Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for dealing with the teething problems we are inevitably going to face over the coming period. The arrangements are working out very well.

I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate with the Minister with responsibility for tourism at some stage very soon, because tourism will be one of the mechanisms we use to successfully reboot our economy. Back in 2012, when we were on our knees as a country and an economy, the first industry that blossomed and helped get us out of that particular recession was tourism. We started off with the initiative of The Gathering and that developed into the Wild Atlantic Way, which has been enormously successful in both the Cathaoirleach's native county of Kerry and my native country of Clare. In a post-Covid era, the attractions and benefits of the Wild Atlantic Way will be even more pronounced because of the space issues and the fact that it is primarily outdoors and is healthy. We need to recalibrate the marketing of tourism to point out the advantages and benefits of the outdoors, particularly along the west coast of Ireland. We also need to consider the collection of small cottage industries that depend on tourism, such as people selling crafts, those in the music and entertainment business and people involved in the arts, who collaboratively present the Irish package and the céad míle fáilte for which we are renowned internationally. All those cottage industries and various facets need to be supported in order that they can collectively put their best foot forward to help this country get back to where we were.