Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. She covered the issue well. It is morally reprehensible for someone to engage in this type of practice, to exploit somebody. We are all aware of the cost of rent out there. We are aware of the pressures on people from rent. For someone to take advantage of that and try to exploit somebody - we need to take urgent action on this. I do not know how prevalent this is but that it can exist at all is something we need to address. The Minister will be aware that this came to me as a housing matter in my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We were not then sure whether it was a justice matter or one we would have to deal with through rental tenancies. We referred it back to the Minister. I look forward to hearing about the updates the Ministers, Deputies McEntee and Darragh O'Brien, receive on this from the Attorney General. We must act on this swiftly.

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