Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has offered many ideas. As I said, Fáilte Ireland has supported the Bloomsday festival for a number of years. Tourism Ireland has also developed an innovative programme around this particular centenary this year by reaching out to global audiences around the world. As the Deputy said, this momentous centenary is being marked in many different ways, with the support of the Government. Like the Deputy, I look forward to the roll-out of this programme.

He said that Joyce had a difficult relationship with Ireland. The number of people who left over past decades indicates that many of them had a very difficult relationship with Ireland as well. I always had a major interest in Tim Pat Coogan's book, Wherever Green is Worn, and the Irish diaspora, be it in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. Last night, we saw Celtic, a club I have supported over the years, play Rangers. Celtic's founder, Brother Walfrid, Andrew Kerins, came from Ballymote in my constituency. People like him are equally Irish and feel so.

The idea of James Joyce airport is interesting. We have to look at all the young men and women who have left over the past decades. It could be an idea to remember the people who left through whatever airport, whether it was Knock Airport, Shannon Airport, Cork Airport or Dublin Airport. We must remember that we are in a much better space, but the Deputy's idea is interesting. A James Joyce airport is certainly worthy of consideration.

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