Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

In his heart of hearts, does the Tánaiste believe that is the case for young people who are listening to him? The couple I was speaking to last week, a 26-year-old and a 27-year-old, are back in the box room of their family homes, back in their childhood bedrooms. They were supposed to build a house, start a family and live here in Ireland but they are heading to Australia. The Tánaiste is trying to deny the reality that is out there. The RTB is very clear. Rents are going up. They have gone up over €1,000 in the last year. New rents and existing rents have gone up. Every year since the Tánaiste has been in the Cabinet, rents have gone up by an average of €1,000. They are the bare facts, not my facts but those of the RTB, which has told us very clearly that renters have to find €9,000 more for the average rent now since he took office in the Cabinet. In Dublin they have to find €10,000 more. Does the Tánaiste think it is appropriate that new renters have to pay €27,000 a year in rent in Dublin? Our position is very clear - ban rent increases.

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