The object of this Bill is to continue the existing Rent Restrictions Acts in operation for a period of two years. These Acts would otherwise cease to be in force after the end of this month and I think the House will agree that there can be no question of permitting this to happen. The cessation of rent control would undoubtedly result in widespread hardship for tenants at present enjoying the benefits of control.
Senators will be aware that I have recently appointed a commission of inquiry with terms of reference which include an examination of the working of the Rent Act of 1946, as modified by the amending Act which was passed last year. I know that the commission are energetically and expeditiously proceeding with their work and I have every confidence that they will have the interim report which I have asked them to furnish on this aspect of their inquiry ready well within the period of two years for which it is proposed to continue the present Acts in operation. I say this, fully conscious though I am that the problems with which the commission have to deal are both complex and controversial.
When the interim report of the commission has been received, some time must necessarily be allowed for the examination of the commission's recommendations in the first instance by the Department of Justice and any other departments affected or interested and, eventually, by the Government; for the formulation of any legislative proposals arising out of the report and for the preparation of the necessary Bill or Bills to implement such proposals; and for the enactment by the Legislature of any Bill or Bills that might be introduced. Accordingly, it can scarcely be suggested that a period of two years is unreasonably long in the circumstances. On the other hand, all experience suggests very strongly that any lesser period would be too short. Moreover, from the point of view of the public— both landlords and tenants—it is better that there should be as little uncertainty as possible as to what the position is going to be in another year from now. This is the case, for the reason in particular that certain provisions of the 1946 Act, under which landlords are allowed increases of rent in respect of what might be described as-exceptional expenditure on repairs, are related to the pairs of years comprised in the period 1945-50, and the present Bill proposes in Section 2 that these provisions should be applied in respect of the pairs of years 1950-51 and 1951-52. It is desirable that a landlord, who might be contemplating embarking upon fairly extensive repairs (say a new roof) some time during the next year, which might well not be completed until some time in the following year, should know where he stands under the rent restrictions law.
We should not, in any event, lose sight of the fact that the extension of the 1946 Act, as proposed, need not— and will not, in fact, the allowed to preclude the enactment of fresh legislation at an earlier date if the circumstances should warrant and permit such a course. I may recall that only last year when a specific urgent case of hardship was brought to my notice, there was no delay in having the matter righted. I think, therefore, that the House will be disposed to accept with confidence my assurance that, if the need should again arise, I will see to it that proposals for dealing with the situation by way of amending legislation are promptly brought before the Oireachtas.
