Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1959

Vol. 51 No. 14

Rent Restrictions (Continuance and Amendment) Bill, 1959—Second and Subsequent Stages.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. J. Lynch)

The object of this Bill is to extend for another year to 31st December, 1960, the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1946. As Senators know, this Act has been extended for a number of years past and I think there will be general agreement that, pending revision of the law of rent control, the Act should be extended for another period. I think there is general agreement that the Acts cannot be allowed to lapse pending the enactment of fresh legislation.

It is almost certain that the Act will not be in force up to the end of 1960 because there is in preparation in the Department of Justice an amending Bill to the provisions of the 1946 Act which is almost completed. The extension of the Act of 1946 and the subsequent Acts is contained in Section 1. The provisions of Section 2 follow the precedent of previous Bills of this kind and enable a landlord who puts premises into a reasonable state of repair during 1960 to obtain the same lawful addition to the rent as he could obtain for such repairs if he did them now. That provision is consistent with similar provisions contained in the existing Acts.

It is likely that the comprehensive Bill amending the 1946 Act and the subsequent Acts will be introduced in the coming session and enacted certainly before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

Mr. O'Quigley

As the Minister says, this Bill is necessary to continue the system of rent restriction in operation up to the present time which is similar to previous Continuance Acts and pending the introduction of the comprehensive scheme of legislation based on the Conroy Report a Bill of this kind must be passed. The Bill is purely mechanical and intended to prolong the life of the existing Acts and all that remains for us indeed is to hope that the new comprehensive Bill will be speedily introduced and to express the further hope—which may turn out to be one that will be defeated in the nature of things—that the new Bill will be a great deal clearer and more intelligible than the legislation which it will replace.

Mr. Burke

I am glad to hear that the Minister proposes to introduce a new Bill in place of the Continuance Bills that have been coming before us for so many years and that some of the recommendations of the Conroy Report are to be given legislative effect. I should like to ask that sufficient time be given for the various people interested in this measure to examine it, and that the Bill will be circulated as soon as possible so that we shall not have to wait until we are almost at the Summer vacation when both Houses of the Oireachtas will be asked to deal with this measure. Rents and rent restriction and control is a most complex body of legislation and the affected parties, of whom there will be many, would have to have the opportunity of examining it and its full implications. The Minister, being a lawyer himself. will appreciate the difficulty of construing much of the legislation dealing with the matter.

Mr. J. Lynch

As Senator O'Quigley says, this Bill is based to an extent at any rate, on the report of the Conroy Commission. It may be that in certain respects it may depart from the recommendations made in that report but I feel sure that it is a Bill of such import that the Minister for Justice, when he introduces it, will have regard to the suggestion made by the Senator that people likely to be affected by its provisions should have an opportunity of studying it very fully. As the Senator knows, these people already had the opportunity of appearing before and giving evidence to the Conroy Commission, but to the extent they feel that their views were not expressed properly, or not adequately expressed in the Bill when it appears, I imagine the Minister will give adequate time between introducing the Bill and the Second Reading to ensure that that examination can be carried out.

Question put and agreed to.

Agreed to take remaining Stages to-day.

Bill put through Committee, reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.