Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The amendments in this group in my name are Nos. 73, 82 and 93. I will move them when we reach them. Amendments Nos. 73 and 82 relate to the issue that was raised by Deputy Healy. Focus Ireland is running a campaign to seek to ensure that tenancies are secured when buy-to-let properties are sold. Amendment No. 93, in my name and the names of a number of other Deputies, proposes to reduce from ten to five the maximum number of tenancy terminations that may be carried out by a property owner at one time. The Minister originally proposed that this would not become an issue unless such a landlord owned 20 or more properties. That figure was reduced to five in the Seanad but, unfortunately, the Minister is now proposing to increase it to ten in amendment No. 92. Those of us who have tabled amendments in this group are supporting the Secure Rents campaign, one of the three aims of which relates to security of tenure. A person who has a lease should not be given notice and kicked out of his or her home because the property is to be sold. I will not detain the House on this matter because it has been thrashed out at this stage. If we are going to have a secure rental sector in Ireland, as many of our European neighbours have, I strongly believe we must give people a sense of security when their leases are still viable by ensuring they are not put out of their homes because of a sale.

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