Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have tried to address the queries that have been raised regarding the amendments. I point out to Deputy Barry that I know exactly what he stated in the House. That is the reality of it and it is important. I do not see what anyone's background has to do with the matter. It is not for me to hold a candle to anyone. If a Deputy is elected to the House, he or she is entitled to speak. It should not make a difference whether a Deputy is from Cork, Dublin, Belfast or elsewhere, or whether they own two houses, ten houses or no houses. I am not a landlord, if that is what Deputy Barry wishes to know. Perhaps he should tell the House all about himself and his background. He stated in the House:

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.

I am not complacent about what we need to do here, but I am responsible in my commentary on what we should do. We should not stoke fear. I know there are some Deputies opposite who thrive on so doing. The Government is not going to go down that road. I am trying to deal very specifically with bringing in additional protections for people and families. I point out to the Deputy that since the changes we have not seen a rise but, rather, a continued decrease for which we are thankful. That is not all down to the Government or policy. It is down to the really hard work of homeless charities, local authorities, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, to which Deputy Boyd Barrett referred in a less than flattering manner. I know the level of work and the commitment of the people in all the housing associations and local authorities.

I would not besmirch the work they do or their commitment to ending homelessness, which is something we are committed to.

I agree with the point raised this evening about landlords terminating a tenancy on the basis of saying they are selling the property. I have raised this with the RTB. In the budget, which Sinn Féin opposed, we rightly put significant extra money into the Residential Tenancies Board to allow for additional staff to enforce tenancy protections. We regularly ask the Residential Tenancies Board to do more and to carry out investigations to support our tenants. Where landlords are not doing what they should be doing and are breaching the law they need to be investigated and prosecuted. Over 200 investigations have been initiated over landlords giving the reason of sale of a property and where a complaint would be received that they have not indeed moved to do that. Prosecutions based on legislation introduced last year can be brought about with fines of up to €30,000 and that should be done. Where complaints are made, I have encouraged the RTB to follow those through with investigations and it is doing so.

I will give some facts to the House. From listening to some Members, one would be led to believe that thousands are being thrown out of their houses because landlords are selling properties. In quarter 1 of this year, 365 notices to quit were based on the reason that the house was for sale. In quarter 3 it was 165, so there has been a reduction. They are the facts, but we need to watch these things.

I will conclude on a more positive note. While there are differences in the approach here, I recognise that Members opposite are supporting the legislation. That is an improvement and I recognise that they want to provide additional supports for tenants. This will be in addition to the protections we introduced in July. Some of the Members who are supporting this Bill, which I welcome, opposed those other protections, as is their right. They included things like being able to know when a tenancy goes into arrears. Without that legislation we would not have that information now. We would not have the obligation of a landlord having to send a copy of that arrears notice directly to the RTB when he or she writes to the tenant. We would not have it if we had not passed the legislation in July with effect from 1 August.

I thank Deputies Ó Broin and Cian O'Callaghan for the amendments they tabled. I respect the manner in which they put them down in good faith, but I cannot accept them.

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