Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

No, I will not go away. The Taoiseach made a commitment to do so. He has given 100% support to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for a possible withdrawal of the legislation. The country needs leadership. There is a housing crisis and a need to deal with the rental crisis that exists, especially in terms of the rent hotspot that is Dublin. A 4% increase is a very clear signal to landlords to increase rents by 4%. That would have enormous knock-on effects across many areas, not just for people who are in private rented accommodation but also people who are in receipt of the housing assistance payment, HAP, and rent allowance because one can guarantee that landlords who have tenants in receipt of rent allowance will also increase rents by 4% and so will those with tenants who get HAP. Once the leases come up for renewal then the rent will be increased by 4%.

We must be serious about new politics. The names who annoy me are always the same. Deputy Micheál Martin was a member of the previous Administration.