Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I recognise the points, which were well made by the Senator. It is difficult for the tenants. However, the RTB has powers to investigate and sanction landlords. The Minister’s intent in this Bill is to recalibrate the power imbalance the Senator is talking about between tenant and landlord. That is the intent here. The focus so far is on using their sanctioned power, rather than prosecuting landlords. The principal Act has enforcement powers given to the RTB. There have been significant changes in the rent pressure zones, RPZ, since they were introduced. I agree with the Senator wholeheartedly about the data. An annual registry will be established in the quarter 1 of 2022. It will take a certain amount of time, perhaps a year, to have sufficient data to be able to use it in that granular way that we are talking about. That data will be useful to us. Since last year, Government and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, in particular, have been responding and evolving as needs be. That is what this particular Bill is doing.