Results 2,521-2,540 of 7,961 for speaker:Imelda Munster

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: My apologies for interrupting Mr. Fenn but I am talking about your average person who is trying to book a room in two, three, four, five or six weeks time. They are not asking themselves how that compares with the average price, overall. We are talking about what is on display for people who want to have a break or to go on holidays. I have given Mr. Fenn one example and if he is not...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Would Mr. Fenn see that as price gouging because it is the last couple of seats?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I am asking a question. I do not want Mr. Fenn talking down the clock. He referred in his statement to situations at weekends and nights when there are major concerts or events when occupancy in Dublin exceeds 90% and the last available rooms are quoted at rates in excess of the average room rate. That is price gouging by any other name; it is a rip-off. That is in Mr. Fenn's own statement.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Mr. Fenn acknowledges that price gouging goes on and people are charged rip-off rates.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: That is there in black and white. I am saying this in the context of the pandemic. When Mr. Fenn's sector was in crisis and people were encouraged to holiday at home, people supported the sector. I think it was Mr. O'Mara Walsh who said they helped the survival of the industry. The minute things are starting to open up, we have the rip-off again. We have extortionate room rates being...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: How? Tell me how. In the current context of rip-off rates and extortionate room rates, tell me how the Irish Hotels Federation does that and how effective it has been.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Yes, we know. How does the Irish Hotels Federation do that?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: It is not working.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: It is not working. I have just given Mr. Fenn examples. Everyone around the room will give him examples.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I am asking how it has worked up to now. It has not. Those figures speak for themselves. Whatever it is the Irish Hotels Federation is doing, it has not worked. Reading Mr. Fenn's statement here, it is just defensive, defending the industry and the sector and not saying "boo" about the extortionate room rates hotels are charging. On the VAT reduction, you would seriously have to question...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Yes, where was that VAT rate reduction passed on to customers?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Those prices do not reflect that. Where is the VAT rate passed on to customers? Not in the room rates.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I will ask the question again. When we look at the extortionate room rates, how was the VAT rate the hotels received, because they were crying poverty and that other sectors did not receive, passed on to customers?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Not for long.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 445. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an exact figure for her Department’s allocation to Fáilte Ireland in 2022. [29456/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 446. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an exact figure for her Department’s allocation to Tourism Ireland in 2022. [29457/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 447. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of spending in her Department in the Revised Estimates for 2022; the breakdown of A.5. tourism marketing fund; and the amount of funding under that heading that goes to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, respectively. [29458/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 448. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 24 May 2022, the details of the heading or headings under which the entirety of the €91,782,000 allocation to Tourism Ireland falls. [29459/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 449. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the bursary scheme for community and local radio stations will be introduced in the near future; if she will provide details of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29507/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: 450. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of funding that an organisation (details supplied) has received from the Exchequer in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29508/22]