Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing. This is an informative and timely meeting. Obviously, there are many issues and challenges facing the hospitality sector and these have been intensified by the new restrictions. The Restaurant Association of Ireland called for an updated report on the skills needs in tourism and hospitality on three occasions in the past 20 months. The expert group on future skills needs is still not scheduled to meet. The previous report was done in 2015. Understandably, that report is well out of date at this stage given the vagaries in the sector and the changes to how those businesses operate. We need to acknowledge that there is a skills crisis in the hospitality sector. It is particularly urgent at this point that we get concrete data.

Where are we in terms of the expert group on future skills needs and its schedule? Can Mr. Donohoe give me some indication and a timeline as to when the group will be up and running and when we can expect to see some information emanating from it?