Durkan Seems On The Fence About Eviction Ban "Not So Sure" About Lifting It

The government has been told the support of seven Independent TDs in a crucial vote on the eviction ban rests on how it responds to their demands.

A Kildare Government TD has said that he would have been of the opinion of postponing of the eviction ban for a time.

Bernard Durkan said that the Government stance is that in doing so it would have made the situation worse in the long term.

Speaking on Kfm the well seasoned Fine Gael TD commented: "Ehhhh, I'm not sure about that."

"I think that whatever is done needs to be done to stabilise the situation as it now presents itself," added.

Speaking on Kildare Today on Tuesday morning, Sinn Féin TD Reada Cronin said: "The Government, they just don't get it.

"In Q3 of last year there was 4741 eviction notices served, last night on Daft there was 1183 homes to rent.

"In Kildare in Q3 there was 209 eviction notices served and there's on 44 homes available to rent on Daft," she said.

The government has been told the support of seven TDs in a crucial vote on the eviction ban rests on how it responds to their demands.

The Regional Group of Independents has put forward eight 'asks' to combat the housing crisis - including tax relief for small landlords and contacting developers who've not started building planned housing projects.

The Coalition party leaders met last night to discuss their response to a Sinn Fein motion calling for the eviction ban to be extended until next year.

Its believed broad agreement had been reached on a counter motion due to be tabled in the Dail later.

The Sinn Fein motion states that Ireland “remains in the midst of a housing emergency” and will call for the eviction ban to be extended until January 2024.

The motion adds that by choosing to end the eviction ban on 31 March, the government has “increased the stress and insecurity experienced by the 750,000 people, including working families, living in private rented accommodation”.

Last night it was agreed that the final details of the counter motion by the coalition leaders would be completed in advance of the cabinet meeting.

Further work would continuing on the details of measures to assist the rental sector and helping to prevent homelessness.

On Sunday the Labour Party said it would put down a motion of no confidence in the government before the end of the month if it did not reverse its decision.

The Regional Independents set out eight key demands last night in return for their support in a motion of no confidence vote in the Government.

Listen back to the debate between Kildare North TDs Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan and Sinn Féin's Reada Cronin: