I am aware of concerns expressed by the Irish Hotels Federation about the potential impact of the directive on packaged home holidays sold by them, particularly in the area of the protection of the consumer, where insolvencies arise.
Draft regulations circulated by our Department on 8 April last to interests affected, including the Irish Hotels Federation, dealt with, inter alia, the protection of the consumer against insolvency. The draft regulations were designed to be as flexible as possible and were drawn up to suit the varying circumstances of the range of package organisers offering home holidays. Following full examination of the views received, I intend to make the necessary arrangements for the implementation of the directive in this area as soon as possible.