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

I do not think any modelling has been done by the Opposition. We had an indication of the RTB figures but not the exact figures. They indicated two things. One was an uptick in notices to quit driven by the eviction ban. Landlords got the message, in part as a consequence of the eviction ban, and it accelerated the number of landlords that were leaving. That bothered us and is one of the reasons why the option was recommended that the eviction ban and threat of further eviction bans or extensions would accelerate the exit of landlords, thus increasing homelessness and driving up rents. That was definitely part of the rationale. We were also advised, and Members should know this if they do not already, that comparisons between the numbers per quarter now and previous quarters are not valid because there was a change in the law and the way notices to quit are counted. Anyone making a comparison of the third quarter of last year, or the figures to come for quarter four of last year, with previous quarters is not being accurate, because that is very clear.

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