Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.
National Tourism Development Authority Bill 2002 [ Seanad ] : Report Stage.
I move amendment No. 1:
In page 8, line 17, to delete "or".
Before addressing the amendment I would like to say a few words about the future of the human resource function discharged by CERT. I had a second meeting with the representatives of Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT unions in recent weeks to progress matters generally. I noted that there had been some concern on the part of CERT staff that the agency's human resource function would be downgraded in the new set-up. I made it clear to the union representatives that there is no intention of downgrading that function. Section 8(1)(b) makes clear statutory provision for CERT type functions. It covers education, development, recruitment and training, in other words, the “ERT” of CERT. That in itself should send a clear message.
The Bill brings the human resources and services sides to the core of tourism development. All Ministers with responsibility for tourism will receive complaints from the public about tourism related matters. What is striking about these is that so many of them tend to be related not to the physical facilities but to service or quality related issues. There is a perception that we have made huge progress on the product side but that we may be slipping somewhat on the services side. That is certainly the essence I took from the Second Stage debate in the House. Addressing this issue is part of the fundamental rationale of the Bill.
Regarding the amendment, at my meeting with the unions, concern was expressed that the current text of the Bill, while it allowed the authority to encourage, promote and support training, might not allow it to engage in it. While I believe there is sufficiently broad language in the section, especially in section 8(1)(b), to allow the authority to continue to engage in training, I note that specific provision is made to allow the authority to engage in certain other activities. The reason for the difference is that various pieces of the text of the section come from different Tourist Traffic Acts. To remove any doubt and allay staff anxiety, I have decided to make the text more explicit and make it clear that the authority can engage in training. Deputy Deenihan's amendment has the same purpose.
From my contacts with the unions, the two main issues of concern on the CERT side, apart from the normal industrial relations issues, related to the future status of CERT's human resources activities under the authority and the specific concern about the text around training. I have addressed both of these today and hope that will be sufficient to allay anxieties.
I presume the Minister accepts my amendment as well. The word "engage" is used in section 8(2)(a):
for the purposes of subsection (1)(a)–
(i) engage in advertising and sponsorship or any other form of publicity.
Section 3 states: "The Authority may provide". The purpose of my amendment is to ensure the language used is consistent so that the section would read:
The Authority may engage . . .
(a) advisory services in relation to tourism, or
(b) training to persons in connection with tourism.
The Minister more or less implied in his introduction that he would use the word "engage". Does he accept that we should use that terminology?
I accept the broad thrust of what Deputy Deenihan has suggested but have inserted my drafting. What I have set out achieves the purpose Deputy Deenihan seeks to achieve. Therefore, to a large degree the two amendments are one and the same, but the broad thrust of what Deputy Deenihan seeks to achieve is encompassed in my amendment which is more appropriate from a drafting perspective, if I may use that term.
I welcome that response from the Minister. I agree with him that the training and human resources brief of CERT should be emphasised after the merger and that there should be no dilution of that function. As we know, the human resource element of tourism in particular is very important at present when we look outside Ireland to recruit people for various roles in several sectors of the tourism industry, from receptionists to chefs to cooks and so on. This role of CERT will be even more important in future.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 2:
In page 8, line 26, to delete "project." and substitute the following:
"project, or
(d) provide training to persons in connection with the tourism industry in the State.”.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 3:
In page 8, line 27, to delete "provide" and substitute "engage".
In light of the Minister's clarification, I withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Debate adjourned.