Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome protections for renters. It is a straightforward matter to support any such measures. At this point in time, we are dealing with a pandemic and we are in a period of severe restrictions. We need to ensure we achieve the community buy-in that was there at earlier stages of the crisis but which has dissipated to some degree. We can only do that if we can tell people that we have their back. I welcome the Bill but I would like to see its provisions extended for six months. We need a connection between this type of legislation and any future lockdowns, because none of us is sure of what the future holds.

We must address the other difficulties people are facing in regard to housing. I accept that there is no silver bullet for the short-term, medium-term or long-term housing situation. The reality is that a whole range of supports is needed. We must, for example, deal with local authority underfunding. I have spoken on previous occasions about the loans Louth County Council has for land banks bought in previous times. We need to empower local authorities to be able to build. The performance of the Minister and the Government will be determined on how successful they are in providing the housing solutions people need, namely, affordable cost rental housing, council houses and affordable mortgages. The Government must deliver for people. I welcome the Bill as a start in this regard but it is vital that local authorities are empowered and supported to deliver the houses our people need.

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