Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this Bill and providing us with another opportunity to discuss what I believe everyone who has contributed to this debate would accept must be an absolute priority for the Government and all parties in the Oireachtas.

As Senators will be aware, the Government has tabled a proposed amendment to the motion, as I did in the Dáil when this issue was brought forward by Sinn Féin. There are acute pressures in the rental market. These pressures are driven by a number of factors, including rising demand, a lack of supply and high costs that indebted landlords face in servicing loans.