Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The report of the tourism renewal group was launched on Thursday, 8 October 2009. This report sets out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic, social and cultural development and the prospects for Irish tourism in a changed world, as well as a framework for action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth over the period to 2013. The report proposes five survival short-term actions to minimise the potential impact of current challenges and nine recovery actions for medium-term attention to set Irish tourism back on a growth path as the world economy recovers. All of these actions are being pursued by myself, the Department and the relevant agencies.

Building on the framework for action, along with the Government's wider strategy for economic renewal, the budget recognised the tourism sector as a critical, labour intensive indigenous sector. The overall tourism services budget will be increased in 2010. This will enable the level and value of investment in overseas marketing of Ireland to be maintained in real terms, as recommended by the tourism renewal group. Investment in visitor attractions will be increased to €22 million. The Government's commitment to tourism is also shown by its inclusion in a range of cross-cutting measures, including the employment subsidy scheme, the credit review system and incentives for investment in energy-efficiency, all of which support sustainable tourism enterprises and employment. Further specific measures that will help tourism include the changes in alcohol excise duties and VAT and the rail travel initiative aimed at senior citizens visiting Ireland from abroad, although I hope to make this valid for people from the age of 55 upwards because there is a strong cohort aged between 55 and 65 years.

I believe that drawing on the report of the group, Government and the tourism agencies are identifying and driving the right measures to assist in ensuring that tourism survives and to position the sector for recovery and growth as the Irish and global economies get back on track.

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