Irish Hotels Federation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Hotels Federation

Date published 21 May, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 Jan, 2020 to 30 Apr, 2020

Specific Details Economic measures required to support Ireland's tourism and hospitality sector and mitigate the challenges due to the Covid-19 crisis

Intended results Seeking liquidity measures to assist with working capital and cash flow for businesses facing short term problems Seeking a reduction in rates of VAT, PAYE and PRSI - including arrangements for the deferral of payments Seeking a waiver on Local Authority rates and charges to coincide with business interruption due to Covid-19, at least 12 months Seeking a waiver on Irish Water charges to coincide with period of business interruption due to Covid-19. Seeking a jobs subsidy scheme for industries affected by the Crisis Seeking supports for seasonal workers in tourism who do not currently qualify for Covid-19 related payments. Seeking a waiver on CRU-controlled pass-through costs for gas and electricity for a minimum of 12 months seeking a temporary Derogation of Section 12(1) of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967 Seeking direct business supports - marketing assistance and business continuity training through the State Agencies Seeking insurance grants Seeking statutory deferment of rents for businesses forced to close due to Government-imposed restrictions due to Covid – 19. Seeking increased budget for Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland Seeking a mortgage deferment and rent grant scheme for employees Seeking a level playing field in regulation of short term lets and student accommodation Seeking airline supports to restore access after the Covid-19 virus crisis is over Seeking insurance reforms and review to protect businesses from COVID19-related claims

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 IHF were asked to lobbying TDs and Senators seeking economic supports to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on Ireland's tourism and hospitality industry. Members were asked to write to, email and phone TDs and Senators outlining the challenges facing businesses and the supports required.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Emails highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Letter All Oireachtas Members Letters highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Email All TDs Emails highlighting the local impact of Covid-19 and seeking economic measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (21-30)

Letters highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Email (21-30)

Emails highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Letter (1)

Highlighting the urgent requirement for a more cohesive approach from insurers during the Covid-19 crisis, particularly in relation to ongoing insurance costs for businesses while they are temporarily closed or have substantially scaled back their operations.

Email (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Highlighting the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the hospitality Industry and the urgent guidelines and economic measures required for recovery.

Phone call (11-20)

Highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Event / Reception (1)

Highlighting the economic measures required to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry.

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.

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

Regina Doherty Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

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

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Damien English Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

John McCarthy Chief Economist (Department of Finance)

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

Michael D’Arcy Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ed Brophy Special Adviser (Department of Finance)

John Carroll Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)

Brian Murphy Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

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

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)