Richard Boyd Barrett Demands Eviction Ban Extended Amid Pandemic
Richard Boyd Barrett pressed the Tanaiste over the imminent expiry of the temporary ban on evictions and demanded confirmation that the government will extend it. He warned that evicting people into homelessness during the pandemic would be "totally unthinkable" and urged immediate protections for tenants.
Summary of request
Mr Boyd Barrett asked the Tanaiste to confirm an extension of the temporary eviction ban due to expire on Monday, stressing the public health and moral dangers of allowing evictions to proceed during the current direction of the virus.
Government response at Cabinet
The Tanaiste replied that the matter was discussed at Cabinet and that the temporary ban on evictions will not end on Monday. The Tanaiste said Minister O'Brien will make an announcement in due course regarding his intentions.
Local tenant cases cited
Mr Boyd Barrett cited tenants in his own area facing a fourth eviction attempt by vulture funds, stating they have been told by the PRTB that their case will come up in a few weeks. He emphasised that those tenants had done nothing wrong and needed security.
Legal limits and medium-term solutions
The Tanaiste acknowledged strong legal advice that the eviction ban can only be temporary and cannot continue indefinitely. As a result, the government will need a medium-term solution as well as a temporary extension, and Minister O'Brien is working on that statement.
Next steps and timing
A formal statement from Minister O'Brien on the extension and the medium-term approach to evictions was promised soon, providing short-term relief while the government considers longer-term legal options and tenant protections.
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Thanks, Cian Comhairle. Tanaiste, the temporary ban on evictions is due to expire on Monday. Now, there's been some indications that it's the government's intention to extend that, but I'd like to get confirmation that the government is going to do that. There are a lot of tenants out there who are very anxious. The idea, particularly with the direction of the virus at the moment, the idea that people would be evicted into situations of homelessness faced with the current pandemic is, to my mind, totally unthinkable, even from a public health point of view, never mind a moral point of view. I know in my own area, a group of tenants who are facing their fourth eviction attempt by vulture funds, trying to clear them out and essentially maximise the profits they can make, have been told by the PRTB their case is going to come up now in a few weeks' time. They've done nothing wrong. They need security. They are not going to be evicted in the midst of a pandemic. Tanaiste. This was discussed at Cabinet yesterday, so the temporary ban on evictions won't end on Monday. Minister O'Brien will make an announcement on that in early course as to what his intentions are in relation to that. But it won't end on Monday. But as a deputy, we'll appreciate the legal advice around this is very strong, that it can only be temporary and can't continue forever for reasons that are well rehearsed. So a medium-term solution is going to be needed as well as a temporary extension of the ban. Mr. O'Brien is working on that and we'll make a statement on it soon. Deputy Verona.
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