Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The bottom line is I feel Fáilte Ireland contradicts itself. One the one hand, it says it wants more sustainable tourism but on the other it is putting all its eggs in one basket - the Cliffs of Moher only - and it has just increased the number of cars driving through the Burren. It came up with this great plan that if all the cars on the Wild Atlantic Way, let us get some of them driving through the Burren but the local people and businesses just see more cars, which does more damage to the precious and sacred local fauna. It means it is not safe for people to hike, walk or cycle. It is not working. It can keep saying "sustainable" all it wants but local towns, villages and businesses do not benefit and it does not do enough to promote walking and cycling, which are the best and only way to experience the Burren. You meet someone in a car and they ask, "Where is the Burren?" They are in the Burren in their cars. If they walk and cycle in the Burren, they have to eat and stay local. We are missing a trick. Fáilte Ireland keep saying the word "sustainable" but is failing local people and businesses. Vans are driving down from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher three times a week with food baked in Dublin, as if we cannot provide the food locally. The word "sustainable" has to be put into practice and not just thrown out willy-nilly. I have deep concerns about the new strategy for the cliffs. It will make more money for the council and Fáilte Ireland can say it is great but it is not sustainable long term. I am sure Fáilte Ireland has been involved in this tourism strategy which the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has been working hard on. We have climate targets that will cost us €8 billion if we do not reach them. Transport is the biggest challenge and it is not being taken seriously.