Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The report sought €53 million for the marketing of the mid-west region. As this sum exceeds the entire annual budget of Tourism Ireland, it was not realistic and was never promised. The former Minister for Transport, the late Séamus Brennan, and I succeeded in securing special earmark funding of €4.5 million for the region as an exceptional measure. This funding is being spent at present. The Shannon and mid-west region is the only region with a specific, targeted tourism campaign, known as Discover Ireland's Wonderful West. I launched the campaign on a visit to the United States last year and, as some of the Deputies opposite noted, it is working well.

A number of Deputies raised the issue of cargo preclearance. The agreement does not provide for this form of preclearance. The United States authorities were anxious to proceed with preclearance for passengers and private jets. In our discussions with the US authorities, my officials and I raised the possibility of introducing a cargo preclearance facility at every available opportunity. For example, I raised it at my meeting yesterday and at the meeting I had with Secretary Chertoff when we signed the deal. The United States authorities have not by any means rejected the cargo preclearance proposal. Yesterday, we received further confirmation that they first wish to see how the new preclearance facility works. Once that has bedded down, we will be able to raise the issue of cargo preclearance.

While I intend to continue to pursue the issue of cargo preclearance and concur with Deputies opposite that such a facility could offer significant opportunities to establish a logistics hub at Shannon Airport, having raised the possibility with the United States authorities on a number of occasions, I believe the best course of action is to ensure the preclearance facility works and the reopening of the market in September is successful. If everything runs smoothly, it will create confidence and we will, I hope, be in a position to push an open door on the issue of cargo preclearance.

While I do not wish to add a note of acrimony to what has been a constructive debate, a number of political points were made on the famous departure tax of €10. According to some Deputies, the tax is causing devastation across Europe, the United States and the world.

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