Mr. Pádraig Ó Flannagáin:

In regard to the data on the 800,000 visitors and the €105 million benefit to the region, we in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann were very heartened by this data because prior to that the contribution had never been quantified. The research was carried out by Tourism Ireland, a body that is entirely independent from the comhaltas. That independence is hugely significant. Furthermore, Tourism Ireland has expertise in areas such as market surveys and numbers of people attending events. It was hugely significant from our point of view that this particular information became available.