Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

Before I ask my question, perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will give me the opportunity on this, the last day of this term in the Dáil - although some of us will be here for committees next week and the coming weeks - to thank all the staff on behalf of Sinn Féin, and I am sure everyone else, who keep this place working and going, whether that is in the canteen or the ushers, cleaners and the many staff who make sure the Oireachtas functions smoothly, although we can sometimes make it quite challenging for them. I wanted to put that on the record.

As the Tánaiste will be aware, on Sunday, GAA supporters from Cork and Tipperary will make the pilgrimage to Dublin and Croke Park for the all-Ireland hurling final. They will be followed the following week by folks from my county, Donegal, and from County Kerry for the football final. Many of them cannot believe their eyes when they see the prices they are being charged to book hotels in our capital city. They are being charged €450 or €500 for a room for one night, when it is a fraction of that on other weekends. It is scandalous. Those attending the Oasis gig later, next month, will face exactly the same rip-off. It is now the case that people can get a week's sun holiday cheaper than they can get two nights in Dublin. It is absolutely scandalous. I have raised this with the Government before and nothing is happening. This is just another example of the do-nothing Government. Will the Government do anything about the rip-off and price gouging that happens every summer? Whether people are trying to take their families to watch our national games or going to gigs or tourists are coming in, it is scandalous and needs to end.

Will the Government do anything about this?

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