Eviction ban extension bill agreed by Dáil after local TD fails to oppose it.

People Before Profit introduced a bill in the Dáil today to extend the ban on evictions for another 12 months and would give the minister to extend the eviction ban further while the housing emergency is ongoing if they deem it in the public interest.

Following some confusion by local Fine Gael TD, Kieran O'Donnell, the bill passed first stage after he failed to oppose its reading a second time.

After the cathaoirleach called the debate to a close asked if the motion that the bill be read a second time was agreed. The response from the opposition benches was in full agreement with silence from the government side.

After moving on to the next item on the Dáil agenda, Kieran O'Donnell, who was recently appointed as a Minister of State in the Department of Housing attempted to undo the decision of the Dáil by raising a "point of order" and saying that the government was "opposing the bill", later claiming that "this is semantics" and that it was a "rookie mistake".

Responding to his pleas the cathaoirleach replied, "There's well established practice, you call your decision, the decision was made, and I'm not prepared to have it unmade".

For the bill to become law it will have to be brought before a Dáil committee which is unlikely as seen from previous bills like one to hold a referendum on the right to housing was passed 2 years ago but still hasn't been brought forward.

Local People Before Profit representative, Ruairí Fahy said, "the housing crisis is extremely acute at the moment and while the current eviction ban has kept people off the streets over the winter we face a flood of evictions if eviction ban ends at the beginning of April."

"At the moment nearly 60% of evictions occur because landlords want to sell a property, with property prices at their peak many are looking to cash out and can fetch more with vacant possession. This practice of evicting tenants to sell a property is cruel and isn't allowed across much of the EU, we shouldn't allow it here either."

Focus Ireland claims that "landlords leaving the market and evicting their tenants to ensure the best return on their investment, is the primary cause of family homelessness".

Peter McVerry said at the launch of the bill on Monday that the eviction ban in 2020 reduced homelessness and with almost no emergency beds available a ban on evictions is justified while allowing for "severe inconvenience" as a reason to allow evictions.

Mr. Fahy finished saying "This is a vital measure that will give tenants minimum but temporary security. It is the only possible answer to keep people in their homes while housing supply is way below what is needed. Ultimately the government needs to give up on their private, market-focused, approach to providing housing and build public housing directly instead of relying on developers who care more about profit than they do ensuing people have a safe, secure and affordable roof over their heads."