Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This afternoon I raise the issue of the crisis in our rental car industry. We are all very much aware of the inflation in prices. This morning I got a quote to rent a car for ten days. The sum of that, if I were to take it up, would be €1,800. That is quite extraordinary to see the inflation in the rental car trade. Some 20% of visitors who come to Ireland use rental cars. This inflation imposed upon our tourism market will have a huge knock-on effect on our credibility as being an affordable place to go on holidays. We need to look over the next few weeks at how we can ensure that our rental car trade will be competitive. That would require engagement with the motor trade and with the Minister. I respectfully ask the Leader of the House to organise a debate with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, on how she will move in the next few days and weeks to curb the inflation that is being seen at present in the rental car trade. More importantly, how will she make sure that our tourism industry will not be grossly affected by this inflation? This could undermine our entire tourism industry, as 20% of tourists use cars. They go to rural locations, such as Kerry or west Cork. They will not go to west Cork unless they have the opportunity to get an affordable rental car. We need to have a real, genuine debate in this House on how we will solve this issue as otherwise, the tourism industry unfortunately could be undermined.