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

I apologise. Amendments Nos. 29 and 30 are in the grouping and are technical, supplementary and drafting amendments made to the Preamble and Title of the Bill to reflect the Government's amendments in the Bill as introduced today on Committee Stage.

Amendment No. 29 provides for the recital in Preamble of the Bill. Recitals 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the end of the Bill set out the policy context in which the temporary and limited restrictions contained in Part 3, Residential Tenancies, on landlords' constitutionally protected property rights can be legally justified as a fair, proportionate and rational State intervention to achieve an overriding important objective for the social common good. Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act, Residential Tenancies, will provide subject to certain conditions, enhanced protections for tenants during an emergency period from 11 January 2021 to 12 April 2021 if they have been economically impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and consequently are unable to meet their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act to pay rent due and are at risk of tenancy termination. Recitals 1 and 2 at the end of the Bill set out the policy context to allow the Government make orders under section 3 which are emergency periods during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This would extend certain statutory periods applying under the Planning and Development Acts and the Building Control Acts and the temporary and limited restrictions contained in section 14. Regarding proceedings before a tribunal under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, the Bill provides that in the light of the prevailing public health risks, RTB tenancy tribunals are not required to be held in public until 12 April 2021.

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