The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation has urged conference organisers not to cancel their bookings. Dr McDaid's call yesterday came after the Irish Management Institute called off its two-day annual meeting due to be held in Killarney next month.
Such cancellations sent a "negative signal to other areas", he said. Such events were categorised as "low to no risk" by the expert advisory group on foot-and-mouth. "It is important for the economy of rural Ireland that conference organisers work through the expert group and abide by the guidelines," Dr McDaid said. The three teacher unions were going ahead with their conferences.
Mr Barry Kenny, the IMI's chief executive, said the decision was taken in the light of the financial risk involved in running a £300,000 event which might be cancelled. It would be helpful if some insurance could be provided to cover costs. The Minister said it would not be possible for the Government to indemnify such events.
At a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation yesterday, Irish holidaymakers were urged to make a "patriotic gesture" and spend their money at home. The tourism industry was not nearly as well organised as the "cohesive" agricultural sector, the committee agreed. Banks and other financial institutions were urged not to put pressure on clients who had made "enormous investments" in expectation of a good return.
The State should be asked to play its part by providing incentives to hotels and restaurants to hold on to staff through the difficult months ahead. Local authorities should be directed by the Minister for the Environment to defer rate demands until the crisis was over.
The tourist industry wanted concrete action from the Oireachtas, the committee heard, to offset misleading propaganda urging people from Britain and Northern Ireland in particular not to come to Ireland.