Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. The purpose of this Bill is to sort out some of the mess of residential tenancies. I agree with my colleague, Senator Humphreys. We saw the other night that couples today are paying €2,100 to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Sandyford which they could buy with a monthly mortgage payment of €1,350. We are seeing this all over the place. We are also getting reports from tenants that getting the deposit back when they vacate a property is proving to be a problem. My colleague, Senator Ruane, referred to the amount of money that is expected upfront when renting a property. It has gone from a month's rent to two or in some cases three months' rent. This is simply exploitation of people who are desperate to find homes. I am familiar with people who are paying relatively little rent compared with €2,100 in Sandyford. I know a couple who are paying €1,500 at the moment. They are just waiting to be told that the property is to be sold and they must leave. Then come the battles to get back deposits and things like that. My colleagues in the Labour Party have put forward a perfectly reasonable amendment. I support it fully and I ask the Minister to take it on board. Let us not divide the House over it. It is a fairly reasonable thing for which to ask.