Sir, - I agree with Sadhbh O'Connor and Joseph Hoban (October 17th). There is a housing crisis in Ireland. Rents in the private rented sector have soared. Accommodation is in scarce supply. Tenants have few legal rights.
The Labour Party has been drawing attention to this problem for some time. The report of the Labour Party Housing Commission (May 1999) set out the case for legislation to regulate the private rented sector.
Labour wants legislation to give tenants security of tenure; to control rent increases and to establish a Housing Court to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
In the Dail, we have repeatedly called on the present Government to introduce such legislation. I welcome the letter from Ms O'Connor and Mr Hoban which so eloquently makes the case. - Yours etc.,
Eamon Gilmore TD, Dail Eireann, Dublin 2.