Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. I have said here and to my colleagues that I have concerns about that knock-on impact to businesses. Some of those in the hospitality sector are under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, with whom I co-chair the tourism and hospitality forum. These are issues that will come to us in the coming weeks but I am sure he too, like myself, is probably looking at those challenges and how we can put mitigation measures in support. Anecdotal evidence of early impacts on non-accommodation tourism business is definitely emerging already.

We have developed, through the Covid pandemic, experience of what type of targeted measures can support tourism businesses. We supported them throughout the pandemic and will not let them fail now. That is why I am very much on top of this, have consistently flagged it with my Cabinet colleagues, and have a body of work under way.

See this speech in context