Results 17,981-18,000 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to clarify that we were not disputing the fact that complaints will arise and the RTB will deal with issues between a tenant and an AHB as they arise but most of us would agree that the approved housing bodies would be the more perfect and compliant of landlords in the main regardless of their tier. They already register with the RTB and they send an annual return to the interim...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: We are very good at hitting targets. The Minister has been exceptional at that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: All of us, including the Minister, agree that there are issues with some landlords regarding deposits and the fact that they use the rate of deposit as a mechanism to preselect potential tenants and deter a cohort of people from their properties. There are many good landlords, as I have stated in all of these discussions, and this is not casting aspersions on all of them. One month's rent...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry, excuse me, it is Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the first time I have ever done that. I apologise again. We have discussed the establishment of a national rent deposit scheme on Second Stage of the Bill and in this committee. I understand that it can be complex from an administrative perspective in respect of where the money goes and how it is held. It is a substantial piece of work. There is, however, enabling legislation,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with Deputy Catherine Martin. Perhaps the Minister could explain the logic of not having a definition of "deposit". It is something that could affect the other aspects of the Bill. There is obviously a reason. In respect of our own amendment, I understand that there could be a cost implication and I understand about deposit interest rates being zero at the moment. No one is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: In that case I will be happy to withdraw amendment No. 183 when we get to it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Sure.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: While I understand motives behind the amendment, I agree with the Minister on this. This will have a consequence for the market that could be even more detrimental and cause a further flight of landlords. I have problems with institutional landlords, particularly with some of the funds and banks that have entered the market. A Minister for Justice and Equality in the previous Government,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Hang them by the neck until they are dead.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Stocks outside Leinster House?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I will look at amendment No. 77 again for Report Stage. I will enter into discussions with the Ceann Comhairle's office.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: The amendments are out of order. I can rework them and retable them on Report Stage. I will do that with some of them.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Which amendment?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Basically the overall point of the section is the rent transparency register. The Ceann Comhairle's office has made a decision that this would in some way add a charge to the Exchequer. I reject that. Rent transparency important. We want a rent register. In private session we discussed at length how we might be able to do this. Most members were in agreement that it would be a help....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not accept that aspect of it and that is fair enough. On Report Stage, I will return to the issue of a rent transparency register. We have discussed the issue of deposit protection, which is different. We will get on to that because it is important. The Minister was broadly supportive of it. The issue was getting down to specific houses. If it was 14 Main Street in Rush, people...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I will table an amendment which I hope will not be seen to have a potential charge on the Exchequer.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Great. We will do that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (11 Apr 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 183: In page 33, after line 4, to insert the following: “26.The Minister has within 12 months of the commencement of this Act to issue a report on the establishment of a National Rent Deposit Scheme.”. We discussed this earlier. I will withdraw it and re-table it on Report Stage.