Changes to renting rules mean the entire country is going to be designated a Rent Pressure Zone.

This means rents can only be raised by a maximum of 2% per year in existing properties, while rent increases for new-builds will be linked to the rate of inflation.

The new rules also mean landlords can only change rent amounts if a tenant voluntarily leaves the property, and not if the landlord tries to force them out.

Speaking on his way into the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Housing Minister James Browne, said the rule changes will help protect renters.

"When I think about renters, obviously they're the renters who are currently renting, and this memo would protect those renters.

"But also there are also all those people living a home in box rooms who want to get out of their parents' homes into somewhere where they can live, and that means increasing supply.

"That's the balance I'm trying to bring to the current situation. If we don't get supply, rents are just gonna go up anyway".

Mary Conway, Chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association, thinks it was wrong to keep rent pressure zones in place.

"I don't know what way the Government is thinking.

"The International Monetary Fund came out in 2015 to say long-term rent controls were a bad idea.

"The Government also asked the Housing Commission to do a big report, and they also said that rent control was a bad idea.

"They have all the experts giving them the information and they've done a complete U-turn".