There are a number of country houses and restaurants throughout the country under the aegis of the Irish Country Houses and Restaurants Association who do good work for the tourism industry and the community in presenting excellent cuisine. However, a number of them have a problem in recruiting experienced staff.
The association has been concerned for many years with the difficulties encountered by the hotel and restaurant industry in obtaining the services of sometimes full-time but mainly part-time casual labour, especially married women. The industry could take a good number of married women off the Live Register and give them gainful employment. However, time and again they encounter great difficulty in doing so due to the lack of incentives, including imposition of taxes and levies.
My case is more relevant to the Department of Finance, but perhaps the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Deputy Enda Kenny, may refer the matter to that Department. Given that he is so involved in tourism development and promotion, he possibly understands my concern.
In certain cases the welfare of the women could be helped enormously. If women who depend on support from husbands drawing unemployment assistance or in receipt of other State benefits are employed, their husbands will lose benefits. In the overall context of the various grants, allowances or other funding given to industry, it is unjustifiable that we cannot do something to help these married women obtain employment which would, in a majority of cases, give them pride in themselves and some form of independent financial support. All that is needed is that a proper, worthwhile allowance be given to them on a weekly basis. In the overall context of the tax system, a weekly working wife's allowance of £120 per week — with no PAYE or PRSI contribution required — would not materially affect the Government's financial returns.
The members of the association, who provide considerable employment in this country, are aggrieved that they cannot employ married women, either on a full-time or a part-time basis, in what would be mostly menial jobs. Each year sizeable lobby groups make successful proposals to the Department of Finance to have various allowances and grants made to them. Regrettably the position of women is weak, therefore, no group has helped them in what can only be regarded as a draconian situation. There is nothing to take people out of the black economy and officially give them proper employment.
Will the Minister and the Department of Finance give this matter serious consideration? If necessary, he should meet a deputation to discuss the problems of the association. In my constituency there are a number of the association's establishments, including the famous Heron's Cove Restaurant and Longueville House, which is owned by the O'Callaghan family who have given long and distinguished service in this area. They are very famous and have an entry in the Blue Book, which is valuable around the world in bringing tourism to this country and advertising the excellent cuisine we can provide.
I am aware the Minister has our tourism industry and our restaurants at heart. However, there is an anomaly regarding the availability of labour which is a high cost factor for the industry. Given that the industry is such an important growth area, I appeal to him to accept my suggestions and help the association on this issue. If he does not have enough information on which to act he might arrange a meeting with the association, perhaps with the Minister for Finance. Given that the Government is so concerned about high taxation levels, this may be the first reform it will introduce.