Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

We do not need to carry out such an assessment as we recognise that approximately 50,000 people are employed in the sector, either directly or indirectly. It is about the economy and the contribution to society. I will certainly be making that case for the budget. I am going to Ballaghaderreen in the morning to speak about culture, the European Market for Tourism at lunch and the GAA All-Stars tomorrow night. It is a great job.

See this speech in context