Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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66. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide her response to the recommendation in the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media’s report Working Conditions - and Skills Shortages in Ireland’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector - that she ‘engage with Cabinet colleagues with a view to nominating a single Government Department to retain direct oversight of and responsibility for all aspects of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector, to include working conditions and training and recruitment.’ [23339/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I welcome the recent publication by the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media on Working Conditions and Skills shortages in Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The Report makes recommendations which pertain to the responsibilities and functions of a number of Government Departments and agencies. I was pleased to participate in an important debate on the Report in Seanad Eireann on 22 February.

In addressing the Committee’s recommendation that I engage with Cabinet colleagues with a view to nominating a single Government Department to retain direct oversight of and responsibility for all aspects of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector, I suggested that we might have further engagement on the recommendation. In response, the Committee has recommended that it would be desirable that my Department consult with relevant stakeholders within the tourism and hospitality sectors in order to gain the industry’s direct perspective on these matters. The Committee further suggests that such a consultation could form the basis of a feasibility study to be conducted by Departmental officials, which could assist me and other Cabinet colleagues in considering the form in which a governing and/or development body for Ireland’s hospitality sector might be established. The Committee also requests that, in the event of further work being undertaken as a result of the Committee’s report recommendations, it would be kept apprised of developments as regularly as is practicable.

My officials are considering these suggestions and I look forward to engaging further with the Committee and stakeholders on the issue.