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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Nov 1988

Vol. 384 No. 3

Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Southern Hotels and CERT.

10.

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will outline his views on the contribution made by the Great Southern Hotels, in co-operation with CERT, to the development of Irish tourism standards generally; and if he has any proposals to improve that contribution.

The standard of the six hotels which make up the Great Southern Hotels Group is reflected in the grading awarded to them by Bord Fáilte, who are the agency with statutory responsibility for hotel standards and gradings. Of the 15 Grade A * hotels listed by Bord Fáilte, three are members of the Great Southern Hotels Group and the other three hotels in the group are listed among the 109 Grade A hotels in the country.

I understand that two of the Great Southern Group's Grade A hotels which operate on a seasonal basis are used by CERT for training purposes during the winter months, a welcome and efficient use of valuable tourism plant.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, responsibility for CERT, under whose aegis Great Southern Hotels operate, rests with my colleague the Minister for Labour and any proposals for their future development would have to be directed to him in the first instance.

I accept what the Minister has said in that any questions in regard to the future of CERT should be directed to the Minister for Labour but can he tell us if in the course of discussions which the Government have had in relation to the disposal of the Great Southern Hotels group if the question of the continued participation by CERT in training courses was considered?

As I indicated in my reply, the usage by CERT of two of the Grade A hotels for training purposes during the winter months is very welcome and a very efficient use of those hotels.

While I share the Minister's sentiments in regard to the welcome use of the hotels during the off season can he tell us if the Government have considered the question of the continued usage by CERT of these facilities, irrespective of whether they change hands?

The fact is that the Minister for Labour has responsibility for CERT. I do not want to be discourteous to Deputy Spring but questions with regard to CERT should be directed to the Minister for Labour.

A Cheann Comhairle——

Deputy Michael Begley is offering.

Would the Minister confirm or deny if officials of his Department have had discussions in regard to the taking over of the hotels? Officials of his Department are alleged to have met with representatives of Aer Lingus recently.

I did not grasp the Deputy's question.

Would the Minister confirm or deny if officials of his Department met with officials of Aer Lingus to discuss the taking over of those hotels?

Officials of my Department meet with officials of Aer Lingus on a regular basis——

On this particular subject?

——but we will not have any say in any decisions which might be taken in regard to the disposal of the hotels as they do not come under our aegis. They used to when they were the property of CIE. Therefore, all questions in regard to the sale of the hotels should be directed to the Minister for Labour.

Therefore, no discussions took place.

I understand that the Minister does not have responsibility for the hotels in question, they are now the responsibility of the Minister for Labour, but would he not agree that he has responsibility for tourism? Therefore would he not agree that it is essential that the six hotels in the group be kept together and that he is in a position to give an undertaking in the House today that he is prepared to ensure in the event of the disposal of these hotels to any group, semi-State or otherwise, that the six hotels will be kept together so that they can continue to provide the services which they have provided in the past?

I appreciate the Deputy's efforts in this regard while he was Minister but it is my desire that the six hotels would be kept in the one group. Just as I cannot tell somebody else who is selling his house what conditions he should put on the sale of the house I cannot tell CERT what they should do with their hotels. I agree totally with Deputy Quinn when he says that they form a very important part of our tourism product and have very high standards as is indicated by the grading which has been allocated to them by Bord Fáilte. I hope they will continue to form part of our tourism product.

Question No. 11.

May I ask a very brief question?

A very brief question, as I want to dispose of another question within the allotted time if I can.

The sale of these hotels will require the consent of the Government. Can the Minister tell us if it is his intention, as the Minister responsible for tourism, to ensure that if these hotels are to be sold they will be sold as a group of six hotels and that they will not be sold off individually and therefore asset stripped?

My policy is that the six hotels should remain as a group.

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