Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste - although it may have been the Taoiseach - stated in recent days that 35% of jobs in the tourism industry are vulnerable. She indicated that she was involved in discussions with the Minister with regard to initiatives to be taken. Regardless of how one tries to play down this matter and state that other countries are also doing badly, the reality is that there is a huge crisis in the tourism industry in Ireland. I do not know how much of that industry will be left by the time Christmas arrives. Every week I hear about hotels, attractions and those who operate on the fringes of the tourism industry going out of business.

We have put forward ideas such as slashing VAT and abolishing the travel tax, which seems an obvious step to take. Suggestions were also made with regard to making free travel here available to British pensioners and rationalising the relevant structures. What initiatives does the Minister propose to put in place? I had understood that the tourism renewal group was to report during the summer but I have not yet heard whether it has done so.

The McCarthy report recommends that there should be a change in the structures because there is no leadership in the sector. All of those in the tourism industry who contacted me during the summer indicated that there is no strategic leadership. No one is taking charge and there is not any one body trying to organise the industry and make it coherent. There are many individuals in the industry who are of the view that they are struggling on their own. Is it the Minister's view that the structures in place are adequate in the context of obtaining the best possible bang for our buck?

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