Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the Senators for listening and for their contributions. It is essential for us, as legislators, and especially for the Government to act to safeguard this vital industry that is key to our economy. The recommendations in this report are reasonable and call for greater engagement from other key Departments. I note from the reply to a parliamentary question posed by Deputy Louise O'Reilly in January that the Minister’s Department has written to the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to commence that engagement. I would welcome it if the Minister could keep the committee informed of any further engagements. If acted on, these recommendations will benefit everyone working in the sector. The recommendations call for positive action and their impact will be testament to the esteem in which the industry is held.

I am grateful for the work that has been put into this report by all of my committee colleagues. I note the absence today of Senator Shane Cassells, who has been very involved in all of the hearings we had around this topic. I am also grateful to the witnesses who contributed to this report. On my own behalf and that of the committee, I thank all of those who contributed to the report, particularly the secretariat, Laura Pathe and her team, who have been brilliant around it. I commend this report to the House.