Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would just like to make a comment. It would be remiss of me not to congratulate the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and all their staff. Tourism has been a tremendous success story over the last four or five years. A large number of jobs have been created. There have been benefits to the economy. Many overseas visitors have come here.

It is a great success story and is no doubt due to issues the Minister raised, such as the reduction in VAT and the cessation of the €3 per passenger departing from an airport.

I will comment on the greenways. I come from a town that has a magnificent greenway. Unfortunately, it starts not in the town of Carlingford, but at the marine which is approximately 400 yd. north of Carlingford on the sea. That greenway is being used throughout the year. It is encouraging visitors at weekends to come and stay in Carlingford and in the villages of Omeath. Both towns have benefited greatly from the greenway. It is proposed to extend it, to Omeath and on to Newry, and eventually, perhaps not in my day, to Portadown along the Clanrye river. It has been encouraged by Newry and Mourne District Council. I would emphasis the greenways anywhere they are and congratulate the landowners involved, through whose co-operation this has happened. I invite the Minister to look at this greenway from Carlingford to Omeath, with a view to extending it from the marina to King John's Castle on the pier in Carlingford along the sea. It would have to be built up on stilts - I have seen one in Portugal done similarly. As far as greenways in part my of the world are concerned, it would be the jewel in the crown. I thank the Minister for his efforts.