Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome this debate on the west. It would be almost impossible to get the pertinent issues across in just seven minutes, but the Minister is not only au fait with issues pertaining to the west, but is more interested in finding solutions than problems. I do not mind if I sound patronising, but Deputy Ó Cuív, of all the Ministers to whom I bring issues, is always more interested in and challenged by solutions. Usually, a solution is reached.

I commend the Minister regarding CLÁR. A basic scheme involving a small number of departmental people, its implications across the country have been so considerable that the levels of jealousy in undesignated areas are phenomenal.

That is a point in the Minister's favour. When I considered my contribution to this debate on the west, some obvious issues came to mind and when I heard the Minister speaking, two of them collided. The first was that although we live on an island that is surrounded by water, we have done nothing to develop opportunities on the water. Although recreational tourism is in place and there are bigger opportunities in respect of inshore fishing, seven or eight Ministries are responsible for the marine. I heard the Minister speak recently, I believe it was at the launch of the boat show, on trying to find a solution to this problem. Moreover, I also spoke about this issue to the Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries and forestry, Deputy Killeen, when he visited Greencastle recently. All elements with responsibility for the marine must gather around one table to identify the sticking points to such opportunities, as solutions will never be found until there is agreement on what are the issues. I refer to issues such as mutual recognition of boat sizes and regulations between North and South, as well as many other licensing issues. In my locality, many people have lost opportunities in the whitefish sector because of changing European directives and in the inshore fleet, for example, arising from the loss of the salmon fisheries, other than those who still are licensed by the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. Consequently, although some people in the area wish to try something else, if they are fishing there is a sense that at other times, when their boat is free of fishing gear, they are not allowed to engage in marine tourism activities.

Small measures that require the tweaking of legislation and some of which will not involve expenditure, will give opportunities to people. Some people discern opportunities within the marine sector and consequently seek to avail of them exclusively. However, marine leisure and tourism is based around bulk and the people are beginning to understand this. They do not want to see a single fisherman involved in marine tourism but want Inishowen to be the centre for marine leisure. Moreover, they seek the requisite infrastructure. To be fair, most of the infrastructure already is present although a certain element still is required. However, a drive to overcome the barriers pertaining to licensing is lacking. Opportunities in this regard exist with the Leader programme. I refer to the difficulties associated with manufacturing operations moving out, beginning with Fruit of the Loom. Simply put, while the opportunities are visible, they should be driven forward and the Minister has stated he concurs.

I wish to bounce another point off the Minister because the other issue to which he alluded pertained to rural recreation. It has annoyed me for a considerable time that although I live on a peninsula that is alive with historical monuments, such as locations from which famous people have come, we seem to duck this. For a time it was ducked because some such localities were political. For example, although General Montgomery of Alamein lived in Moville between the ages of three to 15, one was not allowed to talk about Monty or such issues. Nevertheless, why do we not exploit the English tourists who wish to come and see where Monty grew up or to see where his parents were buried? I will declare my interest by noting this took place 200 yards from my home. I acknowledge he did not return to attend either parent's funeral. A couple of miles away lies the estate of Captain Cochrane, on whose career I believe Russell Crowe's recent film, "The Whistleblower", is based. I also refer to Leon Uris's novel, Trinity. There are oceans of information and opportunity for what one might call cultural or recreational tourism.

I also refer to simple things like the castle at Greencastle. Were it lit up in a similar manner to some other abbeys and castles and with some signage, people using the car ferry coming across the Foyle would see it as an attraction rather than something that happens to emerge from the mist, as happens at present. Again, this involves minor, rather than major sums. Sometimes when the State gets involved, those who own such properties seek their pound of flesh. However, I hope that era has passed, given the changed economic circumstances, and that people will realise that such initiatives are driven by working together in partnership as a community, local authority or development group, which often is possible in such situations.

The Minister stated we have lovely hills, mountains, rivers, lakes and landscapes. However, the point about historical fact and the people who were there——