Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Breathnach raised the issue of the VAT rate and it was answered. I wish to ask about the Chinese visitor numbers and the common visa with the UK. What percentage of those who get a UK visa, which makes them eligible to come to Ireland, make the trip? What are the impediments to them coming? Mr. Gibbons referred to English tourists. Obviously Brexit will have a big impact on that trade. How much has the industry changed since sterling started devaluing? What is the plan to get those tourists back, given the likelihood that the sterling will be at the same value for quite some time?

Ireland Reaching Out was an initiative through which local communities that were not on the main tourist routes could pursue destination tourism. Through 2,000 community groups, places that would never see a tourist could identify ancestors of the diaspora and encourage people to come back. Visitors in Ireland for whatever annual festival would be able to see their family's place of origin, even it had been five or six generations ago. Given the huge scale of the diaspora, DNA and all the rest, is there any specific focus on improving that as a way of bringing tourists to locations that would never really see tourists, especially the more rural areas?

Australian tourism promotion had an idea that I am sure Mr. Gibbons has looked at. As a very cheap way of getting advertising in America, the Australians invited "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to Australia to film at the Sydney Opera House. I would not say we would want to do this in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, but I note that a relative of Con Colbert is named Stephen Colbert. He often refers to the fact that he is related to Con Colbert, who was executed in 1916. I know Tourism Ireland has pursued different initiatives like that. Mr. Michael Fassbender is another candidate. He is from Kerry.

I refer to the Red Bull Air Race held around the Rock of Cashel, which I know Tourism Ireland was involved in. The Red Bull Cliff Diving Series was held off the Aran Islands and was featured all over the world. I know budget issues are involved in bringing "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to Ireland for St. Patrick's week, but it would get free publicity which has a multiplier effect. Has Tourism Ireland looked at that approach?

On a more local issue, I note there is a new public park in Kenmare. I would like all those present to come down to visit. Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, the captain of the 1975 team, is the chairman of the initiative to get funding from Tourism Ireland to bring more tourists to Kenmare. Committee members are all more than welcome to come down and look at it.