Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-12
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Paul Daly (FF), Agricultural Panel

I welcome the Bill. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, who has replaced the Minister, Deputy Browne. I compliment both of them along with their officials on taking the steps they did. It is very hard to bring in any legislation which will only have long-term benefits. Some people want to see the gold-plated results the next day and if they do not, they will not make a decision at all. I compliment the Minister and the Minister of State on the courage of their convictions. There are hard decisions to be made and they are making them.
One can only welcome a Bill that will increase the supply of rental homes, restrict no-fault evictions and enhance tenancy protections. It is replacing the RPZs, which were not working. We are big enough to admit they were not working and we are now bringing in national rent control. It is easy for people who champion themselves as the representatives of tenants to put out soundbites that we are pro-landlord, pro-major developer and pro-vulture fund. Without landlords, we would not have tenants. We have to have landlords. We are not lining anybody's pockets. We are enhancing the potential for their homes to be rented to potential tenants at the market rate and no more, with longer terms of fixed tenure.
I will not go into any more detail on the Bill. We will have plenty of time next week. Contrary to what was said earlier, we have allocated plenty of time next week to go through this Bill with a fine-tooth comb and deal with amendments and whatever. I cannot accept the rhetoric, the soundbites and the Facebook ticks of populism. This is a move in the right direction and will be accepted by the people who will see through the rhetoric of the hurlers on the ditch who portray themselves as representatives of tenants but think we can have tenants without having landlords. It is not possible.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:37+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-12