The Irish Events Federation (IEF) estimates that it has lost 20 per cent of its annual conference business this year because of restrictions due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The IEF's chairman, Mr Greg Manahan, said the Government should include the conference sector in its "Ireland is Open for Business" promotional campaign.

He said a confidential survey projected that total revenue this year would have been in the region of £105 million (€133 million). But a decline of more than £21 million is estimated because of the restrictions. Some 16 per cent of full-time staff had been laid off and a further 9 per cent had been put on short-time working.