The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid has reiterated his apology for any hurt caused by his reported comments on suicide.
The Minister was speaking in Co Monaghan, where he was joined by the Taoiseach Mr Ahern to launch a tourism policy document.
When questioned about the controversy caused by the reports of his comments, Mr McDaid apologised again for any hurt caused. He also insisted said he would not be resigning.
On Wednesday, the Minister issued an apology for comments in which he said people who commit suicide are "selfish bastards". He said he had been quoting a friend whose son had killed himself, and that the remarks - delivered to a teenage audience in Donegal last week - were intended to make young people reflect upon the effects of suicide on friends and family.
At the first public meeting with his party colleague since the controversy, the Taoiseach said Mr McDaid had retracted and apologised for the comments. "Surely we should accept that," Mr Ahern said.
The event this afternoon in Carrickmacross was intended to focus on Fianna Fáil’s policy on tourism, and Mr McDaid said an annual growth of five per cent in the tourist industry would be the party’s immediate policy objective.
Dr McDaid said: "We will set targets to increase overseas visitor numbers from 6.3 million to 8.5 million over the next five years and will press for a major invigoration of the European market."
He said the tourism marketing budget of almost €45 million for this year and the decision to go ahead with a second terminal in Dublin Airport pointed to the party’s commitment to the sector.
"Fianna Fáil has always recognised the very significant contribution of tourism to our economy. It was action taken by Fianna Fáil in the late 80’s and early 90’s that put the industry on the growth path that has lasted for a decade," he said.
Acknowledging the difficulties experienced last year due to foot-and-mouth and the September 11th attacks on the US, Dr McDaid said the industry had, nonetheless, performed ahead of expectations.
The Minister said Fianna Fáil was the only party in the General Election campaign to launch a separate tourism policy document, which reflected, he claimed, a lack of interest on the part of parties.