Update 6.35pm: Opposition leader Micheál Martin has said a new report on housing rents makes for "very dismal and depressing reading." However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is reluctant to expand the rent pressure zones around the country. It says the database could make sure prices in rent pressure zones do not go up by more than the 4% limit. It is a 10% annual increase nationally - and well above the 4% hike allowed in so-called rent pressure zones. That is despite areas where the highest increases occurred being included in rent pressure zones which are meant to cap annual rises at 4%.

Source: Evening echo February 13, 2018 15:00 UTC