John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to learn that all our southern Deputies have visited the west. I can inform them that I have visited counties Kerry and Cork. When I was in County Kerry during the summer, I met a Galway person who said the last time I was there I was bringing the Sam Maguire down. Bringing the Sam Maguire to Kerry is like bringing sand to the desert but I did it. As my father comes from County Cork, we visit that county regularly. That reminds us how small is Ireland and how we can help each other.

I sincerely thank our witnesses, Mr. Peter Hynes, Ms Joanne Grehan, Mr. John James O'Hara and Mr. Jerome Casey, for their thought provoking contributions. This meeting has been arranged in the context of the ongoing review of the tourism industry. While some of the witnesses indicated that they have made submissions directly on the review, the committee decided it was important to get a feel for their views because we will be sharing our own thoughts with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Today's presentations were very helpful in that regard.