Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of Airbnb. I read an interesting piece on the Internet, which has its uses, about Airbnb. The Mayor of Vancouver is bringing in regulations whereby anyone using the site will have to register. It is quite a draconian measure but people can only register in respect of their own homes. They will be unable to register other properties they own with Airbnb. It will cost $54 to register and then an annual fee of $49 must be paid thereafter. The city expects that will free up a significant number of properties for rental.

I appreciate this issue is being examined by the Government and there are ongoing discussions with Airbnb. While this is very much a Dublin-based issue, every day I meet constituents in Limerick who are complaining about the lack of availability of homes to rent. I meet single parents and families, and single men and women every day. It is not a gender, age or socioeconomic specific issue.

In a spirit of cross-party harmony, I endorse everything Senator Davitt said about An Garda Síochána. There was an incident recently in Caherdavin, Limerick, which is a lovely area in which to live. Our local gardaí, from the Chief Superintendent, David Sheahan, to the superintendent, Derek Smart, performed above and beyond the call of duty. They were on call 24 hours and they could be rung any day or night. They dealt with the residents, there were gardaí on the ground and they attended public meetings. We have to separate, at times, corporate gardaí from gardaí on the ground. I can only speak from first hand experience in Limerick.