Tipperary Labour TD Alan Kelly has released advice he received during his time as Housing Minister which claims that a rent freeze is constitutional.
‘gives rise to an effective rent freeze’.
The Labour Party leadership candidate has said that in 2015, he received advice from the then-Attorney General and senior counsel that both the Dáil and the Seanad have the legislative power to regulate the frequency of rent reviews; something he maintains ‘gives rise to an effective rent freeze’.
He suggested that by extending the time period under which rent reviews are allowed by three years – which he maintains can be legally done – there would be no need for a referendum to introduce rent freezing.
He has accused FG of ignoring the advice because it doesn’t suit their interests, as he put it, while he accused FF of flip-flopping on the issue.
