Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

The sum of €140,000 would seem a small price to pay for sitting around the table with some of the leading players in world tourism, including some of our main competitors. Tourism will become an even greater driver of economic activity with the decline of other native industries such as agriculture and fisheries. As a wealthy country that is doing well, Ireland surely must play its role in international tourism innovation and research. We have much to give, but also much to learn. It is not doing our status as a driver of world tourism activity any good not being involved with this organisation, the recognised body for world tourism. There are benefits to be gained. Possibly the WTO might hold its annual conference in Ireland, in which case the Minister would recoup whatever investments were made. He would make important contacts with other countries which would be of benefit to business tourism interests which his Department are pushing at this time. The WTO is an official UN agency and can facilitate close working relationships with other countries.

Every day in Ireland we speak of product innovation but our own product has gone stale and is tired. We know what is happening in other countries. I know it may be read over the Internet, but it is only when one comes face to face with experts from other countries that one learns about what is happening in world tourism. The Minister has not read this issue correctly. The next Minister will have to look seriously at it. I ask the Minister to have the Secretary General of his Department, Mr. Haugh, to take a serious look at it, to review the benefits in view of the developments that have occurred within the organisation in recent years and the fact that it is driving the tourism sector across the world, Third World countries included. There are Third World countries which are members of the WTO. As we have an obligation towards least developed states, surely this would be a very important forum to which be a member, if only to provide assistance for them, given our successful experience in attracting tourists.

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