Irish Self Catering Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Self Catering Federation

Date published 04 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details Emailed TD's regarding exemption of planning laws on Irish Self Catering sector properties

Intended results Open dialogue & arrange meetings to discuss the ISCF plight of RPZ's for our members and self catering in Ireland; gather support for the self catering sector

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jactina Doolan, Chair ISCF

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 (100+)

Emailed 29 May 2020 Re: The Quiet Demise of Self-Catering - Another Blow to the Rural Economy Irish Self-Catering Federation write to you on behalf of our membership - over 3000 holiday home owners across Ireland. We wish to bring to your attention an issue that is having a profoundly negative impact on the traditional self-catering sector in Ireland. • A New Planning Law: In large swathes of Ireland, it is now necessary to have full planning permission for existing and new holiday homes. • Major Collateral Damage: Criminal Convictions and Empty Properties are now the order of the day in Rent Pressure Zones - with more popping up each month • The Decline of a Major Regional and Seasonal Economic Driver: The self-catering industry has deep roots in all parts of Ireland – this is being quietly extinguished • We ask that you consider the self-catering sector as an important tourism resource & work for a planning exemption operating holiday homes for tourists in the past 5 years

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.

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Paul Kehoe Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

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

Ruth Coppinger TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)