Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will speak briefly as my colleagues have made the relevant and important points I was going to raise. Senator Currie raised very important points and I wish to acknowledge that the situation to which she referred is an issue for some people.

I have received good reactions to the July stimulus initiative, including from small businesses. People need the support and help it will provide. I am sure the Minister of State has noticed in his constituency that small businesses are resolute about surviving and getting out of the current situation. They have great fight and enthusiasm and other Irish qualities.

The next couple of months will be of great importance. If one walks the streets of Dublin, one will see how quiet they are compared with the city streets in most summers. That is also the case in rural areas. Tourists and others will not be coming to these places. I looked up some facts regarding my county and the wider rural areas of counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway. In 2018, tourism was worth approximately €30 million to the area. That is a phenomenal amount. The figure does not include Galway city but, rather, just the rural areas. In recent years, the phenomenon of tourism in those counties has been extremely important in the context of employment. This is the time to put more money into promoting outdoor facilities such as hill walking, parks, boating on the River Shannon, Lough Erne or elsewhere. All such outdoor attractions should be promoted more and receive more funding because it is crucial that small businesses in the sector can avail of as much custom as possible in the coming months. It is to be hoped that people who visit an area to hill walk or visit an attraction such as Lough Key in County Roscommon, Arigna Mining Experience, Sliabh Bawn or Strokestown Park House will stay in a hotel in the area or go to a restaurant there. We must redouble our efforts in the next eight to ten weeks to ensure every possible support is provided to attract much-needed business to those areas.