Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As regards the issue he and Senator Warfield raised, as I stated, it is being considered and we are consulting the National Library of Ireland. I will revert to both of them on that specific issue.

As regards clarity and certainty for pubs and restaurants, I wish I was in a position to provide that. The only thing that is certain about Covid-19 is its uncertainty. As the Deputy is aware, the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, will be meeting this week. We await its deliberations. Just like everyone else, I am not in a position to give clarity or certainty, unfortunately. I can point to the budget, which included an increase of more than 30% for the tourism sector in my Department, and the cross-sectoral supports that are in place already, such as the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, the restart grant, the credit guarantee scheme, the €55 million for the tourism business continuity scheme, the €26 million in the Covid adaptation fund, the €10 million allocation for coach tourism, the €10 million for Ireland-based inbound agencies, the €8 million in restart grants and all the outdoor dining and urban animation schemes. We have not been found wanting in that regard. I do not have a crystal ball - none of us have one - in the context of this awful pandemic that has had a devastating impact on our tourism sector that supports more than 250,000 jobs. The Government will not be found wanting. We will keep everything under review.

As regards the business continuity scheme and the money that was ring-fenced in the most recent budget, Fáilte Ireland is in consultation with relevant stakeholders to assess where that money will go.

It is open to anyone to apply to the board of Fáilte Ireland. Obviously, we will be looking for specific skill sets, in consultation with the chairman of the board. It is open to anyone to apply to that process. Of course, the hospitality sector does have a strong voice via the tourism and hospitality forum I and the Tánaiste co-chair.