Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I speak on behalf of the people involved in Airbnb short-term lets. A statement from the EU stated that the Irish Government was wrong in the persecution and torment it is putting those people under. The local authorities throughout the country that are dealing with planning permissions want valid applications from people looking for permission to do short-term lets because they have been directed by the Government and others who think that 12,000 people are going to change from short-term lets to long-term lets. That will not happen. People cannot be forced to do something with their property that they do not want to do. A group of people representing short-term let operators recently stated that 80% of them have said they will not change over to long-term lets. They will not. They will not be pushed or compelled to do so. Today I seek direction for our local authorities and decision makers in planning departments. What exactly is the Government’s take on short-term lets now, following that statement from the EU ten or 12 days ago?

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