Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I do not want to gild the lily or overstate the obvious, but it is clear at this stage that we are well into the tourism season. While I welcome elements of the Minister's initiative in a focus on attracting tourists to Ireland, in terms of the capacity to assist in that regard we are nearly past the date that it would be of benefit for this year. I urge the Minister, and particularly his officials in their interaction with the airlines, to bring this matter to a head.

I note the Minister's comments that while they have engaged, they have failed to get broad agreement or agreement that the Minister finds acceptable in order to lift the tax. That is something with which we all were familiar in that some of these airlines in the past have made public comment about what they would do if certain conditions were provided to them and they are relatively slow or tardy in 'fessing up to that on the other side. I would like to see it progress as quickly as possible because we need to enhance in whatever way we can the level of tourism coming through.

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