Paul Murphy challenges government on Harrington Street eviction
Paul Murphy raised questions about an illegal eviction on Harrington Street, where unlicensed private security allegedly threatened tenants and the Gardaí reportedly refused to take statements. He pressed the Government on whether it will act on an RTB report recommending powers for the Gardaí to arrest without a warrant to prevent illegal evictions.
Allegations of illegal eviction
Paul Murphy told the Taoiseach that private security on Harrington Street had threatened tenants and others with violence and that the Gardaí had refused to take statements, treating the incident as a civil matter.
RTB report and limitations
He noted that the RTB previously wrote to the Department in November of last year saying it does not have the power to investigate illegal evictions and that the same report called on the Government to consider giving Gardaí additional powers.
Calls for Garda powers to intervene
Murphy asked whether the Government has agreed to give Gardaí the power to arrest without a warrant anyone illegally evicting a tenant so that the Gardaí would be able to intervene to prevent such evictions.
Government response and follow-up
The Taoiseach said the minister had written to the RTB to ensure the matter is investigated as early as possible. The deputy minister committed to engage with the minister and officials to clarify the up-to-date position and said they would come back shortly with an update, stressing the aim of keeping people in their homes.
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Thanks. Last Thursday, Taoiseach, I asked the Taoiseach about the illegal eviction that had taken place in Harrington Street in Dublin, where private security, unlicensed, had threatened tenants and others with violence, and the fact that the Gardaí refused to even take statements saying that it was a civil matter. The Taoiseach responded to say that the Minister had written to the RTB to ensure that this matter is investigated thoroughly as early as possible, but the RTB has previously written a report to the Department in November of last year saying that it does not have the power to investigate illegal evictions. So what sort of investigation is being called for? That same report also called on the Government to consider giving Gardaí powers to arrest, without a warrant, anyone illegally evicting a tenant. So in other words, the Gardaí would intervene to prevent illegal evictions. Is that something that the Government has agreed to do? Thank you, Deputy Minister. Minister O'Donnell. You wrote the issue with the Tarnished till last week. However, I did give a commitment to Minister O'Brien to follow up with the RTB. I gave a commitment here and now today that I will engage with Minister O'Brien and his official to see what exactly is the up-to-date position. You raised a number of key points. We want to keep people in their homes, whether that is their own homes or their renting. The same principles apply, and we will come back to you very shortly with an update. Thank you, Minister O'Donnell.
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