John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in thanking the witnesses for attending and giving their presentations. To all of them I say "Well done" whether in the State agencies, industry bodies or businesses in playing their part in such a huge increase in numbers in the last four years. Funding is an issue, as has been pointed out. Funding was outside everyone's control four and five years ago because the money simply was not there. Supports had to be given in a different way at that time which is where the reduction in VAT and travel tax came in. Tourism can be supported by more than just direct funding. It can be supported by some of the measures which were taken at that time. The witnesses have all referred to competitiveness and value for money, which was a major attraction for people. That is changing and has changed over the last couple of years in particular.

Can the witnesses enlarge on their previous answers to the following question? Is there now a greater opportunity for a greater spread of tourists throughout the country? Are there any figures? Mr. Quinn said that people want to come to Dublin, which is fair enough, but if the large urban areas are at bursting point, is there something we can do? I note the Wild Atlantic Way and targeted marketing. While it was a slow boil, it was wonderful. The facilities in rural areas now are way ahead of what they were three or four years ago with the greenways and everything else. Is there an opportunity for more emphasis on the value for money that can be obtained in rural areas or along the west coast in general? Are there figures to show the number of tourists coming directly to Ireland who do not come through Dublin? Dublin has been the big story, but I am interested to hear about Knock and other airports. Knock has grown over the last number of years and there are also Shannon and Cork Airports. What is the potential there to bring people into the places that can benefit the north west, Carrick-on-Shannon and other areas? Is there potential there? Can it be addressed? When we think of going abroad to particular countries, we think of going to the capital. Surely, however, it is the job of everybody involved in tourism to educate people that there is better value for money in other parts of the country.

I will not go over the questions that have already been asked on Brexit, but is there any comment on what happened yesterday in America regarding the stock market and the weakness of the dollar? Is that going to be another obstacle for 2017? Is there a danger that the growth we have seen from North America could be affected as well as the British tourism market?

I ask all the witnesses for suggestions as to what can be done by the Government. Funding has been mentioned. I also ask the witnesses what they can do. The State agencies will implement Government policy but what will the Irish Hotel Federation and the industry in general do that will ensure the continued growth in tourist numbers?