The Irish Self-Catering Federation has launched a campaign to force Fáilte Ireland to reverse its decision whereby from December 31st, Fáilte Ireland will no longer inspect and approve individual self-catering accommodation.
Fáilte Ireland has suggested that the sector could be self-regulatory, with a voluntary charter that operators could sign up to.
Yesterday the Irish Self-Catering Federation and other operators in this sector held a meeting in Dublin and unanimously voted to seek an urgent meeting with Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn.
The federation sent a letter to Mr Quinn last night seeking the meeting and said they would demand a reversal of the decision.
Mary Power, chairwoman of the Irish Self-Catering Federation, said self-catering operators were "absolutely devastated" by Fáilte Ireland's decision to pull out of the process without any consultation.
Fáilte Ireland will still inspect large group schemes and Ms Power said this would provide an unlevel playing field for smaller operators.
She said the decision could close smaller operators down as tourists chose their accommodation based on the fact that properties were approved by a national standards agency.
A spokesman for Fáilte Ireland said the organisation would "work with representatives of the self-catering industry between now and the end of December 2008 to come to a workable solution that will be of benefit to all of the sector".
Ms Power said the ISCF would not stop until it had succeeded in getting the decision reversed. This could involve street protests if necessary, she said. "We are going to get out the placards if that's what it takes."
Fáilte Ireland's decision to stop the inspections has also been criticised by the Irish Farmers' Association.
Ms Power said self-catering operators also had the support of the Irish Hotel Federation, numerous TDs and a number of Ministers.
Failte Ireland has said the star-rating given to self-catering operators this year will not expire until December 2008.
While it had been thought that self-catering operators would be prevented from using the Fáilte Ireland shamrock sign, that has not been decided yet.
