Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and all the Senators for the warm congratulations. I have not used this term yet but I am going to tell my husband. He will be delighted to know he will get onto the record of the House on our marriage. It was a great day and we are very lucky to live in a lovely village where our neighbours sent us off with a street party and we were able to walk down to the venue and the pub. I felt like I was getting married in the 1960s rather than having a big fancy wedding.

I wish to raise the issue of rents, which has been a popular topic in the news today. Before we left this House before the summer, one of the things the Government put through in the Affordable Housing Bill was linking rents to the consumer price index, CPI, which was, and still is, very welcome because, over time, that will ensure rents do not run away with themselves. How far they ran away with themselves in Ireland has been well documented. In a EUROSTAT report in 2020, rents in Ireland were up 61.8% whereas the European average was 14.9%. That points to a real crisis in terms of rent in this country. Even last year, it was up 7% outside of Dublin. In addition, we see worrying signs that inflation is rising again because of energy costs and we will potentially have the same increase in rents we had in the rent pressure zones, which were becoming a target.

I ask the Government to look at that issue again. While linking it to the CPI is welcome, I propose a temporary rent freeze. We in the Labour Party are calling for a three-year rent freeze. I ask that Government colleagues consider supporting our renters' rights Bill, which is being brought before the Dáil tomorrow by Deputy Bacik. There are many very constructive points in that Bill. I believe everybody across the board would like to see more protection being given to renters. Small things are also included in that Bill, which will have a big impact on people's quality of life, such as being able to keep pets. I am dealing with a case at the moment where a family has had their dog for seven years and they are being told they have to give up their pet to stay in their rental accommodation. There are many very constructive points in the Bill that will bring rental standards in line with European norms and give people security of tenure. I ask, therefore, that the Government allows that to go through to Second Stage and Committee Stage and works with us on bringing our rental standards in line with European norms.

The second issue I wish to raise is about a creeping development that is happening. I am sorry; I have run out of time. I will raise the issue again.