Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to participate in this debate. As my colleagues have pointed out, this is a very important sector for every part of the country. In every town and village there are people involved or associated with the tourism, catering or transport sectors, as well as the aviation sector, particularly in certain areas. We must first empathise with the sacrifices they made in the past 18 months because they were closed down repeatedly. That reduced confidence in the industry and it reduced the confidence of those who were immersed in it in their ability to continue and to survive. However, some of them did survive and continue to do so. It is to be hoped that due tribute will be paid to their existence in the time ahead, and particularly in the immediate time ahead.

We must recognise the scale of expertise that exists in the industry. In the aviation sector, there is a variation of skills and good employment. Many people decry the fact that not all companies in the sector pay top dollar, or at least that is the claim, but they provide great employment and offer great opportunities to people to get employment and better themselves.

I refer to the skills that are available in the hotel and catering sectors. In the main, there are two groups of people who make their living in these sectors. First, there are the coach tour operators and those in the aviation sector but, as well as that, high levels of expertise are now required in the tourism sector, such as in the case of chefs and managers in the hotel industry. The need for such skills will continue into the future. Previously, people were sent abroad to learn the skills of the trade. In the recent past, however, people came here to learn those skills. We are at a crossroads, and we need to avail of every opportunity to fill the posts as quickly as possible so that the industry can survive. That has to be done by encouraging people who have the skills required to come here and assist in the recovery of the industry. If they need visas or anything else, that should be facilitated.

We are facing into winter, not summer, so we must gear the industry towards how best to succeed at a time of year that is not always the most lucrative. We have to gear it towards winter tourism and avail of every opportunity to encourage people to participate, visit other parts of the country and spend their money.

The industry has been a great place for young people to get a start. They can become involved in the hotel and restaurant sector and learn the trade from there. Not everybody needs to have the same skill, but their skills are improved in that area. Many schools have supplied the industry with waiters, waitresses and so on to meet the requirements at this time. There is a marked difference in the custom enjoyed by the restaurant sector. Not as many people are visiting restaurants as previously. I strongly support the points made by colleagues on all sides of the House in respect of the fact that, more than ever, we must do whatever is needed now. We must recognise what needs to be done and deal with it.

See this speech in context