John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I will answer the final question first. The group established to examine the tourism industry and bring forward specific recommendations made more than 70 recommendations in its final report, New Horizons for Irish Tourism An Agenda for Action. This includes the question of interaction with State agencies, including local authorities, with a view to improving the product which also includes signage.

The implementation group I subsequently established engaged with the authorities, agencies and Departments concerned with a view to progressing the recommendations contained in the original report. I recently appointed a new implementation group which will not be as intensive as the previous group but which, nonetheless, will monitor progress to ensure the recommendations are implemented.

The previous implementation group had a considerable degree of success and I expect the same level of success from this group. Therefore, a group is in place which has the objective of liaising with State agencies, local authorities and Departments to ensure the recommendations contained in New Horizons for Irish Tourism An Agenda for Action are implemented. It is pointless to have such an elaborate report if it is not implemented. It is a waste of time and money. This report is being implemented. It is good value for money and is not a waste of time.

Regarding how the request for €1 billion in the ITIC report compares with the past, I imagine during the past ten years between the public and private sectors anything up to €4 billion was spent on building up the Irish tourism product. That is a ballpark figure. The figure mentioned by ITIC may not be achieved in the context of what will be provided in the new national development plan. However, we will seek to have an elaborate tourism policy and strategy and funding for it contained in the plan.

It is important for the outcome of the analysis taking place to be input into the plan before we state precisely what we seek. Our plans will be ambitious and we will seek to improve the product considerably. We do so because we face increasing competitiveness from eastern European countries in the immediate future. If we are to continue with the progress we have made, and I am encouraged by the early results for this year which show a 13% increase, we must continue to improve and provide a quality holiday experience.

See this speech in context