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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jul 1961

Vol. 191 No. 11

Committee on Finance. - Tourist Traffic Bill, 1961 — Second Stage (Resumed).

Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

This Bill marks an important step forward in the development of our tourist industry. Bord Fáilte, like many another body, has come in for certain criticism. It should be remembered that Bord Fáilte was set up to deal with something completely new in this country. It should also be remembered that tourism is now one of our biggest industries. I have always been prepared to bear with Bord Fáilte, even if they made a mistake, because of the excellence of their approach in general.

I should like to draw the Minister's attention to something that appears to me to be an anomaly. Loans and grants are available for already existing hotels, but if somebody buys a premises, or owns a premises, suitable for conversion into an hotel or guest house, that person cannot receive any assistance by way of loan or grant from Bord Fáilte. I think that is a mistake. There are scenic and fishing areas which could be developed if hotels and guest houses were opened in them. Bord Fáilte should be given power to come to the assistance by way of loan and grant of anybody prepared to develop such areas. The members of this House and the public generally would defer with the most profound respect to the authority that drew my attention to this anomaly. I ask the Minister to consider the matter.

The policy now is to attract the British tourist here. I welcome that because I believe it is our best policy and because I believe these tourists represent the most valuable tourist we can have. It is comforting to note now that in this year, 1961, we are beginning to recognise that at last. Not so very long ago I heard a member of the Fianna Fáil Party thundering about the ridiculousness of bringing over British tourists to this country; all they were giving us were bits of paper in return for our fine steaks.

Deputy Sir Anthony Esmonde referred last night to potential tourist areas which are not being promoted by Bord Fáilte. He mentioned Duncannon. The scenic area where the three great rivers meet — the Nore, the Suir and the Blackwater — is sadly neglected by Bord Fáilte. It is a magnificent area, but there are no boats of any kind on these magnificent rivers. There were boats in years gone by. I would remind the Minister and the House that this is an important tourist area. There is the port of Rosslare and the port of Waterford, both bringing in cars on the Great Western. I am glad to say that these two ports are over-subscribed in the matter of bringing in cars which I consider is a great potential and something to which we should pay a little more care and attention.

The roads leading from Rosslare should be improved. While it may be said that is a matter for another Department, I am sure a recommendation from this Department would go a long way towards securing a grant for the improvement of roads for the benefit of tourists bringing cars to this country. I would draw the Minister's attention to the fact that Waterford gets £5,000 from another Department as a special tourist road grant and Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford do not get a penny.

These are Gaeltacht tourist roads?

Yes. The policy of routing as many tourists as possible through Dublin is very bad. As I mentioned in this House before, I was in a tourist office in England when a man came in and said he wanted to go to Ireland. Before anybody could say "Jack Robinson" he was routed to Dublin via Euston and Holyhead. He was not told that there were alternative entry ports. He was shot off in that direction at a time when the boats coming to the North Wall and Dún Laoghaire were overcrowded. It may be said the Minister has no authority to prevent that. Surely the Minister and Bord Fáilte could make recommendations to British Railways that when they are advertising routes that they should not advertise only the one route. On the route from Fishguard to Rosslare and also to Cork, the Minister's constituency, there are magnificent boats giving a magnificent service.

We all welcome the giving of grants and loans to hotels and guest houses. Our hotels are improving every year. They are becoming better equipped and are doing a splendid job in furnishing and modernising bedrooms, bathrooms and so on. Nobody could find fault with that except perhaps publicans who are not being considered at all. Publicans provide great amenities for tourists. I am not talking so much about publicans in big centres but about those in the small towns and villages all over Ireland who cater for the type of tourist we recognise as our most valuable tourist, the British working man who likes to go to these places.

It is good to see that some of the owners of licensed premises have improved and extended their premises, and the majority of them would not be rich men. A great deal more could be done but the public house owners will say to themselves, and rightly so, that they are left out in the cold as far as this Bill is concerned. Under this Bill the Tourist Board should be given authority, where a person can show his public house could be made a tourist attraction, to assist in improving such premises.

I wish Bord Fáilte well. They have done excellent work. People have criticised them for what they did at Bunratty but the people who criticised them did not know the wonderful thing the Tourist Board had done there. It published in magazines all over the world pictures of Bunratty and gave its history, stating how convenient it was to the airport and so on. I commend the Tourist Board for that type of advertisement which is much better than spending tens of thousands of dollars on advertisements in big magazines saying: "Come to Ireland" which are soon forgotten.

