Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
221. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the progress made within her Department on a short term lettings register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7327/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill that will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of the STTL register is currently the subject of ongoing engagement with the EU Commission in accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535.
The TRIS process 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.
On 22 March 2023, the EU Commission extended the standstill period until 22 December 2023 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).
On 15 November the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on the EU STR proposal. It is understood that the proposal could be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions by end March 2024.
This political agreement provides clarity as to the provisions within this new EU STR regulation. My Department has engaged extensively with the Commission in relation to the alignment of Ireland’s proposed STTL Bill and the EU STR once adopted. As part of this engagement, officials from my Department and from Fáilte Ireland met with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on 11 December 2023 and then, on 15 December, provided a formal response to the Commission’s communication of 22 March 2023.
On 9 February 2024, the Commission responded to note that the principles outlined in Ireland’s formal response appear to go in the right direction to ensure consistency with the principles of the EU STR Regulation but that some further consideration may be required to ensure complete alignment. My officials are due to meet with the Commission again the week commencing the 19 February to discuss its response and observations and to provide further clarifications on the proposed approach.
