Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
807. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the registration of short-term tourist letting Bill 2022; the timeline for the establishment of a short-term tourist letting register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39085/23]
View answer808. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she expects the short-term tourist letting Bill to complete its First Stage in Dáil Éireann. [39094/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 807 and 808 together.
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 the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535 that requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law. 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 extended the standstill period until 22 December 2023.
The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considers that 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 and officials from my Department and Fáilte Ireland are participating in an implementation group comprised of the Commission and other interested EU Member States.
As part of the ongoing engagement with the Commission, officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and from Fáilte Ireland held a constructive meeting with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on Friday 23 June.
Further engagement with the Commission on the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill, as well as the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services, will inform the timeline for the legislation and the establishment of the register.
