A Midlands North MEP is urging the European Commission and Irish Government to draft a housing policy that will ease tensions between local residents and those looking to buy properties for short term lets.

The comments come as Irish residents heading abroad on holidays are being warned about anti-tourism protests that are scheduled to take place on June 15th.

The protests are expected to be staged in a number of countries across Europe.

Midlands North West MEP, Ciaran Mullooly says there are areas in Europe and in Ireland where tensions are growing due to the competition between Locals, and that wish to buy property and use it for short term lets.

The MEP says ‘insult is added to injury’ when locals cannot secure planning permission, while any properties that comes on the market is snapped by those wishing to use it for the tourism sector.

He says the European Parliament Housing committee is monitoring the situation across the continent.