Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on today’s announcement of the pilot project for musicians and artists because music is a huge part of tourism in County Clare.

First, I will cite the definition of sustainable tourism: "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.” I know that the following is before the Minister's time but, and I mean no offence to Fáilte Ireland, it has not always dealt properly with host communities. I remember that the national regulator, at a cycling conference, said that for one of the greenways that was promoted, sold and funded by Fáilte Ireland it had to retrospectively build connections and routes to local schools and villages. Fáilte Ireland had been so focused on getting tourists across a certain section that it forgot to include local communities

We still have a bit of work to do in tourism. The Lonely Planetguide says that the Burren eco-tourism network in County Clare has transformed Ireland's Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark into a global leader in sustainable tourism, which is brilliant. It is a great organisation and the work is done by a lot of volunteers. The Minister has visited the place and praised the staff but the new Cliffs of Moher plan puts cars and buses first. The plan seeks to bring bus services that only serve tourists and transports them from a village or town to the cliffs and back. In fact, a loop service would be much more sustainable and would include villages in north County Clare. If we are going to embrace communities as part of our success then one needs to analyse the proposed transport. A shuttle service that only travels to and from a venue means tourists will just go to the venue whereas a loop service will give tourists an opportunity to visit local villages, spend some money there and then go on to see the cliffs. At present 1.2 million people visit the Cliffs of Moher and it is hoped that the number will increase to 2 million but a lot of tourists are bused in and out so the local economy does not benefit. The county council owns the site but I would like to see the local villages thrive. If 1.2 million people visit an area then that should be reflected in all of the surrounding villages so the new plan must be adjusted. At the front of the plan is a proposal for more parking for coaches and cars with a 0.5 km expansion on either side of the Cliffs of Moher, which is the walking route. There is an amazing walking route that stretches from Liscannor to Doolin but it has been neglected apart from a small section at the cliffs. Such treatment of a walk is not best practice if we are serious about having sustainable tourism. The plan is to create walking and cycling routes in order that people can get to the cliffs but the plan is very vague. I thought that the initiative would have been front-ended if we were serious about creating sustainable tourism. We must place a stronger emphasis on such tourism. Most people say that they come to Ireland for its people but the reason tourists return is because they have met our people. If one has a tourism model where tourists can simply kiss the Blarney Stone or visit the cliffs then tourists may not return; we must consider this.

In the programme for Government, under the heading of Reigniting and Renewing the Economy, and tourism, the following statements are made: "work to ensure that ferry companies provide access for foot passengers without cars"; "as an island, we depend on connectivity in our tourism sector"; and "we recognise the huge value of our maritime and aviation sectors in supporting economic development, international connectivity and tourism via our ports and airports". I have emailed the ferry companies and British Ferries replied saying there is no way that it will let foot passengers on its ferries. I got very excited when British Ferries launched its new service to Bilbao because I thought I could travel guilt free with the possibility of getting on a ferry here and getting off in Bilbao. A ferry service would give me another option outside of flying. Sometimes it is good for us all to leave the island but I like to do so in a sustainable fashion. British Ferries, in its reply to me, said the company has no intention of ever carrying foot passengers on its ferry. I know that British Ferries is a private company but we have a climate emergency and every enterprise be it private or public will have to play their part and seek carbon reductions. I realise that we have some work to do around that aspect.

It is good that the Minister has established a sustainable tourism working group but she cannot keep an eye on everything. We must have clear targets because one often sees the suggestion to put the word "sustainable" into everything. I will give an example. I have read the report on the Cliffs of Moher. On paper the report sounds brilliant but it is very vague on commitments to reduce dependence on cars and has one-hit wonders with a bus in and out of the place.We have work to do. I would push back against Fáilte Ireland. It is great at encouraging tourism but it is not great at ensuring communities benefit from it. That is something we have to get right if we are serious about sustainable tourism in Ireland. It is what people come to this country for. They want to meet the people.