Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if legislation will be extended on the freezing of rent increases and evictions from 20 July 2020 until the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16602/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to extend the freeze on evictions and on rent increases beyond 20 July 2020 in view of the vulnerable position of many still out of employment. [16705/20]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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300. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an extension will be granted to the existing law on the freezing of rent from 20 July 2020 until at least the end of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16748/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 285, 292 and 300 together.

With effect from 27 March 2020, under new emergency measures introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period, tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances. The measures also prohibit any increase to rent for the duration of the emergency period. These emergency laws initially applied for a period of 3 months from the enactment of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 and were subsequently extended to 20 July by the previous Government.

On my request, having consulted with the Minister for Health and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Government has made a further Order extending the emergency period until 1 August 2020.

Subject to Cabinet approval, I intend to introduce residential tenancy legislation in the Houses of the Oireachtas before the summer recess to further protect tenants who have been economically impacted by the pandemic.