The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is being called upon to head a special task force on tourism to tackle setbacks caused by the foot-and-mouth crisis.
While the domestic market and the conference and events markets were hit at the beginning of the crisis, it has now become clear that people from abroad "are simply not booking holidays in Ireland", Ms Breeda-Moynihan Cronin (Lab) chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism said.
She said the Government's approach to tourism has been "half-hearted" to date and she called on it to pay the same attention to tourism as it had to sport.
"The Taoiseach has managed to front some of the key developments in relation to sport which fall under the remit of Minister McDaid. His involvement in the GAA grant and with Stadium Ireland compares starkly with the Taoiseach's entire lack of interest in the crisis facing the tourism industry."
Both Mr Ahern and his Cabinet should play a direct role in marketing by visiting and promoting Ireland in the countries from which most of our tourism trade emanates, she said.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of anglers in Cork and Kerry are not fishing, and "the vast majority of rivers are closed down", according to the South Western Regional Fisheries Board.
However, Mr James Doyle, who is the IFA representative on the board, said there was "a danger of overreacting" and of the cure being worse than the disease.
Assembly points where anglers could avail of disinfectant would allow them to get back in business. While it might be inconvenient for anglers, at least such common assembly points would allow angling to take place, he said.
