Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in thanking those who are making the arrangements for today's service for the late Sir David Amess. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend but I take this opportunity to put on record my sympathies to his family after the tragic and unbelievable events last week.

I also endorse the remarks of Senator Kyne on the Passport Office. Any opportunity we have to engage and convey our experience of what we are dealing with is a welcome one. It is to be hoped it will assist the valiant efforts of staff there. I do not diminish what the workers are doing in the office. I just think they need to be better supported to be able to do their job and expand upon the already impressive work they put in.

Áras Uí Chonghaile, the James Connolly visitor centre in west Belfast, is a fantastic tourism, community and educational facility. It seeks to tell the story of the life of James Connolly and of his family, to give people the opportunity to engage with his story and, indeed, with his politics, writings and philosophies. This weekend the centre will organise a sponsored walk to the historic Cave Hill, which overlooks Belfast and which was the inspiration for Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. It was known also as an historic meeting place for the Society of United Irishmen, where they could meet in secret above the city. The centre is doing a sponsored walk in solidarity with the Moore Street Preservation Trust to support the trust's plans for the regeneration, redevelopment and preservation of the Moore Street historic area. I know there was a Commencement matter on this during the week but I would welcome the opportunity to have an update on Moore Street from the Minister responsible so we can all engage on this important issue. I welcome and support that solidarity being expressed between both cities, going forward.

I also want to reflect on the launch yesterday by my party colleagues, Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill MLA, and Caoimhe Archibald MLA, of our own tourism strategy which outlines our vision for connecting the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East. The Leader will know this is something I have raised before. As we emerge from the restrictions and seek to bolster a safe return of tourists and visitors to Ireland, it is a timely opportunity for the Minister responsible to address us about our international work in promoting Ireland as a tourism destination and how we can all engage to ensure that destination and those services are even better for the many visitors we hope will be able to safely come and see us.