Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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I welcome the Minister and his officials. I am pleased he said in the presentation he delivered that he intends to support the regional airports. I have a specific query about Kerry County Airport and the public service obligation. When does the Minister expect that the new subvention or subsidy will be approved? Are discussions currently taking place at a high level to see how compliance with the current European criteria can be achieved? I would like the Minister to assure us that this will be put in order in the near future. We are all conscious of the importance of all the regional airports. It is imperative for a huge tourism county like Kerry that this is sanctioned at an early date.

Regarding the Ebola crisis, it is important in the interests of tourism that we provide for safety measures and protocols at all our points of entry, such as our airports and seaports. We need to transmit a message to the wider world and to our customers from all the various continents in this regard. This sector is very much on the up at the moment because of the increased tourist trade. There has been significant job creation in the hospitality industry. It is very important for us to be active in public relations and on the ground. We must deliver a strong message at an early stage to people in other countries who support our tourism industry that we are taking the measures that are required. We need to be proactive in taking the precautions that are needed to ensure we will not be affected by this crisis.