Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not a loophole, it is the law. Sometimes houses, apartments and duplex buildings need refurbishment. Sometimes they are not safe as there are fire safety issues. Sometimes roofs need to be repaired. There are occasions on which houses and apartment buildings require substantial refurbishment. I do not know if it is the case in this instance and whether the substantial refurbishment is necessary and genuine. Either way, nobody should be evicted on such short notice in the run-up to Christmas. If it is the case that substantial refurbishment is not required, at the very least the people concerned should be given adequate time and many months to find alternative accommodation.

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