Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have done short-term letting myself. As I approached the property, I often wondered whether the person would be there and whether my weekend would be about to fall through, so I understand tourists' concerns. Unfortunately, tourism does not come under my brief. We all recognise that this new type of activity, which is still relatively new, although it has been happening for a few years and is becoming increasingly popular, does need a different type of regulation compared with what we are trying to do because our focus is on housing and long-term letting. There have been discussions between my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport about the next stage that needs to happen, namely, regulation of the platforms.

It also cuts across - the Vice Chairman was right to identify this - to the regulation of other platforms that advertise letting properties - although similar, it is not the same space - where there should be an obligation on a publisher or a website not to allow the advertisement of illegal practices, as it were, such as the advertisement of substandard accommodation and so forth. These are pieces of work that must be done and that fall to be done by the Department of Justice and Equality. We are engaged with it on that issue. There is a Bill before the House that has been brought forward by a Deputy from one of the parties to do something in that regard and on which we will engage. Yes, I would like to move to a point where we are also regulating the platforms. That will be necessary in the coming years for the reasons identified by the Vice Chairman and Deputy Boyd Barrett. It will also help in enforcement. If we want to loosen things a little in the future because there is not the same pressure as there is today, that might be warranted also.

To respond to the Vice Chairman's questions, initially we were examining applying the changes to planning laws nationally, but the advice of the Attorney General was that, on the balance of rights, we had to tie them to areas where there was a quantified and established demand and pressure. They were the rent pressure zones. Using the existing law was the easiest way to do it, which is why we went through the RPZ legislation.

We engaged with the short-term letting platforms, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Fáilte Ireland, the Corporate Housing Alliance and the Irish Self Catering Federation because obviously we wanted to ensure there was a carve-out for holiday homes and there is. There has been engagement with all of the people who might be interested in this sector.

Shared services is the model I would like to apply as it is probably the most efficient. A potential shared service would do much of the groundwork and then submit reasons for concern to planning authorities. The planning authorities, being the experts and having the competence and responsibility, would then move forward with them. We are examining that matter, but from 1 July the planning authorities will have both the legal understanding and clarity on how to enforce regulations. They will then proceed to deal with planning applications as they are submitted and the building of registers in their areas. This refers to the planning authorities in the relevant local authorities.