Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has the luxury of picking on one or two measures. The reality is that it would be wonderful if in this country we could provide everything for nothing. We cannot and must have funding in place to provide for everybody and everything. Of course one would prefer not to have the sort of taxation required but it is fair and balanced.

The very substantial fee passengers are paying to bring their clothes and toiletries with them is being absorbed without problems. The fuel surcharges levied over the past 12 or 18 months – not for the first time – seemed to be absorbed also. Very significant costs were involved. The Finance Bill will be published tomorrow and we will then see the exact detail. It is clear we need to keep resources in place for tourism and marketing. I have managed to do so, as has been recognised publicly by the industry.

I returned last week from the World Travel Market in London. It was quite an eye opener for me. There were 41 Irish stands, whose representatives were from all over the country. I believed there would be many downcast industry representatives but I discovered the opposite. They were very steeled towards what was happening in the international market and were very keen to seize the opportunities that might arise next year, bearing in mind that there might not be as many as there were heretofore.

The nine-month figure for the period to the end of September suggests visitor numbers have decreased by 1.3%. I accept the number pertaining to September has decreased by approximately 10%. This is very much in keeping with international norms. Many countries' numbers have decreased substantially more.

See this speech in context