John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call for a debate on cross-Border tourism. The reason I do so is the work done by the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, in the Newry, Mourne and Down regions. In particular, my good friend Mr. Killian Feehan, who I met last week, outlined the work the SDLP is doing in advocating and promoting the inclusion of counties Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East. A unanimous motion was passed by all political parties, including the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, two weeks ago at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. All parties and politicians at local and council level are in agreement and would love to see Armagh and Down added to Ireland's Ancient East.

This issue is very important for a number of reasons. First, it would considerably enhance the tourism opportunities on both sides of the Border. What often happens with tourism in certain instances is that you get to the edge of Dundalk or the County Louth border and tourism drops off a cliff. There is an excellent tourism initiative and seafood trail called "Sea Louth" and we should be trying to expand that across Carlingford Lough into County Down. In the same way, we should include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East.

It is a important to always include both sides of the Border. The world does not end at the Border when it comes to tourism. We see major increases in tourism through greenways and blueways. Having two counties from the North included in Ireland's Ancient East would be a really productive and positive step. That is why I would like to have a debate on this.

I am aware there are discussions with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland on the issue. That there is local buy-in from all political parties is really positive. There is certainly political buy-in from political parties on this side of the Border. I would appreciate a debate on the wider aspects of cross-Border tourism and how we can continue to foster economic prosperity on both sides of the Border. This is about bringing economic prosperity to both sides of the region, in particular to the Dundalk, north Louth, south Armagh and County Down region. I would appreciate a debate about that at some stage.