Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to have regard for other factors. First, there is the exit of landlords from the market, which is a big problem. There are fewer rental properties available now than there were a few years ago. We need more of them, not fewer. People need to rent for different reasons at different points in their lives and, therefore, we need more landlords. The exit of landlords, particularly small landlords, from the market is a real problem. We have to make sure we do not exacerbate that. We also need to have regard to the fact that there are people who live abroad and are coming home. Every year, 30,000 Irish citizens return home. They do not all own a house or apartment but many of them do and they should be allowed to move back into the homes they own.

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