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

This meeting has been convened to facilitate a round-table discussion on the rising cost of tourist accommodation. On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome: Mr. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, CEO, and Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, chair, from the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, ITIC; Ms Denyse Campbell, president, and Mr. Tim Fenn, CEO, from the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF; Mr. Paul Kelly, CEO, and Ms Jenny De Saulles, director of sectoral development, from Fáilte Ireland; and Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, assistant secretary with responsibility for tourism, and Mr. Bernard O'Shea, principal officer with responsibility for tourism policy, from the tourism unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media.

The format of the meeting will be that I will invite witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which are limited to three minutes each. That will be followed by questions from members. The witnesses are probably aware that the committee may publish their opening statements on its web page.

Before I invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations regarding parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or of those who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way to make him, her, or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit a member to attend where they are not adhering to that constitutional requirement. I to ask members, when contributing via MS Teams, to please identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report and to mute their microphones when they are not contributing in to reduce background noise and feedback. I remind all those joining us today to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or aeroplane mode or, better again, switched off.

I propose to call the speakers to make their opening statements in the following order: first, Mr. O’Mara Walsh, on behalf of ITIC; second, Ms Campbell from the IHF; third, Mr. Kelly from Fáilte Ireland; and, fourth, Mr. Ó Lionáin from the Department.