Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 7 July 2022
Committee on Public Petitions
Consideration of Public Petition on Adding Chefs to the Critical Skills List Now to Save Irish Hospitality: Discussion
Mr. Paddy Lynn:
No. It is incredible that our national motto is céad míle fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes. Hospitality is the core of that welcome. We are masters of it as Khairul will stand testament to. He has only been here a short period but has already realised that the way Irish people welcome others into the country is remarkable. I do not think we really appreciate that fully on a financial, salary level or at legislative or government levels. One thing that was raised with the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland was that we fall between many stools. That was Deputy Niamh Smyth's comment. She said that hospitality falls between many stools in Departments and there is no overseeing Department, which covers the whole thing. I spent the period building up to this meeting trying to find out who I approach for movement. It is hard to find the main root of the issue or to have that conversation. It is fabulous to be here and able to do that. Maybe from here it can be spread further.
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