Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Last year 70 million Chinese people travelled abroad and 10,000 of them came to Ireland. The Italians looked at the figures and wondered what they could do. They always issued visas in Beijing and Shanghai, but its Ministry of Foreign Trade established about 30 mobile offices to issue visas around China and the number of Chinese visitors coaxed into visiting Italy increased by 100%. That is exactly the kind of thing an energetic and enterprising Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could do. I am sure there are students and others who would be willing to man such offices for a number of months to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Ireland. As Russians now travel abroad in very large numbers, how about having 20 mobile visa offices in Russia? This year very large numbers of Russians, Chinese and others will travel to Britain for the Olympic Games. I know we have done great things to encourage them to come to Ireland, but we could do a lot more. We need somebody in the Department to adopt a business like attitude and say we can do something to avail of this opportunity. Last year 70 million Chinese people travelled abroad. It is estimated that 100 million a year will travel abroad for the next few years and we could coax a large number of them to come here. Following the visit of the Taoiseach, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will shortly visit China where we now have a high profile. As this gives us an opportunity to promote tourism, let us not miss it.