Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a pleasure to be back in the Seanad. As Senators will know, my portfolio is large and varied and I look forward to setting out the key issues facing the three sectors under my remit, namely, transport, tourism and sport. I expect no indulgence, anticipate a lively and interesting exchange of views and look forward to hearing Senators' views and comments.

As Members will be aware, there have been some recent challenges in all three sectors - industrial unrest in the transport sector, legal investigations in the sports sector, albeit counterbalanced by some wonderful results on the field and in water, and the concerns that Brexit poses for the tourism sector, which has been having one of its best years to date.

I will address public transport. All Senators appreciate the importance of our bus, Luas and rail public transport system to our society and our economy. At its most basic, public transport is about connecting people and places. It also has an important role to play in making our cities and towns more liveable places through alleviating congestion and improving our quality of life. Public transport also allows us to make a switch towards a more sustainable transport future and helps to combat environmental pollution. It can be of great assistance to those with reduced mobility in providing an accessible mode of transport. It plays a significant role in the economic growth of the nation through facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods to places of employment and the marketplace.

In order to fulfil these important roles, we need an accessible, integrated, well-funded, high-quality and efficient public transport system, a system that delivers real value for money for the taxpayer and the fare-paying passenger. In this year's budget, I was delighted to announce an allocation of approximately €625 million for the public transport sector. This includes an increase of approximately 11% in the amount of taxpayers' money that will be made available next year to fund public and rural transport services across the State as well as an investment of €344 million in capital expenditure. Collectively, this will facilitate new and improved services and facilities across our publicly-funded bus and rail networks.

The National Transport Authority, NTA, has an important statutory function in allocating funding to the public transport operators, planning public transport services and monitoring the operators' delivery of services in line with their contractual obligations.On a non-statutory basis, the NTA administers the rural transport programme on my Department's behalf.

As Senators will be aware, A Programme for a Partnership Government gives recognition to the value and benefit of rural transport to communities, in particular for older people vulnerable to social isolation. The allocation for rural transport in 2017 represents an almost 20% increase on the original funding allocation for 2016. I recently announced additional funding for this year. This increased funding for rural transport will enable a continuation of the process already under way of making improvements to existing services and developing new routes.

There are many in this House who believe we should increase funding for our transport services. I, too, believe that increased funding is desirable. That is why I made a strong submission during this year's budget discussions and why I am pleased with the increase I secured. Simply increasing funding is not the only answer. We need to be sure that how we spend existing money is delivering real value for money for the taxpayer. Since 2008, we have spent around €6 billion on public transport across services and infrastructure. Even that figure excludes the cost of funding free travel and the tax saver schemes.

Next year, the NTA will announce the winners of the competitions currently under way to provide around 10% of PSO bus services. These tendering competitions will allow us to capture potential benefits as regards value for money and in respect of how we use taxpayers' money to secure the provision of public transport services. Services provided under these new contracts will be subject to the same regulation and oversight by the NTA as the services provided today. I look forward to the NTA's successful progression of the three competitions and the introduction of an interesting new dynamic to public transport services.

In the near future, projects such as the reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel, the completion of the cross-city Luas project and the ten-minute DART will help to manage the increasing demand on the transport network. Works have recently been completed on the Phoenix Park tunnel line, which will see several new services operate from Newbridge and Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock at peak times on weekdays. The tunnel will also allow commuter services, such as those for Carlow, Portlaoise, Kildare and Athlone, to connect to the city centre. The cross-city Luas project will provide for an estimated 10 million additional journeys per annum on the Luas network, and the capacity of the Luas green line is being increased in order to accommodate the continued passenger growth on that line. The ten-minute DART service will greatly increase the frequency and capacity on DART lines.

The bus service continues to provide the mainstay of our national public transport system. As such, for 2017 funding has been provided for the purchase of 110 buses for the Dublin regional fleet and over 70 buses for the Bus Éireann feet, in addition to the development and upgrading of quality bus corridors in both the greater Dublin area and regional cities.

