Opposition TDs slam Government for voting down renter relief

Sinn Féin TDs Denise Mitchell and Paul Donnelly have called out fellow Dublin TDs for voting down their bill, which they said would have helped renters.

A Dáil vote that would have banned rent increases for three years and given renters a full month’s rent back failed by 76 votes to 60.

The vote, which was called by Sinn Féin, “would have made a real difference to renters across Dublin,” according to the party.

“Last night, the Dáil voted on Sinn Féin’s plan to ensure renters get a much-needed break from sky-high rents. The plan included cutting rents and freezing them, as well as putting a month’s rent back in renters’ pockets.

They claimed that the bill would have “empowered Government to use emergency planning and procurement powers, combined with new building technologies and vacant homes, to provide an additional stream of public housing to reduce the numbers of people in emergency accommodation.”

Mitchell and Donnelly called out Dublin coalition TDs Sean Haughey, Richard Bruton, Leo Varadkar, Jack Chambers, and Roderic O’Gorman for voting against the bill.

Dublin opposition TDs that voted for the bill include Cian O’Callaghan, Eoin O’Bróin, Ivana Bacik, Roísin Shortall, Mark Ward, and Richard Boyd Barrett.

“Renters in Dublin deserve answers from their TDs about why they voted against providing this much-needed support. These TDs must come forward and explain to constituents why they have voted in this appalling way.”

“It is disgraceful that TDs are now going off for their summer break, without putting a plan in place to support renters,” they said.

Data from daft.ie showed that the average rent in Ireland stood at €1,750 for the first three months of 2023.

“Renters in Dublin can’t wait. After 12 years of a Fine Gael government, propped up by Fianna Fáil for seven years and now propped up by the Greens, people on ordinary incomes in Dublin cannot find an affordable place to rent or buy”

“Rents continue to spiral out of control and every month the record for the number of men, women and children in homelessness is broken.”

“The impact of this is that people are struggling to afford crippling rents, they’re stuck in their families’ box room and they’re giving up all hope of ever owning their own homes.

“It’s time for change. Renters need a break. It is time for a government that is genuinely committed to tackling these issues,” they added.