Shane Ross has been slammed as “shameful” for “boycotting” a vital economic conference for three years in a row.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport was a no-show at the National Economic Dialogue event in Dublin.
Everybody from unions to business groups, professional bodies, industry representatives and lobbyists were there.
They included the Irish Business Employers’ Confederation (IBEC), the Restaurants Association of Ireland, SIPTU and Friends of the Earth.
But the outspoken Independent Alliance Minister for Tourism, Mr Ross, was nowhere to be seen.
“It’s shameful that Minister Shane Ross doesn’t see fit to represent the tourism industry or advocate on behalf of the tourism industry,” Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said.
Labour transport and tourism spokesman, Kevin Humphreys, slammed Mr Ross’ boycott of the event.
“I’m terribly disappointed with Mr Ross.
“For three years ongoing he has boycotted what is a major opportunity to engage with the stakeholders in the tourism industry which is a huge part of the Irish economy.
“But unfortunately Minister Ross, like with so many other areas he has responsibility for within his portfolio, has completely ignored this again.
The Irish Mirror asked Mr Humphreys what sort of message he thought this was sending out to those in the tourism sector who had come up to Dublin to attend the conference.
“He’s saying to them that they don’t matter.
“The performance of Mr Ross in his portfolio, and I’m being generous here by saying it has been disappointing.”
The National Economic Dialogue was held in Dublin Castle on Wednesday and Thursday
A spokesman for the Government stressed how important it is and how seriously it is taken.
“The dialogue is an important part of the budgetary process and is an opportunity to consider how to optimise available resources in the interests of all citizens.
“The aim is to foster discussion on how to best sustain and strengthen the recovery while taking account of the many competing economic and social priorities within the limited available resources.”
Dublin Castle was a melting pot of politicians too, with senior ministers all over the place. Some of the politicians that took time out of their busy schedules to attend at some stage during the two day conference included Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy and Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty.
There were also opposition politicians such as Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett and the Greens’ Eamon Ryan.
