Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I wish Yeats Day in Sligo and Bloomsday in Dublin the best of luck.

In the context of Bloomsday and Yeats Day I call for a debate on cultural tourism. I am conscious that events such as Bloomsday, and we hope also Yeats Day, bring in large numbers of tourists and visitors to different places.

On the Adjournment yesterday I raised with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Joe Costello, the issue of certificates of Irish heritage. Some 682 have been purchased and 58 issued by way of presentations, including a certificate to President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. These are important assets that can be used in generating further tourism and interest among the Irish diaspora about visiting Ireland. We could easily have a debate on this topic.