In addition, nearly €160 million has been allocated for the maintenance and upkeep of the rail network and the funding of ongoing projects, such as the city centre resignalling programme. The construction of a new central traffic control centre will enable major transport projects, including the expansion of the DART to Balbriggan, to proceed. It will improve national rail movement.

The Government has committed to ordering a review of the capital plan in 2017. I am determined to make the case for public transport investment to be increased and accelerated as a result of this review in order to address our growing transport needs.

Yesterday I briefed the Cabinet on the rail review of 2016. The review was undertaken by the NTA and Iarnród Éireann and submitted to me at the end of August. Senators will be aware that I committed to arrange for its publication and the commencement of public consultation. The NTA has now commenced that consultation with the publication yesterday of the rail review and a public consultation paper on the role of rail in Ireland and funding its delivery. The review is a strategic examination of the role of Iarnród Éireann and the financial resources required to continue to provide services on a sustainable basis. The review also provides an analysis of the company's financial position, some possible funding solutions and some proposals for measures to grow passenger numbers. The purpose of the documents is to open up a public discussion on the role of rail and its funding and to provide factual material to inform the discussion.

Throughout the consultation process, the public and interested parties will have an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the future of rail in this country. No decisions are being sought or taken at this point. I have made clear that decisions are not being contemplated until after there is a full process of public consultation. The NTA's public consultation will run until early in the new year. The NTA will then prepare a report about the consultation's progress and, at that stage, I intend to bring it to the Government.

Let us consider the recent industrial unrest in the public transport sector and the inconvenience to the travelling public. I am as relieved as every member of the travelling public to know that the talks have been successful. I thank the WRC, the trades unions and the management for their commitment to engaging in talks and for the hard work, steely patience and long hours they all put in to resolve most of the issues raised. I welcome the continued engagement of unions and management in the public transport sector on outstanding issues.

The Government recognises the importance of public transport and is committed to its further development within the context available funding. That is why A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to full review public transport policy to ensure services are sustainable and meet the needs of a modern economy. Any revised policy must ensure that the interests of passengers and taxpayers are at the heart of public transport policy. I am currently considering, with my Department, how we will move forward with a policy review in 2017 but I am sure the process will benefit from the contributions made by Senators during the Oireachtas-level consultations and the public consultation, which will form a key part of that review.

Maritime transport is another key sector in my Department and it is vital to the Irish economy. Our approach to maritime administration involves an appropriate combination of policy development, statutory regulation, safety awareness promotion, and enforcement.

Safety at sea is vital to this island nation. While a very good foundation is in place, considerable development continues to be required in the coming years to meet international targets and national obligations. This constant need for vigilance was brought home to us in a very poignant way this September with the loss of Catríona Lucas in a tragic accident. She was a coastguard volunteer and a member of that extraordinary group of men and women who dedicate their skills, time and passion so others may be safe on our coastlines. I commend the Coast Guard, volunteers, the RNLI and all involved in ensuring safety at sea on their bravery, remarkable courage and heroism in the service of others.

With regard to the development of our maritime sector, 2016 marked the start of a prolonged period of very important infrastructural improvements and developments in the ports sector. All three of our ports of national significance – Dublin, Cork and Shannon-Foynes - have major infrastructural development plans under way or due to commence, and all have been successful in obtaining some EU funding towards their developments. Overall, port companies are currently performing well, and in 2016 we have seen a shift from recovery mode to growth mode in the ports sector. This means we need to ensure that our ports are positioned well to compete and that they can provide the type of port capacity required into the future. I am confident that national ports policy provides the required policy framework to underpin the necessary investments.

As Senators will be aware, the enactment of the Harbours Act in December 2015 was an important milestone in national ports policy, providing the necessary primary legislative framework to allow for the transfer of five ports of regional significance - Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Wicklow, New Ross and Galway - to more appropriate local authority-led governance structures and to local authority control. The local authorities concerned are in the process of conducting a due diligence process with the ports due to be transferred, and my Department continues to liaise with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, local authorities and ports with regard to the transfer process. The transfer of the ports to local authority control is progressing, and Wicklow Port Company was the first port company to transfer to local authority control, on 30 August 2016.The transfer of the ports to local authority control is progressing. Wicklow Port Company was the first port company to transfer to local authority control on 30 August 2016.

