Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Harty is well versed in the programme for rural development, which provides opportunities and, indeed, incentives for communities and regions to benefit from it. Clearly, the Deputy is aware Norwegian Airlines added four flights from Cork and Shannon to North America this year. The numbers coming back in from there will be unprecedented. Tourism Ireland is actively looking at the regional marketing of the west, with a focus on the Wild Atlantic Way, servicing Shannon and other surrounding locations. The figures show ten million visitors to Ireland, 230,000 jobs and expenditure of €5 billion in the hospitality area alone. Consider the small and medium enterprises and the scale of inward investment. Clearly, Shannon, given the nature of the development of the aircraft business, has very clear opportunities. With airports in Knock further north and in Cork, Dublin and Belfast, the island has opportunities. It is all changing, as the Deputy is aware, with more efficient engines and airlines and more people wish to come here. Thanks be to God, Ireland is a safe location to visit and we hope to keep it that way. Clearly, the mid-west has changed utterly in the past ten years. Long may it and other areas continue to prosper in the time ahead. Shannon is a central focus of the mid-west, just as Knock is to the west and north west and Cork is to the south west. Dublin, of course, is a city that is going to grow very strongly again in the next 15 to 20 years.

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