The emergence of leaked video footage today makes a nonsense of claims by the Minister for Housing that eviction notices issued to tenants in 36 properties in Wexford last week were not related to the government’s new rent regulations, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne.
Deputy Hearne said:
“In the leaked video, the landlord’s representative can be clearly heard stating to one of the affected tenants that he is handing out eviction notices because of the new rental rules, which had been due to come in two days later.
“This is completely at odds with Minister Browne’s insistence that the eviction notices issued at Bridgetown were nothing to do with his Residential Tenancies Bill, which came into effect on March 1.
“The reality is that the minister and this government have created a financial incentive for landlords to oversee mass evictions. It is incredible that they did not anticipate that this would happen.
“In light of this video, the Minister for Housing must now correct the record and concede that there is a direct link between the Wexford eviction notices and his so-called rent reforms.
“This is the first wave of misery caused by this government’s deeply flawed legislation – and it won’t be the last.”
March 5, 2026