Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All the groups and parties in this House want to conclude this legislation before the end of the year so that we can get designations in place to restrict rent increases. That is what this is all about. It would be very foolish to announce a policy intention and not to follow through where it is obvious that we can follow through by bringing legislation forward. We signalled that with all parties at least a month ago as the legislation has been moving forward, starting in the Seanad and then moving into this House. We said we would take the opportunity on Report Stage to introduce amendments that might be linked to the rental strategy when it was launched. That was always the position. Everybody understood it except people who are coming into the debate now.

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