Ms Denyse Campbell:

I thank the Deputy for his comments. We talk a lot about tourism but it is sometimes forgotten that tourism is highly effective at spreading employment opportunities throughout every town and county in Ireland. Before the Covid pandemic, one person in ten was employed in the tourism sector and 70%of that employment was outside Dublin. Tourism should not be taken for granted. It is essential for employment in all the regions. It is not just a question of hospitality, hotels, guest houses and restaurants; it is also a question of local producers, local suppliers and everybody else who feeds into our businesses. Therefore, we really need to continue to support and invest in these businesses and allow them to flourish.