Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We know that significant economic and social benefits are derived from facilitating access to and from the regions. Air connectivity to key regional hubs is essential to support incoming tourism, foreign direct investment and indigenous businesses. In that regard, the €3 million allocated to the regional co-operative marketing fund in 2023 will enable tourism Ireland to explore new access routes and maximise the potential of existing services to the regions and match funding from airlines, sea carriers, airports, ports and tourism stakeholders, including local authorities, as the Senator said. In fairness to the local authorities, they have been strong in putting forward what they have to offer in their areas.

According to my notes, this will start at the beginning of April but as the Senator said, we are going to see the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister in the Green Party, junior and senior Cabinet Ministers and others travelling all over the world. Where else would you want to be on St. Patrick's Day? Everybody wants to put on the green jersey and feel that unique Irishness we all know and love. We get a huge amount of support as Irish people all over the world and a huge amount of media coverage, after which we will roll straight into the campaign in April. I agree with the Senator wholeheartedly. We have so much to offer and we can keep pushing and pushing to encourage as many tourists to come back as possible. We really missed them during the Covid-19 period.