Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:324. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a post-Brexit environment. [4806/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 1 February 2017
Ceisteanna (324)
Freagraí scríofa
The impact of Brexit on Ireland's economic and trading arrangements has been identified by Government as one of the key priorities in preparing for the EU/UK negotiations.
As part of the comprehensive preparatory process undertaken across Government there has been deep analysis of the challenges facing both transport and tourism as a result of the outcome UK Referendum.
In relation to tourism, there was a commitment in the Government's Tourism Policy Statement People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025" to prioritising tourism marketing efforts towards those markets providing higher revenue returns. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the policy objectives in the policy statement and achieving the targets for Irish tourism contained therein. The UK vote does not change this.
A key element of Tourism Ireland's strategy since 2014 has been market diversification which has seen Mainland Europe become the largest contributor of overseas tourism revenue and will see the United States overtake Great Britain as the number two contributor of tourism revenue over the next few years.
On 23 January 2017 Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan and I hosted an All-Island Dialogue on the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality sector in Dundalk. The feedback from tourism industry participants at this event reaffirmed the Government's analysis in relation to the implications of Brexit for tourism.
I also hosted an All-Island transport dialogue in the morning of 23 January, which included representatives from the retail and logistics sectors, and which considered the implications for the retail sector in Ireland should there be disruption to transport services as a result of Brexit. I and my officials will feed the outcome of these dialogues and stakeholder consultations into overall Government planning in order to inform Ireland's position in the upcoming negotiations.
Question No. 325 answered with Question No. 318.