Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second my colleague's amendment on what is a very important issue before the House that affects many people. I also raise the debacle of the launch of Ireland's Ancient East initiative by the Government yesterday morning. In attempting to promote tourism in the east of the country and giving some alternative to the Wild Atlantic Way, it has botched the job, so the Minister should come here to explain himself. There is no mention of Monasterboice and the only mention of Kells in County Meath relates to car parking facilities and the Hay Festival, which has nothing to do with the Government. It is run by a voluntary group in Kells that has put a great effort into it with very little funding or support from any outside body. One can park a car in Kells but one would not find out about Monasterboice if taking this tour. It is outrageous. Kells was the centre of the ancient Christian world in this country in the medieval period. The Book of Kells was probably written there and was certainly kept there for a number of centuries. It is a fantastic ancient monastic centre. The same applies to Monasterboice but I cannot find mention of it in the document.

This is a debacle and whatever geniuses are responsible for drawing it up do not seem to know what they are talking about and the exact history of these areas. They seem to have picked what they felt were the most high-profile sites. The hill of Slane is given in a footnote at the end. These are some of the most important ancient sites, and particularly the ancient Christian sites, which are referenced in a full section of the document in dealing with ancient Christian Ireland. Monasterboice, Kells and the hill of Slane in particular are some of the most important ancient early Christian sites in Ireland. They have not been given due regard.

We are fighting as best we can to achieve a tourism product as there is a great deal of heritage in our area. There is a significant range of sites that may be visited, history to be learned and buildings that can be appreciated.However, Fáilte Ireland and this Government have done very little for that.