Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would have thought it would have warranted a comment in the opening statement only because the transformation in public transport will be huge. I live in County Louth and I am delighted that Drogheda and Dundalk are mentioned in that plan. The tourist corridor North and South is hugely beneficial. There are many good things happening that were worthy of commentary in the witnesses' statement, notwithstanding any criticism they might wish to express. I say that fairly and objectively. My point is that this is about working together, as Mr. Pratt said. From this committee's perspective, it is about the way forward.

I very much welcome the witnesses' submission and I hope that, with the consent of the committee, we will have further meetings on tourism. The Minister is due to announce the greenways investment shortly, which will be hugely beneficial. I saw mention recently of a possible greenway between Limerick and Dublin and the water infrastructure improvements that may or may not happen. The tourism industry should be very much pushing for that. I am not saying the witnesses would not do that.

The questions about the Dublin Airport runway and the impact of Brexit are hugely important. I would hope we will have the Minister, Deputy Ross, and the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, before this committee.

If it is fair, we would like the witnesses to keep us updated on how they believe we can assist them in their objectives but the key point is, as they said, working together. That is the only way forward.

New initiatives, ideas and products are needed because the old ways do not work anymore.

I would like to make one more point. The witnesses were right to mention the opening hours of OPW facilities. During the week, someone complained to me that there is no access by car after a certain time to a lovely facility in Oldbridge, County Meath. It does not make sense that people have to park on the road. The witnesses are right when they suggest we need new thinking in this regard.

I congratulate Mr. O'Mara Walsh and Mr. Pratt on their important and beneficial report, which represents a roadmap for us to follow. I do not know whether they would like to make any concluding points.