Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The initiatives to which the Minister refers are all really important in the context of the population of Ireland. People are going to feel proud when all of these historic sites are improved and upgraded in time for the commemoration. I am concerned, however, that the Ireland Inspires proposal was rejected by the Department. Essentially, this proposal revolved around a plan to attract visitors from around the world to attend the 1916 Commemoration and it was very much based on The Gathering model. I am curious to discover why the Department rejected the proposal in question and why it was not embraced as a concept to tap into the huge tourism potential that exists in terms of encouraging members of the diaspora to return to Ireland and celebrate next year's centenary. The Minister referred to the 300,000 people the new facility at the GPO is expected to attract to Dublin's city centre each year. There is huge potential to attract visitors from across the globe, both next year and beyond. It seems strange that the Department rejected the proposal.

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