Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will speak briefly because I referred to the amendment in my speech. This amendment seeks to extend the eviction ban until, at the very least, March 2021. It also allows the Minister, where there are any restrictions on movement, to impose an eviction ban. That is a particular issue. The 5 km limit is very restrictive, particularly when one is talking about within a county. I gave the example of Fingal.

In the briefing the other day with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, there was the presumption that alternative housing would be available or made available within 5 km. However, we all know from the housing crisis that alternative accommodation is not necessarily available and, at this time, the market is probably contracting. The amendment gives the Minister the power to have an eviction ban while we are in the living with Covid phases, not just level 5 and not just limited to 5 km.