Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is more than ten years since the launch of the concept of marketing the island of Ireland in a tourism sense. This concept will stand up to any test because neither Government can allow it to fail. As somebody who gets the occasional opportunity to walk around a golf course, I see the need for a massive effort this year to promote the island of Ireland for next year. Many of the links courses along the west coast have experienced decreases of 2,000 rounds of golf by American visitors due to the fall in the dollar and because Americans do not travel during presidential election years. We know who these people are and I suggest that the authorities in Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland should put their heads together with a view to launching a campaign to recover that ground next year. We are competing against Scotland and other countries. In the context of quality, we can be justly proud that golf courses in County Donegal and Northern Ireland are making arrangements for future Irish Open competitions but if incentives were provided now by the Six Counties and the Republic, they would pay dividends.

Were discussions held on the matter raised by Deputy Reilly and referred to by the Minister for Health and Children during our debate on cancer services, namely, that cross-Border co-operation on cancer services should have been much better, whether between Letterkenny and Altnagelvin or Enniskillen and Sligo? That seems to have been the reason that the national cancer strategy opted for a satellite unit in Letterkenny on a geographical basis. Has the Taoiseach a view on that given that health crosses all borders? Both Governments should give serious consideration to this matter with a view to providing services for all patients, irrespective of from where they come.

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