Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Deputy Mary Hanafin on her appointment to the important brief of tourism, culture and sport. There is a big tourism market and great potential to be tapped into. I know that she will apply her skills to that. Based on her track record in the education and social welfare portfolios, we can look forward to that potential being realised.

Many people are experiencing difficulties in obtaining passports at the moment. In addition, the travel plans of many Irish people abroad are being inhibited because of the current difficulties. We need a speedy resolution to the problem, so I call on the trade union leadership to come back in line and give this service to the people. Public service is about providing services to people, not the other way around. In this day and age, it is not acceptable to deny people their constitutional right to avail of a passport.

The Irish holiday experience has been promoted far and wide. We provide a high quality holiday experience. In my own constituency in County Limerick we have some excellent hotels, bed and breakfast establishmentss and guest houses which provide a high quality product to visitors. We must take every opportunity to promote them.

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