Irish Hotels Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Hotels Federation

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details 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 Retention of the 9% tourism VAT rate Targeted measures to protect Irish tourism against negative impacts of Brexit For additional support for regional tourism and business heavily impacted by seasonality Seeking support for measures to address the high cost of doing business in Ireland across a range of areas To provide additional funding for tourism marketing and product development. Support for measures to encourage young people to pursue careers 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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Members of the Irish Hotels Federation were asked to contact local TDs by letter, email, social media and in meetings to highlight the important role played by the 9% VAT rate and calling for its retention

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members Email highlighting the importance of the tourism sector to the economy and seeking TDs support in securing the retention of the 9% tourism VAT rate.

Email All Oireachtas Members Letter highlighting the importance of the tourism sector to the economy and seeking TDs support in securing the retention of the 9% tourism VAT rate.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (6-10)

Meetings in the run up to Budget 2019 to discuss tourism measures including calls for retention of 9% tourism VAT rate

Email (6-10)

Emails in the run up to Budget 2019 in relation to need for tourism supportive measures including retention of 9% tourism VAT rate

Social Media (100+)

Twitter campaign calling for retention of tourism 9% VAT rate and recognition of importance of tourism nationally and to the regions

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.

Brendan Griffin Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

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

Edward Brophy Special Advisor (Department of Finance)

Ken Spratt Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Denis Naughten Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Michael D'Arcy Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)