asked the Minister for Transport and Power the tourist traffic returns for July, 1971.
12.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Industry.
11.
Mr. O'Donnell
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the likely prospects for the Irish tourist industry in the coming months.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
On 20th July, 1971, I gave the House a report on tourism based on traffic returns for the first six months of the year. I am informed by Bord Fáilte that the up-dating of the information in that report will not be possible until the results of the board's survey of tourist traffic in July and the prospects for the coming months are available later this month.
Mr. O'Donnell
Could the Minister say whether or not Bord Fáilte and the other State companies engaged in tourism have any special plans to generate increased traffic and if so what are the plans?
I have already indicated to the House that we are examining proposals at the moment for next year in this respect and I would not be at all as alarmist as the Deputy has been in regard to the trends in the future.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is the Minister aware that the National Tourism Council have had discussions with Bord Fáilte and other interests with a view to introducing a special off-season package particularly aimed at the market in Britain? If this is so, could the Minister say what is the attitude of the Government? Are they going to give the special finance necessary for this?
The Deputy is overelaborating the situation. What the Deputy is talking about is under way.
Is it not a fact that the Minister is postponing an assessment of the situation and that he will be able to put it off now until the Dáil meets again? Is the Minister aware that in one midland hotel, which has always been full at this time of the year, when asked last week if they had 14 single rooms available, were able to answer: "Yes, come along"? Is that not an indication that fewer people are coming?
I will not reply here to top of the head assertions of that kind.
These are not top of the head assertions.
I gave on 20th July a full report on the matter to the House and I will have a full report to give to the House also at the end of the season when we resume, and in my view it will be an excellent report.
Is the Minister aware of the effect of reports that have been emanating from foreign journalists based in Dublin? They have given people abroad the impression that the trouble is not all over?
That has nothing to do with the question.
If we have not tourists coming in it is because of reports coming from those foreign journalists based in Dublin. Will the Minister look into that?
Deputy Coogan is talking a lot more sense than some of the front bench Deputies of his party. This is a point I am looking into.
Will the Minister now say what steps he is taking to counteract this?
We have to eradicate this Dublin based Press opinion.
(Interruptions.)
Are the leading articles upsetting the Minister today?
They never did the Deputy's party much good anyhow.
Members of the House will be complaining at the end of Questions that questions have not been answered. There are 187 questions for answer and Deputies ought to allow them to proceed. I am calling Question No. 13.