Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Fáilte Ireland was on the group and issues were raised with it to ensure there would be accommodation and this was the response we received. The Irish tourism industry and accommodation providers can take a bow for this.

I am disappointed to hear what the Deputy had to say about the Department of Foreign Affairs. I cannot contradict it. I know he stated it more in sorrow than in anger because in my experience the Department has always been very responsive. Perhaps it was overrun with this particular problem. I have not received that many complaints about its lack of response but I take the Deputy's point on it. The matter has been resolved now. The Department of Foreign Affairs has an emergency number in place and people are using it. More than 1,000 people used it yesterday. I am sure all of us, including the Deputy, were told the best advice we could give was to contact consuls and embassies abroad. Anybody who managed to do so was looked after very well. His point was that perhaps in the first two or three days they were not able to get-----

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