asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the reported practice of certain landlords of employing individuals or organisations to carry out evictions of tenants without reference to the usual procedures, such as obtaining court orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Tenant Evictions.
454.
The Garda authorities have informed me that only two complaints about incidents of the kind mentioned have been received by them in the recent past. In one of these cases there was evidence of assault on a tenant by the landlord and proceedings were duly brought by the Garda. In the other case the facts did not disclose any evidence of a crime.
In general, the relationship between landlord and tenant is regulated by the civil law and the Garda have no authority to intervene unless in a particular case the question of a criminal offence arises.