The Government is on course to win a Dáil vote this afternoon on ending the no-fault eviction ban, after reaching an agreement with members of the Regional Independent Group.
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien signalled in the Dáil last night that the Coalition will accept amendments to its counter-motion.
The group had indicated on Monday this was required to secure its support in the vote on the eviction ban.
Galway East TD Seán Canney published eight amendments that he said the Government had to accept in order to secure the Regional Independent Group’s support for lifting the eviction ban.
Mr O’Brien held talks with some of the group’s eight TDs yesterday morning, and then clarified in the Dáil last night that he would accept their various amendments on rental policy.
RIG member Michael Lowry said yesterday evening that he was likely to vote in favour of the Government counter-motion, and a number of his colleagues are expected to follow suit.
However, RIG members Cathal Berry, Matt Shanahan and Verona Murphy said they want further clarification from Minister O’Brien this morning, before making up their minds.
Another RIG member, Peter Fitzpatrick, the Independent TD for Louth, told RTÉ News he would be voting against the Government’s position.
Even if there is only partial support from the group for the Government’s counter-motion, it will still be sufficient to guarantee the Coalition success.
Minister O’Brien confirmed earlier this month that the ban on evictions will not be extended beyond 31 March, due to concerns that an extension would damage the supply of rental properties in the long term.
The minister defended the decision, saying it was done to avoid storing up further problems.
He said the Government was concerned that an extension of the ban would damage the supply of homes in the long term if more landlords left the rental market.
Independent TD Verona Murphy said she is meeting Minister O’Brien later today.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, she said she wants him to provide guidelines that address the problems with the current planning policy.
She said if the Government wants her support, she should be able to appraise those guidelines.
Ms Murphy said there are 70,000 housing units with planning permission that have not commenced because of viability, adding, “we could get shovel ready in the morning if the guidelines are fit.”
She said the Government’s planning policy, which dictates high density, is a one size fits all policy that is not appropriate for the entire country.
Govt on course to win vote on ending eviction ban
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