Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

recognising:

— tourism revenue dropped by €1.1 billion in 2009 to €5.2 billion, its lowest level since 2004;

— overseas visitor numbers fell by close to 1 million in 2009 compared with 2008;

— Ireland's largest tourism market, the United Kingdom, declined by 16% in 2009;

— access to Ireland has become worryingly restricted with the ongoing removal of routes and a reduction in airline capacity at both Shannon and Dublin airports; and

— the serious credit flow crisis and level of debt facing the sector as a result of the economic downturn;

considering:

— the introduction of an air travel tax was short-sighted, counterproductive and a deterrent to the survival of the tourism industry;

— the fragmented nature of this indigenous industry and the lack of economic priority afforded to it by the Government;

— the significant burden of local authority rates, Government charges and energy costs on small businesses;

— the archaic nature of the joint labour committee wage-setting system;

— the administration cost and complexity of Irish visitor visas;

— the failure of the Office of Public Works to exploit the full tourism potential of visitor attraction sites;

— the Government-generated shortage in the supply of cars for the rental market; and

— the emergence of "zombie hotels" and the financial pressure this is placing on the hotel sector;

calls on the Government to immediately abolish the air travel tax.

I propose to share time with Deputies O'Dowd, Breen, Clune, Feighan, O'Donnell and Deenihan.

See this speech in context