The Public Expenditure Minister says ending the eviction ban is “one of the hardest decisions” he’s ever been involved in.

Paschal Donohue’s comments come after the Taoiseach said that even if there’s a rise in homelessness as a result, the ban won’t be re-introduced.

The government is facing pressure following the announcement this week, with a Dáil vote on the matter a possibility after St Patrick’s Day.

Minister Donohue says continually extending the ban would make future housing supply even worse:

“While it’s a tough decision to make, I’m more acutely aware of the consequences that can have and the individuals who are affected by the decision. They are the forefront of my mind.”

“The view that I came to is that if I came to a situation where we extend the moratorium like this quarter by quarter by quarter, ultimately, we’ll end up with less rental accommodation in our country in the time ahead.”

Opposition parties have slammed the decision with the Social Democrat’s Holly Carins asking Darragh O’Brien yesterday:

“Are you aware of any other housing Minister in the history of the State who has openly admitted to deliberately opting to make people homeless?”