The temporary ban on evictions is due to expire on Monday. There have been indications that the Government intends to extend it, but I would like to have confirmation that it will. Many tenants are very anxious. Given the direction of the virus at present, the idea that people would be evicted into homelessness and faced with the current pandemic is totally unthinkable from a public health point of view, not to mind a moral point of view. I know a group of tenants in my constituency who are facing a fourth eviction attempt by vulture funds, which are trying to clear them out and maximise the profits they can make. They have been told by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, that their case will come up in a few weeks. They have done nothing wrong. They need to have the security that they are not going to be evicted in the midst of a pandemic.

This was discussed by the Cabinet yesterday. The temporary ban on evictions will not end on Monday. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will make an announcement in early course as to what his intentions are in this regard. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, the legal advice on this is very strong and states that the ban can only be temporary and cannot continue forever, for reasons that are well rehearsed. A medium-term solution will be needed as well as a temporary extension of the ban. The Minister is working on this and will make a statement on it soon.