Tenants to receive more legal protection from landlords
The new law reforming the private rented sector by giving improved security of tenure for tenants and graduated notice to quit periods will be published by the Government in the coming months.
The Private Rented Sector - Housing Bill is one of 17 pieces of legislation to be published during the Dáil session starting tomorrow, announced yesterday by Government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin.
The new law will bring into effect the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Private Rented Sector and also includes the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board.
“The Government is determined to ensure that the necessary reforms are made to the private rented sector to improve security of tenure for tenants and provide greater clarity for landlords and tenants alike,” Minister Hanafin said.
The Government is to take a second shot at enacting legislation for people with disabilities. Controversial attempts to bring in similar legislation last year were abandoned after opposition from disability groups and opposition parties alike, objecting to major flaws in the proposals.
The law will give a statutory framework to guarantee the special education needs of people with a disability. It will also set up a National Council for Special Education and provide a dedicated mediation and appeals system.
White collar criminals will be targeted by a Corruption Assets Bureau which is to be established.
Based upon the Criminal Assets Bureau, it will make sure that assets acquired through corruption can be frozen and then seized by the State.
Legislation will also be enacted to protect fixed-term contract workers, to regulate work permits system and to improve maternity protection.
Following the confirmation by Environment Minister Martin Cullen that TDs and senators will be banned from holding local authority seats, the law banning the dual mandate will also be published.
“The Local Government Bill will provide for the ending of the dual mandate as part of the Government’s ambitious programme for reform of local government,” said Ms Hanafin.
Work is continuing on providing an alternative to costly tribunals of inquiry.
The Investigations Bill will establish a new way of investigating matters of urgent or significant public interest on a statutory basis.
Since the new government took office, 18 bills have been published and 12 have been passed into law. At the moment there are 34 bills before the Oireachtas.
“The pace of the legislative reform since this government took up office last June has ensured that we are continually delivering on the commitments in the Agreed Programme for Government,” said Minister Hanafin.
