Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I appreciate it is not the Minister, Deputy Carey's Department, but on 4 November the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, took my Adjournment debate matter in this House on the travel tax. I welcome the Government's Pauline conversion and flip-flop on the regional airports. I am a strong defender of my region but I still believe the tax is wrong. We should not impose a levy on people travelling. Senator Twomey mentioned this earlier. According to the Bill " 'aircraft' means an aircraft capable of carrying 20 or more passengers". Why are the Government jet and the private airfields and aeroplanes not included? If I am wrong the Minister can correct me, but I do not think they are.

When CSO figures show a decline in tourists coming into Ireland, particularly into the south west region, it behoves us not to tax but to incentivise and attract people in. The Minister knows the cliché that once one imposes a tax or levy it stays the same or increases, but does not decrease. I hope the Government will not use this tax, as Deputy Breen said last week, to balance the books. The yield of this tax does not justify the imposition on the regions. While I welcome the changes, they do not go far enough. Why is the Government victimising the regions, especially the people of Cork? I will not read the reply to my Adjournment debate by the Minister, Deputy Mansergh, but this tax is wrong, even in its amended form.

The Government is making up its aviation policy as it goes along. As Minister for Transport, a couple of years ago the late Deputy Séamus Brennan, God be good to him, made a commitment but subsequent Ministers for Transport, Deputies Cullen and Dempsey, changed that. We are on the cusp of Cork Airport not getting independence from Dublin. That has implications. This is a twin attack on tourism and our aviation industry. Why are we penalising the airports and, more importantly, the people who have to travel while we exclude the private jets and airfields?