Vol. 353 No. 5
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the great difficulty endured by the tourism sector, in the south and south-west because of the curtailment of ferry services out of Cork port; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the serious concern of tourist interests in Kerry at the decline of business resulting from the loss of suitable ferry service into Cork during the 1984 tourist season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
I do not accept the implications in the Deputies' questions. The latest indicators available to Bord Fáilte suggest that overall tourist numbers for the period January to August in the Cork-Kerry region are up this year compared with the same period in 1983.
Would the Minister accept that there has been a ferry service out of Cork since the time of Queen Victoria and that it took the Coalition to discontinue that service? Can he give an indication of the numbers of passengers and vehicles that were carried on that service in the past five years and does he not regard the curtailment of the service as a stab in the back for tourism in the west and south-west?
What about an air service to and from Knock?
Deputy Farrelly can be assured that that service, when in operation, will bring people in, too.
Questions relating to the ferry service and addressed to the Minister for Communications appear on the Order Paper. I do not presume to take responsibility for answering questions in relation to the ferry service.
Since the Minister is not aware of the figures that apply to his Department, will he accept that an average of 100,000 passengers and 20,000 vehicles were carried each year on that ferry service during the past ten years? Would he not regard the curtailment of a service of that extent to be very serious in terms of tourism in the west and south-west?
I applaud the efforts of the statutory bodies and the private interests in Cork and Swansea who have set themselves the task of reestablishing the ferry service. I wish them well but my position and the position of Bord Fáilte is that we have a statutory responsibility to promote tourism for the Republic as a whole and that, obviously, includes the Cork-Kerry area.
What is the point in promoting tourism if we curtail the means of bringing tourists into the country?
I am disappointed that the Minister choose to take the two questions together. The Minister has told us that tourist revenue for the Cork-Kerry region for this year showed an increase on that for the previous year. These figures are disputed. In 1983, 100,000 visitors and 20,000 vehicles were brought in on the ferry. We are now seeking a commitment that the ferry service will be reinstated. The Minister is aware of the very important meeting that is due to take place in the morning in that regard.
The Deputy is not entitled to make a speech at Question Time.
Is the Minister prepared to give a commitment to reinstate the ferry service?
There are questions on the Order Paper in this regard which are addressed to another Minister. The Deputy will have to await the replies to those questions.
I thank the Minister for the encouragement he has expressed in this matter to those concerned but he is aware of the situation in the tourist industry. Is he aware that in Cork last Monday Deputy Bruton indicated that the Government are abrogating their responsibility for providing a ferry to bring tourists to the south-west region? Is the Minister not aware of that? Will he use his influence——
That is not what I said.
Read the record.
That is right; read it. The Deputy did not read The Cork Examiner.
The Minister indicated to all and sundry that the provision of a ferry for Cork was not included in the famous plan.
That is a statement, not a question.
I am asking the Minister of State if he is aware of the statement made by the Minister in Cork last Monday. Will he extend his wishes for us to succeed to his Minister?
When we come to deal with Question No. 160 that will be relevant.
Does the Minister of State believe that having proper access to this country is a fundamental necessity for the tourist industry? The Minister of State is nodding his head. I take it he does.
Since my appointment as Minister of State I have said that the three criteria I see for the development of tourism are extensive marketing and promotion, proper access by sea and air, value for money and high standards on the part of those involved in the industry.
Can I take it that the Minister is giving a commitment that he will use his influence to have a car ferry service reopened in Cork? Say "yes".
Look at Deputy Bruton. He is nodding to the Minister of State. It is all right to say "yes".
