Mr. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh:

It is a complex area and it concerns us. At the moment, many of the Wild Atlantic Way counties seem to have a high proportion of Government contracts. As I say, we can manage that in November, December, January and February, but once the season kicks in, it will be problematic if the numbers have not reduced. There is no magic wand that can be waved but vacant buildings, State institutions, unused convents, Garda stations or whatever else have to be repurposed, along with modular buildings, to move refugees and asylum seekers out of tourism accommodation to a certain extent and to rehouse them in more appropriate accommodation. We forget that a hotel bedroom or bed and breakfast accommodation is completely unsuitable for a family who has just fled war. They should really have a setting with a key to their own front door. It is a complex and worrying issue.

The Senator made a point about the domestic market versus the international market. The thing to keep in mind is that 75% or so of the value of the Irish tourism economy is from international visitation. The domestic market is important but it is only a proportion of the overall tourism buy. The Senator is right that maybe, if next summer-----