Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this timely motion and I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this important issue. Many renters now find themselves in a precarious position as the deadline for the end of the eviction ban is fast approaching. It is set to end on 1 April 2023.

People are feeling fearful and vulnerable and for many the uncertainty as to whether they will have a place to live after March is putting them under undue stress and anxiety. Without question, there needs to be an extension of the eviction ban. This is crucial and the Government will recognise that this has to happen, in particular at a time when unprecedented numbers of men, women and children are homeless.

We are also now living in a time of misinformation and extreme prejudice which can only increase if more families are forced out of their rental properties into homelessness should the eviction ban not be extended. An increase in the number of homeless families will only feed into the lies, misrepresentation and misinformation being spread by extreme right-wing elements. More people potentially going into homelessness and fewer properties being available to rent as landlords leave the rental sector when the ban ends will only add fuel to the fire of an already volatile situation, which will be exploited by right-wing elements. If the Government is not already aware of this, it should be and should take measures to avoid such a situation occurring.

One obvious measure is to extend the eviction ban. However, these problems have existed for a long time and the Government policy, Housing for All, is failing and missing its target for the delivery of the large-scale social and affordable projects that are urgently needed. The Government is in denial about this.

People are emigrating because of the cost of living and affordability crises. Perhaps the Government should take notice of that, because it is the most common thing people say when emigrating. For years, we have had a dysfunctional housing system with tens of thousands of people on housing waiting lists for up to 15 years. The rental sector is contracting by the week as landlords leave it. Those properties available to rent often carry exorbitant rents which are out of the reach of most people. Action is required to tackle runaway rents by imposing a three-year ban on rent increases. I urge the Minister of State and his party to act and address, as a matter of urgency, the serious concerns I have outlined and not bury their heads in the sand in denial.

See this speech in context