Ms Elaina Fitzgerald Kane:

Regarding budget and rural tourism, there are a few different issues. The VAT decision is important. However, other issues are also important. Funding for the airports is very important. Shannon Airport is the lifeblood of the western seaboard. If we look at Irish policy versus EU policy, a huge opportunity exists because that is a major funnel when it comes to international visitors.

We need to look at our transportation infrastructure. Fáilte Ireland and ourselves have made the point about car hire and refleeting opportunities and how we need to make a change and revert to the VAT on VRT export repayment scheme as an opportunity because 60% of 2019 levels does not meet what we need now. We are in a situation where more than 100% of flights have been restored so we need to look at that. Equally, we also need to look at it at a more localised level to see what incentives can be put in place to try to grow the local transportation infrastructure. In our own hotel, it is difficult to get transportation services not just at peak times, but at off-peak times as well. That is felt across the country. We have to remember that we have so many different types of visitors coming from overseas who have never driven a car in their lives and that is the reality of it. That is one aspect of it. The second is availability for those who can drive, of car hire or even chauffeured tours, but equally we have the challenges of the person for whom the car is not the mode of transport.