Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who has spent a long day in the House. This is important legislation and I commend the Senators responsible for bringing it forward because the more we debate such issues the clearer the understanding we will have of what is happening in the market. In principle, the Labour Party will support the Bill but we would seek to amend it as we consider there are fundamental constitutional issues at stake. For example, it could be problematic to change the 2019 date. However, the Senator has clearly indicated that the Bill is open for discussion and debate on the next Stages. There is a responsibility on all Members of this House to allow that discussion and debate to take place. No one party should veto what is an excellent piece of work that has been put together by Senator Grace O'Sullivan who has argued her case most eloquently.

These issues will come up in the House over and over again because as we continue to point out the problem is one of supply. There is just not enough accommodation in the market to deal with the housing crisis, whether for homeless people or ordinary working people earning a good salary who seek rental accommodation. With Brexit and the possibility of other employment and job opportunities in urban areas and, hopefully, rural areas as well, there is a necessity to make sure supply comes on-stream.

In fairness to the Minister, he has done his utmost. He has made every effort to try to stimulate the market and deal with the supply issue. In spite of the measures the Minister has introduced, we will not see progress if the areas of leakage are not addressed as a matter of priority. In the Irish Examinerthis morning I noted a headline, "Airbnb Seeks Barcelona Truce Over Too Many Tourists." Barcelona is an area that is leaking accommodation that ordinary working people had traditionally rented but it is now going onto various rental platforms. Before coming into the Chamber I spent 75 minutes looking at how many apartments and houses in a number of Dublin postal districts are available on Airbnb. There were 75 units comprising 204 bedrooms in their entirety. I do not refer to people renting a bedroom to supplement their income, which is fine, or if someone is going on holidays for two weeks or a month who wishes to rent their home, I am talking about businesses in four Dublin postal districts. The question is how we can compete with that. One option was a boutique, beautiful two-bedroom Dublin city centre apartment for rent for €628 a night. That is €229,000 a year with full occupancy. In fairness, even 80% occupancy amounts to €114,000. What is more important is that is an apartment that would have been let to somebody who works or is on the housing list. In Donnybrook, not too far from where I live, there is a two-bedroom apartment for €187 a night. In Dublin 2 there is a clean, luxury apartment with three bedrooms for €220 a night. On average, the 75 apartments come in at €76,000 a year. I will pause for a moment while I wait for the Minister to come back into the Chamber because the issue is very important and he has provided circular letters on it.