asked the Minister I for Transport and Power if he is aware of the serious adverse publicity given to the nation's image abroad arising from the threatened introduction by the Government of internment without trial and the effect of this development on the next season's tourist bookings; and what measures it is proposed to take to counteract this effect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Internment without Trial.
14.
I am not so aware and I do not accept the implications for tourism in the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister aware there was serious adverse publicity, particularly during the past week, relating to the Government's notification to the Council of Europe and the internment announcements made? If the Minister is not able to answer in the affirmative to that I think we should all be interned.
I want to prevent the Deputy from being irresponsible in this matter. The fact of the matter is we have given £395,000 additional money to Bord Fáilte for promotion. This is having a substantial effect already. Bord Fáilte told me this morning that inquiries from potential visitors in all markets are up substantially on last year as of now.
The Minister told us that last year.
Is the Minister aware that the internment announcement was given on Italian radio and television in terms suggesting there was an imminent coup d'état about to take place in this country, that this caused great alarm among the Irish community and had detrimental effects on the possibility of Italian visitors coming to this country?
I do not accept that in the slightest degree.
Question No. 15.
The Minister can take my assurance for it.
I will take no assurance from Deputy FitzGerald.
The Minister can take my assurance for it.
The Deputy is not asking a question.