Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator. The amendment he put forward has been ruled out of order. To give context, the omission of such exemptions from rent increases would be very difficult for landlords and for enforcement by the Residential Tenancies Board. The proposed amendment also provides for regulation-making power for the Minister to provide a compensation scheme for landlords who suffer loss as a consequence of the exemptions from rent increases for the cohort in question. This amendment would give rise to a significant cost to the Exchequer and would likely raise significant legal issues, not least the loosely framed regulation-making powers to be given to the Minister to compensate landlords. That is what I have been given by the Minister, Deputy Browne, as the reason for ruling the amendment out of order.