Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have some people involved in short-term letting in the Gallery today. They are here because of an issue that has been touched on, namely, registration. Everybody welcomes the registration of short-term letting property but they want to outline the impact it will have on what they do, the important incomes they get and the important role it plays in rural parts of the economy, which we have discussed.

In answer to Senator Malcolm Byrne, Mr. Ó Lionáin mentioned that the time afforded by the decision of the Commission to push it back to December may offer an opportunity to put in place mitigation measures. Could that include some form of planning exemptions for certain types of short-term let? At the moment, if they apply for planning for short-term rental accommodation, they are being turned down.

The example I constantly give is where somebody may have originally had planning for a granny flat and their parents may be deceased; therefore, they have sought to use it for supplementary income. Having seen the legislation coming down the line, they have gone for planning and in no uncertain terms are being told by local authorities that under no circumstances will this get planning. It cannot be used for long-term rental accommodation either because it does not have planning for that. Could exemptions like that be included in any measures?