Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. The designation of rent pressure zones happens according to the legislation and the process set out therein, whereby following a quarterly index report from the Residential Tenancies Board recommendation is made to the Housing Agency in regard to what inflation has occurred in a particular area following which a recommendation is made to me, as Minister, to designate new areas as rent pressure zones. Designation happens in accordance with the process laid down in the legislation. It is conducted separate from Government so that I cannot, for political reasons, decide that a particular area might be designated a rent pressure zone and another area might not be.

See this speech in context