Short-Term Lettings Bill comes to cabinet after delays last week 

New laws which will limit the use of AirBnb have now made their way to Cabinet. Picture: Issei Kato/Reuters

New laws which will limit the use of AirBnb and other short-term rentals in large towns and cities will come to Cabinet today, after being delayed last week.

The Short-Term Lettings Bill will include restrictions to prevent homeowners from renting out properties for more than 90 days a year if they live in an area with a population greater than 10,000. This would, in effect, prevent individuals who are short-term letting properties on a full-time basis from operating in large towns and cities.

The bill had been due to come to Cabinet last week, but was dropped at the last minute leading to what sources called a "robust" exchange between the two ministers who are leading the legislation — housing minister James Browne and enterprise minister Peter Burke. 

It is understood that the bill returning to Cabinet today is largely identical to that which came last week, save for one legal note.

Competitive strategy 

Meanwhile, Mr Burke will on Tuesday join Tánaiste Simon Harris in bringing a plan to make Ireland more competitive amidst global economic uncertainty. Mr Burke will aim to publish a competitiveness strategy within the next 12 weeks, ahead of the Dáil's summer recess, in a bid to ensure that any tax or budgetary changes contained in the plan will be represented in October's Budget.

It is understood that the plan will cover industrial policy, reducing the cost and regulatory burden on businesses, investing in infrastructure, digital regulation and reform, energy reform, international trade and research, and development and innovation, alongside a number of short-term measures to be introduced next month.

Cabinet will also be told of a plan which could see trade commissions with China, India, and the UAE prioritised. The government will examine the overseas offices of the State agencies in trade promotion, including Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, and the IDA, and could expand trade missions.

A Cost of Business Advisory Forum will also be established and the consumer protection and competition functions of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be strengthened.

Mr Harris will also update Cabinet on Ireland's response to two landmark reports on EU competitiveness — the Letta and Draghi reports — and will tell ministers that Ireland is engaging with the European Commission's simplification process which is seeking to remove unnecessary European red tape. Mr Harris will also tell Cabinet that the first EU-UK summit since Brexit will take place next month.

Also at Cabinet, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers will update ministers on the new dedicated Infrastructure Division within his department. The division will second sectoral experts who will identify blockages and barriers to infrastructure delivery and accelerate major capital projects.

Children's Minister Norma Foley is bringing a memo for cabinet to get approval for the publication of the final report of the Farrelly Commission's investigation into a disability service in the southeast and related matters, otherwise known as the 'Grace' case.

The Commission of Investigation into “certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters” was established in 2017 to investigate the care and protection of “Grace” and others in a former foster home in the Southeast.