Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14
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James Browne (FF), Wexford

As the Senator is fully aware, when a person is trafficked into this country, the supports are provided by the Department of justice, which initially decides the status. People being trafficked are not in any way affected by this legislation and it is the same with domestic violence. I have clarified this on a number of occasions, but I will clarify it again.
This is about habitual residents in the State; local entitlement within a local authority is a different question. However, once you have established legal entitlement to be here, and you have habitual residence, you are entitled to social or emergency accommodation. There is also a safety net there. I remind the Senator that only two weeks ago, I deliberately changed the rules so that somebody who is a victim or survivor of domestic violence can bring their time on a social housing list from one local authority to a different one. We have to be very careful not to put out misinformation here that might dissuade people from seeking help. I know that is not the Senator's intention, but putting out that kind of statement and claiming it as fact when it is an opinion, and in my view a very wrong opinion and interpretation, can be counterproductive in these circumstances.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:15+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-14