Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two matters, the first of which is the issue of the closure of Lowcostholidays. While it seems fine that people are being refunded, there are two elements in this regard. While there are those who booked their all-in package of flight and hotel accommodation, those who booked their own hotel accommodation are not entitled to anything. The legislation was enacted back in 1983 but contains nothing to cover those who booked their accommodation directly through any of those companies. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister because it must be reviewed. More than 15,000 people in Ireland have been affected by the Lowcostholidays fiasco but more than half of them will not be entitled to anything because they booked their accommodation directly through online companies.

The second matter pertains to the threat of ash dieback disease, which affects the making of hurleys. Everyone in Ireland is familiar with hurling, as all counties are involved in it, and it is great to see so many children and young people out playing it. It has been recorded that this disease has been discovered in trees in 19 counties in Ireland. It can be spread by someone walking through the forest or can be transmitted through the air. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine because it affects us all.