Sharon Keogan: Says B&Bs Strangled by Red Tape, Tourism Sinks
Sharon Keogan criticised government policy for causing a steady decline in Ireland's tourist sector, arguing that over-regulation of B&Bs and the conversion of hotels into protection accommodation have reduced supply and driven up costs. She called on the Minister for Tourism to explain how the decline will be reversed and urged pro-tourism, pro-enterprise policies instead of more red tape.
Regulation and B&Bs
She argued that small and medium enterprises, particularly B&Bs, have been over-regulated and treated like multinational chains, strangled by bureaucracy and compliance burdens, and that many are closing as a result.
Accommodation supply and economic impact
She warned that accommodation costs have spiralled and value for money for visitors is falling, citing Fall to Ireland reports showing demand outstrips supply. She said over 116 hotels are off the market after being used as protection accommodation and that Fall to Ireland estimates this has cost the Irish economy up to £1.1 billion.
Security incident and national image
She highlighted a recent incident in which a player of the Pittsburgh Steelers was jumped and robbed in Dublin during the historic NFL game at Crow Park, calling the episode a global embarrassment and noting the Gardaí have yet to receive a formal complaint.
Tourism figures and government accountability
She said tourism numbers are falling, with January and February showing a 25% to 30% drop in foreign visitors, and criticised the Government's tourism department for failing to provide a timeline for returning hotels to public use. She urged the Minister for Tourism to set out how they will reverse the decline and prioritise long-term, pro-enterprise solutions over short-term fixes.
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Thank you. Today I speak for the steady decline of our tourist sector caused by misguided government policy. We are witnessing the over-regulation of our small and medium enterprises, particularly our B&Bs, which have been strangled by bureaucracy and compliance burdens. These are the backbone of rural tourism, yet they have been treated like multinational chains. It's no wonder many are closing the doors. Accommodation costs in Ireland have spiralled out of control. Visitors are being charged extortionate rates and the value for money is plummeting. Fall to Ireland's own reports show that demand continues to outstrip supply, driving up prices and damaging our reputation. And what of law and order? Just last week a player of the Pittsburgh Steelers was jumped and robbed in Dublin. The historic NFL game at Crow Park, intended as a showcase of Irish hospitality, is now a global embarrassment. The Gardaí have yet to receive a formal complaint, but the damage to our image is done. Let's not ignore the elephant in the room. The transformation of hundreds of hotels into international protection accommodation centres. Over 116 hotels and counting are now off the market, removing vital bed space from the tourism economy. Fall to Ireland estimates this has cost the Irish economy up to £1.1 billion. We have replaced revenue streams with bottomless pits for taxpayers' money. Tourism numbers are falling. January and February saw a 25% to 30% drop in foreign visitors. We are at a crisis point, yet the Government's own tourism is failing to provide a timeline for returning these hotels to public use. I call on the Minister for Tourism to explain how they intend to reverse this decline. We need pro-tourism, pro-enterprise policies, not more red tape and short-term fixes. Go raibh maith agat.
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