Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 7 December 2022 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy.

On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. On 22 March 2023, the Department received a communication from the EU Commission which extends that standstill period until 22 December 2023.

The EU Commission has extended the standstill period as it considers the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 . This Proposal is currently in the early stages of negotiation by the Union co-legislators

My Department, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are examining the communication from the EU Commission including taking necessary legal advice. Officials from my Department are engaging with the Commission to arrange an in person meeting with EU officials to take place in Brussels in the coming weeks. The analysis of the communication from and further engagement with the Commission will inform the timeline for the legislation and the establishment of the register.