Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I suspected the contribution in terms of constitutionality. However, amendments Nos. 12 and 13 are just setting down the same legal provisions that exist for people in residencies under four or six years, depending on how long they are there. What I do not understand is the rationale that if people are in long-term residency and have built their lives in a certain community, a landlord would be able to evict them without reason. One would think that the legal protections would become stronger for families that are rooted within communities, that have a good track record with their landlord, and have lived their for four to six years. Why are we removing legal protections for them so that a landlord can just evict them, based on the fact that they are there four or six years? I do not understand why we are not giving them any legal protection as we are with other tenancies. I would like the Minister to explain the rationale as to why a landlord could evict somebody because he or she did not have the same legal protections as other tenants who have been there for much shorter periods of time.I really do not understand the thinking behind it.