Plans to create a register of properties for short term lets have been delayed.
It's hoped it could free up about 12,000 rental homes for longer term tenants.
The new rules could have been in place by the end of this month, but have been delayed until the end of the year.
Business Journalist Joe Lynam explains why the EU has put back a change in Irish law.
"The Government had introduced a bill in December of last year, they have to run that by the EU because it is a substantial change in the law.
"The EU has come back in the last 24 hours and said 'we want you to pause this whole thing until December 22nd', they've extended the so called standstill period for this particular law.
"It's going to be another nine months before this can come in."
