Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I will explore the Deputy's practical suggestions, although they will obviously be the subject of negotiation with the cultural institutions. The staff in the cultural institutions are very hard-working and the welcome they provide is one of the reasons people visit them. I experienced this welcome during visits to our cultural institutions long before I was appointed to my current position. The staff are welcoming, highly professional and handle customers very well. It is good public relations to have visitors well received when they come to our cultural institutions. Given the Gathering project and the fact that our institutions are so popular we should look at ways of extending opening hours especially during the peak tourist season. That would be a very important consideration.

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