Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I started out as a county councillor in what was then known as the Killorglin electoral area, which covered all of the Iveragh Peninsula down into Valentia Island, Portmagee and Ballinskelligs. It is probably the most beautiful part of the entire western world. County Kerry is the tourism capital of the world and Killarney is the finest destination that any person could ever want to go to. It is a privilege, therefore, to be here talking about tourism and promoting what is good in Kerry in tourism.

The tourism sector in Ireland is considered to be a labour-intensive one, providing employment opportunities for a range of skills and work patterns, with strong regional disparity. The strength of the tourism sector is also seen as important to the protection and development of rural economies. The distinction between Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland is that the latter is solely responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday, business and tourism destination. Tourism Ireland's primary objective is to increase visitor numbers to the island of Ireland, whereas Fáilte Ireland is focused on product development. All the agencies of the State have to work together as a team, whether they are the ones I am after mentioning, us as politicians or the excellent county councillors we have in all our local authorities up and down the length and breadth of the country from all parties and none, including in County Kerry. Our job as a team is to bring as many people as possible from all over Europe and the world and let them see, taste feel and enjoy what it is to come to Ireland. That is what it is all about.

They need only come here once and see what we have to offer. Once they see the beautiful scenery and enjoy our hospitality, eat the food, meet the locals and experience what it is to have a holiday in Ireland they will continuously want to come back. They will be our ambassadors, as they have been with the past 100 years, because word of mouth is the best thing in the world. People will tell other people that they went to Ireland, that it was great and they will explain all the good things we have to offer. We do tourism better than anyone else.

We can fight about different things but I want to thank present and past Governments for the work they have put in to promote tourism. Like everything, we cannot sit down; we have to do more. We have to send people abroad to sell Ireland. I will use Kenmare as an example, where we have the Brennan brothers. At this stage anybody who knows anything about tourism knows about Francis Brennan and his explaining of selling Ireland, Kerry and Kenmare as a tourism destination that is second to none. We need more people to be our ambassadors and to promote all the things that are good about Ireland.

I want to thank the business people, whether they are the small shop owners, the small hoteliers, the big hoteliers, the guest house owners, the bed and breakfast accommodation providers or the Airbnb providers. The Government seems to have its sights on Airbnb providers in a desire to shut them down, which is stupid beyond belief because we have to allow for all the different categories of people who are coming here to be catered for. They could be coming to stay in a budget hostel, which is excellent if that is what they want, and if they are coming with a knapsack and a bicycle under them they are welcome.

If they are coming in a tour group they are welcome as are those hiring a car. All of the different categories of people are welcome and we want to be able to cater for all of the financial ranges. The beauty of Ireland is that we can take care of all the layers of tourists who come. We have to ensure the businesses can stay open. On behalf of the businesses of Kerry I want to say they are under so much pressure. We have ever-increasing energy costs, rates are going up to an enormous cost and labour is expensive. They are finding it very difficult to continue after Covid. I am pleading with the Minister. I thank the Government for the Covid supports. They were very important. Now people in business are finding it harder than ever before. We have to promote business. We have to support it in every way we can. We must always remember there is no better place in the world for tourism than County Kerry and that is a known fact.

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