John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, DIGI, raised an issue with regard to tourism and alcohol-related attractions in correspondence that arose during private business earlier.

The group referred to the alarming lack of focus on alcohol-related attractions in recent Fáilte Ireland advertising campaigns. It said:

The Wild Atlantic Way is a fantastic initiative but there has been no focus at all on the 435 pubs that provide quality food, accommodation and entertainment along the route. This is indicative of a new approach within Fáilte Ireland that seeks to ignore the vital role of family businesses associated with alcohol in the Irish brand that tourists from all over the world seek out when they visit Ireland.

The group goes on to mention some 35,000 people employed in the whisky industry in Scotland. Can the witnesses comment on this?