Call on Minister to retain Fáilte Ireland vetting

Public service union Impact has called on the Minister for Tourism to intervene to prevent Fáilte Ireland from ceasing the inspection and approval of individual self-catering accommodation.

Fáilte Ireland wrote to self-catering operators last month to inform them that, from this summer, it would no longer inspect or approve individual self-catering accommodation.

In addition, the familiar Fáilte Ireland "shamrock" sign could not be used by self-catering operators after December 31st this year. Some 5,800 self-catering facilities will be affected.

Impact wrote to Minister for Tourism Séamus Brennan yesterday, expressing its concern at the decision.

The union represents 150 workers in regional tourist centres and estimates that six full-time positions deal with inspections of self-catering premises. The figure includes staff for whom inspections make up a portion of their work and staff who are full-time inspectors.

Peter Nolan, Impact national secretary, said Fáilte Ireland had put forward no compelling reasons to terminate two of its most important services to tourists at home and abroad.

He said members in the regional tourist offices merged with Fáilte Ireland a year ago and the conditions of the merger included that they would be consulted before decisions were made.

"There was no consultation in relation to this decision," he said.

Mr Nolan argued that the certification process was well respected by customers and by the tourist industry. He said the Fáilte Ireland-approved symbol had recognised positive independent branding, which had been built up over decades.

He said the union was confident that it could handle the industrial relations implications of Fáilte Ireland's decision, including career development and location issues, and did not expect any job losses.

However, he said the union believed the decision was a flawed one.

"Our basic message to the Minister is, if it's not broken, don't try to fix it," he said.