Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Funding from the travel tax was used in the latter half of the year. While it was intended that the travel tax would be abolished, it was not possible to come to an adequate agreement with the airlines, so some of that money was reinvested in a winter tourism promotion scheme and an access promotion in conjunction with airlines. In total, €9 million in money from the travel tax and from industry was invested in tourism promotion in the winter of last year for that reason. The Deputy should know that the country's reputation was badly damaged. One of the things that the hard work, both of the Government and our people, has achieved in the last year is to rebuild our reputation internationally. Those of us who travel abroad to represent the country understand and appreciate the extent to which Ireland's reputation has improved in the past year. One can see that in everything people say to us, as well as the fact that bond yields are falling and confidence in the country is recovering. When we are abroad we always have to remind people that Irish citizens have suffered a lot of pain in order to help restore that reputation. Therefore we will continue to need more solidarity from our European partners.

As regards the stand in particular, Tourism Ireland is represented at all big tourism fairs in Birmingham, London, Berlin, Frankfurt and other locations attended by myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. It is not my role to tell Tourism Ireland which stands it should have or where they should be located. On this occasion, Tourism Ireland decided not to have a stand at that particular show.

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