asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) indicating a serious falling off in the tourist industry in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Industry.
9.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware of the present very serious situation in the tourist industry; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any special steps to overcome present difficulties.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. The tourist industry in all parts of the country including County Donegal has been experiencing difficulties in attracting tourist traffic since 1969. The reasons for this situation are external and outside our control, and include economic difficulties abroad. In the meantime, both Bord Fáilte and I have kept the situation under continuous review to see what effective steps could be taken to improve the position and to counteract adverse tendencies. In this regard, Deputies will recall that an additional promotional campaign in our main markets costing £395,000 was commenced by Bord Fáilte in late 1970 to give a special impetus to traffic growth in the current season.
I have arranged to meet the National Tourism Council later this afternoon for a mid-season review of traffic. The chairman and the director-general of Bord Fáilte will also be present at the meeting. In the light of the very full discussion, which I propose to have with this very representative gathering of tourist interests, the question of taking additional measures will be considered.
Would the Minister agree with hoteliers and people in Donegal when they claim that the reduction in the number of tourists visiting Donegal is due to statements and actions by Government Deputies from Donegal?
I do not think the Deputy is being very helpful, to put it mildly.
The Minister should realise that it is the Government who have not been helpful and that Government actions over the years are driving tourists away from this country. They are afraid to come here because you have turned this little country into a banana republic which is being talked about throughout the length and breadth of the world.
The Deputy's type of contribution is of absolutely no help.
Do not mind the type of contribution——
This has nothing to do with the question. Deputy L'Estrange will have to resume his seat.
We are seeking to be constructive and not destructive.
It is not we who have been destructive but the people who initiated all this and the people who stood by it.
Does the Minister really think that meeting those tourist interests this afternoon in the middle of July will do very much now for the tourist industry this year?
Consultation and assessment with the tourist interests involved appear to me to be the most practical constructive step that can be taken at this stage in regard to this problem or any other problem that may arise.
Mr. O'Donnell
In relation to Question No. 10 in my name, would the Minister not agree that his meeting the National Tourism Council today in the middle of the tourist season, when nothing can now be done, is purely a face-saving gimmick on the part of the Minister? Is it not a fact that every one of the factors which are now being thrown out as being responsible for the crisis in the tourist industry were identifiable 18 months ago and that the time when the Minister should have taken action and met the National Council was 12 months ago?
The Deputy is giving information to the House and not asking a question.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is it not also a fact that instead of facing up to this situation and doing something practical to counteract these adverse factors and to minimise their impact, the Minister has come into this House aided and abetted by Bord Fáilte, and has poured forth a continuous stream of misleading and false information? The report produced by Bord Fáilte within the past 24 hours is an indictment of the Minister's attitude to the tourist industry and, much as I regret it, unfortunately it does confirm what the Minister described as my gloomy forecasts on several occasions here. The meeting today is an absolute waste of time.
The Deputy is talking such utter nonsense that I do not intend to reply to it.