Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is very good to hear. As someone who once held the junior Ministry with responsibility for tourism, the Minister of State gets this and knows what it is about. In fairness to him, he was on the matter as soon as he was appointed. For people I have spoken to in south Kerry, it has been very well received that he is prepared to examine the matter and give it his time. People want to feel that there is a fair hearing and that the issue is given every objective consideration. That is the main thing. If that is done here, people will be prepared to take whatever outcome is found to be the suitable way forward.

It would, of course, be preferable that there is the option for those businesses in a position to bring people to the Skelligs to go ahead and do so. It may not be suitable for certain people to do that and I know that it is not quite as straightforward as people just getting back up and running and going back into business. When the season is so short, economies of scale are lost and business plans have to be radically altered. Even if the site reopens, it may not be the case that every boatman will avail of the opportunity to go, but it would be marvellous if people at least had the option.

I am very grateful to the Minister of State for his work on the issue. He was on it immediately, which is very encouraging.

See this speech in context