Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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293. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to have the tourism trade back up and running safely by March 2021. [25471/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I have had a number of engagements with stakeholders in the Irish tourism sector since assuming the office of Minister with responsibility for Tourism and I am very conscious of the damage suffered by the sector as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Tourism Recovery Taskforce was appointed 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 crisis. It submitted an Initial Report to me at the end of June which informed the Government’s thinking for measures adopted as part of the July Stimulus package.

The July Stimulus measures are a significant part of our response to the COVID-19 crisis. These measures were in addition to other Governments supports already in place. They provide supports for tourism businesses to retain jobs, and aim to build confidence in consumers and communities all over Ireland.

I expect to receive the Final Recovery Plan from the Taskforce in the coming weeks and I will consider its recommendations in the context of the Budget and the development of the National Economic Plan, at which point the Government will review and refine existing supports, and consider any further necessary measures required as a consequence of COVID-19. Clearly, given the importance of inbound tourism for the sector here, a critical issue will be to safely restart international tourism into Ireland.

To assist tourism businesses reopening in line with Government advice – including, most recently, the new Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 and its framework for restrictive measures – Fáilte Ireland has published guidelines for the tourism sector, prepared in consultation with the tourism industry and relevant authorities. Designed as “living” documents, to be updated as required as Government restrictions and public health guidance and protocols evolve, these guidelines are intended to assist tourism businesses meet requirements in line with the Return to Work Safely protocol and based on the latest health advice. Fáilte Ireland has also introduced a new COVID-19 Safety Charter, designed to boost public confidence in the safety of businesses as the tourism sector reopens and continues to operate safely and in line with requirements.

With Government and the tourism industry working together, I am confident in our ability to overcome the difficult challenges that lie ahead in a safe manner and informed by public health advice.