Ms Sarah Cronin-Falvey:

When we speak to people, they tell us their stories. They tell us how they created their short-term lets and the amount of money, time and effort they put into it. They talk about the guests they host, the experience they offer, the money they put in and the money their guests put into the local economy. We are not statisticians or legislators; we just talk to people and listen to their stories. We are saying today that the committee needs to hear these stories because these are people's jobs and livelihoods. I do not have figures off the top of my head.

I go back to my previous point that short-term rental is by its nature flexible. There will never be a set of data to say exactly how many short-term lets are in the country, because tomorrow somebody might change their mind, close the night or block a calendar. Without a simple, straightforward registration process, the Cathaoirleach will not have the numbers he is looking for.