Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to support the Minister. I have been a supporter of his, despite the stick he has been taking on social media and in the media in general. I have great sympathy for him in the job he is trying to do. However, I would not and could not stand over pushing all Stages of this Bill through the House today when people are emailing me and every Member of the House on both the tenant side and the landlord side about the issues they have with the Bill.

On the amendment brought forward by Senator Humphreys, I agree with the Minister that very few people are coming forward to complain about the fact that they are being asked for two or three months' rent. Why is that? It is because they are petrified to say anything. I have met too many of my children's young friends who are renting properties and will never see the day when they will be able to purchase a property. They are at the mercy of landlords who are telling them, "I am sorry; I am selling the property and you have to get out." Then, three months later, they find out he or she has not sold the property, but do they do anything about it? No, they do not because they really could not care less.