Vol. 537 No. 4
34 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he is satisfied with the level of preparation in the tourism sector for the introduction of the euro if he has had discussions with the tourism sector regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16212/01]
The latest survey by the Forfás EMU Business Awareness Campaign, which was carried out in December 2000 and which included the hotel and restaurant sectors among those covered by its scope, found that while less than half of all firms had formal plans for the changeover to the euro at that point, a substantial majority, 72%, had received information on what is involved in the changeover and expressed high levels of satisfaction with the information received.
To address the issue in the tourism industry, CERT has designed and is delivering a series of workshops at regional locations to help tourism operators identify key issues and to develop phased action plans aimed at addressing these. The workshops are being run for the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation and the Licensed Vintners' Federation. CERT estimates that by June a total of 500 industry personnel will have attended the workshops and that there will be an increase in demand for the programme in the latter half of the year.
Apart from its own preparations for the introduction of the euro, which include the commencement of staff training in April 2001 and the dual currency display in all print material for 2001, Bord Fáilte has used the opportunity of its regional roadshows to heighten awareness in the industry of the implications of the euro.
Industry is also playing its part. Last September the Irish Hotels Federation, in conjunction with the Restaurants Association of Ireland, recommended to all members that they should subscribe to the IBEC-EAN Ireland code of practice regarding the changeover. This code, which has been approved by the Director of Consumer Affairs, will provide a framework for self-regulation by the industry with regard to pricing, currency display and conversion and consumer information.
While I have had no direct discussions with the tourism sector on this subject, I am satisfied that the tourism agencies under the aegis of my Department and the professional associations within the tourism industry are making careful preparations for the introduction of the euro and that they, in co-operation with other organisations such as the Euro Changeover Board, Forfás and IBEC, are doing all possible to exhort and prepare the industry for changeover. It is now up to each individual business to work to ensure it is ready in good time for the changeover.
Question No. 35 answered with Question No. 12.
