Funding For Tourism Sector Welcome, But Not Enough

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has welcomed the announcement of a new €55 million fund to support tourism sector businesses detrimented by Covid-19, but has warned the government still has more to do.

An Teachta Tóibín:

“The Tourism sector is a massive sector of our economy, but has been absolutely devastated by Covid-19. Tens of thousands of jobs and livelihoods have been lost in a sector which employed over a quarter of a million people before Covid-19 struck. The turnover of the sector has been reduced by over 80%, from €7.5 billion to €1.5 bill. The hotel sector alone has taken a €2.6 billion hit in 2020 compared to 2019 according to the Irish Hotels Federation. Before Christmas, the sector was speaking hopefully that 2021 would see the sector bounce back – thus far 2021 has been as painful, if not more painful than 2021. The Minister’s announcement today is a welcome boost to the sector but in reality €55 million is barely a drop in the ocean to a sector that has lost over €6 billion in annual turnover.”

“From pubs, to B&Bs, to coach operators, the sector has been unable to operate for the vast majority of the past year with inadequate government support. Their calls for support or government consideration of the sector, was met with dismissal of their concerns by the Taoiseach, who told the Dáil and the public that now is not the time to be complaining about the impact of Covid-19 upon a certain sector. The prospect for any income this year looks more and more bleak, as the government looks to keep an indefinite lockdown going following failures to expand ICU capacity and has refused to close our airports to stop Covid-19 coming into the country despite New Zealand and now Germany doing so. In New Zealand, their people are able to go to concerts in big crowds once again or attend a rugby match because they closed their borders. Why can’t we do the same? If we did so, suddenly, Irish people could support their tourism sector once again and put their money in Irish businesses.”

“Funding of any sort is welcome, but it is not enough. The Tourism sector needs to see an opportunity to recover, needs to see government working to reopen the sector or support the sector not just feeding struggling businesses and households bread crumbs.”

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.