Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Here we are again. Senator Coffey said tenants are not being left in the lurch. Eighty-five people came into our Limerick Sinn Féin office last week, over 70 of whom came in regarding housing. The biggest housing issue in Limerick is hikes in rent. I accept it may be different in Mullingar, in fairness to Senator Davitt. The hike is close to 10% in Limerick and 13% in Galway, yet Senator Coffey says tenants are not being left in the lurch. If they are not being left in the lurch, why are the constituents coming into our office? Are they making it up? Are they coming in with fairytales? Senator Maria Byrne, whom I respect, will know the circumstances in Limerick as much as I do.There is a crisis in housing in Limerick. There is a crisis for tenants in Limerick. Yes, they are being left in the lurch. The Government has an opportunity to do something about it but there is a problem. I recommend everyone to read a very good book called Sins of the Fatherthat was written by Conor McCabe as it details the history of housing in this country. The certain fact is that the best way to predict the future is to look at past performance. The past performance of Fine Gael in respect of tenants' rights is nothing less than abysmal.