Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the decision yesterday in Washington DC to introduce legislation to regulate Airbnb or short-term lets, an issue I raised in this House on a constant basis over the past 18 months and on which I have been promised action over and over again.The then Minister, Deputy Coveney, set up an internal committee between his Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that sat for nearly a year and never published the recommendations. This year, the current Minister promised action and that he would publish proposals in June. He also said in August that he would bring forward legislation or regulations to the Cabinet in September. We are now well into October and nobody has seen the regulations or legislation. Why do I raise this issue so frequently? It is because, at a minimum, it would bring 1,000 units back into the rental market for working people in this city and many other areas. Where did I get the figure of 1,000 from because I believe the number is far higher? It came from the Minister's own research, which states that the legislation he will propose will bring those 1,000 units back into the market. I am frustrated because this has been highlighted for over two years. The Minister has promised action on numerous occasions yet he has not taken any action or published any legislation or statutory instrument relating to this. The Minister says that supply is the problem. If supply is the problem, why has he not taken action with regard to these additional 1,000 units that he could return to the market very quickly? I am putting the Leader on notice that if the Minister does not bring forward proposals to Cabinet next week, I will request, through an amendment to Standing Orders, that he attend this House. I am not seeking that he attend today but I am putting the Leader on notice that if the Minister does not bring forward and publish proposals to Cabinet next week, I will request, through an amendment to Standing Orders, that he attend this House.