Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the passing of this Bill. It is very important that we have worked collaboratively on it. The Bill is necessary and will have an impact on many students. We have seen that, unfortunately, vulture funds specifically have begun to use 51-week leases as a way of forcing students to pay even more for student accommodation. We must tackle student accommodation and affordability from every single angle possible. This is one way that we can do this, but going forward we must ensure that we look at the issue in its entirety and that we again work collaboratively, as we did in recent days on this Bill, in order to put our best foot forward for all students in terms of affordability and accommodation. I welcome the Bill.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Government, I thank all those involved in affording us the opportunity to pass this Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. I thank Opposition and Government Deputies for their co-operation and for not tabling amendments to this urgent and important Bill. I also note that the Senators followed suit in this regard and the Seanad passed a motion to approve the early signature of the Bill into law by President Higgins. If enacted, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will not delay in commencing the provisions of this Bill to enhance tenancy protection relating to student-specific accommodation at the earliest juncture. I again commend the Bill to the House in that regard.