Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Tourism in the year to August is down approximately 11%. The overall figure for this year is likely to be closer to €7 million than €8 million. Some sectors of the economy have been hit worse than that. I do not believe that any country, certainly not Ireland, can afford to underestimate the economic importance of tourism, particularly given that it is such an employment intensive industry which is spread throughout the country. I apologise I have forgotten the Deputy's other question.

See this speech in context