Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware that Tourism Ireland was set up under the Good Friday Agreement. I have said already that these tour operator companies are based in the South. The only wrongdoing they might do is to go across the Border for a night or two during a tour of seven to ten days. I will certainly see what we can do from our end. The Minister has said that it is in the Act but Acts can be amended. Given that in the Good Friday Agreement we want to market the country as a whole and invite people to go North, South, east and west, it is not insurmountable if the political will is there. All I am asking is that the Minister would take an interest in it and sit down with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to see if a way can be found.

The Minister does not need me to tell her how the tourism sector has suffered through the pandemic. While some sectors such as hotels and restaurants are starting to come out of it, international tourism was hit worst of all and they will not see any comeback at all until spring or summer of next year. For those tour operators who are operating in the South and bringing tourists into the State, the only sin they commit is to travel up to Armagh or Antrim. That is all they do. If there is a will there is a way, and I ask that the Minister would take an interest in it to see what can be done.

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