asked the Minister for Justice whether, in the light of the representations made to him by Marino Crescent District Tenants Association, he is satisfied with the existing landlord and tenant legislation; and, if not, the proposals he has for its amendment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Landlord And Tenant Legislation.
23.
I understand that the tenants concerned have put their case to the Landlord and Tenant Commission. I have asked the commission to let me have a recommendation so that I can examine the possibility of dealing with the problem in forthcoming landlord and tenant legislation.
Would the Minister agree that the situation revealed in this case is a serious one? There are almost certainly other cases throughout the country and, as time passes, people may suffer very seriously because of the length of time likely to elapse while the Minister awaits proposals from the commission and incorporates them in an overall Landlord and Tenant Bill? Many people will have lost their rights in the meantime and would the Minister consider, as a matter of urgency, taking special measures to deal with this?
I appreciate what the Deputy says regarding the people who are the subject matter of this question and others in a similar category throughout the country. I do not think the answer would be to deal with these problems as they arise because, as the Deputy knows, under one part of the landlord and tenant legislation one could bring on oneself all sorts of unseen consequences. I can say that the matter has been sympathetically received by the Conroy Commission and I understand that a satisfactory solution will be coming from the commission for incorporation in the legislation and it will be of a kind designed to give relief to these people notwithstanding that, technically at the moment, they are outside the protection of the law.
I certainly appreciate that news from the Minister, but is there any possibility of the proposed remedy operating retrospectively?
This is what I am hoping will happen.
Questions Nos. 24 and 25 postponed.