Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill and I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy Burke, for bringing it forward. I have been listening to some of the debate over the past while. Most of those who have spoken come from urban constituencies. I come from a rural constituency and maybe I hear very different testimonies from those being heard by other Deputies.

Some Deputies opposite believe there is an easy solution to this issue. There is no easy solution. If an easy solution were available, this would have been resolved years ago. I was taken by the contribution of the previous speaker, Deputy O'Callaghan, in regard to the tax treatment of large and small landlords. I had intended to say something similar but I thought that in saying it, I would be seen as pro-landlord. I believe something needs to be done in terms of a tax break for the small landlord who is being charged 50% versus the tax paid by some of the very large corporate landlords. If we had a reduction in the 50% for the small landlord, we would have a far better rental sector than we currently have. I am a landlord, which I disclose in my annual returns. I have two rental properties, so I would consider myself to be a small landlord. I hope I am considered to be a good landlord. That said, we have excellent landlords and excellent tenants, but we have some terrible landlords and some terrible tenants.

Deputy Ó Broin treats every landlord the same, that is, they are pariahs, they are terrible and they should not be in the field.

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