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

Yesterday evening we brought forward the fifth piece of tenancy and rental legislation since I was appointed Minister. We have been to the fore in the areas of rent and protection for tenants. Last August, when exited out of the blanket ban on evictions that was in place, we did so on the basis of very strong legal advice that we had received, that any measures that we take must be proportionate. Whether Deputies want to acknowledge it or not, we must balance the rights of the property owner and, indeed, the tenant.

I said yesterday evening that I intend to bring forward substantial reforms relating to rent and tenancy reforms in the autumn but specifically for the people referred to by the Deputy. I remind him and others that when we exited the blanket eviction ban last August, there were many who predicted "a tsunami of evictions". This did not happen because the protections this Government and I brought in are targeted and proportionate, and are working. Even though only 475 people have sought that protection, the fact that they are there shows that we are serious about protecting tenants.

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