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

I thank the Deputies for tabling these amendments. I cannot accept them and I will explain why presently. First, I want to inform the House that no one is pretending to do anything. We brought in effective measures last July and we have extended them since. In addition, we brought forward some permanent changes, relating to rent arrears, deposit restrictions and minimum notice periods, which are not pandemic-related. I am not having a go at the Deputies who brought forward these amendments by pointing out that some of them opposed this legislation originally. I am glad that, since then, people have seen fit to support the measures and the House, with unanimity, accepted the extensions to them.

Before dealing with the issue of rent increases, I want to explain why I cannot accept amendments Nos. 2, 14 and 15. I cannot do so because they propose to amend Part 2 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 and that Part ceased operation from 1 August last. With effect from 27 March 2020, the Act made exceptional provisions, in the public interest, for a blanket ban on evictions and rent increases in order to mitigate the effect of the spread of Covid-19. The measures modified the operation of certain provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 for a three-month emergency period following the enactment of the 2020 Act and during any further period specified by Government.

The emergency period under Part 2 of the Act, to which this group of amendments is linked, was extended by the Government on 19 June 2020 and again on 20 July, having regard to the threat to public health, the highly contagious nature of Covid-19 and the need to restrict the movement of people. As I indicated, Part 2 of the 2020 Act, relating to rental measures, ultimately ceased to operate with effect from 1 August 2020. It is a matter for the Bills Office as to whether these amendments are in order. I understand the thrust of them but they are linked to legislative provisions that are now spent and no longer in operation. As such, I would not be in a position to accept them even should I wish to do so.

I want to update Deputies on the issue of rent pressure zones, RPZs, and rent increases. Will will discuss them again later as there are further relevant amendments. The Taoiseach has rightly said we will address these issues. I have advised the House before that we will be bringing forward a significant rent and tenancy reform Bill in the autumn. In advance of that, we are working on other measures. We are on Committee Stage of this Bill and we are looking at additional measures to deal with the rent increase issue. I hope to be able to conclude that work very shortly. I do not mean this in any condescending way but the issues are not as simple as some have presented. There are things that need to be worked through. For example, the RPZs expire at the end of the year. I have said time and again that we will be replacing them with something better. It is my intention to do that in the autumn but I need to see what I can do in the short term, in advance of the summer recess. I am working on that but I cannot go into any more detail because I do not want there to be any unintended consequences if I make any comment that might lead to something else. I assure Deputies that measures are being worked on and will come to this House when they are ready.

I have explained why I will not be accepting amendments Nos. 2, 14 and 15. I cannot do so in any case because they relate to a section of an Act that is ceased.

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