Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

At a time when rents are increasing exorbitantly, and the figures have already been given, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in particular want us all to sit and wait for their private residential Bill that they have been discussing for a long time before we take any action. The Bill before the House has been asked for by community associations and trade unions and it has been signed by a number of Deputies on that basis.

A survey of 60 cases that the Anti-Austerity Alliance has on its books in Dublin West shows that this Bill would cover 61% of the reasons people become homeless. It covers the issue of rent increases, which the survey indicated was the cause of 19% of people being made homeless. The biggest reason for people becoming homeless, and the reason I will bring forward with the Anti-Austerity Alliance an anti-eviction Bill, is the landlord saying the property must be sold. My figures have this at 31% of cases. The other shyster landlords chancing their arm include those who say they are moving in a family member, accounting for 12% of evictions.

The Government seems to think this Bill is not necessary, which is quite incredible. All the figures have been given for rent increases, which are out of control, and yet the Government sets its face against that. The new argument is this is unconstitutional. I would say I put as much work into the housing committee as anybody else on it and we were all told to put our shoulders to the wheel to come up with solutions. I have not seen any of those adopted. One of the speakers before the committee was Mr. Edmund Honohan, who made it clear, chapter and verse, that there is no constitutional impediment to rent controls or rent certainty. In his testimony, he stated the notion of public interest is extensive and the Legislature's judgment as to what is in the public interest is primary. He went on to say that when the Part V elements were being introduced, it was made clear by the Supreme Court that the achievement of these objectives would be socially just and required by the common good, which speaks volumes. Please do not use that excuse when people are being rack-rented into poverty in this State.

My heart was bleeding as I listened to how these poor landlords would exit the sector, leaving everybody bereft of supply. May we nail this myth once and for all with figures from the Residential Tenancies Board? In 2011, there were 151,034 landlords in quarter one and in 2016 there were 173,956 landlords. That is a massive jump. Why would they leave the sector when it is a bonanza for them? The Government will not bring in rent controls and they can charge what they want, with major power to find all sorts of ways to get rid of a tenant as well. Why would they leave the sector? Please pull the other one and do not use that ridiculous excuse. Fianna Fáil is beneath contempt. It is posing as the Opposition.

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