Irish Hotels Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Hotels Federation

Date published 21 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details Recommendations for Budget 2017 seeking supportive measures for Irish tourism to enable businesses throughout the sector to continue to invest in their product and grow visitor numbers.

Intended results For any increases to the tourism VAT rate to be avoided For additional funding for tourism marketing and product development to be provided For existing policy initiatives such as the zero rate travel tax to be retained. To mitigate the negative effects of Brexit on Irish Tourism To address the high cost of doing business in Ireland across a range of areas For the Valuation Act to be fully implemented For the alcohol excise to be reduced by 15% To support hotel financial restructuring and investment in tourism

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Fenn, Chief Executive of the Irish Hotels Federation

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (11-20)

Letters sent including policy documents calling for measure to support continued recovery and growth in Irish tourism.

Email (1)

Email including policy documents calling for measures as part of Budget 2017 to support continued recovery and growth in Irish tourism.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Kenneth Spratt Assistant Secretary (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)

Enda Kenny Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael Noonan Minister (Department of Finance)

Shane Ross Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ann Nolan Second Secretary General (Department of Finance)

Gary Tobin Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)

Derek Moran Secretary General (Department of Finance)

Graham Doyle Secretary General (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor Minister (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)