Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has been there for ten years. His record is the highest rents in this city in Europe. His record is generations locked out of home ownership. His record is thousands of people homeless as a result of sky-high rents. That is the reality and things are getting worse. In 17 counties in Ireland rent increases are in double digits. The record is the Government brought forward legislation, which the Minister signed off in Cabinet, that allowed landlords to increase monthly rents in this city by another €100 on top of the €2,000 per month they already charge. That is the Minister's record. The record is the Government has sold this city and surrendered it to institutional investors who charge the highest rents in the State, who do not pay a penny in corporation tax on them, and who are exempt from capital gains tax when they sell those assets in the future. That is the Minister's record after ten years in government.

This amendment calls for a rent relief for tenants of €1,500 for private rental tenants. This relief was in existence right up until the end of 2017, which is less than four years ago. It can be done if the political will is there. I make no apologies for saying the Minister has taken side of landlords over the side of tenants. When will the penny drop that this amount is too much for individuals? I say very strongly that €2,000 per month rent in this city is too much. We need to act. This is why we put forward this proposal.. How would this scare off landlords? This money goes to the tenants, as with the old rental relief. This is €1,600 for married couples over the age of 65. This rent relief would put €1,500 into the pockets of those renting privately. The Minister may try the scaremongering act that this would destroy the economy and so on. This is about a government that we want to be, which would put the interest of renters first-----

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