Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has asked whether I will extend the programme of turning international buildings and landmarks green to public buildings in this State. St. Patrick's Day traditionally marks the start of the tourism season. Tourism Ireland's greening initiative had many famous additions this year. It signalled the start of a major push to increase visitor numbers from overseas by capturing public and media attention in key source markets. Over 30 of the world's most iconic landmarks across six continents went green to mark St. Patrick's Day. The London Eye, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Table Mountain in South Africa, the Empire State Building in New York, the Sky Tower in Auckland and, for the first time ever, Niagara Falls and the Alexanderplatz television tower in Berlin are just some of the iconic buildings and attractions around the world which were part of this year's greening initiative, which marked St. Patrick's Day and kicked off the first half of Tourism Ireland's major promotional drive to develop overseas tourism. The initiative helped to capture media and public attention in markets across the world and put Ireland in the publicity spotlight as an attractive holiday destination. The message is that there has never been a better time to visit Ireland.

Tourism Ireland's St. Patrick's Day programme spanned Great Britain, mainland Europe and North America, as well as developing markets. The tourism agency availed of every opportunity to capitalise on Ireland's heightened profile on television, in newspapers and in digital media to promote good value holidays and short breaks in 2012 and to launch the 2013 tourism initiative, The Gathering, overseas. As part of this year's St. Patrick's Day festival in Dublin, many of the city's iconic buildings were illuminated green. I hope this can be extended next year for The Gathering. The idea of extending this initiative to include more buildings throughout the country as part of the St. Patrick's Day festivities merits consideration. I will ask Fáilte Ireland to examine the matter further. Given the minimal costs that were associated with the greening of the international landmarks, I do not imagine the costs involved in a domestic programme would warrant a grants initiative as suggested by the Deputy.

See this speech in context