Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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As Senator Cassells said, there has been very active engagement. We are conscious of the impact that Covid-19 and the conflict in Ukraine have had on the tourism sector, and we have been very supportive. We will continue to engage in that dialogue. I am going to make a political point here that the witnesses will not be able to comment on. They may notice that the engagement in these committees tends to be with representatives of the Government parties. The Government has been very supportive of the tourism sector and the parties in Government have been very supportive. The witnesses can read into that what they want. The challenge for us - and this is the point my colleagues have been making - is that for us to continue to argue for and recognise it as a good value sector, providing excellent employment and so on, we also need a response from the sector. We are hearing from constituents and internationally that Ireland is - to use Mr. O'Mara Walsh's description - not a good value destination, is expensive and that the cost of hotels is too high. One can produce all the data one wants but if we get that reputation, it becomes a big problem.

The committee wants to work with Fáilte Ireland and if any support is sought on the skills side or energy side, the Government will respond but we have to hear a response from the sector in ensuring good value. I know prices cannot be fixed but, as I have said previously, in the industry, those who are price gouging and damaging the sector need to be called out. We are the ones who get it in the neck as much as the witnesses do but, politically, it makes it really difficult for us to make arguments on behalf of the sector.