Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It is an ominous combination to have both the incidence of Covid-19 and the number of evictions on the rise at the same time. We know Covid infection rates are on the rise and we have a lot of anecdotal evidence that evictions are increasing. Next week, the official figures for the numbers in emergency accommodation at the end of August will be announced. I expect those figures to confirm that evictions are on the rise, possibly in a dramatic fashion.

The Government weakened the anti-eviction legislation. No amount of bluster will hide that fact. At the end of July, in the Dáil, the anti-eviction provisions were weakened, with effect from 1 August. A ban remains for those who face eviction because they were in arrears that are directly related to the Covid crisis. That certainly is the case. However, evictions are now allowed on grounds of sale of property, refurbishment of property or to allow a relative to move in. In other words, they are allowed on grounds which Threshold tell us are the majority reasons for evictions in this State. The prospect is opening up of people having to traipse around to find accommodation in our towns and cities in the middle of a pandemic and at a time when the incidence of the virus is on the rise. That cannot be allowed.

The change in July was justified on the basis that a retention of the existing provisions would not be on sound legal ground. The Taoiseach said earlier today in the House that this is a fact. It is not a fact; it is an opinion. It is the opinion of the Attorney General but it is one which is becoming weaker by the hour as infection rates rise. Has the Taoiseach asked the Attorney General whether the latter still thinks there are legal grounds for weakening the ban and not reinstating it? Clearly, the case for reinstating the ban immediately on public health grounds is overwhelming and unanswerable.

See this speech in context