Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the second memo that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I have brought on this issue. The first was to seek Cabinet approval. Today, the Government approved the priority drafting of the residential tenancies (student-specific accommodation) Bill. This will be welcomed by Deputies on both sides of the House, including the previous Minister and now Taoiseach, as well as myself. It will only pass into law if both Houses are able to deal with it before the Oireachtas rises for the summer. Even though it is much-needed legislation that everybody will welcome, particularly parents and students, we will need the co-operation of the Whips and the Business Committee to make sure it is truncated or done as quickly as possible and this advantageous legislation to students across the country can be enacted and in legal effect by the time the Dáil rises for the summer.

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