Tourism is one of Ireland's most important industries. We all know that it supports jobs, sustains local businesses and brings investment to local communities across the country. The beauty about tourism is that it goes right deep into some of our most rural and most hinterland parts of our island. If we are really serious about developing tourism, we must also be serious about addressing regional inequalities that continue to hold areas back. I come from Donegal. I can say hand on heart that it is the most beautiful and scenic place in the country. It is blessed with spectacular scenery that you would not see anywhere in Europe, although I am very biased in that regard. It has got that tradition and is rich in culture, our language, our heritage, our islands and all that it offers. However, the problem is that if we are being serious, there are serious infrastructural issues in relation to Donegal. The north west is not serviced by motorway. It is not serviced by rail links. It has serious issues in relation to its public transport infrastructure, which is supplemented by a number of private operators that have operated excellently for many years. There is also basic infrastructure. I come from Gweedore, for example. There are hotel developments that are being stalled and held up because we do not have a sewerage scheme that been promised time and time again from the Government. We also have tourist attractions that need just that little bit of investment, particularly our islands, which have seen a huge explosion of tourism over the past while, but can be further developed in a more sustainable way. I wish to raise the issue in relation to Glenveagh National Park, which is a jewel in the crown in the north west. The issue here is that time and time again we see people come to Glenveagh National Park, they travel long distances to visit for the day and find that tours are not available depending on the day that they arrive. This should not be happening in a national park which is open seven days a week. Tours should be available at all times. It is basic investment that needs to be there. There were issues in the past where people could not get car parking and had to travel two hours back. Some of those issues are being addressed. Tourism takes many different forms. There are types of investment that are required to sustain, support and supplement what we have. I have described Donegal as a number of pearls that we have across the county from different locations and different events. What is missing there is the necklace that ties them all together. In a way, the Wild Atlantic Way is a form of that type of necklace. When we are missing a pearl or two, the necklace does not look the way it should. When we make sure that all of the pearls are joined up, it is something that is attractive and can encourage more tours, operators and people from overseas to come here. One of the issues that I have raised in the past has been the issue of the entertainment sector and it being able to attract tourism into regions across the State. I have raised the issue of the fact that we have seen music festivals close down over the last number of years and the need to support music festivals, in particular. I have skin in the game in this as I am a director and chairperson of our not-for-profit music festival in Donegal. I am not speaking about our own festival. The Minister will be aware of the liquidation of tickets.ie recently. This has caused major problems. We have not-for-profit music festivals that operate in my county of Donegal, such as the Rory Gallagher International Festival. It is an outstanding festival that has operated for many years that was a client of this company. We are now seeing them out hundreds of thousands of euro. This cannot stand. This company that is going into liquidation is 75% owned by the DEAG Entertainment Group in Berlin. We need to be looking all the avenues. That means our foreign affairs Minister, our EU Commissioner and the German ambassador here need to be called in. There are serious issues that do not just affect the Rory Gallagher International Festival; it also affects other private festivals in the State. There also may be an issue where the Government intervenes. There is a question now that we need to look at whether we want to make sure these festivals continue next year. If they do, the money has to be paid, or the State will have to support them in some way to make sure that they continue.

Sentiment score: 0.22