Pearse Doherty

He did not.

Just to clarify, just so we are doing it procedurally because I did not hear it but I could have misheard him or not heard him. Can we get clarification that the Tánaiste actually moved the amendment?

But he did not say it.

Yes, just to clarify. If he moved the amendment, that is fine, but I just did not hear it.

I will take your word for it if that is the case. I did not hear it.

Is é seo an suí deireanach den Dáil sula dtagann rialacha an Rialtais i bhfeidhm chun an cíos a ardú Dé Domhnaigh. I gceann cúpla lá, beidh cumhacht ag na tiarnaí talún móra an cíos a ardú go leibhéal an mhargaidh do thionóntaí nua. Díreach mar a dúirt Sinn Féin, tá na creach-chistí ag dul thart. Sa Teach seo inné, thug an Teachta McDonald le fios go raibh IRES REIT, an tiarna talún príobháideach …

The Tánaiste has been found out. It is as simple as that. He has been found out. His only defence here is that not every renter will be hit on day one. If you are looking today or moving on Monday, you will be hit by these rent hikes. The fund was very clear, in black and white, to its investors on its conference call that there will be 25% increases. Yes, it said, it will take a while for that to…

Does the Tánaiste not know that, from Monday on, every single new renter will be hit by these increases? He stands there and justifies it and his backbenchers applaud it. That is exactly what the Government has done. I have made the point clearly that this is just one landlord – the largest landlord in the State with 3,600 properties – but other big landlords can do the same. Some 60,000 new tenan…

That is the reality. It is in black and white. The Government has been found out. What the Tánaiste needs to do now is reverse it or defend why he thinks it is appropriate that rents would go up that high.

For new tenancies.

That is not true.

That is not true.

I did not say that.

Defend what they are telling you. Stop spoofing.

Why does the Tánaiste not defend it? Defend the policy.

He cannot even defend his own policy.

It is very unfair to renters across the State. The Tánaiste stands there and waffles when these landlords are telling him they are increasing rents.

Deputy Buttimer knows this is happening.

These landlords say one in seven renters leave every year.

Catch yourself on.

Catch yourself on, man. The only thing the Tánaiste is missing is a red nose because this is the kind of thing you would hear from a clown. He says he is on the side of renters when the biggest landlord in the State is talking about jacking up rents.

Honest to God. The Tánaiste makes for a good comedian.

Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhartha ar an ábhar agus ar an reachtaíocht seo atá os comhair na Dála anocht agus muid ag plé le Céim an Choiste. Is mór an trua é, mar atá ráite ag mo chomhghleacaithe, go bhfuil seo á bhrú chun tosaigh agus nach bhfuil deis ag an gcoiste dlí agus cirt féin mionscrúdú a dhéanamh ar seo. Mar a dúirt daoine eile an tseachtain seo caite, tá sé soiléir nach mbeidh go le…

It is the amendment. IPAS accommodation in the numbers that are required would not be required if processing happened. The vast majority of people who have applied based on past experience are not entitled to protection here. Therefore, if processing time was quickened up, then they would not need the accommodation that is here. The Government does not need a European pact to get its act together …

I did not blame Ukrainians. The Deputy should withdraw that. I did not blame them. The Deputy should have listened to what I said.