Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for arriving late. I welcome the witnesses and commend everyone involved in one of the success stories of the economy. As a Kerryman, I note the huge importance of tourism to my county. I am sure the witnesses are well aware of the recent launch of the Kerry county tourism strategy plan, which is fantastic. I was at the launch in St. John's in Listowel. The document is a template for other local authorities nationally. Our CEO, Moira Murrell, and her team have involved all the players, including hoteliers, restaurateurs and those involved in tourism transport. Everyone has pulled together, which is what it is all about in tourism. It is about a co-operative effort. Like every other county, Kerry will look for its fair share of grant aid, but Kerry people in tourism are proven to be prepared to muck in themselves. They put their money, time and effort up. The launch was a wonderful occasion and I would like to see it replicated nationally.

I have a bit of a bugbear on an issue that this may not be the forum to address. However, I am not a member of the agriculture committee. A delegation from Horse Racing Ireland recently attended the committee. I am a fan of horse racing which is huge for the tourism economy. I would like to see Fáilte Ireland interface to a greater extent with Horse Racing Ireland on the best way to maximise our racing industry from a tourism point of view. Horse Racing Ireland has a particular focus on its own work, but there is a wider picture out there in and around racing, whether it is the major festivals at Punchestown, Galway and Listowel, or the classic meetings. One thing has bothered me. Listowel has a long-established racing festival. It is over 150 years old and the seven-day meeting draws huge money and visitors into Kerry during the shoulder season. At the tail-end of that week last year, Horse Racing Ireland put on a flagship flat programme in Dublin at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown with prize money of over €1 million on each day. The whole attendance there would not equal the attendance on the big day at Listowel, which is the Wednesday on which the Kerry national is run. While I am in the wrong forum, I plead with tourism interests to get hold of Horse Racing Ireland to see if it can get the overall picture. It is not all about horses, but about the economy also. Perhaps, that is something that could be taken up.

Another issue that I am sure has been mentioned is Dublin's hotel capacity and pricing. We are in danger of destroying tourism in the city. There is a Rod Stewart concert coming up on Friday week, which I know because my wife is a fan. I am lucky in that regard because I have an apartment in Dublin.

However, I know lots of people from the country who must stay as far away as Portlaoise as they cannot get accommodation closer to Dublin. There is something wrong with such a situation. The availability of Airbnb accommodation hides the problem. If this matter develops into a planning situation down the line then it will give the hoteliers a bigger stronghold.

The impact of Brexit on tourism has been mentioned. From our experience in Kerry the British tourist, in particular, is a good spending tourist who loves Ireland, its fishing and camping. I hope there is a Brexit strategy and I ask the witnesses to address the matter.