I will now deal with aviation for Ireland given our island status and peripheral location. The connectivity which airports provide is vital. Eighty per cent of all passenger movement into and out of Ireland is by air. We are well served by airports. The airport network providing scheduled air services is extensive, with three State airports, Dublin, Cork and Shannon, delivering significant connections with Europe, North America and the Middle East, complemented by the four regional airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport - Knock - Kerry and Waterford, providing a level of international connectivity to support the tourism and business sectors in their regions. We are currently in the second year of a five-year regional airports programme, covering the period 2015-19 to provide targeted supports towards safety and security-related projects and activities to these four airports. This programme also supports the two PSO air routes from Donegal and Kerry airports to Dublin. The funding that is provided by my Department for these safety and security purposes is vital for these smaller airports and it is no exaggeration to say that without this Exchequer support, the airports would almost certainly be unable to continue to facilitate scheduled passenger services.

Ireland's State-owned airports provide vital international connectivity. Cork Airport plays a strategic role in serving its hinterland, with over 2 million passengers annually and 39 destinations in ten countries. Shannon Airport holds a similarly strategically important position as a gateway to the mid-west, with 1.71 million passengers in 2015 travelling to 35 destinations in 11 countries. Shannon Airport was also the first in Europe to provide full US pre-clearance services. Last year 25 million passengers flew from Dublin Airport to over 180 destinations in 40 countries using 30 different airlines. The availability of full US customs and immigration pre-clearance facilities at Dublin Airport has assisted in no small way in making Dublin Airport the fifth biggest for connectivity into North America, behind only Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and Schiphol. With growth can come constraints. It is important that Ireland maximises its existing airport assets while all the time planning for the future.

Last April, I welcomed the decision taken by the DAA to proceed with the development of a second runway at Dublin Airport. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and will allow the airport to grow, which, in turn, allows the Irish economy to grow. I have encouraged the DAA to continue to engage with local communities on the north runway project. I have held a number of meetings with representative groups and individuals since the company announced that it was proceeding with the runway project. I plan to continue to meet with the groups, to hear their views and anything else they wish to contribute. For its part, the DAA has also stated its willingness - which I support - to meet and engage with residents and to provide briefings to groups or individuals on request. These initiatives are in addition to DAA's ongoing engagement on mitigation measures, including voluntary home sound insulation and dwelling purchase schemes, which are required as part of the planning permission for runway north.

Given that current passenger growth trends at Ireland's State airports are anticipated to continue and in light of the decision by DAA to proceed with construction of the north runway project, I have decided to bring forward a review of capacity at Ireland's State airports, originally planned for 2018. The review is about planning for the long term. Specifically, it is envisaged that the review will consider the development of the three State airports to 2050, with the identification and prioritisation of new infrastructure development, including modification, if any, to the existing airport infrastructure. The review will include examination of options for the development of a new terminal capacity at Dublin Airport, Terminal 3. A request for tender for this work was published last week. I expect to receive the completed report in the middle of next year. One of the key issues for that review is whether the new terminal should be operated by the current incumbent, DAA, or by a competitor from the private or public sector.

My work in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport also covers road transport and road safety. I spoke earlier about maritime safety and of equal importance is road safety. Last year was the joint safest year on record on our roads. However, this year there has been a highly disturbing increase in the number of fatalities and serious injuries recorded. No single factor is being blamed and no one action is likely to turn around this problem. We must remember that each individual who uses our roads, whether as a motorist, a cyclist or a pedestrian, has a responsibility for road safety both in his or her own interest and in the interests of other road users. My Department, in conjunction with other key stakeholders, is continuing to pursue the goal of safer roads through actions across a broad range of fronts. A mid-term review is taking place this month on the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020, which contains 144 actions intended to make our roads safer for all users. High-level meetings are being held between me, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, the Attorney General and other stakeholders to review progress on all actions and to give renewed impetus to any actions that might be behind schedule.

