Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

In the brief time available, I will emphasise the importance of tourism. It is an important industry that collectively we probably neglected in recent years. However, I am delighted it forms an essential component of the programme for Government. I welcome the Minister to the House. He has taken a firm initiative in this area that concentrates on the domestic market and on attracting more visitors to this island. This is the way forward and that message must go out locally to the domestic market. Senator Paul Coghlan mentioned the current Discover Ireland marketing programme, of which all Members probably are aware as they will have received a booklet in their newspapers over the past week. It is very important and sends out a message to families and individuals that there is much to do and much one can do in Ireland.

While reading the booklet, I noted the programme comprises more than just a booklet, as it also has a website. A mobile phone application is available which gives information on events and accommodation throughout the country. Such initiatives encourage people to travel and to take short breaks such as day trips or weekend breaks in this country. The Discover Ireland booklet targets overseas visitors, who are very important to the tourism sector. The travel tax has been abolished. I wish the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, well in his discussions with the airlines. The UK air connection is vital.

I refer to when I wore a different hat, so to speak, that is, when I was lord mayor of Cork. The connections from Cork Airport to cities in the UK such as Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, London and Newcastle are very important and if one such connection is lost, then a significant number of visitors to a region is lost. I do not know if it would be possible to subsidise those routes but we must remember the importance of those air connections because once they are lost, they are gone for a long time. They need to be targeted, managed, marketed, massaged and cared for because of their importance. The visit of the Queen will be of great value in attracting visitors from the United Kingdom, which is our most important international market, and such visitors will use a local connection if it is available in Cork, Dublin or Shannon. We should not underestimate the importance of regional air connections to the UK.

The product offered to domestic and overseas tourists includes festivals and a variety of cultural and artistic attractions. I refer to the Volvo ocean race which was a significant event in Galway last year and will return next year. Such events and festivals put Ireland on the map. The recent jobs initiative has gone a long way towards improving our competitiveness and value for money.