Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said to the Deputy, the programme for Government gave a commitment to try to host major sporting events. The Deputy is correct that it brings people into the country who might otherwise not come. Statistics have shown that people who have come to this country for sporting events have come back for holidays at a later stage. We are good at a number of things in this country and one of our best things is our people. When people come here we give them a good Irish welcome and they certainly know they are in the country. If there is one thing our people can do, it is be hospitable, and they can talk and sell a message. We have the scenery, the beauty and the infrastructure, and in the past four years we have increased the tourism figures in very difficult times. Last year was the best year ever for people coming from North America. That creates badly needed jobs and revenue as almost 220,000 are employed in tourism in every corner of the country. People talk about rural decline but this is one way we can get people here. We have the natural infrastructure in rural Ireland and we must also continue with developments like the greenways, the Wild Atlantic Way and other such walks.

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