Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. It is important that everyone acknowledges the significant Government support that has been put in place for the industry over recent years. The reality is that is taxpayer's money. We talk about low availability and last minute. Last April, I tried to book a room on a Saturday night. My young lad had a rugby match on the Sunday morning and we said we would come up. The cheapest we could get, and that was not at the last minute, was €600. That was at the end of April. There is something wrong with the figures. That is the reality when a person is going to look for a room. Significant supports went into the business. It is different for the likes of Ryanair to charge these extortionate prices at last minute when people are looking to book something. The hotel industry has to give something back to the consumer and the taxpayer. These extortionate prices have to stop.

Senator Cassells referred to concerts. Do concert promoters notify the hotel industry in advance when a concert is planned? It seems that as soon as a concert is announced, the hotel prices have nearly gone up in advance of the announcement in the public domain. We see then the extortionate prices that are put in place. On the VAT rate, as has been said by other members, it is going to be very difficult to get support to retain the VAT rate at 9% because of what is happening at the moment. However, there are significant other businesses out there such as restaurants and hairdressers that are also on the 9% VAT rate. If other EU countries can have a split rate, I cannot see why we cannot have one here. That is how seriously this is being regarded within parliamentary circles and by the people I have been talking to, because of what has happened. The industry needs to look seriously at this. It is not fair only to say the Irish Hotels Federation cannot comment. As a federation and the representative body for all hotels throughout the country, it has to come out strong and say this has to stop. This committee has been very strong in supporting the industry and the extension of the VAT rate. It will be very difficult for the committee to give full support if what is happening currently continues.