Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

Time will tell whether I use all the time available to me. Having listened to Deputy Byrne, can I suggest a skiing industry be developed in the mountains he mentioned? It sounds like they have potential. I have to say I would be a little scared to go up them after hearing what the Deputy had to say. I do not like the idea that I might get caught on them.

I intend to vote in favour of this very good Bill. However, I would prefer if the cap was raised above the €150 million level proposed in the Bill. The country is short of money, obviously, but money is being spent on things we could do without. The footpath outside my house seems to be replaced every couple of years. No one asks for this to be done, but there is always money for it to be done. I would like the level of investment in the tourism industry to be ramped up beyond €150 million. The additional amount to be spent will be just over €100 million, because €43 million of the limited €65 million fund has already been spent. I would like this sum to be increased further. There is actually money available. We have lovely footpaths, as I said, and one would never have a problem getting anywhere on them. The problem is that when one uses them, there are not enough places to go to. It would be better to concentrate a little more on developing the destination, rather than the route to it.

When I learned I had to talk about the Bill for up to 20 minutes, I wondered what I could say about it for such a length of time. I suppose I would have no problem in talking for 20 minutes if I were to expand on its relevance to many other areas, as other Deputies seem to be doing.

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