Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I said this yesterday, when the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, was in the Seanad and it should be taken on board by Government. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, supported the issue of a 9% VAT rate. It is important the Government should extend that into 2023, give the entire industry a shot in the arm and make sure that, if the projections do not work out, all our accommodation base and restaurants will be there fighting fit for 2023.

There was mention earlier of representation on the board. There is this issue that Fáilte Ireland looks after tourism whereas I think it should be tourism and hospitality because they are completely interlinked. I even think the Department's name should be changed to tourism and hospitality. It was mentioned earlier there are a number positions on the board. As I stated to the Minister, Deputy Martin, yesterday evening, it is very important there is a person representing either the pub or the restaurant industry on the board. I note is it open at present for nominations to that, but it is important there would be a representative from that industry on the board of Fáilte Ireland and that we are all working together and singing from the one hymn sheet going forward. Maybe they will not make a comment on that here but I think it is important that would happen.