Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14
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Laura Harmon (LAB), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I want to make a general point. I know our amendment was ruled out of order and the reason was placed on record. What we sought to do with that amendment was to make sure there would be an assessment how the section would affect different groups in society that have a protected characteristic under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018, in particular with regard to race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, family status and membership of the Traveller community. There is a lot of concern about how this legislation could double down in terms of vulnerable groups, minority groups and children. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children has expressed concern that the Bill will make it significantly harder for vulnerable groups of children to access social housing and emergency homeless accommodation. Those who are deemed ineligible may be offered night-to-night accommodation at the discretion of a local authority, increasing the risk of rough sleeping.
Focus Ireland has welcomed the inclusion of the best interests of the child provision. However, it feels the measure is too limited as it applies only after a decision has been made to provide accommodation, rather than informing the decision on whether accommodation should be offered in the first place. It has called for stronger protections for children to be made part of this. In its view, the provision in the Bill does not reflect what was agreed by the Irish people when they endorsed the rights of the child clause in the Constitution. I wanted to put on record my concerns about this legislation in respect of vulnerable groups and children.

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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