Departmental Functions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023

Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Questions (568)

Carol Nolan

Question:

568. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 19 October 2023, if her Department does not have responsibility for the general hospitality sector or the food services sector, the Department and Minister that has responsibility for the protection and promotion of Ireland's food-led businesses including restaurants, cafés and gastropubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47406/23]

Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

As Minister for Tourism my statutory functions relate to the tourism sector and tourism-specific businesses operating therein, primarily providers of activities, attractions and accommodation.

While elements of the hospitality and food services sectors are also important parts of the wider tourism ecosystem, those sectors are at core enterprise sectors.

In this context, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I co-chair the Hospitality and Tourism Forum which brings together on a regular basis these two important and inter-related sectors.