Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator White's call for a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, on the joint Oireachtas report that was published recently. I know she has put a lot of work and effort into it. I would like to see our discussion with the Minister encompassing the Action Plan for Jobs 2015 to see how we can accelerate the 1,300 jobs per week that are being created. We need to create more and every opportunity should be taken to do so.

On the tourism issue raised by Senator Terry Brennan, I welcome the fact that revenue from overseas tourism will increase this year by 16.2%. The fact that the figure for visitors from North America is up by nearly 34% is particularly significant. We cannot be complacent and need to have a discussion with the Minister on the figures and on what we are doing right and what is going wrong.

I am certainly very concerned with some of the commentary on the reasons the Web Summit is going to Lisbon and the fact that hotel prices in Dublin seem to be an issue. We are all very conscious of the significant rise in accommodation prices here, at a time when the hospitality industry is lobbying to ensure that the VAT rate is retained at 9%. A commitment was given when VAT was reduced to 9% for the hospitality industry, that the industry would play ball and ensure that its prices were kept competitive. Some elements of the sector are certainly not keeping to their end of the bargain. That has to be a major concern for all of us. While many of the restaurants and other aspects of the sector are doing their best to keep prices under control, the hotel sector certainly needs to be called to book on this.