Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin. As a fellow Kerryman, I wish him well. We have much in common and naturally I support many of the points he made. Tourism is a good news story and long may it remain so.Like all good news stories, it has to be minded and nurtured because it has its pitfalls as well as its upside. It would, however, be churlish not to welcome the figures the Minister has presented us with. We cannot overestimate the importance of the fact that we are now in our seventh successive year of growth in tourism and I am glad the last Fianna Fáil-led Government is included in that seven years. We are often forgotten for being the originators of The Gathering, which has been one of the most inspiring projects in recent Irish tourism development. Well done to the current Government for capturing the Fianna Fáil idea and developing it well.

I also give credit where it is due to other recent initiatives, such as the Wild Atlantic Way, which has been brilliant. I also welcome Ireland's Ancient East and the new promotion in the midlands as they are all important.