Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, the Deputy should have acknowledged that the Minister has brought in a significant proposal on the capping of rent increases in line with the harmonised index of consumer prices. This is something he was calling for as a minimum and the Minister has done it now. It is a very progressive measure. All the measures the Minister has taken in placing restrictions on evictions and so on have borne fruit. The tsunami has not happened that the Deputy said would happen a year ago. The Minister has to balance the constitutional and legal issues. He cannot knowingly act illegally. What he has done is reduce rent increases in line with inflation, which is far better than what obtained before that.

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