Tonight, the Dáil will vote on a proposal to freeze rents for a period of three years. The Government has proposed an amendment to delay progressing the Bill for another 12 months. The Government is adopting the Johnny Logan approach to rent increases - what's another year? For tenants, another year could mean the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh year in a row that their rents will rise. For some, it is another year of notices to quit or evictions. In the 1960s, Fianna Fáil was the party of the Taca men. In the Celtic tiger years, it was the party of the Galway tent. Today, it is defending the corner of the landlords. Fianna Fáil went over to the dark side a long time ago and I do not think it is coming back. Of course, the Taoiseach could always prove me wrong by dropping the amendment. The Government has done a big U-turn on stamp duty to please the vulture funds. Will it do a U-turn to please renters? I am not holding my breath but I await the answer.

In fairness, the Deputy should have acknowledged that the Minister has brought in a significant proposal on the capping of rent increases in line with the harmonised index of consumer prices. This is something he was calling for as a minimum and the Minister has done it now. It is a very progressive measure. All the measures the Minister has taken in placing restrictions on evictions and so on have borne fruit. The tsunami has not happened that the Deputy said would happen a year ago. The Minister has to balance the constitutional and legal issues. He cannot knowingly act illegally. What he has done is reduce rent increases in line with inflation, which is far better than what obtained before that.