Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is the best suggestion Senator Wilson has made all day.

I agree fully with Senator Bacik on the need for freedom of the press and to support members of the media in reporting unhindered and having access to institutions. We can never condemn in anything other than the strongest terms the deaths of journalists or interference with their work. We have had a tragic case this week, as outlined by the Senator. It is reprehensible. We cherish having a free and independent press. We may not like some of the things journalists write, but that is their prerogative. I hope the Saudi Arabian journalist who is missing in Turkey will be found safe and well because we must at all times uphold the freedom of the press.

Senator Robbie Gallagher mentioned Ireland's Ancient East. My understanding is it is Fáilte Ireland, not the Government, that engages in the relevant promotional activities. To be fair to the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, she is doing a great job in championing County Monaghan, as Senator Reilly is doing with County Cavan being part of his brief. I am sure he is ably assisted by Senator Diarmuid Wilson. I am not familiar with the issue Senator Gallagher raised, but I did a quick check on Google on which I found images of County Monaghan and many other parts of Ireland's Ancient East. If the Senator has an issue, it might be best to communicate with Fáilte Ireland or raise it by way of a Commencement matter.

It is important to recognise, as Senator Davitt noted, the importance of the tourism sector. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows well, coming from beauty's home in Killarney, the tourism industry had the benefit of a temporary measure for seven years. The former Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, introduced the measure to create jobs in a sector which now has 235,000 people in employment, while visitor numbers are at an all-time high. What we must now do is ensure Ireland is marketed properly, including the areas to which Senator Davitt referred where there are insufficient numbers of visitors.That is why there is an increase of over €35 million in the budget in terms of the tourism offering. This is for the purposes of allowing us to better manage the industry's success of recent years. There is a sting for members of Retail Excellence Ireland and for those in the restaurant sector. People do not want high prices. The sector can refer to myriad costs that have increased but we must get the balance right. I will be happy to have a debate on this.

I commend the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Griffin, on securing extra moneys for tourism promotion. The moneys realised from the increase in the VAT rate will go towards investment in housing, healthcare and other public services.