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Tourism Taskforce to plan recovery

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Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D., have, announced the formation of a Tourism Recovery Taskforce with an Independent Chair, dedicated to spearheading economic recovery for the tourism sector. It will report in the Autumn.

Minister Ross said:

'In order to ensure that the tourism sector can emerge from this pandemic ready for business, we need to plan early, plan well and plan together. To this end I am pleased to announce the formation of a dedicated Tourism Recovery Taskforce, made up of leaders from varying sections of the industry, who will work together to deal with the many challenges ahead in a dynamic and innovative manner. They will be chaired by Ruth Andrews [CEO of ITOA Ireland, Chair of ITIC, and Special Advisor to AVEA] and have agreed to lend their services voluntarily in order to support the industry at this critical time. I hope that the Taskforce will do its work quickly and efficiently and be in a position to report back to Government by the end of the summer.”

The Taskforce will engage with stakeholders in the tourism sector through a series of consultative meetings and written submissions, so that the views and experiences of all are taken into consideration. All new and innovative ideas for recovery will be considered. The Department’s Tourism Division will provide the secretariat to the Taskforce.

Membership of the Taskforce is

Wide welcome for Task Force

Fáilte Ireland and the Iish Hotels Federation have welcomed the establishment of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce. timfenn0218

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland who is a member of the Taskforce, said the Taskforce is a critical and urgent working group dedicated to ensure the tourism sector recovers from this crisis as quickly as possible:

“The impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector has been catastrophic and the establishment by the Government of a Tourism Recovery Taskforce is very much welcomed by Fáilte Ireland. I look forward to participating and constructively engaging with my fellow members and with our Chair Ruth Andrews who has extensive knowledge of the tourism sector.

The Irish Hotels Federation welcomed the Task Force. Tim Fenn, IHF Chief Executive said that immediate measures are now urgently required to address the unprecedented challenges facing Irish tourism and hospitality.

Seasonal workers may get Covid payment

The government is examining if thousands of seasonal workers in the tourist sector can avail of the Covid-19 unemployment payment.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, confirmed the move to Fine Gael colleagues during a private teleconference meeting.

Mr Griffin warned that some 200,000 out of 260,000 in the tourism sector were out of work because of the pandemic. He also warned only “a fraction” of the 11 million overseas visitors to Ireland, recorded last year, would come here this year.

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Spirits course for bar staff

WSET has joined with Teeling Whiskey, the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards and the Irish Whiskey & Spirits Institute to offer spirits courses to hospitality professionals. wset0520

The initiative will enable hospitality staff who have lost their jobs due to the current crisis to take an online WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits, increasing their industry knowledge and skills as they prepare to re-join the workforce. 40 bartenders, waiters or barbacks, aged over 18, will be able to sign-up to the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits, which can be studied at home and lasts approximately four weeks.

The course which is co-funded by WSET and the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards is being facilitated by Teeling Whiskey and by WSET Approved Programme Provider Nick Ryan of The Irish Whiskey & Spirits Institute.

McDonalds re-opens Drive-Thrus

McDonalds has opened up six drive-thru restaurants in Dublin at Malahide Road, Nutgrove, Kylemore Road, East Wall, Artane and Tallaght.

Before opening time, cars had waited in the carpark of the Malahide Road, Coolock, drive-thru area. mcdonalds

The company is adhering to strict social distancing and safety measures to keep customers and staff free from risk during the pandemic.

Customers are served, as usual at a window hatch. A card reader is lowered out of the window on an extended plastic arm and wire to allow maximum distance from the staff member to customer.

Perspex screens at the hatches allow the staff extra protection and maximum spends of €30 a vehicle have been put in place with customers encouraged to pay by contactless methods.