Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much respect the work that Senator Humphreys has done on short-term letting. We had some conversations around this. When we conclude this legislation, I will then have to commence this section of and I will have to bring forward the regulations under these legislative changes. The meat for the regulation of short-term letting is in the regulations. The legislative changes are more about enabling me to make regulations and then regulate this activity in regard to short-term letting. I will lay those before both Houses, and there will be an opportunity for me to come back into this House with respect to the regulations, which is where the meat of the matter lies.

Between now and Report Stage, if Senator Humphreys wants to engage with my office, he can do so. I know he wants to talk about enforcement issues. When we were taking this legislation previously, I said that powers to regulate short-term letting fall to the tourism sector. I do not have powers in my Department to do that. I recognise as the Minister with responsibility for housing that long-term rental stock is being lost to the short-term rental sector. I have powers under the planning law where I can get that stock back.

This is an important change we are making for the first time in law based on a new economic activity in areas where rent pressures are highest and supply and demand are not yet at equilibrium. It is important that we make these changes. As I said previously, they were to come in on 1 June and due to delays they will come in on 1 July. I hope there will be no more delays that will prevent us from bringing them in on 1 July given their importance. It is also important to recognise that, in doing this, this will make an important change regarding short-term letting but after that we will need to bring in proper regulation of the sector, which will include the platforms themselves. I am not empowered to do that but it is something we as a Government need to do.

If Senator Humphreys would like to engage with my office between now and Report Stage, my officials and I can talk to him about some of the details of what we are proposing to do through regulation and through the local authorities when it comes to enforcement.