Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 that the Government is seeking to rush through the Dáil this week is a far cry from the Fianna Fáil new deal for renters that was promised by the Taoiseach just a few months ago. In fact, he and his Government are now moving to allow for rent increases, notices to quit and the misery that will ensue in the heat of a global pandemic. It is noteworthy that the Cabinet committee has not yet met.

The protections in place have resulted in a significant drop in the number of families presenting as homeless and the lowest number of families in emergency accommodation in the past three years. The emergency measures also confirm the argument that we, along with Focus Ireland and others, have made that banning vacant possession notices to quit has played an important role in reducing homelessness. It is to the great shame of Fine Gael that it took a pandemic for the previous Government to take the actions necessary to protect renters. It is to the great shame of the Taoiseach, however, that he is now withdrawing them as the pandemic continues.

Many renters, as the Taoiseach will be aware, are under great financial pressure. They do not earn huge salaries and do not have that luxury. They believe, as I do, that there is a huge gulf in understanding between their reality and the reality of those who govern. In that light, will the Taoiseach inform the House whether he is still drawing down the €50,000 top-up from the Fianna Fáil party leader's allowance? Will he make that clear to the Dáil?

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