Over the past four weeks, I have been looking for a debate on short-term lets. I have also been asking the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to come here for a question-and-answer session. People from that sector are meeting today in a packed room across the road in Buswells. They know that what is proposed is going to lead to the ruination of short-term tourism in this country. The Taoiseach keeps nodding and saying "No", but if the Government brings in planning into this, it is going to finish those involved. They know that. The Taoiseach should go across the road and talk to them. They are not going to eat him; they are going to talk to him.

Sentiment score: -0.07

I would like a debate on this issue here today.

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I welcome members of Kinsale Men's Shed who are with us today. I also welcome those in the Gallery involved in short-term lets who are fighting for their very survival and were in Buswells Hotel earlier today. The people of Ireland, mainly in coastal communities, are genuinely worried about what the Government is about to do with these short-term letting proposals. In places like west Cork, from Kinsale to Castletownbere, Airbnb and short-term let hosts are ordinary families, mainly small farmers and women trying to keep the lights on. They are terrified that these new rules will wipe out Airbnb and short-term lets altogether and, with it, the tourism that keeps our small towns alive. The legislation proposes to ask people to get planning permission. For many of them, that could cost tens of thousands of euro, which they simply cannot afford. I also sat in the committee meeting with officials from the Departments of tourism and planning on the short-term letting and tourism Bill. I say it straight. They are all over the place. There is no joined-up thinking with regard to the planning aspect of this Bill. These short-term lets, whether tree houses, pods, sheds, granny flat or tents, were built for tourism and tourism only-----

Sentiment score: 0.02

They are what keeps rural Ireland going. Rural Ireland has taken enough hits. Will the Government step back from this?

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The Minister said different today.

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In two years, it will be game over.

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