Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus é ag teacht chun an Bhille tábhachtach seo a phlé. I welcome the Minister and also welcome the content of this Bill.

I shall respond to the Minister's speech, noting in particular his mention of rent reviews. Obviously, the retail trade will lobby to change the long-established practice within leasing of applying upper rent reviews only, a practice which, incidentally, also applies in other jurisdictions. At a time when the retail trade is going through severe difficulties it is understandable that rents should be a matter for serious consideration by such lobbyists as they struggle to remain viable. In addition, I am sure also this matter will engage the major retailers who are making enormous amounts of money in the retail trade in this country, even in the current climate. Most of them are from overseas and would, I am sure, employ lobbyists and suchlike to promote their interests by trying to get this changed.

The Minister's call is sensible. He is looking for flexibility and a more creative approach in this regard and also looks to landlords to play their part in the current economic climate. There are shopping centres not far from where I live where landlords have sought increases and, in some instances, have got them even in the current climate with the five-year rent review system in place. This beggars belief. I do not know how that was arrived at-----