Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the sincerity of the point the Deputy is making but I would also say this. We have to be honest in this House about Airbnb and how much people can make on that over a couple of days versus renting out the place for a month. We have to have a balanced conversation. There is either a housing emergency in Ireland or there is not. Let me be clear, there is such an emergency. I am sure the Deputy would have spoken to young people during the local and European elections. It is good to continue that honesty afterwards. I am sure he would have looked them in the eyes and told them that he and his councillors, MEPs and whomever else are going to do everything in the Dáil and elsewhere to help them get homes. So am I. That involves taking decisions in government, not just defining the problem or deciding which bandwagon to jump on today. There are legitimate issues that the tourism sector has. We will work with it. We value it. We need it. The sector is an important part of our economy not just in rural Ireland but in all parts.

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