Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)

I also salute the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, for his enthusiasm. He is very passionate about his job.

The Tourism Research Forum is currently meeting in the Gibson Hotel. There is quite a line up speakers, including some from the IT colleges, an important area in this sector. The courses they run in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland are vital and I hope those courses will not be diminished in any way.

We would all love to be a tourist on a day like today, with the lovely sunshine. We must look at Ireland as a holiday destination for those coming from abroad and for Irish people; that is what the tourism industry is about. Those holidays are also a source of jobs and tourism generates a great deal of revenue. On Private Members' business this week, the Technical Group tabled a motion on jobs and the devastating effect job losses have been having on people and we all accept employment is central to economic growth. Some of us are extremely disappointed the State is still investing funds to honour the gambling debts of unguaranteed bondholders instead of investing the money in a job stimulus programme. I noted the Tánaiste's remarks today, however, about announcements that will be made in the near future.

Tourism provides significant employment although it is difficult to get accurate figures for this. The Central Statistics Offices gives the numbers directly employed in the hotels, restaurants, bars and catering while Fáilte Ireland's figures include those working in other aspects of tourism and the hospitality industry. Some of them are part-time, some full-time and some of the work is seasonal.

This Bill seeks to increase the level of funding that can be provided for Fáilte Ireland for capital expenditure projects. The report by Fáilte Ireland, "Tourism Product Development Strategy", stated that less support should be provided for accommodation, with more investment in tourism infrastructure. We can agree that we do not need any more hotels. Many hotels have been proactive in providing value in the breaks and programmes they are offering, a welcome relief from the astronomical prices some were charging during the economic boom. We need to make the same point about our restaurants, which charged ferocious prices in the Celtic tiger times when we were not getting value for money. Those prices did a disservice to our food industry and our great array of products, including meat, cheeses, breads, jams and honeys. The IFA's recent invitation to Oireachtas Members to sample a display of food and wares demonstrated that. The RDS Christmas craft fair also has fantastic arrays of Irish foods and other produce.

There is a strong rationale for continued investment in the tourism sector. Apart from the employment aspect, it generates taxes for the Exchequer and attracts foreign and domestic revenue. A downside of the Celtic tiger was the extent of foreign holidays and shopping trips which certain sectors of Irish society enjoyed. We saw a decline in tourist visits here, both by Irish people and foreigners. We did not provide value for money, with a consequent drop in revenue. I was disappointed to see this reflected in a survey of visitors who were asked to consider their Irish tourism experience. Very good or good value ratings fell from 62% in 2000 to 28% in 2009. The number of visitors who rated their experience as poor or very poor increased from 12% to 40% in the same period. The survey covered the cost of eating out, drinking and the general cost of living. We have had a number of reports, and it is time to move on from them and take action. Tourism numbers peaked at 7.7 million in 2007 but declined to 5.8 million last year. I hope these figures are now on a upward trend. Taxation revenue from tourism in 2009 was €1.3 billion.

I was fortunate in having parents who felt it was important to see one's own country first. We travelled the length and breadth of Ireland and became aware of what our country has to offer. We have the most amazing natural scenery - coastlines, mountains, cliffs, lakes and rivers - in all 32 counties. Our islands were neglected at various stages. I am struck by how the Blasket islanders were treated. Someone who lived there remarked to me that if a fraction of the money spent on the Blasket interpretative centre, fine as it is, had been available in the 1950s, the islanders might never have had to leave their homes. There was also a Government attempt to move people off Tory Island. Islands are a tourist attraction. We see people visiting them, creating revenue for them and seeing what they have to offer. The same is true of Gaeltacht areas.

We have historical tourist attractions such as Newgrange, which is older than the pyramids, the Céide Fields, Dún Aengus, An Grianán, Gallurus, Sceilg Mhíchíl and Clonmacnoise. Our historical tourism is extremely valuable and popular with visitors to our cities, particularly Dublin. We have wonderful museums just outside the door of Leinster House. The Hugh Lane Gallery and Trinity College are very near to Leinster House. Dublin has beautiful Georgian squares, and there are two on the north side of the city. I sometimes think politicians from abroad spend all their time on the south side of the Liffey. There are many opportunities to travel to the north side.

It is strange to think there were once plans to knock down Kilmainham Jail. I appeal for the appropriate restoration of the area surrounding the GPO, Moore Street, Moore Lane and Parnell Street, which is associated with the Easter Rising. Last week, I stood in the house in Moore Street where the leaders of the rising discussed the surrender. It was moving to be there but appalling to see the neglect of the building. Other restorations have been done very well. I note the restoration of Killarney House and I do not begrudge the millions of euro spent on it. However, I hope the locations associated with the Easter Rising will get the same attention. I compliment the guides in historical sites. Their training and personalities are wonderful.

Our literature has brought in cultural tourists. They follow in the steps of Patrick Kavanagh along the Grand Canal, Oscar Wilde, Seán O'Casey or James Joyce. Dublin City Libraries are currently running a terrific series of events in a variety of venues in Dublin commemorating great writing. The Four Courts will be the venue for an event called Scales of Justice, which will involve our modern crime writers such as Declan Hughes and Stuart Neville. I should also mention our theatres. The Dublin Fringe Festival, which is a great outlet for new talent, has just finished and the Dublin Theatre Festival is beginning. These promote Ireland as a tourist destination.

Every part of Ireland has done its best in organising local festivals. On the north side of Dublin we have the Five Lamps Arts Festival and Phizzfest. In my own area of East Wall our forthcoming history week will commemorate Seán O'Casey who lived in East Wall and North Wall. In central Dublin many communities are planning their Hallowe'en festivals. I am conscious of how much we have to offer. The Irish Film Board and the Arts Council have all contributed.

Sport is also important. The Minister of State attended this year's Dublin Horse Show, which had a prize fund of almost €1 million. Golf, horse-racing, surfing championships in Donegal, the Rose of Tralee Festival and the Eurovision Song Contest all showcase Ireland and do wonders for ourselves as well as for the tourist industry.

A festival will be held in Cork this weekend called, Folk the Recession. Great Irish artists will play there. Our music is another major selling point. Other selling points include the range of accommodation we have, from luxury hotels to caravans, self-catering accommodation, farmhouses and our famous bed and breakfast establishments. Our weather is also a selling point. People do not come here for the sun. I recently met someone from one of the gulf states. He told me that when the temperature reaches the forties and fifties in those countries, all middle and upper income people leave for Europe. Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland could be proactive in those states.

Our transport system has improved immensely. The coach system is excellent, although our rail system can be expensive, depending on where one is going. Another selling point is our lack of distance. We are never too far from anything. In the United States, for example, one has a sense that each state has a different feeling. One can come to Ireland and get a sense of the whole country. We are making progress in providing facilities for people with disabilities but we cannot lose sight of this area.

Our current pub culture comes in for much negative criticism but our traditional pubs were places of meeting and conversation. They were not the super-pubs which are associated with binge drinking or with stag parties and hen parties, which do not give a positive impression of Ireland. Our biggest selling point is our people and the way we engage with visitors. Our people will get us out of the recession.

I am glad to have had the opportunity to give a whistlestop tour of what Ireland means to me, as a person who holidays in Ireland, and of its attractions to other people.

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