Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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I welcome the delegates and thank them for their very informative presentations.

I refer to the potential for additional job creation. The target figure of 50,000 jobs is very impressive and I am sure that number will be reached and, possibly, exceeded in the next number of years. Does the Irish Hotels Federation engage with the various ministries and bodies such as the Departments of Education and Skills and Social Protection and the Apprenticeship Council? I am sure the federation can identify the skills sets required in the industry and the employment opportunities for commis chefs, bartenders and other skilled staff. There is a need for a proactive approach. Now that the Celtic tiger is long gone, the natives have dropped out of the hospitality industry and the younger generation, in particular, are no longer becoming involved in the hotel industry and the bar trade. We need to accelerate our overall approach.

It is a fact that the traditional pub in rural areas is becoming extinct. We read on a weekly basis about the dramatic and spiralling rate of pub closures. Government bodies and agencies, in conjunction with the vintners representative bodies, need to be involved in a multifaceted approach to deal with the difficulties faced by the Irish pub. We have been told that one of the highlights for foreign visitors is a visit to an Irish pub. We need to take note of this.

The uplift in the economy was mentioned, but the increase in business is not uniform; it is not happening in some parts of the country. The same applies to pubs. The pub is an institution akin to the post office and serves as a social centre and meeting place for people. It is very disheartening to see a pub that serves a community of 500 or 600 people at a crossroads or in a village close. It is very alarming. Do the delegates have ideas on how we can work together to address the issues raised?