Other promotions worth while are those like the Wexford, Cork and Waterford festivals. I have heard it said that the Waterford Festival attracts more tourists than any other festival in the country. I wish to commend Bord Fáilte again and to thank them in the name of the Waterford Festival Committee for the courageous and forthright manner in which they came forward to help the committee running that festival. It is in regard to promotions like that that Bord Fáilte justifies itself and that Bord Fáilte will succeed in increasing our tourist potential.

Like Deputy Russell who spoke here last night, I question the wisdom of the lump sum of £5 million as against the annual allowance paid to Bord Fáilte. If we are to give Bord Fáilte the green light by ear-marking so much money, will we be in a position to question the spending of that money in different directions? Unlike Deputy Lynch I am not so impressed by Bord Fáilte and the wonderful pictures in the magazines all over the world. I have reason to be critical of Bord Fáilte although I have tried to be as fair as possible to them in criticising their activities. However, looking back over the years and the manner in which some of the Bord Fáilte money has been spent, I am wondering whether it is advisable to earmark this large amount of money for them.

Speakers here last night questioned the manner in which Bord Fáilte allocations are being spent. Not long ago representatives of Bord Fáilte attended a local authority meeting in Cork and told of the £200,000 for West Cork. There is one big problem in that connection, namely, that we have not the least idea when any of the £200,000 will be spent in West Cork, whether it will come out of the lump sum now being offered or whether it will come under a long-term policy.

The Minister has drawn attention to the question of improvement works at holiday resorts. I had occasion recently to communicate with Bord Fáilte enquiring what they intended to do for Crosshaven, which is a popular seaside resort, most convenient to the people of Cork City. Admittedly, they are local residents, not tourists coming by Aer Lingus, but the people of Cork City are entitled to some consideration.

In reply I received a long letter dated 30th May informing me that they had no money to spend on that resort. That was bad enough but they also said that they were aware of the need for amenities and had brought it to the attention of the Department of Local Government. They sent me a copy of the letter they had sent to the Department of Local Government.

The technical experts available to the Department of Local Government are well able to attend to improvements of roads that come under the jurisdiction of Cork County Council and the Department. However, Bord Fáilte set out what they want done in the way of improvements to main roads and tourist roads and state that instead of the commonly-used chain link fencing, cut stone walls should be provided. It is preposterous that Bord Fáilte should spend time on these matters. It must involve considerable cost to Bord Fáilte to have officials, not trying to encourage tourists, but telling the Department of Local Government what they should be doing. The policy of Bord Fáilte in that respect does not display common sense.

I hear Bord Fáilte being praised here but in the small seaside resort of Fennell's Bay the local people co-operated to improve the approach to the beach and spent their own money in the hope that they would get some assistance from Bord Fáilte only to be told that Bord Fáilte could not give any money towards the project. They may spend money in Dublin or Waterford or other places but common sense is missing when it comes to Cork County. It is for that reason that I question the wisdom of passing a Bill to hand over a lump sum to Bord Fáilte, giving them the green light to carry on in their own style for a number of years without having to come back to this House for more money.

The Minister has directed attention to the importance of providing new offices abroad. I should like to know if there is any back room in any of our Embassies abroad that could accommodate Bord Fáilte but I suppose Bord Fáilte would not be satisfied with a back room and want luxurious offices. The money being spent on these buildings and the furnishing of them could be better spent in some other way in connection with tourism. There are hundreds of thousands of Irish people in England. Many a person is making a fine living out of selling tickets for a certain sweepstake to these people. Why not introduce a scheme whereby persons could become promoters for the purpose of bringing tourists to this country and would be given a commission for bringing families living in their neighbourhood or persons whom they might contact at their work to this country? There are many men from Cork City and County who could help in bringing dozens of English families to this country if they could make a pound or two out of it. Would it not be much more beneficial to arrange such a scheme rather than to squander money on offices?

A great deal more could be done to encourage English, Scottish and Welsh people to come to this country. There is a wide-open market there. Irish people who have had to seek employment in those countries could be ambassadors for their country in promoting tourism and at the same time could make a few pounds to help them to pay for their own holidays. If Bord Fáilte were to formulate a scheme on those lines it would have very good results.

Deputies have referred to the amount of money spent on the building of large hotels. I shall not elaborate on that subject except to say that I agree with what has been said. The advertisements issued by Bord Fáilte seem to concentrate on the wonderful amenities we have but one thing is forgotten. Bord Fáilte may not be able to do anything about it but it may be possible for the Minister to step in. I refer to the charges made by these hotels. They are preposterous. If a tourist is charged £2 for bed and breakfast he will let everybody know about it. We should be more concerned with providing adequate accommodation at a reasonable charge for people coming from the north-eastern counties and from Britain.

