Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

Previous speakers have done their bit to promote tourism in their regions. It was a pity there were not more people present to hear them. I have heard great things about County Kerry, even from my two colleagues from County Clare. I must add my bit. Deputy Corcoran Kennedy did her bit for County Offaly.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, who has travelled throughout Ireland promoting tourism. He has been an excellent ambassador for domestic tourism. I do not know whether it is because he is in office, but the figures for the first seven months of the year look good.

Tourism is important to our economy, particularly in the middle of this recession. The industry generates approximately €4.8 billion in business, amounting to some 5.5% of GDP. Between full-time, part-time and seasonal employment, it employs the equivalent of 145,000 full-time jobs or one in 12 people at work at the moment. This is an important factor. The recent CSO figures on the number of overseas visitors are encouraging. This is despite the fact that we have had some bad weather. Today is beautiful and many tourists are around Dublin. The ash crisis was a factor early last year, but we have done well, in particular in the US, UK and European markets. There is no room for complacency and we have a great deal of work to do to increase numbers next year but we are moving in the right direction.

On a positive note, the Government has introduced many initiatives prioritising tourism as a key area for growth. Consequently, there is a renewed optimism in the sector. The reduction in VAT levels to 9%, the halving of employers' PRSI and the introduction of the tourist visa waiver for those from certain countries who have valid UK visas and want to travel on to Ireland are all having an impact on the ground. From travelling around the country, this is evident.

During the summer months, many tourism providers with whom I spoke painted a positive picture of tourism this year. While the weather has been uncertain, people do not visit Ireland for our weather. Rather, they come to Ireland for its beauty. More than 36 million people in the US, some 11% of its population, claim Irish ancestry and most American tourists visit us to find their heritage. I was in the US last week and was delighted to hear that the Tánaiste, who was also in the US, had presented the first certificate of heritage to Joe Hunter's mother. Our consul general, Mr. Noel Kilkenny, attended the event and told me it made him a proud Irishman. Mr. Hunter's mother came from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's constituency in County Galway. A member of the fire service, Mr. Hunter was killed on 9-11. The presentation in New York was a moving ceremony.

This initiative is already proving a considerable success with the Irish diaspora all over the world. It is the brain child of Mr. Gerry O'Neill, a native of Dublin living in Quin. A good initiative, it was well supported in the US last week. The many Americans who visit Ireland to explore their Irish heritage can generate a significant level of revenue for our tourism industry.

To be parochial, Councillor Gabriel Keating drove a new initiative in County Clare this year, namely, opening up the Loop Head lighthouse, a 19th century building. Initiated on a trial basis, more than 12,000 people have already visited the lighthouse and climbed the 74 steps to see the breathtaking views of the west Clare Peninsula. The initiative has been a considerable success and has been extended until October. Clare County Council, possibly working with the Minister of State, is already working on expanding the project next year. It created five temporary jobs and was a boost to local restaurants, pubs and bed and breakfasts. The Cuban ambassador will visit the lighthouse this weekend when she opens the Che Guevara festival in Kilkee. The lighthouse has also been visited by a number of Chinese visitors. The Minister of State might want to know that the Taoiseach has a family link to the lighthouse, in that his grandfather, Mr. Joseph McGinley, served as a keeper there in the 1930s. I look forward to the Taoiseach visiting this area in the very near future and I hope he gets the opportunity to see the lighthouse.

Others Members referred to festivals and events supported by Fáilte Ireland. The Government is providing approximately €3.8 million in this regard, which is great for every county. Festivals are becoming very popular again. County Clare hosted the FAI Festival of Football this year and the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, attended. There were festivities for a week. The FAI visits the county and concentrates on youth and children. It was a great spectacle for the region and I congratulate Mr. John Delaney on it. The event created a great buzz in the county for the week.

