asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the total income estimated for tourism earnings for 1979 indicating (a) the estimated income from the home holiday based section of this industry and (b) the income from Britain; if these estimates are now being revised and if so, the nature and figures of any such revision.

10.

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the details of any estimates prepared in January 1979 in respect of total tourism earnings for 1979; if these estimates are now being revised; and if so, the extent and nature of such revision.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

The preparation and updating of targets for tourism revenue is a matter for Bord Fáilte and the projections for 1979 were set out in the board's Tourism Plan, 1979-83 prepared by them for the trade. The target shown for total tourism for 1979 was £432.9 million, including home holidays and carrier receipts. The revenue targets from home holidaymakers and British tourists were £115.6 million and £80.6 million respectively. The figures were prepared in 1978 terms.

These targets are subject to review by Bord Fáilte and some revision will be inevitable. The board are monitoring developments but are not in a position at this stage to state the extent and nature of the revision necessary.

Will the Minister accept that people involved in the tourism industry, in all its aspects, have been seriously affected by the petrol shortage and the postal dispute? No later than yesterday, the chairman of the Irish Hotels Federation forecast that there will be a loss of £50 million this year——

The Deputy is giving information, not seeking it.

Does the Minister accept what the chairman of the Hotels Federation has said, that there will be a loss of £50 million? Will he agree there is a serious situation, and will he tell us of the plans he has to try to remedy the position so that the industry can carry on?

I have pointed out that Bord Fáilte are monitoring developments but they are not in a position at this stage to state the extent of the problem. I have told the Deputy that Bord Fáilte are doing everything possible to improve the situation, particularly in relation to petrol vouchers and advertising. Now that the postal strike is over, further efforts will be made to attract visitors.

I have been reading all the newspapers——

Will the Deputy ask a question?

I put it to the Minister that from the reports seen in the leading national newspapers it would appear that the only amount spent by Bord Fáilte on publicity has been about £130,000.

The Deputy is taking up Question Time by making statements.

Bord Fáilte have spent only £130,000 and is the Minister satisfied this amount is sufficient? Does he intend to communicate with our embassies abroad and with CTT, the IDA and our other agencies to try to improve the situation, where a loss of probably 20 per cent——

The Deputy can be assured that every possible effort is being made by me, by Bord Fáilte and by everybody connected with the industry to improve the situation. As I have already stated, the available statistics show that the numbers of visitors and of cars entering the country in the first five months of the year, that is up to the end of May, was higher than the corresponding situation this time last year. On the other hand, I am not trying to mislead the House. There is a down-turn caused by adverse publicity relating to the communications difficulties as has been mentioned here already, and in connection with petrol supplies. These have affected advance bookings. We cannot expect that the increase recorded in the early part of the year will be maintained. Nevertheless, we are doing our utmost in the circumstances to ensure that the information in relation to the petrol situation, which has improved very much, and in relation to the Post Office situation, will be relayed to other countries to ensure that people who would still wish to come here and who might be on two minds as to whether to come or not will come. The petrol situation has improved very considerably, as everybody can see—you do not see any queues at present—and the postal strike is over. In all these circumstances the opportunity is there to encourage more people to come to this country and I have no doubt that we will be successful in all the efforts we are making.

Is the figure mentioned satisfactory? Do the Minister's Department intend to allocate to Bord Fáilte further sums for a publicity campaign to show the good side of the situation now?

A worth-while publicity campaign is being carried on at present.

Does the Minister——

Question No. 11. The Deputy cannot continue this contempt for the Chair.

The Chair has shown contempt as regards the questions I was asking.

The Deputy will not make any such statements regarding the Chair. He rises in his place, ignores the Chair and directs statements across——

When I went to ask my first supplementary question you, Sir, interrupted me. When I asked my second question you stopped me.

If the Deputy wishes to continue in that strain I will have to ask him to leave the House.