Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

As a Dublin based politician, I do not aspire to follow Senator Norris, but warmly support many of the sentiments and views expressed by him. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus go n-éirí an t-adh leis san phortfolio nua atá aige. I commend the Minister for initiating this important Bill after a brief period in office at a crucial time in the history of tourism. On 4 July last he signalled his intention to accelerate the reform of the State's tourism agencies by appointing an interim board charged with the task of putting a new national tourism development agency in place. It is one of the key tourism elements of the new programme for Government.

The introduction of the legislation is another significant step as it will provide for the establishment of the authority on a statutory basis and is an important strategic move forward as part of an overall package to address the industry. The authority will bring Fáilte Ireland into being and subsume Bord Fáilte and CERT. Notwithstanding Bord Fáilte's shortcomings, as articulated by Senator Norris, I pay tribute to the board's work since its establishment in the early 1970s and the work of CERT, which the board established.