Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to repeat what Senator Ahearn and others have said, but I believe the campaign for a zero VAT rate is worthy of our support.

I support Senator Seery Kearney's call for a debate on the bureaucracy leading to delays in getting vital drugs recognised and into the system in the country.

Before the recess, I raised the issue of Shannon Heritage, which is currently part of the Shannon Group. It has been agreed that Clare County Council would take over the Shannon Heritage properties because Clare County Council knows how to promote County Clare. It has the experience of running the most successful tourist attraction on the west coast of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher Experience, along with Knappogue Castle, Bunratty Castle and other facilities in Clare. They would fit well under that structure.

The problem is that the facilities have had no investment over the years and have been let run down. The Exchequer needs to invest €4 million or €5 million to bring the facilities to a sustainable position so that they will not be a cost burden on the ratepayers of County Clare or Clare County Council. They need to be handed over cost neutral. Unfortunately, one Department is kicking the ball to another Department and ultimately it is falling between all the stools. I ask the Leader to write to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage requesting that this issue be dealt with quickly so that the sites can transfer to Clare County Council in time to put a marketing plan in place for 2023.

Tourism is the most important industry in Clare.We have capacity in Clare to have a lot more tourism in the county than is currently the case. These sites are vital to the tourism offering of the county for the people who come and visit. We need certainty and more importantly, the staff who are working in Shannon Heritage, doing a fantastic job under difficult circumstances, need certainty as well.