Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses to the committee today and thank them for their presentations. My first question is to Mr. Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland. Will Mr. Gibbons provide a breakdown for the committee of the expenditure by Tourism Ireland between Northern Ireland and the South? I would argue that we rely too much on the British market. Given the decision of the UK to possibly leave the EU, it is now vital that Ireland expands its market base. What are Tourism Ireland's plans to replace the current dependence upon the UK market with other markets, such as North America, Germany and France? Perhaps Mr. Gibbons will also elaborate more on Tourism Ireland's participation at the World Travel Market in London last week. With regard to the British market, Mr. Gibbons stated the main factors are consumer confidence and competitiveness. I do not agree with this assertion. I firmly believe that people visit our shores for more reasons than just price competitiveness. We need to market the reasons why people visit our shores. We need to concentrate on our strengths and not focus on the perceived weaknesses. The current situation around currency fluctuations is, in my opinion, only a short-term issue and will bottom out. I would always urge Tourism Ireland to concentrate on Ireland's strengths when they market us abroad.

I also have a question for Mr. Shaun Quinn of Fáilte Ireland. He has said that we rely too much on the UK market. We should have been planning to extend our market base even before the UK decision to possibly leave the EU. Will Mr. Quinn outline the specific plans Fáilte Ireland has in place to expand the market base for overseas visitors? I completely agree with him that Ireland must never become complacent despite the record number of visitors for 2015-16. I have spoken to people directly involved in the tourism sectors in my constituency in Louth and the last number of years has been outstandingly good. Areas such as Carlingford and the Boyne site have seen numbers increase substantially. Apart from Brexit, what does Fáilte Ireland see as the major challenge facing the tourism industry over the coming years? As well as challenges, what does Fáilte Ireland see as the major opportunities for the sector?

My other questions are directed at Mr. Tim Fenn from the Irish Hotels Federation. He said that one of the major challenges facing the industry is the current insignificant level of funding for the tourism markets and product development. Perhaps Mr. Fenn will elaborate more on where exactly this lack of funding is taking place. A common complaint is the lack of available hotel beds, particularly in Dublin. Can the Irish Hotels Federation quantify exactly the number of additional beds required and where they are required? Another big complaint I have heard concerns the raising of hotel prices, especially in Dublin, during busy periods.

I also wish to ask a question of Mr. Paul Gallagher from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation. He said that the Government's ten-year strategy, People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025, is unambitious and needs to be overhauled. Can he outline what, in his opinion, would be a more ambitious and realistic plan and what are the main elements he would see as requiring an overhaul? I agree with him that the Government must be conscious of not disadvantaging tourism business in Ireland to the benefit of tourism business in Northern Ireland. Will Mr. Gallagher outline what are the areas of most concern in this regard?