I raise the issue of constructive evictions taking place as a result of the Government's new rental laws introduced this year. The Taoiseach told the Dáil that new rental measures would not impact negatively on renters in existing tenancies. He said, "The legislation will not have any impact on the 240,000 people who are currently renting", yet I have been contacted by existing tenants who are being forced out of their homes because of the Government's new rules. I have here an eviction notice served by IRES Real Estate Investment Trust, one of the State's largest vulture fund landlords, which issued to one of its tenants because IRES has refused to allow the tenant to replace a tenant who has left. Large corporate landlords are refusing to allow tenant swap requests, forcing tenants to leave in order to get around the new rental rules so it can charge full market rent to new tenants.

I raised this with the Minister for housing five months ago and he failed to act.

Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond.

The Government's housing policies are resulting in the highest level of evictions. Will the Taoiseach intervene on this?

First, I do not agree with Deputy Hearne. The housing policy is increasing far greater supply than anything the Deputy has proposed would do.

There is the highest number of evictions since the pandemic.

You know the rule, Deputy.

In fact, most of what the Deputy has proposed would actually reduce supply and create more pressure on the marketplace. On any specific issues, the reforms were needed. The Housing Commission recommended the need to reform the existing rental sector. A review was then done on foot of that recommendation, which the Minister moderated in favour of tenants by bringing in greater protections for them. There can be anomalies in any given situation that emerges, but we will examine that specific case the Deputy has raised.