Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Access to the Countryside Bill attempts to deal with an important, complex and sensitive issue. When it comes to land, particularly access it, Ireland has a long and oft-times turbulent history. For many, private ownership of land signifies security, continuity and family roots. In rural Ireland a family's status and identity in the local community are very much bound up and enmeshed with their ownership of land. The symbol of the family farm is deeply embedded in Irish literature and struggles over and for land are part of the national psyche. One need only think of John B. Keane's powerful play The Field to recall the passions and emotions that spring to life over ownership and access to a single rocky field. Therein lies the dilemma: how to balance rights of way or access for the walker or tourist with those of the owner or farmer. Moreover, to what set of obligations should both parties be subject when it comes to access and, perhaps even more importantly, what is the role of the State in this debate and the function of local government when it comes to ensuring access to the rural landscape? All of these are very pertinent and important questions that must be addressed if this issue is to be dealt with in a meaningful and balanced way that respects the rights of both parties to, on the one hand, roam the countryside and, on the other, maintain the privacy of privately owned farmland and preserve rural landscapes in a sustainable manner for the benefit of both rural and urban communities.

Of course, when it comes to discussions on access, emotions and opinions about privacy and rights tend to cloud other equally important issues. For example, towns, villages and parishes the length and breadth of rural Ireland are experiencing a dramatic process of decline in terms of job losses, inward investment, the closure of vital public services and the mass exodus of young people through emigration. Therefore, it is imperative that when we discuss the issue of access to the countryside and, more importantly, the case for modernising Ireland's land access law, we take a holistic view of the range of issues involved and focus on the broader political and economic context in which they occur. What is the point of having a rich, fertile and captivating natural landscape if the towns and villages that are a central part of this same vista are slowly bleeding to death owing to a lack of investment, Government cuts and emigration? A countryside devoid of people may appear pristine and be a dream come true for some extreme environmentalists, but in the final analysis, it is the interaction between the landscape and the people in its many forms that preserves and produces sustainable landscapes for future generations. For rural communities, what takes place in the countryside is embedded in the lives, history and identity of local people. Farmers, hotels, shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants, post offices, co-operatives, schools, clinics, garages, sports clubs, the ICA and community groups take meaning from the countryside and, in turn, shape and mould it. In this important sense, rural Ireland, nature and the countryside are all products of human interaction with the environment. Therefore, when we consider the Bill, we need to see the countryside and rural Ireland in all their aspects.

For example, tourism is one of Ireland's most important economic sectors and has significant potential to play a leading role in the country's economic recovery. Even in the current economic downturn, the tourism and hospitality sector continues to be a major economic force, providing an estimated 180,000 jobs. Tourism's contribution, however, is not confined to directly generating employment and economic activity. It also has an important role to play in facilitating social inclusion and access to the labour market. It can be a vital component of reviving rural communities.

While recent statistics indicate a resilience and revival in the Irish tourism industry this has been in the main concentrated in the large urban centres of Dublin, Cork and Galway. City breaks and marketing of cities as weekend and holiday destinations has now come to the fore. This poses a number of issues for the development of the tourism industry outside of the core urban centres, particularly rural areas. It must be noted that the urban-rural imbalance that currently exists is not unique to Ireland rather it is a European-wide phenomenon. Nonetheless, the Irish countryside and towns across the island if marketed in an innovative and imaginative way have huge potential to attract international and domestic tourists and to capture a portion of the overall tourism market.

Rural areas are currently experiencing some of the worst aspects of the economic downturn. Across rural Ireland there is a return to mass emigration, high levels of unemployment and a process of de-industrialisation and the closure of indigenous industries. To add to this many towns are witnessing on an almost weekly basis the closure of local businesses and the boarding up of shops and premises on their main streets. In terms of aesthetics, this damages the streetscape and at a more fundamental level has the potential to impact negatively on the collective morale of a local community. While the above issues require a specific and targeted response a strategic tourism initiative has the potential to revitalise rural Ireland and to kick-start regeneration, particularly in terms of employment.

