Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses for joining us. I welcome the discussion, which is very important. I also welcome the research that is being done and the feedback that has been received from the front lines. It is very important in informing our work and future policy in this area.

In any discussion we have in this regard, it is very important to acknowledge the many fine employers throughout the country, many of whom are multigenerational and have been doing great work. I worked on the front line of the hospitality sector for many years and my experience was very positive. I was also an employer in hospitality for a number of years. I am confident that people who worked with me had a positive experience as well when I was an employer. My family also worked in the industry for many years and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. That said, it is critically important we address the areas where there are problems.

I will address what Deputy O'Sullivan said about geographical spread, whether there is an urban-rural divide and if there are particular types of business models where we are seeing difficulties. It is important we identify those. In addition, as we are in solution mode, is there a particularly important role, for example, for Fáilte Ireland in how we tackle this issue in the future? Are there other State agencies the witnesses would identify that can do more, right now?

On making the industry more attractive to work in, and there are many things that can be done, the four-day working week is one issue at the moment. Do the witnesses see that as compatible with the tourism and hospitality sector? There are certain things that cannot work. We see a lot of switching to remote working, but this is a people industry, a different kind of industry and certain modern trends cannot be transferred to the tourism and hospitality sector. Do the witnesses see any scope for the four-day working week, in particular? I thank the witnesses again for all the work they have been doing.