Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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Amendments Nos. 1 and 6 are related and may be discussed together by agreement Is that agreed? Agreed.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 19 of Principal Act

2. Section 19(4)(b) of the Principal Act is amended, in the definition of "relevant percentage"—

(a) in paragraph (a), by the substitution of "0 per cent" for "2 per cent", and

(b) by the deletion of paragraph (b).".

The amendments seek to defer any rent increase for the next three years. A total of 80% of renters are not in long-term rental so they will not benefit from the Bill. Renters need stability and security and the amendments seek to provide this. At present rents are far too high for existing and new renters. The figures in the Residential Tenancies Board report for quarter 4 of last year showed that State-wide new rents increased by 5.5%. Last year, average rents in Laois rose by 7%. More recently, daft.ie published its report for quarter 1 of this year, showing average new rents throughout the State were €2,223 per calendar month. Sinn Féin wants to see rents capped for three years to give renters a chance and a break from rising rents. At the same time, there need to be massively ramped-up delivery of social and affordable housing in particular.

The other amendment is straightforward and relates to amendment No. 1, which seeks to introduce a ban on rent increases until 2028. Renters deserve that chance. I ask that people support the amendments. We support the residency board move but without a rent freeze more people will be forced into homelessness and more young people will leave our country.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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On a point of clarification, the amendment is well-intentioned and we all share the objective of reducing the cost of rent and homes and making them more affordable for everyone, but do the Members who are proposing the amendment have analysis of what the impact would be? Is it something they could share with us?

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I cannot share the analysis now but I can get it for Senator Fitzpatrick. We do have analysis. Our housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin, has the full analysis. I do not have it with me here now.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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It is up to the Minister of State to respond.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senators McCormack and Fitzpatrick. I cannot accept amendment No. 1 tabled by Sinn Féin, which appears to have the aim of introducing a ban on rent increases. The Government's firm view is that the imposition of a ban on rent increases is highly likely to be the subject of a legal challenge, would almost certainly deter continued investment in the rental accommodation market and would cause greater recourse to the State for social housing supports. The current rent pressure zone arrangements, under which rent increases are capped at 2% growth pro rata where inflation, as measured by the harmonised index of consumer prices, is higher, were introduced as a balanced set of arrangements to regulate rents. The most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the medium to long term is to increase supply and accelerate the delivery of housing for private rental, cost rental and social rental sectors.Allowing a rent increase of up to 2% pro ratais considered to provide a reasonable balance between stable rent control and allowing landlords to adjust rents in line with general inflation, bearing in mind that achieving 2% general inflation is a stated price stability mandate target of the European Central Bank. I cannot accept the amendment.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the visitors from St. Etchen's national school in Kinnegad. They are guests of the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. The tradition is that they will not get homework today.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, line 25, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 3:

In page 3, line 27, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 4:

In page 4, line 11, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I had an amendment to this section and my question is why it was ruled out of order. I will say into the record that my amendment-----

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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We have to wait for the Minister of State.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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We must wait for the Minister of State.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I will sit back down.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome back the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. Senator McCarthy has a question about section 3. He wants to put a question to the Minister of State.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Which section are we on?

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Section 3.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I had proposed an amendment to section 3. Why has it been ruled out of order? I would like to say on the record that my intention with the amendment was simply to empower the Minister to introduce regulation. It was not necessarily the case that I wanted it to result in a higher cost to the Exchequer. When the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, said there would no special protection for renters afforded by this Bill, I saw it as a missed opportunity and that was why my amendment came about. Many of the people who voted for me, some of whom may be in Trinity College and other colleges, rely on the private sector for short-term rentals. This Bill, as it stands, means that the rent for those students can increase substantially, year on year. People generally do not stay in rental accommodation for longer than six years.

Another group of people who will be hurt and negatively affected by this legislation are those with disabilities. Many disabled citizens are at greater risk of becoming homeless than those who are able to secure accommodation. They often must deal with the additional costs of their own disability. I know that, on the east coast, there are people with special disability needs on the housing list. My amendment would have provided protection for our disabled citizens.

I will speak to an area I know well, which is homelessness. Through my work with Tiglin, I know that many charities are providing homes and accommodation, albeit temporarily, for people who are homeless. The problem is that when they exit that homelessness, they can be subject to frequent moves and getting accommodation can be difficult. The Bill does not protect those individuals who are trying to put their lives back together and are now facing increased rent.

The Minister said there would be serious problems in enforcing any protections for students and others. If this Bill were not being guillotined today, perhaps there would have been more time to explore that issue. I do not believe we have exhausted all the possibilities to provide those protections.

Many of my colleagues have put forward solid amendments. I would hope that, at a later point, we could explore ways to protect the people I have mentioned, including those with disabilities and those exiting homelessness, etc. I thank the Minister of State.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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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.

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, line 14, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 6:

In page 4, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: "Report on ban on rent increases

5. Within a week of the passing of this Act the Minister for Housing will publish a report on the introduction of an emergency ban on rent increases for all private rental tenants, including existing tenancies, new tenancies in existing rental stock and new tenancies in new rental stock.".

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Amendment No. 7 in the name of Senator McCarthy has been ruled out of order as a potential charge on the Revenue.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Now.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to take Fifth Stage?

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Now.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Senators:

Vótáil.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Tellers have been appointed for the "Tá" side. As there are no tellers for the "Níl" side, it is taken that the question is to be decided in the affirmative.