Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was reflected in Mr. Cawley's excellent presentation, which covered all the bases. I compliment him on it. I come from Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. In terms of tourist numbers, the north west has always been below the radar relative to other areas of the country. I fully understand that the consumer chooses.

Should the separate roles of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland be clarified for the public? Traditionally there was one tourism brand, Bord Fáilte. When people talk about tourism they still refer to Bord Fáilte, and there is some indication that people are not very clear on the fact that the two organisations, both of which perform excellently, have separate and distinct roles. Tourism Ireland does an excellent job of bringing tourists here and Fáilte Ireland ensures they are looked after well once they are here.

Mr. Cawley said there had been consolidation in the structures of Fáilte Ireland in recent years. Was it a good thing? As somebody who comes from a very strong business background I appreciate that Mr. Cawley must implement Government policy and cannot change it. Is there a question mark over how it has been rationalised? Traditionally all the stakeholders were involved at regional level with the regional boards and they were all pulling together. Admittedly, there was an internal dynamic, even within the north west, which traditionally comprises Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, although it included Cavan and Monaghan for a while. Inevitably, Donegal was the dominant county in the north west. Of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, Galway is probably the dominant county. It had a dynamic of its own in that it engaged all the stakeholders, local authorities and everybody involved. This layer seems to be missing.

In my county, the county council funds a tourism forum and officer, and the same must be true in other local authorities, but it seems bitty. As has often been pointed out to me, an American who is looking at a map of Ireland does not single out Mayo or Leitrim, and if he or she puts a hand on the map, Ireland disappears. Given that such a person does not distinguish between Dublin and the rest of the country, dispersing tourists is a difficulty for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Mr. Cawley has referred to this and it will be a challenge. While I do not want to labour the point too much, I am curious to hear Mr. Cawley's views, as somebody who comes from a very structured business background, on whether there is room for improvement.

Inevitably, the question about the primary reason for Mr. Cawley's appointment arises. I will put it in a different way. With such an impressive curriculum vitae in the business world, and coming from the world's most successful airline, why did Mr. Cawley bother? I am a great fan of Ryanair and Michael O'Leary. Mr. Cawley's primary position in Ryanair in the past 15 years was reflected in his presentation. Mr. Cawley is to be complimented on the growth of Ryanair, which has filtered through to the growth of Irish tourism. Why would Mr. Cawley want the job? He must have thought long and hard about it, and his presentation reflects that to some degree. I would like to tease it out with him. There must be something he wants to do; what is it? Given the choices he faces, what is the first thing he will do?