Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Council for International Students published a report earlier that outlines the impact of the housing crisis on international students. Such students are some of the most vulnerable renters in Ireland and abusive landlords know this. Some 5% have come across sex-for-rent arrangements while trying to find accommodation.

Rental advertisements constantly appear on platforms aimed at international students offering reduced rent for women, with the expectation that sex with the landlord will be required. It has been 20 months since Deputy Cian O'Callaghan introduced legislation which would make demanding sex for rent a criminal offence. The Government refused to progress the Bill, but promised an urgent solution. However, in June, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, admitted she did not even have a timeframe within which sex-for-rent practices would be outlawed. There is a complete lack of urgency on the part of the Government in respect of this matter, which leaves people vulnerable to predatory landlords. What is the Government doing to protect vulnerable renters from sex-for-rent predators? Will it commit to progressing the Social Democrats Bill to ban sex for rent?

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