Laois Offaly Minister believes there is an eviction 'safety net'

The lifting of the eviction ban was a difficult decision but keeping the ban would have reduced the number of homes available from rent, according to the Laois Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett who believes renters will be protected.

The Senator also said her party colleague Neasa Hourigan is “held in very high esteem” after she was suspended by the Greens for voting against the Government.

Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, Ms Hackett said ending the eviction ban was “a very difficult issue” that was “very concerning for people”, but added that the Government had received advice that extending it would have resulted in fewer homes being available in the future.

Minister Hackett said however unity is important in Government.

“We simply can’t have a functioning government without that principle; and we have to vote through the easy votes, and we have to vote through the tough ones,” she said.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio today, Ms Hackett defended the Green Party's stance.

“The evictions moratorium was always going to be a very difficult issue and it’s hugely challenging, it’s emotive, it’s very concerning for people out there.

"But the Government did make a decision based one advice and guidance it has got that in the longer term extending the moratorium would have resulted in fewer homes being available

Ms Hackett said extending the evictions ban in the long term ‘would make things worse' rather than increase homelessness.

“The advice we got, the guidance we got did suggest extending the moratorium in the long term would make things worse.

"Ultimately we have to make decisions based on what we get, decisions are not easy to be made, certainly there are going to be challenges, but I think the Greens in the last couple of weeks really did work hard collectively...to ensure that a safety net was put in place for renters so that the eviction moratorium begins to be phased out on April 1 we are going to ensure that local housing bodies or local authorities can buy renters homes and rent them back to them on a cost rental-not for profit basis.

"This will ensure that the most vulnerable people will be protected immediately from April 1,” she said.

The Government is expected to face a no-confidence vote next week after a Labour motion.

Ms Hackett said she expects the Government to win that vote, adding: “I think we’re very secure in the numbers, for sure.”

She said people including Ms Hourigan would recognise the Green Party has delivered on policy and has more to deliver.

On Wednesday, Ms Hourigan was suspended for 15 months and removed from her role as chair of the Budgetary Oversight Committee after voting against the Government in a Dail vote.

The Government won the vote on ending the eviction ban at the end of March after a deal with a group of independents.

Ms Hackett said she had worked with Ms Hourigan on a number of issues.

“Anybody who knows Neasa Hourigan knows she’s very able, she’s a hardworking politician and makes really valuable contributions,” the minister said.

“But Neasa is a Government TD. Government TDs are expected to vote in line with the Government. We simply can’t have a functioning Government without that basic principle,” she said.

The evictions ban will be lifted on March 31.