It is only fair to acknowledge that there is a real problem in terms of our road fatalities which must be addressed in a more immediate manner. The number of fatalities has increased by 23% this year, depending on the events of the past few days. The situation is critical. It is not satisfactory to look back and say that the situation has improved since 2002 or before that or to say that 2015 was a good year. The reality is that 2013 and 2014 were bad years and 2015 now looks as if it was the outlier in that for 2016 thus far, the figures are very bad. We need to look at this issue in a more concrete way and more seriously. It must be acknowledged that alcohol has once again become a serious problem in this area. The figures to 2012 show that alcohol has become a renewed curse, particularly among young drivers. In cases involving fatalities there was an alcohol link of 38%. This is not satisfactory. The anecdotal evidence that I have seen indicates that this trend is continuing. It is wrong to suggest that we beat the curse of drink-driving some time in the last generation and that there has been a change of attitude in this regard. If there was a change of attitude it has been reversed. Anybody who listens to our radio stations on a daily basis will realise this. We have almost become used to hearing about fatalities several times a week. That is not acceptable. We must to look to ourselves in terms of a solution. We cannot look to the Garda Síochána and say they are not doing enough in terms of inspections. Garda resources have decreased. All the State agencies, including the Road Safety Authority, and the Government must regard this as a matter of urgency. If there was complacency last year, that has been shattered. We can no longer just say that it is up to each individual to look after himself or herself and nor can we dismiss this as something that will go away. There is a role for Government in this regard. We have shown in the past that we can address it and do so successfully. We will have to be more proactive in our attitude to road deaths. The current statistics are unacceptable to me and they will be reviewed by me aggressively. I will be meeting key stakeholders on this issue in the next few days. We hope to be able to report back to the House next year that this trend is being reversed.I brought the Road Traffic Bill 2016 before Dáil Éireann recently and it passed Second Stage on 28 September. As Senators may know, the Bill was originally passed by the Seanad in January 2016. The Government took a decision to restore it to the Dáil Order Paper following the general election. I will be bringing it to Committee Stage in the Dáil on 30 November. The Bill contains a series of reforms designed to enhance safety on our roads. It addresses the growing menace of people driving under the influence of drugs. It also creates a new special speed limit of 20 km/h which local authorities will be able to apply in built-up areas. This is being done, after careful consideration, in response to the Jake's Legacy campaign. I pay tribute to the work of Jake's mother, Roseann Brennan, and all involved in the campaign.

In addition, the Bill will give legal effect to an agreement on mutual recognition of driver disqualifications between Ireland and the UK. I plan to bring several amendments on Committee Stage. While some of these will be of a technical nature, I also intend to include measures to address the problem of written-off vehicles and the dangers they present for the first time in law.

I am conscious of the challenges that lie ahead for the transport sector as it seeks to play its part in addressing the challenge of climate change. Work at a sectorial level is proceeding well on the development of a strategic approach to both mitigation and adaptation through the national mitigation and adaptation plans. The mitigation plan will assist Ireland in transitioning to the decarbonisation of the transport sector by 2050. It is also vital we seek to future-proof the efficient functioning of the system to ensure we can continue to accrue the many benefits of transport to the economy and society in general. The adaptation plan will play a key role.

It has been an extraordinary year for Irish sport with the UEFA Euro 2016 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brazil. There was the uplifting success of a certain duo from Cork who rowed their way into the nations' hearts, along with the continued success of the various Irish teams, most recently the soccer and rugby teams. There have also been some difficult moments, namely, the recent tragic death of Anthony Foley and the ongoing Olympic ticket investigations in Rio.

The Government is committed to continued investment in sport. The sports capital programme is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. So far this year, €22.3 million has been paid out under these and previous rounds. These grants have delivered new and improved facilities, along with increased opportunities to participate in sport. The programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and recreation facilities. It has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town, county and city. The programme also alms to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities and encourage the sharing of these facilities by clubs, schools, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

As was confirmed in the 2017 Estimates, €52 million has been provided for sports capital projects. This will meet all existing commitments under previous rounds of the sports capital and local authority swimming pool programmes. It will also allow for a new round of the sports capital programme. In this regard, several new measures are being introduced to streamline all aspects of the programme from registration to application to grant drawdown. Planned new measures will include a shortened application form, new guides for completing the form and the organisation of a series of regional workshops to assist applicants who intend to apply for a grant. The new round will be open for applications by January at the latest. Based on previous rounds of the programme, the assessment process takes several months to complete. I expect the actual grant allocations will be made some time during summer 2017. We will be announcing more comprehensive details of the new round shortly.

