Thursday 11th March 2004

TOURISM CHIEF CRITICISES TRANSPORT UNION OVER WORK STOPPAGES
Tourism being held to ransom, IHF says

The President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) Mr Dick Bourke has called for the urgent removal of the strike threat scheduled to hit our crucial air access and public transport infrastructure next week. He stated that any disruption at Aer Rianta airports, which would discommode travellers cannot be justified. Mr Bourke added that it is totally unacceptable that employees of a State company, whose employment conditions have been guaranteed by the responsible Minister, should hold the Irish tourism industry and the travelling public to ransom. The employment of almost 60,000 people in the Irish hotel and guesthouse sector, is dependent, he said, on there being good access transport into the country and a reliable transport service within the country. He claimed that disruptive action at airports and in the public transport sector will damage Ireland's tourism industry and put the welfare of many employed in the sector at risk.

Welcoming the Minister for Transport Mr Seamus Brennan's appointment of the new board of Dublin airport, Mr Bourke asserted, "The IHF has consistently called for the immediate re-negotiation of the Ireland/US bi-lateral air agreement to facilitate the opening up of additional direct air routes into the country, the development of an independent, competing fast turn-around air terminal at Dublin airport, and the putting in place of independent boards to run each of Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports. The barriers being placed in the way of increasing air access should be removed immediately and the Minister should be allowed to move ahead with his plans to increase competition where appropriate."

Mr Bourke stated that SIPTU's claims that the Aer Rianta work stoppage is aimed not at disrupting ordinary members of the public but the EU Presidency programme are "totally disingenuous".

"There is absolutely no doubt that the increased number of tourists who are in Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, as well as ordinary Irish people trying to go about their business, will be the ones to bear the brunt of the planned transport stoppages. It is expected that this Aer Rianta stoppage alone will affect up to 50,000 travellers. The St. Patrick's Day Festival constitutes the first major event in the Irish tourism season and any negative publicity of travel disruption sends out the wrong messages to our international markets. The festival brings an international focus onto Ireland, which unfortunately will be marred by the image of a country rife with industrial disputes in the transport sector," he said.

"SIPTU's bullying tactics in stopping rail, bus and air services simultaneously is a blatant attempt to force the Minister into a corner and to create havoc for tourists and Irish citizens alike. Change and reform in our transport services are absolutely essential if we are to further develop Irish tourism and continue to contribute to the economic welfare of the country. Despite plans to break up Aer Rianta, its' workers are still being given assurances with regard to job security. Other industries such as tourism, which, as Ireland's largest indigenous industry, supports 150,000 jobs, unfortunately does not have that luxury. The actions of a few are putting Ireland's vital tourism industry at serious risk," Mr Bourke concluded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Siobhan Molloy/Niamh Boylan Tel: (01) 676 0168
Weber Shandwick FCC 086 817 5066 / 086 3809191