February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eileen Murphy
The message is clear: Ireland of the welcomes is alive and kicking — and open for business.
A group of Irish government representatives, headed by the Minister for Tourism Dr. James McDaid, spent last week traveling across the U.S, spreading the word that the foot-and-mouth-disease crisis gripping much of Western Europe has been successfully contained in the Republic.
At a luncheon for travel industry professionals at New York’s Le Cirque 2000 restaurant, McDaid said that the Irish government’s swift response to the single case of FMD found in County Louth had saved the country’s tourism and food industries.
"The outbreak, which was caused by the smuggling of animals, was isolated immediately," said McDaid, referring to last week’s arrest of accused smuggler John Walsh. The 50-year-old livestock dealer, who admitted to importing infected sheep to Northern Ireland and later to a farm in the South, surrendered to gardai at Dublin airport.
When the case of FMD was found at a farm in County Louth last February, the authorities moved swiftly to contain the spread of the disease.
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"The Irish government took absolutely no chances," McDaid said. "We put precautionary programs into action, and doubled the quarantine period of two weeks, just to be sure.
"We have had no further cases. The European Union has given Ireland the ‘All clear.’ "
McDaid admitted that the government’s cautious approach had had unintended consequences from a public relations perpective. The decision to postpone the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin sent a message to American tourists that something was seriously wrong in Ireland.
"However, postponing the festival was the right decision at the time. If we had to do it over, we’d do it again," said McDaid. He noted that the festival has been rescheduled for May 18-20.
The Irish tourism industry has been profoundly affected by the perception of an FMD crisis.
"Many travel consumers have been confused by news reports on the issue," he said.
The public’s perception of an FMD outbreak in Ireland has threatened both the country’s lucrative tourism and food export industries. Tourism accounts for 4.5 percent of Ireland’s Gross Domestic Product and employs one in 12 workers in Ireland.
Particularly hard hit have been hotels and guest houses, which have reported a large number of cancellations and vacancies for the usually busy spring and summer months. Airlines have reduced spring and summer fares in hopes of attracting customers.
The Irish government has harnessed some major star power to dispel any lingering misgivings about Ireland’s safety as a vacation destination. Irish American actor Martin Sheen, who portrays the president in NBC’s hit drama "The West Wing," will lend his voice to a series of Bord Failte ads, and superstar rockers U2 have posted a positive message on their website, www.U2.com.
"This is a ridiculous misunderstanding," Bono wrote. "We would like to tell everyone that Ireland is a perfectly safe place for a vacation.
"All of us in the band live and work there. It’s a great place for a vacation and we hope everyone will continue to visit."
McDaid said he feels confident that Ireland will escape the crisis unscathed.
"Our job is to let everyone know that Ireland is open for business," he said. "Our food is as safe as ever, the country is as welcoming as ever.
"This has been a little blip on the radar. Irish tourism is in good hands."