Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media to discuss the rising cost of tourist accommodation and separately the Public Service Performance Report 2021

The Committee will hear submissions from representatives from:

Session 1 13:30 – 15:25

Irish Tourism Industry Confederation
Irish Hotels Federation
Fáilte Ireland
Officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
 

Session 2 15:30 – 16:30

Officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
 

Speaking ahead of the meeting at 1:30pm in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Niamh Smyth said: "Our Committee will take the opportunity presented by this meeting with the representatives of those who provide our tourist accommodation to get a good understanding into what is happening currently in the industry.

The importance to the entire economy and to Ireland’s reputation internationally of providing cost effective accommodation to families, holiday makers and tourists alike is paramount. Ireland has always been an attractive location for international travellers and during the pandemic the choice by Irish people to staycation within our country means we have all got a vested interest in maintaining a platinum image of the holiday experience around Ireland.

The Committee will look to the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Irish Hotels Federation, Fáilte Ireland and Department officials to provide the background to the current challenges faced and discuss actions to address the very real impact that the current negative publicity surrounding the price of tourist accommodation could have on this vital sector.

And in our second session we welcome the opportunity to engage with Departmental officials on the Public Service Performance Report to gain insights on how the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media assesses what has been delivered with public money across the relevant Departmental programme areas. Performance-based budgeting facilitates more meaningful and systematic parliamentary engagement on Government’s funding decisions, thereby fulfilling Parliament’s accountability and enhancing oversight roles.”

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

The Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.