Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
701. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an association (details supplied) will be invited to contribute to the tourism recovery task force; if the association will be invited to contribute to the taskforce for aviation recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12316/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tourism Recovery Taskforce was established by Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I on 20 May 2020. The purpose of the Taskforce is to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan for submission to the Ministers which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The plan will identify priority aims, key enablers and market opportunities for the sector for the period 2020-2023. The Taskforce may consult with stakeholders to inform its deliberations and will report back later this year.
The Taskforce is made up of an independent chairperson and 13 other members from a broad spectrum of backgrounds including tourism policy, tourism enterprise, international, private and public service. The Minister of State and I selected members on the basis of each person's capacity to bring his/her personal knowledge, skills, experience, competence, capability, strategic leadership and ideas to the work of the group. We have appointed individuals who, together, will work for the good of Irish Tourism as a whole. I can assure the Deputy that in the same manner that no sector was deliberately included, no sector was deliberately excluded.
The Taskforce will establish working groups to carry out specific tasks and that the Taskforce will undertake a widespread stakeholder consultation process whereby all sectors and interested parties will have an opportunity to provide constructive inputs and innovative ideas on how this vital sector to our economy can adapt and recover in a meaningful and sustainable way. The Western Chauffer Drive Association has an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Taskforce in this way.
In relation to your second query; the Aviation Taskforce was established as an industry advisory group and it has been set a very short timeframe to make recommendations to the Minister and to Government, having regard to the urgency of the crisis affecting the sector. That timeframe, which is a final report by 10 July, does not lend itself to broad public consultation. The Members of the Taskforce were chosen based on the their expertise and the perspective they can bring to deliberations and each has been requested to make submissions on what needs to be done. There is broad representation, including the main airports and airlines, tourism representatives, trade unions and consumer protection. That combination should be in a position to make a balanced and informed set of recommendations.
