Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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584. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Tourism Recovery Task Force will issue its report and recommendations; when a package will be announced to assist this sector of the economy; the number of members on the task force representing the industry itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10207/20]

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 Taskforce have met twice already and plan to meet again on 10 June. The purpose of the Taskforce is to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan 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. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that the Taskforce has already made some suggestions for the re-opening of tourism and, along with my colleagues in Government, I have taken note of these and will consider any other interim recommendations as appropriate.

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. The full list of membership is available on my Department's website.