Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

That question is probably more relevant to the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform than to me. The vast majority of the cost of the jobs initiative was the VAT reduction, which has been very successful, and the reduction in employers' PRSI for those on modest incomes. In the forthcoming revised Estimates volume, there is provision for an increase in funding for Fáilte Ireland to prepare for the gathering this year. There is some additional money there. When it comes to the travel tax, the door is still open to discussions. We do not necessarily have to settle for 5 million additional passengers for no airport charges at all. If a realistic offer is put on the table from the airlines to increase capacity in return for abolishing the travel tax, and nothing else, that offer is still there. That was reiterated by the Minister for Finance during his Budget Statement.

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