asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is obligatory on landlords, both private and local authority, to notify his Department under the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965 before any increase in rents may be effected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increases in Rents.
54.
I am advised that, under section 5 of the Prices Act, 1958, rents are excluded from the scope of the Prices Acts.
Would the Minister not agree that that is very undesirable, in view of the effect that increases in rents would have on the cost of living?
As I have told the Deputy before, I had to take legal advice as to whether rents would be regarded as a service or not. Apart from that, the Prices Act excludes matters dealt with under other legislation and rents are dealt with under other legislation.
The Minister is aware that all rents are not dealt with under existing rents legislation?
I know they are not, but, even if they are not, under the Prices Act, rents would not be regarded as a service and therefore would not come to be controlled by that Act.
I agree with the general tenor of the Minister's remarks but I think the suggestion in the question is that there might also be a system of notification of rent increases.
Was it the Minister's intention to have them included when he introduced the Act?
No. They were specifically excluded by section 5.
In view of the Minister's uncertainty about the position in answer to another question, may I ask was it the Minister's intention that they should be included in the Act?
My intention was to have an interpretation of the law to satisfy the Deputy's curiosity which arose on a question not specifically dealing with the matter.
Anxiety, not curiosity.