Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on Green Party TDs to absent themselves from the final vote on the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020. 

Teachta Ó Broin said:“The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 that we will be voting on tomorrow night is a bad bill. 

“It is bad for renters, bad for the stability of the rental market and bad for the local economy. 

“The Minister for Housing Darragh O’ Brien is happy to continue with the same failed policies of his predecessor. 

“It is not therefore not surprising that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are happy to throw renters to the wolves. However, for the Green Party to support this bad legislation is genuinely shocking. 

“It is not what they campaigned for during the election and they certainly were not elected to support measures that strip tenants of vital protections. 

“I would urge Green Parry TDs to absent themselves from voting on this Bill. I know they cannot vote against it. 

“Sinn Féin has tabled significant amendments to this legislation. Our amendments seek to ban rent increases for all tenancies and licences. 

“We also have an amendment that will ban the issuing of vacant possession notices to quit for when the landlord is looking to sell the property. This will keep more families, who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness, in their homes. 

“Committee and final stages of the Bill is up tomorrow and if the Bill is passed as is, it is bad news for renters.”