Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was listening to the Minister saying everything he is doing is to protect the tenant. He stated in Saturday's Irish Independentthat he would act to protect tenancies of indefinite duration later this year.

He was quoted in theIrish Independentas saying, "Currently, a landlord can evict a tenant after six years without reason. That will change". He has been told that for a very long time. In fact, he could have changed it a fortnight ago but he refused to accept an amendment tabled in this House by Deputy Jan O'Sullivan to address that very issue and which would have changed the law. That was voted down by the Minister and Fianna Fáil. The Minister has now told landlords that he will change the law at some point in the future and, obviously, there will be time then for them to make whatever arrangements they can.

As the Taoiseach said in an earlier reply, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill is on Report Stage in the Seanad later today. Will the Minister take the opportunity presented by that Bill, since he missed the opportunity in this House two weeks ago, to make that adjustment?

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