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

I struggle to find the range of measures the Deputy says he has proposed to assist landlords. In the 12-page document, which includes five pages of pictures, that the Deputy submitted on Housing for All the only mention of landlords is his proposal to commission the Housing Agency to do a report. The only other measure the Deputy has ever brought forward in relation to landlords was in his pre-budget submission. Sinn Féin wanted to impose a €400 tax on the mom-and-pop landlords, yet the Deputy now bemoans their loss to the sector. Let us be straight with people. The changes the Government bring forward must be calibrated to balance the rights of the property owner and the tenant. Throwaway comments and the demonisation of mom-and-pop landlords that the Deputy and others have engaged in have an effect. Proposals he has brought forward from time to time on extended three-year rent freezes and other measures scare the market. We need to build supply and cost-rental housing. I repeat to the Deputy that the only measure he suggested is for a report to be done on what is happening. The only other real measure he has proposed for landlords is to add a €400 tax on top of all the other bills they have.

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