Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is probably an area in which the Minister has a role and I encourage him and the Department to try to facilitate some mechanism which would lead to a forum in which these issues could be resolved. We certainly agree on the damage the uncertainty causes, not only for the business travelling community but also in terms of the negative impact is has on the tourism sector. I have spoken to people involved in the industry who see potential cancellations as industry representatives outside Ireland are stating to hoteliers they will not take the risk of holding a conference here. This is damaging and the Government needs to move to a sectoral approach to industrial relations, rather than using the generic model which worked in the past. It is probably more relevant now in the absence of a partnership arrangement that a forum be established without delay. I look forward to the Minister giving consideration to this in bringing forward proposals.