Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----and his former colleagues. He wishes to raise the issue of connectivity, on which I share his views. I will let him lecture the Minister on the importance of the Cork-Limerick motorway.

I welcome the Minister to the House where he commenced his political career. It is interesting to note that at the time of the deepest recession in the history of the country and very depressing economic statistics, the two industries which kept our country alive were agriculture and tourism. One is the natural industry of the soil, based on the skills of the people of the isle. Tourism is successful in this country not simply because of the scenery and sights but also because of the innate friendliness of the Irish people. Those two natural, home-grown industries thrived and kept our country alive economically when high-tech and so-called modern industries were fading, and long may they thrive.

I want to reflect briefly on what previous speakers said, in particular Senators O'Brien and van Turnhout who referred to heritage tourism. It is something on which we need to concentrate. The Minister is a great reader of Oireachtas debates. We had a fascinating debate here on the teaching of history a fortnight ago and some of us reflected on the fact that if history disappears as a core subject a lot of local history, knowledge and a sense of place, which is important from a tourism perspective, will be threatened. There is a large capacity for heritage tourism in every town across the country, and I ask the Minister to try to concentrate on that as part of his wider portfolio.

I refer to sporting tourism. Mention was made of golf. Sport is part of the Minister's role and our national game, the GAA and the horseracing industry can play a significant role in tourism.