The Irish bid for the Rugby World Cup is a real high point for the Irish sporting world. Senators will be aware the launch of the bid took place yesterday at the Aviva Stadium. The Government is hopeful that, with only three competitors left in the bid, we will be successful. Hosting the Rugby World Cup would give a boost not just to sport but to tourism and the whole nation. The benefits for Ireland would be incalculable. The support of the Government, which has underwritten the tournament fee of over €120 million, the IRFU, Irish Rugby Football Union, and other sporting organisations, is encouraging. The fact this is a united Ireland bid for a sporting occasion should not be underestimated. There were people from both parts of Ireland in full support on the platform and in the audience yesterday when the bid was launched. The fact sport unites people is a message that should not be lost.

I call on all Senators to give any support they can to support our bid for this world cup. There is going to be a somewhat complicated voting system, which will not puzzle anyone who has had to stand for election to this House. If any Member can lobby anyone involved in the rugby nations, then the Government and the nation would be grateful. We have a really good chance of a landing an extraordinarily prestigious tournament. We have got the stadia. Anyone who was in Chicago last week when we beat the All Blacks, as were some who are in this Chamber today, will know Irish rugby is at an absolute peak. There was a full house at the game against Canada last Saturday and we will meet the All Blacks on Saturday again. This underlines the fact that we are in an extraordinarily strong position as a rugby nation and on top of the world. It should be recognised that Irish sport is in a very good place. We also did well in the UEFA Euro 2016 championship. Despite not taking as many medals as were expected in the Rio Olympic Games, there were some tremendously unexpected best performances. We did well in the top 10 and top 20.

A total of €52 million is being provided in capital funding for sport in 2017. The reduction from the 2016 capital allocation of €73.5 million is the result of the on-time completion of phase 1 of the National Indoor Arena, due for December 2016. This capital funding will meet existing commitments under previous rounds of the sports capital programme, including Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the Kerry Sports Academy at IT Tralee, as well as existing commitments relating to the development of the National Sports Campus and under the local authority swimming pools programme. As was confirmed in the 2017 Estimates statement, it will also allow for a new round of the sports capital programme to be opened for applications shortly, with the announcement of allocations expected in 2017.

While I have been proud to attend several Irish sporting fixtures lately, I was especially delighted to be able to attend the Olympic Games in Rio in August. I was proud of the accomplishments of our athletes there.In addition to Annalise Murphy and Paul and Gary O'Donovan winning silver medals, Irish Olympians achieved 16 top-ten and 14 top-20 finishes, which is a marked improvement on the 14 top-ten and six top-20 finishes achieved in London in 2012. Our Paralympians also performed fantastically, winning 11 medals and with 22 top-18 finishes. The Olympians and Paralympians are an inspiration to us all and I hope they will be seen as role models for young people entering the world of competitive sport with a view to reaching elite level in the future.

In mentioning the Olympic Games, I must refer to the non-statutory inquiry established to investigate the matter of ticketing. It is being led by Mr. Justice Carroll Moran and began its investigation on 19 September. The Moran inquiry has scope under its terms of reference to inquire into the policies, procedures, processes and practices of the Olympic Council of Ireland in the distribution and sale of tickets and accreditations at Rio 2016 and any previous summer or winter Olympic Games. Mr. Justice Moran was asked to present a report within 12 weeks of the inquiry's commencement, but he has indicated that this timeline may be ambitious and some delay is anticipated. As the inquiry is under way, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further until it has completed its work.

