Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

The Minister is quite clearly announcing the winding up of the county tourism committees. The Minister once served on a local authority. Local authorities have an important role to play in tourism not only in developmental work but in setting charges and rates. Unless there is a strong voice for tourism in a county like Kerry, tourism interests will not be represented. A large percentage of Kerry's revenue comes from tourism enterprises, and these will no longer be represented in decision-making in our county. I do not know who is advising the Minister on this matter, but I appeal to him to review his approach towards county tourism committees. I ask him to further review their effectiveness. I agree that they must be given a structure and a raison d'être. If I were to get an opportunity in this area I would make them part of my priority in the entire tourism network.

Western regions are currently losing out to eastern regions in terms of tourism. If we want to do something about this, the dynamic could come from the county pride and structure. These structures already exist and they influence every part of local authority areas. The most important structure in the country is the local authorities. The Minister is dismissing it as regards tourism development and that is unfortunate.

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