Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss his policy and allow us to share our ideas and debate our vision for tourism in this country up to 2025. It is important, as this is a huge area, that we all are here today and that we listen and give it our all, because it is our children and grandchildren who will profit along with the nation.

It is a huge area, as I have said. I will focus on heritage, which I understand is not the Minister's area, although it should be. Since I came to the Seanad, I have wondered whether the Minister gets frustrated sometimes that we operate here in individual silos. I would like if all of the areas that touch on tourism were under one strong Ministry. For example, we have, in the brilliant young junior Minister at the Department of Finance, Deputy Harris, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Donohoe, three excellent human beings, but I would like to see the OPW, arts, heritage, tourism and any matters to do with the environment that would affect forestry or tourism all under one portfolio, such as that of Deputy Donohoe, who could work on the whole area. If we are to reach these goals, such a development would be powerful in Government policy and around the Cabinet table in future.

Today, we are at 9.6 million visitors and we want to get to 10 million. I would even like to get beyond that. We are at a turnover of €1.4 billion and we want to get to €5 billion. I would like to get beyond that, because I am the greatest raving fan of Ireland in the world. We have one of the greatest brands in the world. I know for certain that we have some great competition. For example, there is England, across the water, with its National Trust. In driving around England, one sees that they look after their pubs, villages and old buildings. As the Minister will hear from my little speech, I do not believe we are there.

Senator Quinn has a brilliant idea about China, and I saw the Minister writing that down. It is similar to the pre-clearance facility which allows Irish people to clear immigration control when travelling to the United States. I now see so many Europeans coming in through Dublin. I note that one must get a special visa, and when one visits Paris, it is overrun by the Chinese. London and England are getting only a tiny number. The Chinese have money to spend. Let us act. Let us get them.Let us put the equivalent of IDA offices into China to make it easy for the Chinese to visit this country and spend their much needed money.

The areas that make this country an attractive destination include our natural scenery, our walled towns, our culture, heritage, folklore, landscapes, ocean, islands, rivers, canals, lakes, food, archeology, architecture and the outcome of our same-sex marriage referendum. Three gay friends of mine, one from New Zealand and two from the United States, are coming here next year to get married. I am thinking that perhaps I should start a business. I am being a little light-hearted but this is an opportunity.