Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

First, I send our deepest sympathies to all affected by the horrific and shocking shooting and killing in Austria. Our thoughts are with all those who have been killed, their families and relatives.

The reforms announced today of the rental sector will strengthen the rights of new and existing tenants in Irish society. That is a central part of the reform. Those reforms have been informed by the Housing Agency review which, of course, stemmed from the Housing Commission report which the Deputy opposite endorsed at the time. All of the parties opposite endorsed the Housing Commission report which pointed to the need for reform of the rent pressure zones. The Deputy opposite and the Sinn Féin party are very disappointed with the announcement today. They condemned it in advance of seeing the detail. Now they have changed tack hurriedly. Last March I was told we were going to get rid of RPZs all together.

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