Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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873. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the membership of the tourism recovery task force was decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8428/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Tourism Recovery Taskforce was established by Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I on 20 May 2020. The purpose of the Taskforce is to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan for submission to the Ministers which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The plan will identify priority aims, key enablers and market opportunities for the sector for the period 2020-2023. The Taskforce may consult with stakeholders to inform its deliberations and will report back later this year.

The Taskforce is made up of an independent chairperson and 13 other members from a broad spectrum of backgrounds including tourism policy, tourism enterprise, international, private and public service. The Minister of State and I selected members on the basis of each person's capacity to bring his/her personal knowledge, skills, experience, competence, capability, strategic leadership and ideas to the work of the group. We have appointed individuals who, together, will work for the good of Irish Tourism as a whole.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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874. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether it is appropriate that the pub industry here is not represented on the tourism recovery task force in view of the links between pubs and the tourism industry. [8429/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Tourism Recovery Taskforce was established by Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I on 20 May 2020. The purpose of the Taskforce is to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan for submission to the Ministers which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The plan will identify priority aims, key enablers and market opportunities for the sector for the period 2020-2023. The Taskforce may consult with stakeholders to inform its deliberations and will report back later this year.

The Taskforce is made up of an independent chairperson and 13 other members from a broad spectrum of backgrounds including tourism policy, tourism enterprise, international, private and public service. The Minister of State and I selected members on the basis of each person's capacity to bring his/her personal knowledge, skills, experience, competence, capability, strategic leadership and ideas to the work of the group. We have appointed individuals who, together, will work for the good of Irish Tourism as a whole. I can assure the Deputy that in the same manner that no sector was deliberately included, no sector was deliberately excluded.

It is envisaged that the Taskforce will establish working groups to carry out specific tasks and that the Taskforce will undertake a widespread stakeholder consultation process whereby all sectors and interested parties will have an opportunity to provide constructive inputs and innovative ideas on how this vital sector to our economy can adapt and recover in a meaningful and sustainable way.

I should also point out that in addition to the Tourism Recovery Taskforce, there are other forums whereby tourism and hospitality stakeholders, including the LVA and VFI, make very valuable contributions. Most recently both Vintners Associations have assisted the work of Fáilte Ireland in relation to developing guidelines for businesses to reopen while I understand the Associations have also been invited to participate in Fáilte Ireland’s Covid Advisory Group which meets on a weekly basis.