Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I remind the Minister that there will be almost 1 million fewer tourists visiting the country this year than in the previous year, with a possible loss of €1 billion in revenue. The Minister has outlined some of the measures she has taken but what further measures does she intend to take? It is agreed right across the industry that the travel tax is having a detrimental effect on visitors. Yesterday at the Bord Fáilte annual conference the Minister said she is against the tax and, as reflected in The Irish Times today, that she would more or less scrap it. Will she confirm she is in favour of scrapping this tax?

See this speech in context