I thank Deputies Ó Cathasaigh and Leddin for their points. I think everyone would support the development of a sail, rail and trail offering to link the regions. That is why the development of a national tourism policy will seek to mainstream sustainability. The development of the new policy will involve extensive consultation with the tourism industry, as well as our communities, to help set out a path for the coming years which will support a sustainable recovery and subsequent growth in the sector. Following the…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 11 and 41 together. Recruitment continues to be a significant challenge for the tourism sector, with up to two thirds of businesses reporting reduced capacity due to staff shortages. My Department and Fáilte Ireland have been collaborating with industry and other Departments to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to addressing the labour and skills shortages. In February 2022, Fáilte Ireland published its most comprehensive research to date on the tourism and hospitality…

I appreciate what the Deputies say about Mayo and west Cork and that is why Fáilte Ireland is working closely with the key sectoral bodies and the tourism and hospitality oversight group, which is pivoted to focus on supporting the industry in its immediate recruitment challenges. Fáilte Ireland is supporting businesses to address vacancies in several ways. Regionally, Fáilte Ireland is helping the industry to build relationships with further and higher education providers to reach students and graduates who are av…

I hear what everyone is saying about Mayo, west Cork and Kildare. That is why significant work is ongoing by Fáilte Ireland with the ETBs, the Department of Social Protection on pathways to work and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on permits and visas as was referenced. We are all aware of businesses and restaurants in our local areas and people across the hospitality and tourism industry that are struggling to meet demand and the huge difficulties there are. That is why the number one focus of t…

My Department's role in tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies in implementing that policy. With specific regard to research and development of our tourism product, this is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland as the national tourism development authority. With regard to expenditure on research and development, Fáilte Ireland has advised that in 2021 it spent a total of €2.6 million on research relating to consumer plann…

The Deputy is correct in saying that tourism is worth hundreds of millions - billions - of euro to the Irish economy and that is why I said that €2.6 million has been spent to produce those consumer planning insights and on an economic and industry analysis. The results of this research are used to inform a strategic approach to investment in tourism product development. As I have referenced previously, there is a new tourism policy development, which we launched in 2023. That will inform the prioritisation of spen…

In 2021, 1.1% of Tourism Ireland's core budget was spent on research. In 2022, research will account for 2.52% of the core budget. I appreciate what he has outlined around certain areas that warrant research and a focus. A number of ad hoc projects in specialised areas are being undertaken to try to embrace opportunities for the tourism economy to recover first. Tourism Ireland in 2022 continued to undertake the Covid tracker research programme to track travel behaviours and identify the potential opportunities and…

The media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change. These changes are for the most part driven by advances in technology and the manner in which we consume media content. The Government is committed to putting in place a framework that will enable a sustainable future for a vibrant, diverse and independent media sector, encompassing print, audiovisual, radio and online. A key element in this was the establishment of the Future of Media Com…

I have a figure to hand. Did the Deputy want to ask about the number of staff in the media commission?

We estimate that approximately 121 personnel will be required for the start-up phase of coimisiún na meán with a number of these to be hired before formal establishment. An additional 33.5 staff are sought for coimisiún na meán to deliver on the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission. In addition and as provided for in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, the staff of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, which currently number 25 full-time equivalent staff, will transfer to coimisiún …

I wish KCLR well. We all understand and know the importance of local radio. The Government is putting in place a framework which will enable a sustainable future for a vibrant, diverse and independent media sector to encompass print, audiovisual, radio and online media. The media sector is a vital part of our democracy and our society as a whole that is also undergoing many changes, for the most part driven by advances in technology and the manner in which we consume media content. The report of the Future of Media…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. In response to the fallout caused by Covid-19, my Department provided funding of €2.5 million in 2020 to support those responsible for publicly accessible swimming pools in responding to the challenge associated with maintaining such pools and the effort to reopen within Covid-19 safety protocols. An additional €3.2 million was also provided in 2021 for this purpose, which is a further acknowledgement of the importance of the sector and the impact swimming has on…

I thank the Deputy. Perhaps I can revert to him regarding the progress being made on these specific projects. I do know the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus project has an allocation of €5 million. We can provide an update on that project directly to Deputy Richmond. I agree, though, that there is a broader demand which must be met. Part of the national swimming strategy and our work with Swim Ireland will involve determining how we can identify new ways to develop facilities and infrastructure in communities. We can co…

I agree. Part of what we fund every year, through funds from dormant accounts, and what we are trying to do in the context of our Sport for All approach is ensure that there is inclusion across all sports, including swimming. All providers should be continuing or strengthening what they were doing prior to the onset of Covid-19, especially for people with disabilities. They should be ensuring that all activities are provided in an inclusive way. A key part of the national sports policy and the sports action plan, a…

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 will, when enacted, formally dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, and establish a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which will be responsible for overseeing the regulation of broadcasting and video on-demand services and the new regulatory framework for online safety. Coimisiún na Meán will also have functions relating to the promotion of an open, trusted and pluralistic media and online environment, including research, education, media literacy, the …

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I have made reference to the executive search process and the work ongoing between the Public Appointments Service and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That is expected to happen in this quarter. We estimate that approximately 121 personnel will be required for the start-up phase of Coimisiún na Meán with a number of these to be hired before formal establishment. An additional 33.5 staff are being sought for the commission to deliver on the recommendations of th…

I thank Senators Malcolm Byrne, Cassells, Carrigy and Higgins for speaking to this amendment. I want to relay the apologies of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, who has had a bereavement in her family and cannot be here this evening. Section 19 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as inserted by section 7 of the Bill, provides that an coimisiún may establish committees to assist and advise it on matters relating to its functions, or on such other matters as it ma…

I thank all of the Senators for what they have said, as well as for their bona fides. I hear what they have said. There was significant pre-legislative scrutiny on the Bill. This particularly impacts on young people and children. The amendment that the Senators have sought to progress is to ensure the centrality of their voice in how policy is iterated and how it is implemented. In the response I have given, we have referenced the merit of the proposal to set up a committee. As I said, there will be further reflect…

No, I have made my point.

I understand the intention of the Senator's amendment. It rests on the question of whether the phrase "shall have regard to" should be interpreted as requiring the commission to follow whatever advice is given unless there is a compelling case not to. The legal advice that the Minister has received regarding this phraseology is that, where a public body shall have regard to a thing, it may depart from that focus and other such considerations where it has a bona fide reason to do so. As such, an coimisiún is not bou…