Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response, which was interesting. If I listened to just what he said at the beginning and the end, I would be delighted. It is everything in between that causes me concern. Effectively, my understanding of what the Minister of State said is that it is his view, as well as that of the Government, that while they are allowing this Bill proceed to Committee Stage, they really do not agree with it at all. That is what I heard.

The Government feels that the existing legislation is fit for purpose. If I have misheard that, the Minister of State may clarify it for me at any stage. As that is what I picked up, I will have a job of work to do on Committee Stage to get agreement with the Government parties on this.

I will make a few points in response. I completely agree with the Minister of State that with everything we do around here, we have to be mindful of different rights and of balancing rights. There are different parties here that have rights and I recognise that. My support and sympathy are primarily with the families and individuals who are renting homes, who may be subject to eviction and who could become homeless. That is where my sympathies lie and I make no secret about that but I recognise that the investors have rights as well and that is the reality of the situation.

The Minister of State referred to the Constitution and the Constitution is clear on balancing the rights of investors with the common good. If the Government would get on with the referendum on the right to housing, that might strengthen our ability to have measures to support people who might be at risk of homelessness. Even without that we have had significant legal expertise and opinion over the years stating clearly that when it comes to issues around housing, the Oireachtas has the right to legislate and to do so in line with the common good. The Tyrrelstown amendment was exercising that right. Since it has been passed we have seen the difficulties with it. The Minister of State outlined that there have been four attempts to use-----

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