Dickson Appalled at “Massive Dereliction of Duty” by Economy Minister Who Has “Failed Hoteliers”

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed the expansion of the Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme to hotels and certain sports clubs despite the inaction of the Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA.

Mr Dickson said: “The Economy Minister provided evidence to the Executive of the need to support hotels, but did not then bid for funding for a scheme to help the sector. Consequently, the Finance Minister stepped in, and hoteliers will now be supported through the Omicron scheme.

“Last week, I met with Brian McRandal, Director of the Curran Court Hotel, who was able to give me a first-hand perspective of the challenges faced by the hotel industry, and an insight into what post-Covid recovery might look like.

“He painted a picture of severe hardship, and so the Minister’s failure to bid for a support package for the sector, is simply beyond comprehension”.

Hoteliers have said that they are “shocked and horrified” by the Economy Minister’s failure to bid for support funding, calling his inaction a “massive dereliction of duty that leaves serious questions to be answered”.

In addition to Tourism NI certified hotels, the Executive has also agreed to extend the Omicron Hospitality Payment to include certain sports clubs with a licensed bar or restaurant facility. A maximum one-off £10,000 payment will be available to sports clubs that operate a bar or restaurant, have a liquor license, and have received less than £50,000 in total from the Department for Communities Sport Sustainability Fund last year.

Mr Dickson concluded by saying “I am pleased that the Omicron Hospitality Scheme has been extended to include hotels and certain sports clubs. But I am as shocked as hoteliers that specific support for the sector was not sought by the Minister.

“I will be probing this blatant failure both through questions to the Minister, and through the mechanisms available to the Economy Committee of which I am a member”.