Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
219. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding plans to regulate platform short-term lets; and if delays imposed on the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill by the European Union have been lifted. [4956/24]
View answerIn accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535, the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill remains with the EU Commission. TRIS 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 during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. This standstill period was in place until 22 December 2023. The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considered 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 (EU STR).
My officials have continued to consistently engage with the EU Commission, there has been engagement between officials and the EU Commission Directorate. As part of this ongoing engagement, officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and representatives from Fáilte Ireland have also met with representatives of the Commission.
y Department has and continues to engage extensively with the Commission in relation to the alignment of Ireland’s proposed STTL Bill and the EU STR once adopted. Clarity on the EU STR should allow the legislative process to commence soon with enactment of the Bill in the period shortly thereafter. The enactment of the STTL Bill will provide the statutory basis for Fáilte Ireland to establish the STTL register. Once established all properties in the STTL sector will have to be registered with Fáilte Ireland. Upon registration STTL proprietors will be asked to confirm their compliance with statutory obligations, including planning permission requirements.
