Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The tourism renewal group and others involved with tourism have raised the issue of this tax and in a perfect world I would not recommend it, nor did I in the first instance. The Government, however, has to balance that against my need for income to sustain the tourism budget and try to grow it this year. Such taxes are not helpful but that must be placed against the fact that tourism was the only sector in the budgetary system that increased this year. That was greatly welcomed. The Deputy is aware of the positive responses to the budget from organisations such as the Irish Hotels Federation. I am worried when I see the remarkable recovery of the American market, which was down only 2.2% at the end of September when Aer Lingus was down almost 26%. That is not in harmony with the general market figures.

I met with Continental and Delta airlines, US Airways and Aer Lingus early in the year when the figures were disastrous in the American market for the first quarter. We began giant marketing programmes and specific programmes with the airlines which worked extremely well. There must be a message for Aer Lingus in this if the market is down only 2% and Aer Lingus is down 25% or 26%. This is extremely worrying because Aer Lingus is an important part of the brand and marketing of Ireland and will have an important role.

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