Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply and accept, as does the Minister, the challenges faced by the industry. However, I wish to discuss and bring to the Minister's attention a number of self-imposed challenges that are coming to my desk in increasing numbers from a variety of sources within the industry. One pertains to the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the difficulty of access to heritage sites and facilities it operates nationwide on our behalf. While I am a great admirer of the OPW's work, it must recognise that it also must do its patriotic duty by ensuring that such facilities are available to visitors when they come here. Apparently, the OPW intends to cut back on the opening times of such sites, even though tours already have been booked into Ireland to attend such facilities and now will arrive in a month in which the facilities are closed. This is not the way in which one should treat visitors. I have received endless examples in this regard. For instance, people tried to make a booking for Kilmainham Gaol in December for a tour in January, only to be told the diary for January was not yet available. Thereafter, when they tried to book in January, no opening was available. This is not the way in which one attempts to do business during a recession. One may as well close up and tell visitors not to bother coming. In addition, a location such as Glenveagh National Park does not yet know its opening times for 2009, even though tour operators already have booked tours into that area. This is no way in which to do business.

I wish to refer briefly to two other problems. The first concerns VAT, to which, as the Ministers is aware, tour operators will become subject next year. Unfortunately however, tours already have been booked and priced at a rate that did not take this into account. The operators seek a derogation for another year in order that they at least can factor in the price increase into their prices for that year. The Minister is aware that this constitutes a 2% increase in their prices, which they are unable to bear.

My last point is important because it pertains to a self-imposed barrier to visitors coming to Ireland. I refer to a go-slow at passport control at Dublin Airport, which I do not believe has garnered publicity. While I have not experienced it personally, I have received reports to the effect that in some cases, two to three-hour delays have been experienced in something akin to a blue flu that is taking place there. If this is happening, it constitutes a self-imposed barrier. People who are caught up in such situations will not return and will tell their friends not to come to a country that treats its visitors in such a fashion.

See this speech in context