I do not know whether Bord Fáilte at any time made overtures to the Hotel Federation to get them to fix fair and reasonable charges. In many instances tourists are being fleeced by the hotel charges — not in all cases, thank God. There should be a special section in Bord Fáilte to deal with over-charging. They may say that they have not got many complaints, but the trouble is that people go away and complain when they are at home and say they will not come back again. There should be standardisation of charges. That would help tourism generally and would help to increase the percentage of tourists from the United Kingdom.

Grants are given to local development associations, but there is one grant you are sure of getting, and that is the grant to pay the legal costs of the registration of these companies. The solicitors benefit again. The legal end is well provided for, up to about £40, I think. If the local development associations did not do anything afterwards except to meet as mutual admiration societies, the £40 is down the drain because they are registered. Something should be done about that. It should be checked up on. Perhaps it might help to save some of the money that goes to Bord Fáilte. In my opinion the benefits are doubtful.

Other members of the House drew attention to the conditions prevailing in the hotel training courses. As a member of a county vocational committee, I am aware of the serious situation confronting us. The latest report I got was that not many girls of a suitable age are availing of those training courses, because the conditions and remuneration in some hotels are not satisfactory. The hotels should be made to understand that the girls and boys on these courses are not to be regarded as cheap labour. They are sent there to improve their knowledge and to help the tourist industry. To my mind the standards in some hotels are poor enough. They seem to regard those boys and girls as coolie labour. That is a matter on which Bord Fáilte could make investigations and report to the Minister.

I am not opposing the Bill, but I believe the handing over of a lump sum of money to Bord Fáilte, and giving them a free hand for the next six, seven or ten years, will mean that they will formulate schemes and send letters regretting there is nothing they can do for Crosshaven or Fennell's Bay, but that they are getting wonderful publicity, in the international magazines. We must face reality. If tourism is to be made a success, Bord Fáilte must realise, and be made to realise, that, in future, tourism must flow from the incomes of the ordinary working people who come here for their holidays.

There is no doubt that tourism is a very important factor in this nation of ours. It is so very important that it behoves every Deputy to help the Board and the responsible Minister. I must say that Deputy Desmond's statement is indeed to be deplored. It is the duty of members of this House to boost this country, its hotels and its tourist board. If we do not, what can we expect from our opponents? All over the world, there are tourist boards and agencies of all kinds trying to get, from every country under God's sun, a proportion of the people who are prepared to leave their own spheres and go on holiday elsewhere.

It is obvious that Deputy Desmond has not studied tourism because if he had he would not dare to say Bord Fáilte was a failure. He apparently thinks they are a failure, not because they failed to bring tourists into the country and see that they were treated in a proper manner, but because they did not attend to the needs of one seaside resort in Cork. They cannot be expected to deal at the one time with every seaside resort to which tourists will go. Their life has been rather short. They have not been in existence for very long.

I say without fear of contradiction — and I say it from personal experience —that no board was ever set up by this or any Government which could compare favourably with Bord Fáilte. The members are business-like men. They do their work and do not talk about it. They do not publish long speeches in the local papers. That would get them nowhere. In my experience they act when action is called for. They work quickly and well and they thereby attract tourists from every part of the world to this country.

I have seen some of their work. It is difficult work to handle. I have seen members of Bord Fáilte working up to 12 o'clock at night. I have seen them in their every-day work. If I had a grievance it would be that they are always in too big a hurry, that they are too eager to get somewhere else and do more work. I do not know them personally but I met them on a few occasions and, to my mind, they deserve from this House the greatest tribute possible. I am certain they have justified their existence up to now, and I have no doubt whatever that if they continue to function, manned as the Board is at present, we can have every confidence in them.

The work of Bord Fáilte in getting tourists to come here, advertising and bringing this country home to the minds of those who desire to travel, probably will not be fully seen for some years to come. This is not a small matter. It is a huge matter. They are also doing great work in advertising our products, especially Irish whiskey. Deputy Desmond attacked Bord Fáilte but I think he should have access to their records and to the actual facts. Last year we got into this country a record amount of money from tourism. There is no doubt about that. During the war years it is quite true we did not need Bord Fáilte, because people came in here who would not come in the ordinary way, but in normal times we do need them. We can speedily see now that the receipts of Bord Fáilte are very satisfactory to the Irish people. I feel certain that every halfpenny of the money they got has been disposed of in a manner in which we can all have every confidence, and in a manner that has been most beneficial to our country in general, and to our seaside resorts in particular.

