Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2020-07-31
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Rebecca Moynihan (LAB), Administrative Panel

I move amendment No. 4:
In page 5, to delete lines 16 and 17.
I wish to echo Senator Higgins's remarks. We should not be including something like this in the Bill as a criminal offence. It is a very cumbersome process. I echo Senator Keogan's point that we have a problem with literacy, particularly among non-Irish nationals, who are more likely to be living in rented accommodation. Including them as a criminal offence is very disproportionate. At the briefing with the Department on Monday, officials said that people can use their judgment about what a false declaration is, but making something a criminal offence is an excessive provision.

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