Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank her for the details she has outlined in respect of the tourism sector. One of the phrases she used towards the end was the "tourism ecosystem". She spoke about making sure we protect and grow that. It is a great phrase. It is something that has really grown over the past 20 to 30 years. When I started out in political life back in 1999 as a young councillor, one of my first appointments was as director of Meath Tourism. Back then, the CEO, Ms Bríd O'Connell, always passionately drove home to us the need for local and national government to back tourism in a very real way, beyond Dublin and Kerry, knowing the value it has for our economy, our brand and regional development in particular. Since then, that whole tourism ecosystem has grown substantially beyond the main tourism areas to places like Meath, which 20 years ago did not have that vibrancy. It had all of the key components with regard to its history and what it was able to offer to tourists, but it did not have the infrastructure because there was a lack of focus. Such focus has evolved over the past 20 years. Money is now generated, as the Minister has said, and 260,000 people are employed, with 70% of those employed outside of Dublin. The sector is worth €7 billion in direct spend to our economy, which is significant.

The sector has also come under pressure. In the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation's spring report, it is said that the industry has "been scarred by the experience of the pandemic", which is very evocative. However, it also says it is confident of rebounding in full this year and compliments the supports provided to the sector by Government and the Minister's Department. The confederation spoke, as did the Minister, about the likelihood of international tourist numbers returning to 70% or 80% of the pre-pandemic figure for this particular summer, and it welcomed the Government’s €93 million fund for airports to incentivise airlines to reinstate services. Notwithstanding all of what has been said about negative experiences, I am hopeful the issue facing outbound tourists from this country will be resolved.

The staffing issue that has been touched on is quite significant. I remember when we had a debate on this same matter last year. Prior to coming into the Chamber, Noel Anderson, who represents the licensed trade here in Dublin and who is very well known to us all as managing director of Lemon and Duke and the restaurant Bridge 1859 in Ballsbridge, spoke about how he had lost top-quality chefs to the haulage industry despite him being a very good employer. The skills shortage has come about as a result of such exits. I note the language the Minister used in her speech with regard to providing support to the industry to address the immediate labour and skills supply challenge. I ask that, in her summation, she expand on that support and the form it is taking. It is a profession that has provided great employment. Before I fell into the debauchery of political life, I had considered applying for a course in hotel management through the CAO. Instead, I fell into this very fine profession. I know from my time as a student working in the hospitality sector that it is something every single young person should experience to provide them with life skills beyond the course they themselves choose.There is, however, a very real fear that this summer the hotel industry will be under severe pressure because of the skills shortage. The Minister can only help and work with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in providing long-term solutions, but there is a very real fear in the here and now.

I know that the hospitality sector, a key component of the tourism sector as a whole, has made representations in respect of supports for the sector. Has the Minister considered that in advance of this summer in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, or anyone else? The sector was very significantly hit during the most recent lockdown.

I commend the Minister and the Department on all that has been done. As I said, the federation says it is confident of a very good summer ahead for this sector. I hope that comes to fruition. I ask the Minister to address in her summation the employment element. That would be very helpful.