Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Okay, that is perfect. I thank Mr. Ó Lionáin. I want to touch on something I am blue in the face raising with Fáilte Ireland and the Minister, which is the rip-off hotel price gouging and the long-term reputational damage it is doing to the country. Fáilte Ireland was able to tell us that the figures for advance bookings from Britain this year are down, and that there are similar indications from the rest of Europe. Therefore, the reputation is out there. Lonely Planet posted a very critical review of the damage and the high costs in Ireland with specific reference to the price gouging going on in hotels. It seems the Irish Hotels Federation more or less said it is not its problem.

I know Fáilte Ireland had addressed its conference and had also written to the businesses in the sector, but to no avail, as we have seen. There are other countries in Europe that separate the 9% VAT rate and there are countries where hotels do not get it. Has the Department ever advocated for something similar with the Minister?