Two American tourists are seriously injured after a head on collision with the car of Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, in Killarney, Co Kerry this afternoon.
The collision happened shortly after 2.30 p.m near Muckross House.
Emergency services had to cut one of the tourists from their car before bringing them to Kerry General Hospital, where their condition is described as 'serious'.
The minister broke his finger in the accident, while his secretary and driver also suffered minor injuries. All three were brought to hospital for treatment.
Mr Ó Cuív's car burst into flames shortly after the occupants managed to get out.
Gardaí are examining the possibility that the rental car, in which the tourists were travelling, strayed on to the wrong side of the road as it was coming around a corner, before hitting the oncoming Volvo in which the minister was travelling.