Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the points the Minister made, in particular regarding pent-up demand and the supply chain issues relating to vehicle rental. Nevertheless, the holistic experience for a tourist coming to Ireland is one of extremely high costs. Other Deputies gave the costs of hotels in different ways. I did my own analysis and the pressure is considerable in Dublin, in particular. However, there are also other examples of value questions. One can get a room in the Camden Court Hotel tonight or tomorrow night for €185. An equivalent hotel bed out in Liffey Valley is approximately the same price. I do not see that as the same value proposition - a hotel room in the centre of Dublin versus out in Liffey Valley, with every respect to Liffey Valley. There are questions about how pricing is being conducted. The questions about price gouging in different sectors are valid.

In particular, there is the pressure in Dublin Airport. It is not just the queues, it is also the actual experience there. The Department with responsibility for tourism should have a strong interest in it. It is about the availability and accessibility of taxis and, frankly, about the availability of food after 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., when most places seem to be sold out. It is simply a very difficult experience for visitors going in both directions at present.

See this speech in context