Mr. Shane Dunne:

The Deputy asked two questions that were probably directed to the Event Industry Association of Ireland, EIAI, and us. We do not have a figure for the total VAT paid. EPIC represents about 2,000 SMEs and sole traders within the industry. A lot of the work they do is for smaller community events. They do a lot of work for Government agencies like Fáilte Ireland and businesses that are not VAT-registered. Having to charge 23% on top of their own fees makes them more expensive and they generate less work as a result.

Regarding the Department's response, I note that EPIC is a reasonably new group. It is six or seven weeks old. We have had initial discussions with the Department and we expect to sit down with Fáilte Ireland in the coming weeks. We do not have what the hoteliers, the vintners and everyone else have, namely, a roadmap. We do not yet have an outline from the Government. We are available, as I am sure Ms Dorgan and Ms O'Connor are, to sit down with anybody and put that roadmap together, but we do not have one right now. Things will be difficult until we get one.

The Deputy asked if the industry will recover. There is a 100% chance it will. Every submission made today includes the word "innovation". The reason for that is that this is a business of innovators.

That is what we do. We adapt on site on a daily basis, be it in a theatre or a green field. The industry will recover but we need to sustain it so that we can retain staff with the necessary skill sets until the recovery happens.