Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Tourism
Period
1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025
Specific Details
Budget 2026 submission
Intended results
Competitiveness - Ireland is now ranked by Eurostat as the 2nd most expensive country in the EU.The Programme for Government has committed to reducing the VAT rate to 9% for food service businesses and this should be extended to attractions, adventure operators and caravan parks. Costs of business pressures across energy, insurance, excise and labour must also be addressed.
Connectivity - With 70% of the tourism economy dependent on international visitation the passenger cap at Dublin Airport must be lifted. Cork and Shannon airports must also be appropriately supported in line with EU state aid limits.
Sea access and connectivity on the island should be prioritised too.
Investment - Tourism contributes €2.9bn annually to the national coffers in tourism related taxes. The return on investment is indisputable. State investment in tourism services currently stands at €251 million, wholly inadequate to meet the challenges ahead. An increase of €90 million is needed to help deliver market diversification, a better regional spread of tourism, industry supports,
sustainability initiatives and a food tourism strategy.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, CEO
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.
Email (2-5)
Relevant Sec Gen copied on each email.
Meeting (1)
August 27th, meeting with Ministers Donohoe & Chambers at Dept of Finance.
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.
Peter Burke
Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Paschal Donohoe
Minister (Department of Finance)
Jack Chambers
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)
Micheál Martin
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)
Declan Hughes
Secretary General (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
David Moloney
Secretary General (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)
John Hogan
Secretary General (Department of Finance)
John Callinan
Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)