Irish Self Catering Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Self Catering Federation

Date published 01 Nov, 2018

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details The Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) is seeking a meeting with Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, to discuss self-catering tourism accommodation in Ireland and the role it plays in the country’s economy. There is the sector is increasingly concerned that rhetoric around the blanket regulation of short-term letting fails to recognise the value created by self-catering in terms of the Irish tourism sector and indeed job creation in rural Ireland.

Intended results Influence proposed legislation relating to short term rental - With the Minister set to publish his report on regulations for the short-term letting in Ireland, the ISCF has asked that any plans to regulate the short-term lettings sector in Ireland recognise that within the ‘short-term letting sector’ sits a wide range of business models and any regulation of this vast area must cater for these different models. Dispute the correlation between short term rental accomodation and homelessness Educate the Minister and the working group about the scope of self catering and the importance to rural communities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Peter Downey

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (6-10)

ISCF emailed a number of Ministers to highlight the likely negative impact from the proposed recommendations submitted by the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning & Local Government in the The Impact of Short Term Lettings on Ireland’s Housing and Rental Market report. It is the view of the ISCF that there is a lack of understanding about the scope and contribution of self catering tourism product. We made several requests to meet with Minister Eoghan Murphy.

Meeting (1)

ISCF met with Minister Brendan Griffin

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Brendan Griffin Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Eoghan Murphy Minister (Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Maria Bailey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Damien English Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Michael Ring Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Josepha Madigan Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)