asked the Minister for Justice whether he will state the date on which the reports of the Town Tenants (Occupational Tenancies) Tribunal were presented to him, and whether he can now indicate what action the Government proposes taking in regard to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report of Town Tenants' Tribunal.
I received the reports referred to on the 21st February, 1941. I am not at present in a position to indicate what action the Government proposes to take in regard to them. I may say, however, that the reports have been and still are under examination in my Department, with particular reference to the problem of making the rent restriction code a more effective instrument of justice for the poorer classes of tenants entitled to the protection of the code.
Does not the Minister realise that poor people in Dublin and elsewhere are the subject of vicious rack-renting by unscrupulous landlords? Bearing in mind the fact that he has now had the report for 15 months, will he take some steps to bring to the notice of the Government the urgency of legislation to deal with this whole problem? The present position is that landlords are permitted with Ministerial benediction to get away with any type of racketeering they like to indulge in and that there is no protection for the ordinary tenant. Will the Minister try to bring that situation to an end at the earliest possible time?
Mr. Boland
I do not think it is right for the Deputy to say that they can get away with any racketeering with Ministerial benediction. There is an existing code under which the poor can get a certain amount of protection. The Deputy is aware of that. I still am trying to expedite the preparation of legislation to remedy some of the defects pointed out in this report, but it is a very involved matter.