Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, an Teachta Ó Broin, for bringing forward this Bill and, as I have done previously, for all of the work that he does in the area of housing. It is a fairly simple, straightforward Bill requiring estate agents and online platforms, such as Airbnb and Daft, to advertise only those properties that are compliant with planning law. It also allows for the issuing of spot fines to Airbnb and other providers who advertise non-compliant properties. The situation where tens of thousands of houses and apartments that are non-compliant with planning laws are being advertised for short-term letting is an absolute disgrace. I am sure the Minister of State will agree it would be a disgrace at any time, but it is a particular disgrace now with the situation people find themselves in and the crisis people are facing. The law is in place and companies such as Airbnb are facilitating this non-compliance.

The rental sector is in crisis. Renters need a break. It is time to get tough with these online platforms. Last week, I spoke to a 61-year-old woman who is living in her car in the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's constituency. If that is not going to set off some sort of flashing blue light emergency, I do not know what will. It is no way for people to live. We know there is a serious crisis there. As ever, Sinn Féin, as the lead party in opposition, is being constructive and offering solutions.

Research conducted last week by The TimesIreland edition shows that Airbnb rentals now outstrip long-term rental homes in every single county. In Balbriggan, there are 165 properties advertised on Airbnb and just three available for long-term rental on Daft. Likewise, in Swords, there are more than 1,000 properties advertised on Airbnb and 11 available for long-term rental. It is not a case of a person renting out a room in their house short term. It is a case of people seeking to let out whole houses and apartments commercially all year round, but only on a short-term basis. These laws are being broken and nothing is being done, because local authorities are not monitoring to enforce compliance with the regulations. We have to get real here. We must get rid of this practice whereby people not complying with planning law are allowed to cause tens of thousands of possible rental homes to be taken off the market. I am not in any way surprised Airbnb is facilitating this kind of abhorrent behaviour because it is the same company that allows the advertising of properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied Palestinian West Bank.

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