Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Murphy for his contribution.

It has finally come around to my turn. We have gone through a lot at this stage and I do not want to go over what has already been said. I thank Fáilte Ireland, and Mr. Kelly in particular, for the work it has done around the rebranding piece. Cavan has finally been brought into the Hidden Heartlands scheme. There was a concern about how the scheme had been branded until now and I think the inclusion of Cavan is a very positive move for my county and constituency. I welcome that, and thank Mr. Kelly for his briefings in that regard, which were helpful and useful.

As our guests have all touched on, the most important thing is that we get some actions in response to the problems they have presented to us. I am going to make a few suggestions for the committee on the basis of what our guests have said. We cannot cover everything but I am going to try, and our guests can let me know if they feel there are things that are being missed out and should be included. I am going to suggest writing to the various Departments and Ministers based on the issues our guests have brought up at this meeting. From the point of view of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, it is clear that a recruitment drive in the European Union and elsewhere is necessary. Perhaps we should include in a letter to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, a call for her to endorse that and make it happen.

Ms Sweetman mentioned the idea of another stay and spend scheme. Perhaps as part of our letter to the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, we could encourage her to reintroduce that scheme and use it as an opportunity to encourage people to stay and spend in Ireland this summer. There is an enticement for people to travel to sunnier places, particularly bearing in mind the past two summers, but perhaps that is something we could ask the Minister to look at.

The committee should also write to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, about personal public service, PPS, numbers. The lack of PPS numbers for staff will be a breaking point for hiring. That is something at which the committee should look.

The issue of work permits has come up time and time again in all the presentations and discussions today. As that issue falls under the remit of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, the committee should also write to him and suggest that we consider models whereby work permit applications can be turned around in six weeks.

This is the preferred scenario and where we want to see that piece at. Do the witnesses agree? Is that appropriate? Yes.

Mr. Fenn talked about identifying future skills needs and ring-fencing a fund for that purpose. Will he expand on that?