Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
682. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 30 March 2023, if she will outline the issues the EU Commission set out in its response to the submission of the proposed short-term tourist letting Bill which triggered an extended standstill period until 22 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17183/23]
View answerOn 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.
As I informed the Deputy previously, 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. The full communication from the EU Commission is available online at the following web address: ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tris/en/search/?trisaction=search.detail&year=2022&num=871
The Department is examining the communication and will engage with the EU Commission and stakeholders on next steps. Analysis of the communication from the Commission will inform the timeline for the commencement of the legislative process and the subsequent establishment of the register.
Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 30 March 2023
Question
To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture; Arts; Gaeltacht; Sport and Media when hosts (details supplied) can expect to receive full details of the short-term letting register; when this register will become active; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Answer
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.
I subsequently wrote to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media regarding the Bill in line with agreed protocols for pre-legislative scrutiny. Officials from my Department, along with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and from Fáilte Ireland attended a meeting of the Committee in public session for pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme on 25 January. I look forward to the report of the Committee which is anticipated in the week beginning 17 April.
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 Department is now examining the communication from the EU Commission and will engage with it and stakeholders on next steps. The analysis of the communication from the Commission will inform the timeline for the commencement of the legislative process and the subsequent establishment of the register.
