Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

As the Minister of State will be aware, the stand-off between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Killarney jarveys is happening in the middle of our tourism season. Sadly, this year's is a very poor season with information released by the CSO showing that tourism figures are down 20%. In Killarney and the remainder of County Kerry, tourism figures for the year to date show a decrease of 37% to 40%.

The Minister will appreciate that the jaunting car is a unique mode of transport. The jarveys have been operating in Killarney since the visit of Queen Victoria in 1861, if not before. For all of the intervening period, they have taken tourists on journeys through Killarney National Park in their jaunting cars.

Both sides, including the Government side, must see sense. They must enter into meaningful discussions because although the national parks and wildlife service, NPWS, and the jarveys entered into discussions, the impression is that they merely sat around a table and talked for the sake of it, without either side aiming to get anywhere. Moreover, the local authority, which is the licensing authority has not been involved. It must ensure the jarveys have insurance, their cars are roadworthy and so on.

My plea is that access be restored immediately and that talks be resumed, which might also involve the local authority. The traps are rather high and given the uniqueness of this mode of transport, they may not be best suited to these devices without some modification. I read today that the Department had provided many of these devices free of charge. It might consider grant aiding modifications to the cars. That is a point for legal discussion.

I also refer to these people's legal rights. As the Minister of State is aware, an eminent solicitor, Mr. Paul O'Donoghue, represents the jarveys and I am sure he is not misleading his clients and that they have legal rights. It would be a pity were this matter to remain deadlocked, thereby requiring resolution in the courts. However, that is where it appears to be going at present. I make this point regardless of the merits of the environmental arguments the Minister undoubtedly possesses. It is sheer lunacy to allow them to override other considerations at present and is what has led to this lock-out. If the Minister is acting on serious health and safety grounds, such grounds must be advanced because I do not know how such requirements enter the legal mix in regard to this matter.

Consultation and dialogue is the only way out of this impasse. In common with any other strike, it will not be resolved by allowing a stand-off to continue and someone must break this deadlock. I note the mayor of Killarney has offered some sound advice and perhaps he might be available to mediate. I am sure everyone involved in public life seeks a resolution to this matter. However, my plea is on behalf of all the tourism interests that are suffering badly this season in particular. In the middle of the Killarney July racing festival, people have been faced with this situation since 6 a.m. yesterday. Moreover, I understand from a telephone call made half an hour or so ago that the stand-off continues and no one is making a move. I am pleading for an immediate move, for access to be restored and for talks to be resumed immediately.