One of the so-called independent TDs – himself a landlord – who is to effectively back government on the abolition of the eviction ban misled his local council to secure planning permission for a rental property.

Following interventions from junior minister Niall Collins in an already decided planning application, Limerick City and Council dropped a €10,000 development levy it had imposed on the applicant.

Niall Collins misled the Dáil in his statement defending the falsehoods in his 2001 planning application.

After losing his seat in the February 2011 general election, Eamon Ryan decided to be “sincere”.

Attorney general Rossa Fanning owns a rental property portfolio worth around €1.5 million.