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

It was not intentional if I did not respond to Senator Keogan. I have written down the names of everyone who contributed so, if I omitted the Senator, I did so in error. I tried to get back to every single person so I did not pick out everyone individually. I agreed with some Senators and not others. The point I made to Senator Boyhan was that he was trying to categorise me when he asked how politicians are landlords. I responded to the Senator because I will not tolerate that. I am very clear about that. I know my background and where I came from. I work very hard in this job to deliver for the most vulnerable and ensure that we strike a balance here.
I want to be clear that I have no issue with discussing all of these amendments and that is what I am here to do. Anyone with proposals that are of merit, as some of these amendments are, will be listened to and those amendments can be explored with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government. We must assess the pathway that the pandemic takes when considering legislation. We may need to come back and do primary legislation if other challenges emerge. We will do that and the Government will not be found wanting in that regard. Let there be no doubt that I am happy to debate these issues and to further engage through the committee. I will bring any concerns that are raised by Senators back to the Minister and the Government.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2020-07-31/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-07-31