I am delighted to advise the House that I will be launching a national sports policy consultation document, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, tomorrow, 17 November. It is a very important document as it will give all relevant stakeholders an opportunity to make a real contribution to the new national sports policy framework which will be drafted following the consultation process and provide a framework for the development of Irish sport in the next ten years. The consultation document raises questions on a wide range of issues pertinent to sport in Ireland, including governance, volunteering and sports tourism, in addition to high performance and participation. I look forward to receiving the views of the sports sector and all interested stakeholders on these issues and all topics related to sport.

Tourism is an enormously important industry for Ireland and an important driver of its strengthening economic recovery. Overseas visitors contribute €4.2 billion to the economy, excluding carrier receipts, air fares and ferry charges, and help to sustain over 220,000 jobs in communities across Ireland. In fact, 2013 was the fifth consecutive year of growth in overseas visitor numbers, with Ireland outperforming many of its competitor destinations, while 2015 was a record year, with over 8.6 million visits. That growth has continued into 2016, with the latest official figures showing growth of over 12% so far this year. As an island destination, direct, convenient and competitive flights are critical to achieving and sustaining growth in inbound tourist numbers. We have seen significant expansion in the range of air services available to Ireland in recent years and anticipate that there are further route announcements yet to come.

The Government's decision to introduce and maintain a 9% VAT rate for the tourism industry has been an important factor in increasing employment in the sector and, importantly, helped to improve the value on offer for visitors. The Government's tourism policy statement, People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025, acknowledges the importance of tourism as a driver of economic and social development in rural areas. The tourism action plan 2016 to 2018 identifies the key actions required in the period to 2018 to ensure the longer term tourism policy objectives will be achieved. They include actions that will strengthen the capacity of local authorities to support tourism in a way that is closely integrated with national level tourism brand experiences, for example, Ireland's Ancient East. My Department is engaging with the local authority sector on these actions, with the support of the Local Government Management Agency.

Tourism experience brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East have resulted in a massive boost to rural tourism and it is important that the potential benefits of the State's investments in these projects be fully realised. To this end, the regional co-operative market access scheme which promotes direct air and sea access to the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East via points of entry outside Dublin has been extended to 2018. The scheme which is administered by Tourism Ireland involves a core Exchequer contribution of €1 million, with additional contributions by regional tourism stakeholders, including local authorities, the total of which is then matched by carriers to fund strong and effective overseas marketing campaigns. My Department is also working with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the action plan for rural Ireland which will also include a focus on the capacity of tourism to act as an agent of growth in the rural economy.

As we are all aware, the United Kingdom decided, in a referendum held earlier this year, to leave the European Union. The UK electorate has made its decision and we must respect the voters' choice. The process of the United Kingdom disengaging from the European Union and subsequently negotiating a new relationship with it will take several years. In the meantime, Ireland remains a committed member of the European Union and we want as close a relationship as possible between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the future. In particular, we want to safeguard the gains of the Northern Ireland peace process.

We are conducting analysis across government to identify in detail the impact of Brexit and develop possible solutions. This includes the impact on transport and tourism. Many factors will influence the impact Brexit will have on Ireland's tourism performance in the coming years, much of which is out of our control. This has been a record year for tourism in Ireland and there has been no immediate impact on tourism performance since the referendum in the United Kingdom in June. At over 7.445 million visits, the number of overall trips to Ireland was up by 12% in the first nine months of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015. The tourism sector is actively considering how it will respond to Brexit and the ways in which it can build on the success achieved this year.

That concludes my overview of the portfolio. I thank Senators for their time and patience and look forward to hearing their contributions. I will be very happy to listen and respond to the contributions made. Many of the items in my portfolio are non-political and cover areas on which most people appear to agree. The only point on which they do not agree is where the funding should go. We all seem to share the view that it should go to our own area. Within these confines, I would like to respond as positively as I can to suggestions Senators may make. On two of the topics I have addressed, we are actually making policy. If the consultation process is to be meaningful, it should be informed not only by the views of stakeholders outside the Houses but also those inside them. I am referring specifically to the rail review which we published yesterday. No decision has yet been made in that regard as it is subject to a consultation process and input both by the Government and the Opposition. We are launching the sports consultation process tomorrow. In that regard, we are as open to suggestions as is politically feasible. I will be particularly delighted to receive ideas that will not cost enormous sums of money to implement.