John Ellis (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, to the House for this renewed debate on the tourism industry.

Recently there has been criticism of the St. Patrick's Day programmes of Ministers when they actually encourage people abroad to note that Ireland is open for business, be it for industry or tourism. It is also an opportunity for Ministers to meet first, second, third and fourth generation Irish people who wish to be associated with Ireland and encourage them to take their vacations, as the Yanks call them, here.

However, the media attacks Ministers left, right and centre for promoting Ireland. That is wrong. It is time the media realised we are all in these difficult economic times together. Any effort by a Minister to promote Ireland should be undertaken, irrespective of cost. The costs are not excessive when considered in the real world. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland will send their executives and officers around the world to promote industry in Ireland. The Minister's St. Patrick's Day programmes are the same — the promotion of our tourism industry. It is imperative we are allowed to promote the sector freely and without hindrance from the media.

Most people around the world have access to the Internet. When Irish descendants abroad check the Irish newspapers on the Internet, they just see attacks on Ministers travelling abroad to promote the country and it being run down. The cutbacks in this year's ministerial programmes were entirely wrong. The Taoiseach's visit to the US President, Mr. Obama, along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, showed the American people the affinity between Ireland and America. It will have done much to promote tourism. It is wrong that Ministers should be criticised when they go abroad to promote this country.

Much progress has been made in the tourism sector over the past ten years. The number of quality hotel beds available compared with ten years ago is phenomenal. The hotel sector has become increasingly competitive with other countries. Hotel prices in Dublin city are 40% of what they were five years ago which encourages people to visit. The amount of weekend tourism to Ireland has increased phenomenally. High quality tourism facilities are being promoted at competitive prices. The recent drop in rates for the dollar and sterling have affected the tourism industry but it has made so much progress in becoming competitive. Many of the international hotel operators have become involved with Irish hotels in the past seven years. This is the type of progress that will lead to a sustainable tourism industry when the recession finishes.

The maximum amount of money possible should be allocated to marketing. It is welcome that Tourism Ireland markets on an all-Ireland basis. For too long there was a myth abroad that Ireland was not a safe destination. Fortunately, this has disappeared along with the famous line between North and South. Many visitors will visit Belfast and Dublin, and sometimes the south west.

The west and the north west, however, are still suffering from lack of promotion. Some of the best tourism facilities are provided in the region but access is still a problem. We must continue to invest in our airlines, regional airports and road infrastructure. A road journey from Sligo to Dublin in two and a half hours is a major improvement from five years ago when it could take from three and a half to four and a half hours. The improvements in the rail network are phenomenal. The Sligo line has an additional five services daily. The standard of the rolling stock provided by Iarnród Éireann encourages people to take intercity breaks and visit outside of Dublin. Many in the industry in the west have informed me that people will now travel from Dublin to the west for a mid-week break by train. The fastest growing market for out-of-season, mid-week breaks is among those who are retired. These individuals can use their bus or train passes and travel, free of charge, to their destinations. As a result, they make tremendous savings and are encouraged to take short breaks at various locations throughout the country.

The hotel industry has begun to meet the needs of the market and can provide accommodation and food at extremely competitive prices. Certain first-class hotels are offering mid-week breaks for two for as little as €150. Such breaks typically include two nights bed and breakfast and one evening meal, which is tremendous value. However, we are losing out in terms of our inability to sustain this type of trade and the employment to which it gives rise on a year-round basis. A difficulty existed for a number of years in that some individuals were of the view that too many eastern Europeans or other non-Irish nationals were involved in the tourism trade. However, the position is changing because many young Irish people see tourism as offering them a future, be it as bar staff or in other positions within the general hotel industry infrastructure.

Another important development in the tourism industry relates to air access. Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Aer Arann and others are providing competitive rates in respect of flights to some of our smaller regional airports in particular. This is a welcome development. These rates can only be provided on foot of the subsidies that are on offer from Europe. It is extremely important to ensure that these subsidies remain in place in the long term because without them, some of the regional airports and smaller airlines will not be able to survive.

Senator Coghlan referred to Killarney, and everything is local when it comes to politics.