Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. The fear in the industry, and among the ancillary industries that survive off it, is that the money circulating will be significantly down. The Minster has said that on her worst case scenario figures, that spending could be down by €2.1 billion. In Kerry alone, Ireland's tourism capital, anticipates a loss of €400 million this year. According to Fáilte Ireland, every €1 million in tourist expenditure supports 27 jobs. The OECD estimates a 60% to 80% decline in international tourism which is hugely worrying.

The Government schemes to keep as much of the industry alive is welcome, especially the restart scheme and the additional €300 million in direct grant funding, the €10 million to help tourism businesses adapt and the stay and spend initiative, however there will be casualties. The impact of the loss of international visitors this season on jobs could be 180,000 of a workforce of 260,000. How many of those beyond the PUPs would be considered permanent job losses in the short to long term? Does that figure include the ancillary jobs created by tourism? Has the Minister liaised with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on this?

On hotels that may not reopen, have local tourism boards, including Boyne Valley tourism, liaised with the Department on any problem with beds? When I served on a tourism board in Meath 20 years ago, the biggest thing was trying to build up hotel capacity. Will they be hit? While I am on the subject of hotels, I might mention pub closures which may not be under the Minister's remit. The 10 August date is at the front of many publicans' minds. For hotels that might close, it is about more than job losses now but future losses. During the lockdown, The Irish Times analysed large hotel developments planned prior to the outbreak of Covid.Have we an analysis from the director of planning in each of the counties where projects may not now happen as a result?

Appearing before the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response last week, representatives of the Irish Airline Pilots Association stated Aer Lingus could be wound up if it is not given state aid and that it is losing €1.5 million every day, with very little income coming in. There is the potential for its owner, IAG, to sacrifice our national carrier to protect its pillar airlines of British Airways and Iberia, which is getting a large subvention from the Spanish Government. Does the Minister believe that is a real possibility, and has she and the Minister with responsibility for transport, Deputy Ryan, held discussions on this aspect? How real is the claim made by the pilots' union before the committee last Friday as to the winding up of Aer Lingus by its owners, IAG?

The Minister might now put on her other hat, as the Minister with responsibility for sport. It is very important, as part of the overall summer for Irish people and more widely for Irish culture, hat the GAA season is under way again. In the context of what we are encouraging people to do with regard to staycations, that will be a key component of attraction for people. A limit of 200 patrons, however, is allowed into such games, and that includes the players, the squads and so forth. Last week, the size of the crowd at games in the North of Ireland was increased to 400 people by the Northern Ireland Executive, which has created a divergence in what is an all-Ireland association. I urge the Minister and the Cabinet to re-evaluate that position. Liaising with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, we have had many ongoing discussions to try to find a solution where social distancing can be carried out at large grounds, given the importance of the GAA to Irish culture and what is at stake here this summer. It would be a great statement of support for Irish communities if that change could happen in the coming days, and I urge the Minister to examine that.

I again wish the Minister well in her role. She has outlined the crucial nature of this industry to our economy. I hope we can survive this summer and save as much of the industry as possible.