Sinn Féin believes that the key challenge in terms of policy and planning is how to maintain and grow tourist numbers and, more importantly, in the context of rural Ireland, how to achieve a process of dispersal or a more equal equilibrium between urban and rural regions so that both benefit. Meaningful policy initiatives must take this important relationship into account and use it as a basis to plan the growth and expansion of the tourism sector across the island of Ireland. Looking at the issue of tourism development from an all-Ireland perspective opens up a huge vista of possibilities in terms of marketing, promotion, employment opportunities and the development of indigenous industries and crafts.

Tourism currently contributes approximately €4 billion or 4% of GNP. Sinn Féin believes that the sector can be expanded and used as a key driver for economic expansion and growth in employment. For example, in 2011 tourist numbers increased by almost 500,000. Overseas tourists come to Ireland for a range of reasons mostly connected to unique aspects of the country's heritage and culture. These range from historical sites to sporting events, literary, dramatic and musical festivals and enjoyment of the atmosphere of the country.

Cultural tourism is a niche area which rural communities can utilise to attract greater visitor numbers and thereby boost local economies through spend on accommodation, food and drink etc. Sinn Féin has developed a good working relationship with the Heritage Council and recognises the importance of joined up thinking when it comes to the issue of heritage. Heritage offers huge potential in terms of employment and growth in the tourism industry. It is also a key component in building community cohesion, raising awareness around the value of local places and as a source of education, in particular for first and second level students. A holistic and interdepartmental approach to heritage is important for the following reasons: growth targets within the Government's Food Harvest 2020 and the vision for Irish agri-food and fisheries, which includes a 33% increase in the value of primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 2020. This will have a significant impact on farmland and rural heritage, as will changes in the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013.

The importance of heritage to a vibrant tourism industry is well recognised. While there is increasing pressure to use Ireland's heritage resource to attract increasing numbers of tourists, declining investment in the management, protection and conservation of heritage undermines its capacity to sustain a dynamic tourism industry. When it comes to employment, the upgrading and in some instances basic development of cultural heritage sites and resources can also become part of the overall stimulus package if the proper capital and human resource investment is made. For example, rather than downgrade community employment schemes, as is currently the case, they could be expanded to employ people to service sites and to collate cultural knowledge and resources across a range of areas of interest. Sinn Féin is of the view that all of the issues outlined above require urgent and focused attention that must be based on a broad interdepartmental approach.

Outdoor attractions are also an area with potential for expansion. The State forestry agency, Coillte Teoranta, is currently the leading provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland with an estimated 18 million visits each year to forests under its management. There are ten forest parks and more than 150 recreation sites, with the company at the forefront in building and managing a network of world-class mountain bike trails across the country. Currently, Coillte works in partnership with organisations and community groups across the State in helping them organise a wide range of forest based events from walking and orienteering to mushroom hunts and outdoor theatre events. This work could be significantly expanded through Coillte, working in conjunction with domestic and international tourism boards, exploring international tourism marketing opportunities. Coillte manages more than 15% of the nation's forests and has been actively involved in four EU funded life projects which have resulted in it restoring 550 hectares of native woodlands and 2,500 hectares of raised and blanket bogs across Ireland, protecting what are, by any standards, unique and environmentally important habitats. Leaving aside Coillte's responsibilities in terms of management of other aspects of the nation's forestry, given its role and potential in this area, Sinn Féin strongly favours the retention of Coillte in State ownership. This would allow the agency to continue to develop its role in eco-tourism.

Rural Ireland, from our forests, heritage sites, towns, waterways and land and sea scapes, has enormous potential in terms of attracting domestic and overseas tourists. Tourism, if managed and developed imaginatively, has the potential to provide a secure and steady source of much needed employment, thus stemming the tide of rural emigration and kick-starting social and economic regeneration in towns across rural Ireland. Sinn Féin supports the principle of this Bill. However, it believes the proposed establishment of an access to the countryside advisory council is unnecessary as this role could be carried out at county council level.

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