Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association (IGTOA)

Lobbying Organisation Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Transport

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Taxi Regulation Act 2013 - requires Northern based tour operators to have RoI SPSV licences for 8 seater coaches when transporting golf tourists in RoI despite having all equivalent licences in the North

Intended results Change legislation so that our tour operator members are able to operate north and south of the border in line with our All-Ireland tourism policy

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Barry Maye

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)

I sent emails to various Ministers pointing out that the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 is incongruous with our all-Ireland tourism policy and strategy insofar as tour operators with 8 seater buses transporting golf tourists north of the border if collected in Dublin Airport require SPSV licences despite having all relevant and equivalent licences in the North

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)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Transport)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Charlie McConalogue Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)