Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

This report has been published at an opportune time. This is the end of the last major drive to develop the industry and double the number of tourists to this country. The first signs of an international recovery are emerging. It is important we have in place a framework, a policy document and objective as to how we can maximise the benefit to Ireland from any upturn in economic activity internationally that will take place over the next number of years. In this context, the report is important. One criticism I have is that it is too Dublin orientated and centred. The task force did not pay sufficient attention to the issues affecting the west, an area that in the past attracted most visitors to Ireland. I am sure the Minister of State is fully aware of the importance of tourism to Donegal. I am equally aware of the importance of tourism to County Clare, to the midwest generally and to the south west.

The task force recommended that the US bilateral agreement should be renegotiated. It seems the focus is to renegotiate it in a way that would attract more business into Dublin. It has not been spelt out how any renegotiation would ensure that we will continue to have the same level of transatlantic business into the midwest and into Shannon as we had in the past. It seems the renegotiation being spoken about would be detrimental to Shannon with fewer fights and tourists from the United States coming into that airport.