I welcome the regulations for the short-term letting sector published this morning by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. In particular, I am pleased that the Minister has taken on board detailed proposals made by Sinn Féin and in the report on the subject published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government last October. Although we need more detail on the plan, its definition of "short-term letting" and the requirement for planning permission are eminently sensible. However, I am concerned by the proposed eight-month lead-in. The rental sector is in such crisis that we cannot wait eight months before the regulations are put on a statutory footing. I am also concerned that there is no mention of sanctions or fines for online platforms or letting agents which advertise properties that do not conform to the statutory regulations. Although we wish to work with the Government to expedite the legislation as quickly as possible, I seek assurance that the Government is willing to work with us on the lead-in time and sanctions, particularly for online platforms.

I discussed the matter with the Minister, Deputy Murphy, this morning. He plans to bring draft proposals to the committee and work with other parties to get this right. We are trying to get the balance right between ensuring we have a functioning short-term letting market, where appropriate, and preventing the short-term letting system from undermining the broader and more important rental market, which is needed to provide longer-term tenancies and security of tenure for tenants and so on. The outline of the Minister's approach in that regard is now being openly discussed. He will bring forward the proposals in draft form to the committee and work with others in this House to get it right. Some time will be needed to reflect the fact that there are pre-bookings and so on and that people will have to adapt to new realities.