Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is most welcome to the Chamber. As we come into the summer months, the high season for tourism, a €9.5 billion industry, it is essential we examine the unique challenges facing the sector and that Government and stakeholders co-operate in addressing them. As we continue to take in refugees who are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, the need for long-term housing solutions will only become more pressing. We must rehouse families in the interests of their mental health and physical well-being. At the moment, hundreds of Ukrainians are simply being deposited in hotels, many of them having no idea of the services available to them or of the pathways towards further integration into life here with regard to schools, medical services and employment. There is a secondary concern from the perspective of the tourism industry in Ireland. The use of these hotel spaces by tourists boosts the economy and their rental by Government dampens it. More hotel rooms being available means greater capacity for tourists. The transition of refugees and asylum seekers from private hotels to more sustainable long-term accommodation is of double benefit.

Of course, before any would-be tourists find themselves at the front desk in a hotel lobby, they will most likely have had to navigate Dublin Airport, which seems to be operating as some form of lobster pot at the moment. You can get into the country all right but you will need good luck to get out. As airlines have begun rolling out their packed summer flight schedules, passengers have been reporting delays of more than three hours to get through security, with flights being missed altogether due to the backlog. With voluntary redundancies, Covid-related work absences and changes to security screening processes at a European level, the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, has said these conditions are the result of a perfect storm. However, more can certainly be done to alleviate pressure on this key part of the system. The DAA must examine pay and conditions to attract more security workers.

Staffing issues are, of course, not limited to the area of international travel. As many as nine out of ten hospitality businesses are experiencing significant problems in recruiting essential core staff according to the latest figures from Fáilte Ireland. From chefs to bar staff, managers and kitchen porters, there are as many as 40,000 vacancies across the hospitality sector. Covid lockdowns and the inability to do business during them led to the closure of many establishments but also led to the flight of many skilled hospitality workers who may have left the country to work elsewhere or entered a different field to avail of remote working opportunities. Many restaurants and hotels have started to look abroad for staff, but venturing outside of the EU brings with it the nightmare of international work visa applications, which puts many off.

As a sector, hospitality has become more competitive in its wages to attract workers. This is to be welcomed but it cannot come at the risk of putting smaller businesses under. The Government must look at what it can do to lend a hand in this regard. One area to consider is the fast-tracking of Irish work visas for the chefs and key hospitality workers required by our businesses.

To take a step back and look at areas of interest in the sector in the long term, the years to come will be marked by sustainable initiatives which must penetrate to the very core of the operation of tourism and hospitality in this country. Not only will such changes be necessary to meet climate change targets, but tourists and consumers are becoming increasingly aware and conscious of the impact of their lifestyles on the environment and will ever more so prioritise businesses that are at the forefront in integrating sustainable practices into their operations. From buying and cooking local to partnering with the right producers and taking measures on waste management and energy efficiency, small steps in every area of business will be essential if progress is to continue.

As well as the day-to-day operations of hospitality venues, businesses must also examine how business tourism and events can affect change. The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, MICE, industry forms a lucrative part of the tourism industry in Ireland. Every day, dozens of events take place throughout the country, many of which generate substantial environmental impacts. Event organisers and host venues must collaborate to reduce these impacts, where possible. The elimination of single-use plastics in favour of reusable or recyclable alternatives is to be encouraged. Energy and water consumption must be handled strategically to avoid waste. The minimisation of light and noise pollution should become an industry standard, particularly for outdoor events as we move into the summer months.

Overall, I am hopeful for the future of tourism in Ireland. I believe the challenges facing the sector will not prove impossible to overcome and that, if we act together, our reputation as a top-quality destination for international tourism will continue for years to come.