the proposer of tonight's Bill, made submissions on the basis that the Government would assimilate and analyse them and negotiate with us during the course of their deliberations before finalising the strategy. We respect that process. We hope to see it reflected in the final decision by Government and that our imprint, and that of others if necessary, is in it so results can be achieved. That is what we are here for and that is what we want to see done. We do not want to game play or use Private Members' time to score points over one another politically and not address the issues we were put here to address. We want people to see there is real and effective change and proposals in legislation coming forward as a result of the convoluted configuration that one might say is present here in the Dáil.

I am glad the Minister made reference in his presentation this evening to bringing forward initiatives and a strategy that is reflective of that process. Our submission sought and continues to seek to moderate rent inflation and increase supply. It is inclusive of proposals around a rent certainty model which looks at five year historical rates in the area applicable especially the specific areas it is crucial to tackle in Dublin, other cities and different parts of the country. We want to increase security of occupation with a range of incentives and competitive finance for build-to-rent units, for example. We want to reward landlords who agree long leases, and have an NCT-type system where local authorities can inspect and authorise that units are safe, proper and appropriate for such rental agreements. We want an extension of the empty property refurbishment grant that is being piloted in Carlow and Waterford and to see that rolled out in other parts of the country over time. We want assistance for involuntary landlords who are in negative equity and who need help, and we want more favourable tax treatment for rental income.

Despite the desire of many within my party to support, as a matter of principle, the Bill before us today, I refrained from doing so because I believe in the process that is being put in place. I believe in its potential. I hope it can be reflected in what the Minister brings forward in the coming weeks and that our input, dedication and commitment to resolving this issue is reflected in what the Minister introduces. If the Minister does that, and is seen to do that, we can go to the public and be assured that it is getting better representation than the sort of political gamesmanship that is achieved by bringing forward motions that are simplistic and short in nature and which do not look at the regulations or the constitutional implications that are contained within it. That is the reason we have tabled our amendment. In the event of that not being reflected in the Minister's policies in the coming weeks, we will be very quick to bring forward a Bill to reflect our submission in the hope that we receive support from others. We want to ensure that those we represent and those who are in this horrible, unfortunate predicament will see that the convoluted configuration of this Dáil, and the difficulties associated with governance because of that, can be resolved and can effect the sort of change that is necessary.

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