Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Some of those areas are in Ireland's Ancient East, which is a great success story. As the Deputy is aware, I do not get involved in operational matters or tell Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland how to run their business. I will, however, convey to both agencies the sentiments the Deputy expressed. If she thinks of a specific area with significant tourism potential which has not been realised because it has not been focused on, I will relay that information to the tourism bodies.

We must acknowledge that we have managed to do reasonably well, despite the appalling effects of Brexit. I do not, as Deputy Troy stated, clap myself on the back about this. The decline in visitor numbers from the UK as a result of Brexit is not my fault and the recovery in tourism is not in any way to my credit. The dramatic fall in visitor numbers from Britain can be ascribed almost completely to the decline in the value of sterling. It does not have anything to do with anybody here.

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