Mr. Paddy Mathews:

With regard to fracking, Deputy Colreavy might know that Fáilte Ireland is a prescribed body in the planning process; we are one of the bodies that has to be consulted with regard to certain developments by local authorities and other developmental agencies. We have never shied away from making our views known on a number of high-profile cases, particularly when we feel that tourism is under threat. The Deputy is absolutely right in saying that fracking is our business, because tourism is our business. It is something on which we will be forming a view in the very near future. We have had many representatives from individuals and groups both in Leitrim and Clare on this issue because those are the two areas that seem to be the focus with regard to fracking. I am well aware of the EPA research that is under way, and it is limited in its scope, but we will be forming a view in the near future on the likely implications of fracking for tourism and we will be communicating that to Government through the appropriate channels as well. Anything that has the potential to affect the quality, character or integrity of the raw material of tourism is something we would be very concerned about, and the raw material in Ireland is very much our landscape, culture and heritage. It is on that that we trade. I do not want to prejudice the conclusion of our investigations, but the Deputy can rest assured that we will look at that over the coming months and form a view on it.