Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 33, to delete lines 16 to 31.

The amendment proposes to delete the requirement for sanctions to be confirmed by the Circuit Court. This requirement only leads to a backlog. It also creates an unnecessary administrative burden on the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and the courts. Last night we discussed the delays and possible consequences and scenarios where there is a dispute over a deposit, and how we can ensure that there are not delays in results and decisions being made because delays have financial consequences. I also asserted last night that we need to build confidence in the RTB to a point where tenants know their rights, that they feel confident in asserting them in full, and that they are not inhibited by feelings that they are lucky to have a place at all and should accept violations of their rights as tenants. That is not acceptable. If we consider that the average time for an illegal eviction case with the RTB is five months from the application to the determination order then we should strongly consider the possible effect of adding another layer of delays. I ask the Minister to support amendment No. 23 and I will be pushing it.