Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2020-07-31
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Peter Burke (FG), Longford-Westmeath

I thank all of the Senators for their comments. I listened to them all intently and have taken notes on each one. I appreciate the genuine comments because we need to assess all sectors of society we represent and ensure we are as informed as possible as we legislate.
Senator Fitzpatrick made the case for getting more houses for local authorities and meeting the targets. Obviously, this is very important. Last year, there were 25,000 and, up to the end of March last, there were 10,000 social housing units through blended measures. It is very important that we continue at pace to serve the needs of those who are most vulnerable. I note the programme for Government places significant urgency on this and renews it, which is very important.
With regard to the points Senator Fitzpatrick raised, it is very important to note that the ESRI and Threshold have made a determination. Threshold's most significant concern relates to rent arrears. This is what we are responding to. We are legislating to protect the most vulnerable tenancies in our State to ensure we get through the very narrow gap as the Covid-19 pandemic evolves from a stark position whereby everyone was in lockdown and the movement of people was prohibited except where essential, to now, as we are restarting our economy and moving through each phase. The issues are reverting to rent increases and protecting tenants from this and from eviction. It has to be linked to a sound determination. It is very important that I say this.
I appreciate Senator Fitzpatrick's kind comments on our call in respect of housing. This matter is very important. I am working very closely with the Minister on it. I look forward to having a very good relationship with him. It is essential for the programme for Government that we work well together. I am sure we will do our very best to respond to this crisis.
Senator Conway spoke about the local authority building programme and building and buying houses. It is very important that we get a blend of measures. Significant urgency is now being placed on our local authorities getting back to building houses. This is very important. It takes time to get this shift but the programme for Government is also very clear on this. Senator Conway mentioned planning for housing and the emphasis on the mistakes that were made in the past. This is why it is very important that we have a national planning framework to deal with planning and ensure that we are building in the correct areas and that our towns and villages do not suffer.
That is one of the key elements of our towns first policy. There is a significant amount of positive action in the programme for Government to deal with these pressure points.
Senator Mullen also raised matters relating to housing in rural Ireland. Again, I revert to the national planning framework and Housing First. He mentioned the case of some of our smaller landlords, a point that is missed by a significant proportion of people in this debate. I have figures from some research I did this morning. From 2016 to 2019, 6,500 fewer landlords have been operating in the residential market, which is a 5% reduction. When we house people we need a model to ensure there are tenancies but there is a reason landlords are leaving the system. We must ensure any legislation we produce does not have an adverse impact as there must be housing for people. It is also very important to note that 70% of landlords just own one property, with 86% owning one or two properties. It is a significant proportion of landlords and we must be careful not to demonise one sector. Senator Mullen articulated the point very well.
Senator Mullen also mentioned the property tax and there is a deferral mechanism contained in the legislation for people who fall into difficult circumstances. That is there for all to see. He commented on Airbnb, which has been contentious, and the Government takes this point seriously. Local authorities have been given funding to increase and review cases where properties are used for Airbnb. There have been 757 properties identified over the past number of weeks as we move to putting more resources into the area and 633 warning letters have been issued. In the Dublin area especially we are really working on this to ensure we can protect tenants and make properties available. Properties used for Airbnb require planning, which is a key point.
I thank Senator Moynihan for her comments. I have different views from her perspective on the Bill. She said I was spinning the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report but that is absolutely not the case. I am working to get legislation through here that would strike a balance. If there is a change and we experience a second wave of the virus, neither I nor the Government would have a problem with responding through primary legislation to meet demand. I am currently legislating for the circumstances in which we find ourselves today and ensuring protections are advanced to tenants, including the most vulnerable tenants, which is a key point. It is all about trying to get a balance between the sections.
The Senator commented on the narrow scope of the Bill but there are a significant number of employers using the wage subsidy scheme, with employees effectively underwritten throughout this crisis. Such people have key access and if they feel their income is under pressure or they may fall into rent arrears, a response is provided for in this legislation. Senator Moynihan said there is no retrospective element in the legislation. If she read the legislation, she would see section 5(4) applies and her point was not well made.
I have heard the concerns set out by Senators Boylan and Warfield. I am trying my best to advocate this legislation as a measure to protect the most vulnerable, which is the most important action we can take. The Senators' views on how to respond to a very significant crisis are different from that of the Government; that is quite clear and the Senators are fully entitled to articulate those today. Ultimately, we must ensure there are more homes each year for people, and that is what we are doing. It is very easy to identify problems when one would not be accountable for it. We can see in the North of Ireland the changes made were minimal and in this jurisdiction we are going much further.
I dealt conclusively with the Airbnb matter raised by Senator Higgins a moment ago. It is not the case that local authorities are banned from buying houses. My local authority in Westmeath is currently buying houses. The Senator may wish to interrupt-----

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-07-31