Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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I thank the witnesses for an interesting explanation. I have been involved in the tourism business for some time to the extent that it is interesting how individuals can do the same for tourism. What the witnesses are doing is admirable. Some ten or 15 years ago I was bringing a congress from around the world to Dublin. Some came a few months early before they had made a decision. They asked the restaurant to get them a taxi to take them back to the hotel but they were told they could have to wait two or three hours for a taxi. In those days there were two or three hour queues galore. What are the hurdles we can do something about overcoming? We overcame that taxi hurdle. On that occasion we nearly lost that congress of 1,500 people coming to five star hotels. They almost did not come because the two bosses who were going to make the decision said they would not go to a city where one cannot even get a taxi at night. I was thinking particularly of the potential ESB strike on 16 December. Are there hurdles and things that could go wrong, where somebody could say he was thinking of coming to Ireland until something or other happened and then decided to go to the Czech Republic, Holland or elsewhere? Are there steps that we in the Oireachtas can take to ensure that people who are tempted to come to Ireland will definitely come?

Are there hurdles we are not thinking of and about which we have not done anything? I think particularly of an ESB strike or a taxi difficulty, which would have deterred investors in the past. If I was planning to come to Ireland to open a factory and there was an ESB strike, I would question whether I should come. I have a concern with regard to how we handle the various hurdles that could stop people from coming here.

I found the witnesses stories very interesting. I read their documentation and about the awards for people who bring jobs here. In some cases people do not claim the award, but others do. The award system is certainly an incentive that encourages people to bring in jobs. However, I am more interested in what we can do to remove the hurdles.