Labour official fails to back minister on capping rents

Environment Minister Alan Kelly is looking increasingly isolated over his plan for rent certainty, after a senior official in his own party declined to say the issue remains a “red line” matter.

Speaking after the latest cabinet meeting, a spokesman for Tánaiste Joan Burton would not commit to capping rent prices, instead saying while it “could be an option that is potentially useful”, he “can’t sit with a straight face” and predict the plan will still happen.

He said the issue is still being discussed with Fine Gael, but declined to say when agreement will be reached or whether rent certainty will form part of future housing policy.