Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
927. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the CIÉ group of companies have consulted with him in relation to the plan by CIÉ tours to cut the number of tours for 2021 by 50%; if he has expressed concern in relation to the effect this will have on many tourist locations nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8952/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am the shareholder in CIÉ, which is a commercial State-owned body that operates within the context of legislation and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. CIÉ Tours is a wholly owned subsidiary of CIÉ; it operates on a commercial basis and its business is as a tour operator mainly arranging international tourist tour-travel into Ireland from North America. Operational and detailed business strategy matters for CIÉ Tours - such as changes to its range of tours for the 2021 season - are, in the first instance, matters for the management and Board of the company and its parent, and are not matters in which the Minister has a specific role.
Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct response. Please contact my private office if a reply has not been received within 10 working days.
