Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These passengers have already gone through security in Kerry Airport and I can assure the Minister that a flea would not get past the security there. They are good and thorough and have been well-funded with some good equipment.

Car rental is another massive challenge facing Irish tourism and I raised it in the Dáil last week. It is a factor that is particularly detrimental to rural tourism more than it would be to short city breaks. Awful prices are being charged. I went on a few of the car hire websites last week and we are talking Monopoly money, which is not acceptable. I accept the principle of supply and demand but just because a price can be charged does not mean it should be charged. That is an area that needs to be addressed. We are spending a fortune marketing the Wild Atlantic Way abroad, for example, yet when people come here they cannot afford to rent vehicles.

One thing I tried to progress when I was in the Department, and I came up against brick walls, was the concept of a hop-on, hop-off Wild Atlantic Way bus service. It is a linear route, so it would not be very difficult logistically. It would be a very doable project from a sustainability perspective, a tourist experience point of view as well as from the perspective of local engagement and local benefit. It would be something that would greatly benefit both the communities and the visitors. Certainly, in the context of the situation where people cannot rent cars at present, it would be a very sought-after service. I cannot see how it cannot be done. It is very possible to do it with a few daily services running each way. Is this something on which the Minister could throw her shoulder to the wheel, if she will pardon the pun, and try to get the bus moving? It would be a massive addition to the Wild Atlantic Way. That is one matter I ask the Minister to bear in mind.

I have questions on two other matters. The Carlingford cove initiative is in the programme for Government. When I was in the Department I believed it was an important one to progress. There is a vast offering along the eastern seaboard, perhaps more so from a walking and cycling point of view than as a driving route. There are all the peninsulas on the west coast, but that is not the case on the east coast so it probably lends itself better to walking and cycling. Is there any progress on that in respect of Fáilte Ireland?

Another initiative was the concept of the invitation follow-up to The Gathering. Is there any progress on that? It is something that would be, perhaps, useful and timely considering the rebuilding process we are in after Covid-19.