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Travel Agents in Dáil protest

Travel agents protested outside Leinster House, calling on the Government to provide supports for travel agents who are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. travelagents

The ITAA says that it has consistently voiced their concerns regarding the impact that the COVID-19 crisis is having on travel agents throughout the country, and are calling for assistance from Government in the form of measures such as wage subsidies and grants to help repair some of the damage to Irish travel businesses in the wake of the pandemic.

The Association has commended a representative group of licensed and bonded travel agents for handing in a petition to the Dáil as this demonstrates the concerns of travel agents and consumers alike regarding the future of Irish travel. This initiative was developed by travel agents themselves in order to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by the sector since the arrival of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Minister to meet Fáilte Ireland Board after O'Donoghue quits

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin has demanded an urgent meeting with the board of Failte Ireland after a second director has had to resign after holidaying in Spain. breegeodonoghue

Minister Martin accepted the resignation of former Primark executive and Fáilte Ireland board member Breege O’Donoghue following confirmation that Ms O’Donoghue travelled to Spain during the summer.

She is the second board member to resign after travelling abroad on holiday despite Fáilte Ireland's 'Staycation' campaigns nationwide this summer.

Ms O'Donoghue resigned from the board of Fáilte Ireland after queries from the 'Irrish Examiner'

It reported that she travelled to her house in Marbella, Spain, this summer.

Minister Martin said she was "disappointed" to learn that Ms O'Donoghue travelled abroad.

Pubs to re-open but doubts remain

The Government has approved the reopening of all pubs from September 21. pubs0819

The decision to allow 'wet pubs' open their doors after six months was approved by Cabinet.

However, fresh doubts have now been cast over the reopening of pubs in Dublin and Limerick after one senior minister warned that we are at a "delicate moment" with Covid-19.

People living in both counties have been urged to keep social contacts to a minimum following a spike in cases.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris warned that public health advice and the epidemiology of the virus at any time will always supersede the Government decision to reopen pubs.

Ryanair threatens base closures

Ryanair has announced plans to close its bases in both Cork and Shannon airports this winter unless the Government rows back its 14-day quarantine requirement for visitors to Ireland. ryanair1217

The move would deal a blow to the regional airports which, in Cork’s case, has seen passenger numbers plunge 95% due to the pandemic and ongoing travel restrictions.

Under the plans, 130 staff — 35 pilots and 95 cabin crew — would be forced to take unpaid leave from the end of October.

Flights into and out of Cork and Shannon, from other Ryanair bases across the UK, will also be significantly reduced this winter, the airline has said.

Flogas powers Galway 'Mirror'

Flogas has announced its three-year energy sponsorship of the Galway International Arts Festival . In line with both partners’ focus on sustainability, Flogas is providing green galwayarts electricity from Irish renewable sources to power the Festival’s centrepiece, the ‘Mirror Pavilion’ by renowned Irish artist John Gerrard. John Rooney managing director, Flogas Ireland is pictured with John Crumlish, chief executive officer and Paul Fahy, artistic director, Galway International Arts Festival at the ‘Mirror Pavilion’ on Claddagh Quay, Galway. The seven-meter-high structure, making its global debut at the Festival, is the largest Irish outdoor visual arts project this year and one of the largest ever in Ireland. The ‘Mirror Pavilion’ is located on Claddagh Quay from 3rd-26th September and on the 4,000-year-old Derrigimlagh Bog in Connemara from 11th-31st October 2020.

Using highly reflective mirrors and high-resolution LED technology, the ‘Mirror Pavilion’ will showcase two unique artworks at the two locations in the coming months. The ‘Mirror Pavilion’ is free and open to the public.