A meeting of Oireachtas members to discuss the crisis in the tourism industry in the wake of terrorist attacks on the US finally took place yesterday, three weeks after it had to be abandoned because too few TDs and senators turned up.
The episode had proved embarrassing for Fianna Fβil in particular, with not one member of the party having turned up to the original meeting to hear presentations from Board Fβilte and the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation on the crisis facing the industry.
However, yesterday the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, addressed the adjourned meeting of the joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation. He said the tragic events of September 11th represented a serious blow to Irish tourism, which was just beginning to recover from the effects of restrictions imposed to prevent the possible spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
"The situation has been further complicated due to the American Airlines crash on November 12th," he said. Dr McDaid said Bord Fβilte was forecasting an overall reduction in visitor numbers this year of up to 10 per cent.
This represented a loss of up to 598,000 visitors and a loss of foreign revenue earnings of up to £233 million (€296 million).
"Unlike the FMD crisis, which to some extent was within our own control, there is little that Ireland can do to influence current international events," he said.
"I believe that the level of tourism marketing activity this year, both internationally and domestically, has been on an unprecedented scale and that to expend any further funds at this stage would be very questionable in terms of potential benefits," he added.
However, he said the European Commission had this week agreed to a £100 million Tourism Product Investment Scheme for the BMW and south and east regions which he would launch in the near future.
Mr Brendan Leahy, chief executive of the Tourist Industry Confederation, told the committee many tour operators were seriously concerned about their ability to survive until an upturn could be achieved.
"No business relief measures have been forthcoming to help them ride out this particular storm," he complained.
He said the tourist industry was greatly concerned about the future of Aer Lingus.
Mr Niall Reddy, acting chief executive of Bord Fβilte, said the loss of air capacity to and from the State posed a very serious threat.
"The outstanding success in recent years of low-cost air carriers has been further highlighted by recent events. It is the strong view of Bord Fβilte that the range of destinations served by such carriers needs to be extended".