Some of my colleagues referred to Shannon Development having sought expressions of interest to develop the 120-acre site at Bunratty Castle. It will be a very good project. One must reinvent tourism all the time. Tourism and projects get tired. One must cater for the current market. The Bunratty project was great but needs to be reinvented. The medieval banquets are still doing extremely well. I hope Fáilte Ireland takes a particular interest in Shannon Development's 120-acre site because many projects could be developed there, including a diaspora centre, a theme park and, given the close proximity to Shannon Airport, an aviation theme park. I hope funding can be found for this. Deputy McNamara stated Shannon Development does not have funding but I am sure that, with the initiative of Fáilte Ireland, funding could be found because the project is very exciting.

We are very fortunate that the Burren and Cliffs of Moher were awarded UNESCO-supported Global Geoparks status at the tenth European Geoparks conference, which took place recently in Norway. This was a great boost for the Burren, which is very important to tourism in County Clare. A total of 345,000 visitors have enjoyed the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in the first six months of this year, representing a 19% increase on last year's figure. Tourism is the icing of the cake for north Clare. If the Cliffs of Moher are named as one of the seven wonders of the world on 11 November, what a bonus it will be. I urge everybody to propose the cliffs for nomination so as to put them on the map.

Inbound access to the regions is critical. We are lucky to have Shannon Airport in County Clare. It is a pity the airlines did not respond to the proposals of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, in the budget last year in regard to the air travel tax. As part of the jobs initiative, this tax was reduced from €10 to €3 and the plan was to suspend the tax altogether provided an agreement was reached with airlines to reinstate cancelled routes or restore capacity. However, to date, the airlines have not taken up the offer. I am disappointed in that. Approximately €8.5 million is being collected from the €3 travel tax and I very much welcome the innovative way in which this fund is being used for marketing. Tourism Ireland, the airlines, ferry companies, tour operators and airports are now working together to encourage tourists from the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France and Belgium to come here. It is very important to concentrate on mainland Europe.

I read recently that Ryanair has teamed up with Fáilte Ireland, given Ireland's popularity as a golfing destination, to provide a "golf bags fly free" offer on flights from UK airports to the six Irish airports from 1 September to 7 November. This is very encouraging also. I flew in from New York last Friday morning and when I was waiting for my case to arrive at the baggage carousel, I could not but notice all the golf bags. I spoke to some staff and they told me Americans are very attracted to playing golf in Ireland in September. This is very encouraging because we have beautiful golf courses in every county. Last weekend, Ireland hosted the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle. Doonbeg and Lahinch golf courses in County Clare are worthy of mention, although I do not want to mention them all. They all have added attractions for tourists. It is encouraging to hear the airlines are teaming up with tourism authorities. Aer Lingus will probably expand its scheme in the near future, providing a much-needed boost for Shannon Airport, and complement the efforts being made locally to extend the tourism season.

We have been examining the opportunities for the Olympics tourism spin-off. I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is chairman of the London 2012 co-ordinating committee. Efforts are being made with a number of countries to get some teams to stay in them, at least for some time before the Olympics. That is important. Access is extremely important. County Clare can be accessed from London and the United States. I suggest that Fáilte Ireland meet various airlines to determine whether we could extend the promotional scheme to encourage Olympics tourists to travel here after the games. This is important also.

There is much discussion in the media about the future of Shannon Airport. I do not have enough time to deal with it this afternoon; suffice it to say that from my discussions with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, I noted no discussions have been had on the future of the airport. It is extremely important to point that out. The Minister is evaluating proposals that he has received from various stakeholders as to the best way forward for the airport. This is extremely important. Shannon Airport has a strong history of innovation. Under Dr. Brendan O'Regan, the airport developed the first duty-free shop, and the first Irish coffee was invented there. There is much history associated with the airport. It has a big future if the correct initiatives are put in place. I hope the Minister listens to the views of the people in the area, takes them on board and works with them.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to speak on this Bill. Balanced regional development must be strengthened as it is extremely important. The purpose of this Bill is to allow for the funding of tourism product development, as set out in the annual estimates provided by Fáilte Ireland.

See this speech in context