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

The Deputy is correct. In the first instance, we are not aware of the scale of this issue but wherever it happens it needs to be condemned. It is atrocious and reprehensible behaviour. I want to assure the Deputy in the plainest language that I can that anything that we need to do from a legislative perspective on this issue, we will do. Timeframe-wise, I hope to have something back from our officials by the end of this month with regard to what we are going to do. That is not necessarily the legislation itself but it will advise us whether it is better to do it through legislation from the Department of Justice, residential tenancies legislation, or indeed both. I have a fair idea myself of what type of sanctions we can bring to bear on this type of landlord. Criminal charges will be another element. It is important that we get it right, that it is robust and the Deputy is correct. I commit through our housing spokespeople that we will give an update by the end of March as to where we are at and I will keep the House and the Deputy himself directly informed on this matter.

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