asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has taken any steps to correct a recent radio report on tourism which was described by him in the Dáil as erroneous; and, if not, why.
24.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourism Radio Report.
23.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will comment on a report that, despite his statement in the Dáil on 16th June that Bord Fáilte was going to correct a report on tourist prospects which he had described as erroneous, the board had told a Press inquirer that it was not going to correct anything and had no statement to issue on this particular matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
I replied to a number of questions on 16th June about this year's tourist trade and the prospects for the rest of the season. My reply was based on the results of an assessment which Bord Fáilte had conducted with the co-operation of transport companies, hoteliers and other tourism interests.
Earlier, a Radio Telefís Éireann news bulletin had reported comments on the tourist situation which were stated to have been made by a representative of the Irish Hotels Federation. I had checked with Bord Fáilte who had assured me that the position as I explained it to the Dáil was, in the board's view, an accurate one, based on the best information available. Accordingly, when a Deputy referred to the report broadcast by RTE, I described the report as erroneous.
I would point out too that the position as explained by me to the House had already been published generally following a Bord Fáilte news release a week earlier.
Would the Minister tell the House how he misinformed us that Bord Fáilte were going to correct the report when Bord Fáilte did not correct it and said that they had nothing to correct?
Bord Fáilte had already informed me that morning that the report was erroneous and they themselves during the week beforehand had also put the whole tourist situation into perspective which made the report which appeared on RTE completely irrelevant and erroneous.
I note the Minister's second irrelevant statement. He told the House that Bord Fáilte were going to correct the report and Bord Fáilte did not correct it and they said they had nothing to correct.
Bord Fáilte had already informed me that the report was erroneous.
That does not explain why the Minister told this House that they were going to correct it. They did not correct it and they said they had nothing to correct.
It would have been superfluous for Bord Fáilte, an top of their statement the previous week and on top of my assurance to the House, to add anything else.
If it was, why did the Minister say they were going to do something superfluous?
They told me that morning that they would but they did not. That is all there is to it. There is no mystery about it.
Is the Minister saying that the board informed him that they were going to correct it?
I am calling Question No. 25.
I informed the Deputy that the board informed me that morning that the report was erroneous and I took it on myself to presume that they presumed that my reply in the House would suffice and they had no further comment to offer.
The Minister took it on himself to correct something they had not said and misinformed the House accordingly?
No. If the Deputy checks with Bord Fáilte——
(Interruptions.)
Bluffing.