Airbnb, which has come under heavy criticism for taking homes off the rental market, wants the government to set up a register of approved short-term rentals so it can block unregistered owners on its site.
The move comes as figures for Ireland continue to show far more homes available for short-term rentals on Airbnb than through rental agencies.
However, the company said it was not responsible for the country’s housing crisis.
In an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent, Airbnb’s managing director for Northern Europe, Amanda Cupples, said recently introduced regulations were not working.
She added that a new register could help crack down on those who get around the law.
Ms Cupples said a handful of other European countries – including the Netherlands, France and Portugal – had adopted similar systems.
In 2019, Ireland passed new rental regulations designed to crack down on landlords who profit from more profitable and less regulated Airbnb listings.
The new rules involved building permit requirements and rental deadlines.
But with Ireland in the throes of a worsening housing crisis, a number of commentators say the measures have had no impact.
“We know we have a problem and Ireland has a problem,” Ms Cupples said.
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