Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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50. To ask the Minister for Finance the composition of the delegation from his Department on a working group further to a commitment in a Rebuilding Ireland strategy document (details supplied); the number of meetings of this working group that he has attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11384/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, under Action 5 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, established a working group with the participation of the Departments of Housing, Planning & Local Government, Justice & Equality; Finance; and Business, Enterprise and Innovation, to examine the scope for amending legislation to provide for greater protection of tenants’ rights during the receivership process. 

The appointment of a receiver to a dwelling can cause confusion and distress to tenants and, in circumstances where a receiver is appointed to a rented dwelling, it is essential that the rights of tenants are protected.

The objective is to protect the rights of tenants during the receivership process by ensuring that persons appointed as receivers will be required to fulfil the obligations of a landlord. To inform its work, the working group has sought legal opinion on the feasibility of amending legislation to provide greater protection of tenants’ rights during the receivership process. The working group expects to finalise its report shortly.

The working group has met on three occasions to date: 23 February, 23 March and 11 October 2017. My Department has been represented at assistant principal officer level.