I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. This is a short and, I think, non-controversial Bill which is necessary to keep the Rent Restrictions Acts in force while the Oireachtas is considering a comprehensive measure which will repeal and re-enact the Acts with modifications. The comprehensive measure represents the result of the Government's consideration of the rent control problem in the light of the recommendations in the Conroy Report on Rent Control and in the light of the economic and other developments that have taken place since the Report was presented. Owing to the technical and complex nature of this branch of the law, the drafting of the measure was not an easy task but the examination of the text is now almost completed and I shall shortly submit the Bill to the Government for final approval. I expect to introduce it early in the New Year.
The present Bill is on the lines of those passed in recent years. Section I proposes to continue the Acts for a further year but this period is a maximum one as it is reasonable to assume that the comprehensive Bill, which will replace it, will have been passed through both Houses by then. Section 2 is a usual provision in Bills of this kind and enables a landlord who puts premises into a reasonable state of repair during the period for which the Acts are being continued to obtain the same lawful addition to the rent as he could obtain for such repairs if he did them now.
I think there is general agreement that the existing Acts should not be allowed to lapse pending the enactment of amending legislation and I therefore ask that the House give the Bill a Second Reading.