Like other Members I am going to discuss the virtues of my own constituency from a tourism perspective. It offers a unique tourism experience. Unlike many other areas, we have a bustling city that is expanding but we also have a region of great natural beauty beside it in Connemara. It offers tourists a unique opportunity to experience both. Many see Galway mar príomhchathair dhátheangach agus príomhchathair chultúrtha na tíre seo - the bilingual capital of the country. One of the things about bilingualism and an Ghaeilge is nach ndéanfaimid dóthain chun cúrsaí turasóireachta a spreagadh ó thaobh na teanga de - we do not use the language enough. We do not use the fact that the language is spoken as the daily language of the community in Connemara and is widely heard across Galway city as something to attract tourists to enjoy. Sadly, not every part of the country can say that but we can in Galway. We appreciate it and as locals we feel that offers a unique opportunity for tourists to come and experience it. One of the things Galway City Council has sought to do - I support it on this. In fact, I was a member of the council when we first discussed it - is the opportunity for the local authority to develop a tourism tax. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel so much abroad. I always pay a tourism tax to the hotel operator in addition to the cost of staying at the hotel. Again, fortunately, it is something that I can do. We need to look at it as an opportunity for local authorities to raise revenue. There are additional costs on certain local authorities as a result of being a location that tourists enjoy. We like to keep the city cleaner. There is greater usage of public transport. There is a greater need to maintain good road quality and, as Deputy Aird says, to build things like greenways. Local authorities would benefit from the opportunity to raise funds through a tourism tax. Dublin City Council has sought it. Galway City Council was the first to moot it. We should give councils the liberty and the opportunity to do so. They are conscious enough to do so in a way that does not make the attraction too expensive or that it will not kill the goose that lays the golden egg in terms of tourism. We should move on that and allow them to do that. Bhí mé ag caint faoi Chonamara ansin. Ba mhaith liom dhá áit eile i gConamara a lua atá thar a bheith tábhachtach ó thaobh cúrsaí turasóireachta agus cuairteoirí de. I want to mention the Connemara National Park. It offers a fantastic experience for tourists. In the region of a quarter of a million people visit it every year. I would like to see it being further developed. There is a wonderful visitor centre there and it has a new experience that teaches people about the Connemara pony - something that is again unique to the area. Luaim chomh maith Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh i Rosmuc, aonad a chuireann síos ar stair na háite maidir le Pádraig Pearse. Bhí cónaí air san áit ar feadh blianta agus é ag foghlaim na teanga. I will finish by referring to the importance of tourism to the offshore islands. It is the crucial industry for them. There is some concern about the impact of the changes to the short-term letting sphere that we are going to introduce. I just ask that we might consider particular details for the offshore islands.

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