Call for gardaí to be given powers to arrest landlords who illegally evict tenants
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Sinn Féin has called for gardaí to be provided with powers to arrest individuals involved in illegal evictions, as the party brings forward legislation to give effect to Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) recommendations.
The party’s housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin, said he had brought forward the proposals following an RTB report on an illegal eviction, where seven people were removed from a property in Dublin.
The report was provided to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien in 2022.
Mr Ó Broin said the legislation would make an illegal eviction an offence and provide gardaí with the power to arrest people who carry out such evictions.
In addition, the RTB would be given the power to issue fines of up to €40,000 to landlords who illegally evict their tenants.
It is not known how many illegal evictions there were last year but between 2017 and 2022 the RTB reported there were 78.
Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Mr Ó Broin said his legislation was about “standing up for renters”.
“It’s making it very, very clear that it is not acceptable under the law for a landlord or their agents to attempt to illegally evict tenants who have done nothing wrong,” Mr Ó Broin said.
“There is a clear process which landlords have to take through the Residential Tenancies Board and the courts and we should not have images of families with children having their belongings illegally thrown onto the streets in attempt to forcibly evict them.”
Mr Ó Broin said in his constituency, Dublin Mid-West, there were at least three illegal evictions in 2023, all causing “enormous distress and enormous concern”.
He added the proposed powers for gardaí would be “significant, as they cannot prevent illegal evictions from taking place at present and only attend to ensure there is no breach of the peace".
On fines, Mr Ó Broin said it would primarily be a prevention measure for the RTB to have to dissuade landlords from evicting tenants outside the normal processes.
A spokesperson for the Housing Minister said Mr O’Brien supported “every effort” to enforce compliance with residential tenancies laws.
“The RTB recommendations for legislative change relating to evictions are being carefully examined and considered for progression through to legislative change through the Houses of the Oireachtas,” the spokesperson said.
“This is being done in the context of the upcoming rental sector review which is being finalised.”