Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Minister to the House. There can be no doubt that the Irish tourism industry has gone through a devastating time. Covid-19 has had a profound impact on all sectors of it. In the past month or so, Fáilte Ireland presented the most comprehensive and robust research undertaken to date on staffing and skills in the tourism and hospitality sector. Thirty percent of businesses surveyed said they could face closure if recruitment challenges are not resolved. Fáilte Ireland's CEO, Mr. Paul Kelly, warned that staffing and competitiveness are the two most significant challenges facing the recovery of tourism in 2022. The pandemic has had a profound impact on the industry's skill base, with a mass exodus into industries that reopened earlier, according to Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly went on to say that plans, which we have set out today, aim to continue to drive domestic demand. These involve a €10 million domestic marketing investment to promote short breaks all year round, as the Minister mentioned.

Looking to the season ahead, Mr. Kelly said he expected a strong recovery, which is good news for everybody involved in inbound tourism, with forecasts indicating that 83% of the 2019 air passenger capacity will be regained by the end of the year. Other priorities to support the recovery of the tourism industry were also outlined on the day. Included are a digital audit of over 800 hotels and the development and implementation of four regional tourism strategies. These concern the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and Dublin. There are 27 localised destination-development plans, which will be critical to delivering and driving the long-term recovery of tourism across Ireland.

I have spoken to many publicans and hotel owners over the past two years. Particularly in my conversations over recent weeks, I noted the owners are very glad just to be open again. I am sure many Senators are hearing this in their conversations with the owners. The problem is recruitment, however. As the Minister mentioned in her speech, many pubs and restaurants are unable to open entirely or in part because they cannot get the personnel to do so. The Minister mentioned in her speech that she is working with the industry to train staff and identify new ways to help with recruitment. I ask her to continue in that regard. It is vital to the future of the Irish tourism sector. I know of local businesses that are not in a position to reopen because of the lack of staff.

I also want to mention section 254 licences, particularly concerning my county, Kildare. They have made a difference. I would like to know where they stand in the Minister's plans as we move forward. They have made a difference and can change the streetscapes of many of our towns and villages. Again, the Government should continue to support this.

An important issue raised with me almost weekly as we enter the summer months concerns mobile food outlets. They are a new part of tourism in Ireland. Many of them are coming up against bylaws and problems with local authorities. Maybe the Minister has some direction for them concerning how they can play their part in tourism. I am aware that mobile food outlets can play a part in attracting tourists to many hard-to-get places, such as forests and mountains, and in maintaining these attractions. However, they are having a lot of difficulty in getting past the bylaws of local authorities. Maybe the Minister could investigate this.

I join my colleague Senator Warfield in welcoming the discussion on the night-time economy and the later opening hours, to 6 a.m. However, any arrangement introduced would have to be matched with workers' rights and pay. I am sure we will discuss this further in the coming weeks and months.

It would be remiss of me not to talk about County Kildare when I get the opportunity to talk about tourism. I am aware that the Minister launched the strategic plan for tourism in Kilkea Castle last November. My colleagues from County Kildare and I joined her there. The plan outlines a vision for Kildare as a rural escape from the bustle of the city. Never a truer word could be said considering Kildare's exceptional thoroughbred experience, warm welcome and rich culture.

I want to mention two projects in which I am personally involved. The first is the Shackleton Museum in Athy. Given the recent discovery of the Endurance, Shackleton's ship, the Government should continue to support the project. Kildare County Council is actively involved in this regard. With the renewed interest in polar exploration, the project could put not only Athy and Kildare on the map but also Ireland. I hope the project is one that Kildare County Council and the Government can continue to support.

The second project is the Barrow blueway, which is only half finished. I hope the Minister will come down to open it when it is eventually finished, which, according to a recent reply I received, will be at the end of this year.

As always, Kildare is open for business. We hope to invite as many people as possible to the best county in Ireland and see them there.