Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

The Cathaoirleach has caught me by surprise, since I had thought that the Minister would speak at this stage.

I support the amendment. While we have some concerns about the survey that has been published — I have not seen the figures — we should not be unduly alarmed. Nevertheless, we must take account of it. There are positive indications. I have just looked through the quarterly report of the Central Bank that shows inflation has eased substantially. There is also the prospect of a fall in oil prices and a possibility that the lower inflation rate will lower wage demands. A combination of the two could lower expectations generally, and lower wage demands could be reflected in later figures.

We saw a very serious increase in inflation from 2002 to 2004. That is now easing off, and the Central Bank's quarterly report shows that. It is very positive about the prospects for the economy. Nevertheless, in the tourism industry it is time for a further review. The policy review body established by the Minister has been examining this to see how we might counteract the adverse effects of changing trends in the marketplace over recent years.

Senator Feighan mentioned the weather, but the research in that regard came from studies conducted with visitors, who complained about it. Half of those surveyed said the reason they were dissatisfied was that they felt that Ireland was far more expensive for food and drink than they had expected. For that reason, many said they would not return. It is important to bear in mind that the figures regarding the weather came from visitors.

We have activities here that have to some extent been put on the back burner for the past few years. One relates to the availability of excellent fishing in Ireland, something we still have, despite all the adverse comments about it. We have a national treasure in our inland fisheries although they have been neglected and to some extent ignored by those involved in the business. I do not want to reopen past controversies about investment in inland fisheries, but they are our most neglected national resource. The very people who should be investing in them, the fishermen and anglers themselves, were the first to object to a small investment to put that resource on a firmer footing by dealing with pollution, poaching and other matters that are devastating the fisheries. We have the conditions for excellent salmon and trout fishing, white trout fishing, as well as coast and deep sea angling which has never been fully promoted by the tourism bodies.

We have a coast and inland fishery resource which has been relatively under-exploited, especially in our main markets. Up to 80% of our market is in the UK, France and Germany, yet we have failed to exploit that for some inexplicable reason. The first job I got when I was elected was as spokesperson for Fianna Fáil on the tourism business. We put forward proposals such as the opening of the Ballyconnell canal, which has now been completed.

At that time, because of the declining state of the tourism industry, the Government decided to establish a Department of Tourism and also decided to double tourist numbers. It is now time to review that. We must identify where we can double numbers in the next four or five years and make strategic investments to ensure that we get more people in here.

I am fully aware that the tourism industry has been going through a bad patch in the last few years. Numbers in hotels and restaurants have declined by about 6%, representing approximately 7,000 tourists. That is a very serious issue and is due to the fact that we have not been developing fully the potential of our tourism industry, even in bad weather conditions. There is nothing to stop people from fishing in bad weather as they are used to it and they often like it. British anglers were the best spenders that came to Ireland. They went to guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, whose owners are now suffering a serious decline in their incomes. I appeal to the Minister of State to draw the attention of the Department and the tourism bodies to this problem.

I compliment the Minister for the increased investment this year in tourism. The social partners are putting up €40 million as well, so there is a recognition of the need for investment, especially investment in marketing. It is important that assistance be provided for the small family businesses and guesthouses that find it difficult to continue.

Senator Feighan indicated that this survey was a wake-up call to the industry, but it is also a wake-up call to the Minister. While we should not be alarmed, we must find ways and means to change a situation whereby we take the tourism industry for granted. When I was first elected 32 years ago, tourism was largely a seasonal business, with little economic impact, especially in the regions. It has been transformed since the Department of Tourism was established and since then, investment has improved the business. Investment in marketing will pay dividends in the numbers coming in here. We must put the Irish tourism industry, especially the Irish fishing industry, back in the dominant position that it once held. The sooner that is done, the better.