Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Freeman made a request concerning the Order of Business and I would be happy to accept that. I thank her for that.

We all join with Senator Ó Clochartaigh in congratulating the Medeiros family and the good news of Kleber Mederios's impending return. It shows the importance of a story's humanity being heard. It is a lesson for all of us that the people we meet in our constituency offices have genuine cases, although some may not. In this case it was genuine, however. The Minister, or whoever made the decision, recognised that. I commend the Senator and the Minister for the decision that was taken.

Today is an important day concerning the rental strategy. The Minister will be back in the House with the Bill. The strategy for rent certainty recognises that our rental market is not delivering either for tenants or landlords. Therefore, we need a strong and viable rental market as a long-term strategy for those who want to rent as well as providing for landlords who seek a secure investment environment. The Minister's decision is based on a number of strategies, including security, ensuring greater tenure and rent certainty, supply, standards, services and broadening the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board. The Minister has done much good work and should be commended for that.

As regards rent pressure zones in Dublin and Cork, annual rent increases have been above 7% in those areas in the past year or 18 months.