Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Bill reported without recommendation and received for final consideration.

10:00 am

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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When is it proposed to take the next Stage?

Question proposed: "That the Bill be returned to the Dáil."

Photo of Shane CassellsShane Cassells (Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the significance of the passing of the Bill. Last week in the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, we welcomed representatives from Fáilte Ireland, including the CEO, Paul Kelly, the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF, and the Department. I also acknowledge the significance of the extra capital expenditure provided under the Bill for an offering for tourists coming to Ireland. That cannot be overlooked. There are significant areas in my own county of Meath and on the eastern seaboard.

One point that was raised by representatives in the debate on the broader context is the need for continued engagement on the hotel accommodation situation in the new year. The Minister meets regularly with the representatives. That is not her responsibility, but primarily a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Notwithstanding that, it was interesting to hear the IHF point out in the breakdown that a disproportionate number of those fleeing from the ravages of war are in counties like Kerry where 30% of the accommodation is now taken through those schemes, and 50% in Donegal. It is something we are going to have to grapple with very early in the new year to make sure that we do not reach the cliff edge in March or April.

It is interesting that 70% of our tourism revenue comes from the international tourism market. Those people would have their bookings made and their accommodation secured. Those who face the squeeze will be domestic tourists who might only book in April or May of next year. They will be the ones who will get squeezed on price because of the shortage of accommodation.A big effort by all of Government is required. In the context of this debate, the capital expenditure provided for in the Bill in terms of what we can offer people is hugely important.

I wanted to make those points on the record given that representatives of Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media attended last week's Oireachtas committee meeting.

Photo of Róisín GarveyRóisín Garvey (Green Party)
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I welcome and thank the Minister. She has done stellar work since assuming her role. I am from north Clare, which is heavily reliant on tourism, and were it not for the work the Minister has done with regard to finances, many tourism businesses there would have closed. I wanted to acknowledge that.

I am happy to support the Bill but wish to make a couple of points. The Minister is working on the development of a new sustainable tourism policy. It is important that we see this work coming to fruition. We want a green tourism agenda, not a greenwashing agenda and there is already some of the latter in the tourism sector. We hear a lot about eco-this and eco-that but when one looks into the product or service, one finds that it is not ecologically sound at all. The Wild Atlantic Way is a good initiative but it also increases driving and has made some roads unsafe. We need the tourism sector to promote public transport to get places and we also need more tourism initiatives that promote walking and cycling. Slow tourism leads to higher spending, yet we had a new Burren driving route presented to us by Fáilte Ireland recently that will increase car traffic in the Burren, an ecological UNESCO site. When I asked the Fáilte Ireland representatives about walking and cycling routes, they said they would come later. We cannot increase the number of cars coming into an area and then hope we will increase participation in walking and cycling.

Where are the segregated bins for tourists? Where are the shuttle services so people can avoid bringing their cars to areas of natural beauty? Why can tourists not be brought to these areas by way of small electric buses? Where are the restrictions on giant tour buses? One-way systems are in operation in County Kerry but we cannot do the same in County Clare. We have asked the tourism operators to do this but they have refused. The Burren eco-tourism network has also asked them but they said "No" so we have this crazy situation where there are giant buses travelling in both directions. Where are the restrictions? This is something that Fáilte Ireland will have to address. Where are the drinking fonts to refill water bottles so that plastic bottles are not thrown into our ditches and all over lovely parts of County Clare and everywhere else?

We need to raise our game. If money is going to be invested in tourism, it must be in sustainable tourism. It is not enough to keep using the word "sustainable". The management of the Cliffs of Moher is looking for lots of money, which is great, but it is not making sure that local villages benefit. It is looking at shuttle buses but is not including the option for local people to use them. It is not giving proper consideration to walking and cycling routes or taking these options seriously.

If we do not get this from Fáilte Ireland down, it will not work and that is something I wanted to make clear today. I welcome the Minister's work on the Bill. She is a great Minister for tourism but she is also a Green Party Minister for tourism. This is the Emerald Isle and that is why people come here but we will lose that attraction if we do not take care of our biodiversity and reconsider how we travel. The slower that people travel, the more they appreciate a place. They fall in love with it and then they come back again.

Photo of Victor BoyhanVictor Boyhan (Independent)
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I will be short and sweet. I thank the Minister for bringing this relatively simple but important Bill through the House and wish her well.

Photo of Micheál CarrigyMicheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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The Minister is welcome. I concur with the comments of Senator Cassells on the recent meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, of which I am a member. The IHF painted an extremely stark picture. The Minister is well aware of this and is engaging with the stakeholders but a strong conversation will have to take place early in the new year or the tourism industry will be decimated.

I come from Longford and was involved in the development of the Hidden Heartlands brand to try to promote tourism in my region. This region had the lowest tourism numbers in the country. We had started to build a product but now we are facing a situation where there will be no accommodation for tourists who come to the area. This needs to be at the top of the Minister's agenda. I also reiterate what I have said on a number of occasions, which is that the Minister needs to look again at the VAT rate because the entire industry is facing into a difficult period due to the accommodation situation.

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as cabhrú leis an mBille seo a chur chun cinn go pras.

As I have outlined previously, this is a technical enabling Bill but its outcome is important in that it allows for the continued funding of Fáilte Ireland's work in the area of tourism product development. I look forward to working alongside Fáilte Ireland as we continue to further the development of Ireland's tourism offering.

As Senator Garvey said, I am the Minister with responsibility for tourism but I am also a green Minister and deputy leader of the Green Party, which I would never forget. I am working on the development of a sustainable tourism policy and I see amazing opportunities ahead as we emerge from Covid. My engagement with the industry tells me that stakeholders want to embrace sustainability and put the green into our Emerald Isle. We have so much to offer here in terms of slow tourism and long stays but we must make sure that the protection of our environment is at the core of what we do. This new tourism policy will seek to support sustainable economic development in communities throughout the country while protecting our environment and natural resources. It will also aim to promote a greater spread into the regions and encourage longer stays. I will raise the concerns articulated by Senator Garvey, some of which are the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland while others are under the remit of local authorities.

I acknowledge the concerns of Senator Cassells regarding accommodation. We are in the middle of what is, by some distance, the largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken by the State as we give refuge and shelter to those who are fleeing the most horrific circumstances in Ukraine. However, as I said last week in this Chamber, I am very aware of the concerns relating to the wider tourism industry and am engaging on a consistent basis with the sector. My officials and myself are also engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Across the board in government, we are working urgently to source alternative accommodation from agencies, NGOs, and local authorities. I am cognisant of the need to ensure tourist accommodation is available before the peak tourism season begins. That said, we are resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine.

Senator Carrigy expressed a similar concern with regard to accommodation and also referred to the VAT rate in the tourism sector. As I have said previously, the latter is something that we will keep under constant review. We may have to make a call on it in the new year. I thank Senator Boyhan for his kind words.

Question put and agreed to.

Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 4.47 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 4.49 p.m.

Sitting suspended at 4.47 p.m. and resumed at 4.49 p.m.