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

I thank the Minister of State for his answer.

Tourism continues to play an important role in our economy. It is our heritage and plays a role in linking the Irish diaspora with our country. That is the big attraction.

In 2011, Ireland was voted the world's favourite holiday destination by readers of Frommer's guide. Lonely Planet listed Ireland as the world's friendliest country and Cork city as one of the top ten cities in the world, and the Irish Tourist Board's website, discoverireland.com, was named the best tourist board website in the world. Will the Minister give a guarantee today that there will be a clear focus on and investment in the upgrading of national heritage sites to make them attractive to the domestic and international tourist market, and will he commit to a joined-up approach with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Fáilte Ireland to attract tourists back to Ireland?

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