Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I even got a freedom of information request from a person in my constituency to find out where I had travelled. I will make it clear on local and national radio and in this House today. We decided when we assumed office, because of the economic situation, to target the four main areas that are good for Irish tourism: Britain, France, Germany and America. The Minister decided to take responsibility for two countries while I would take responsibility for the other two. We have done that. I was in America and France while the Minister was in Britain twice and he was also in Germany. We got results. We targeted the tour operators and took some of them to Ireland, around the west coast, the east coast and so on to show them our product. There is no better approach than going to the market, that is, the tour operators, those who will be selling the product abroad. As I said in France, it is in its interest and it is in the Irish Government's interest. It is in our interest to ensure the French see our product and can sell it to their people and that they know what they are selling.