It behoves us in this House—unless we have proof positive that our hotels are not doing their job, or are overcharging—to boost our hotels and tell the people of the world, as we truthfully can, that the cheapest food in the world is to be got here. I have travelled in 22 other countries and I should know what I am talking about. The finest food and the finest hotel accommodation are to be got in this country and I am glad to say that I have not found a hotel which has not acted up to its responsibilities in this country. I feel very proud of our hotels. Even late at night you can go into them for a meal and you can get a substantial meal at a very reasonable cost. We have our seaside and other resorts and in addition to tourists we have our own people going there for holidays and they come home full of praise for what they have got. That has been the experience of our tourists, as I know from foreigners whom I have met.

It is bad policy to try to throw cold water on these places. If we do that we will negative the hard work of any board. There is no advantage to be gained from it. If I found a hotel which was over-charging I would write to Bord Fáilte and tell them but I would not shout it to the four winds of the world that our hotels were over-charging. When we offer our tourists a céad míle fáilte, we mean it and they will find that there is a céad míle fáilte for them in every hotel. In regard to the premier monument in Ireland, the Rock of Cashel, where the kings of Munster and the last Ard Rí were crowned, some work was done there which, if the Board had done nothing else for the year, would have justified their existence. It had perhaps been overdue for the past 30 or 40 years but I give them all credit for doing it. Finally I say that Bord Fáilte have justified their existence and the only thing I regret is that we could not give them sufficient money to do all the work they would like to do. I should also like to pay tribute to the personnel of the Board for the businesslike manner in which they do their work.

I can understand what Deputy Davern said about the members of the Board and I am sure that when they visit the Rock of Cashel like many other visitors from many parts of the world, Deputy Davern in his hospitable home entertains them highly.

Thank you, Deputy.

I am only sorry that sometimes I have not the opportunity of calling when I am passing by.

The Deputy would not have to buy a drink there anyway.

I do not think Deputy Desmond meant anything against the personnel of the Board or their work but we all have our grievances in various ways in connection with the Board's activities. I think I come from an area which is regarded as the finest part of this country for tourists.

That is about the tenth of these that I have heard in this debate.

That is all right. I will not delay the Minister as I think everything has been covered in this debate and I do not like to delay him because of the number of Bills he has to handle. In connection with tourism, even before there was any Bord Fáilte, tourists came to this country because of its beauty but during the past 20 years, except during the war period, vast improvements have been made not only in hotels but in the various tourist areas. In a country like this one can understand the difficulties that there are in regard to finance. There are so many demands on our finances that something must always suffer.

This Bill has made some provision for the improvement of tourism and the Minister can feel assured it will receive the approval of the House and that anything that can be done for the advancement of tourism will meet with the approval of the people. Farmers will ask: "What good are tourists to us?" They should realise that, instead of sending our cattle on the hoof to England or exporting other commodities, it is much better to bring the people from other countries to consume these commodities here, apart from the extra employment it will give in the hotels and in various other ways in the tourist areas. To some extent the whole country is a tourist area even though I can see nothing in the midlands or Tipperary except the Rock of Cashel or the Devil's Bit. They are very interesting and will attract tourists who will spend money in the area.

Before I go further I want to mention one point and that is if we put down a question on tourism—as I did last week in an endeavour to get the Iveragh Peninsula regarded as a tourist area so that it would qualify for the grants—the Minister states, as he did then, that he has no function in the matter and that one should write to Bord Fáilte. This matter came before the Kerry County Council. We have a major tourist area there, including Ballybunion and Killarney. A resolution was passed unanimously and sent to Bord Fáilte asking them to investigate the possibility of making this peninsula a major tourist area.

Not only Killarney but the entire Ring of Kerry is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Places like Kenmare, Waterville, Cahirciveen, Glenbeigh, Killorglin and Valentia Island are awaiting development. Take the case of the village of Sneem, in which I live but of which I am not a native. We have asked Bord Fáilte to develop two greens there in order to beautify this village situated within two miles of the C.I.E. Hotel at Parknasilla. In recent years Sneem has become a major tourist area. We have a grievance because we see certain places, which we consider not so suitable for tourism, receiving development grants. Places such as those I have mentioned should get special attention.

Ballybunion, Ballyheigue and other places in North Kerry have always got grants for the improvement of their amenities, and it is time the smaller places were developed. Even a small grant would be very useful. A grant of £1,000 was given from the Special Employment Schemes Office for development work at Sneem. Bórd Fáilte offered £200 for certain works when the development had been done. Now that Bórd Fáilte have these millions, why would they not try and develop the small places I have mentioned, even by giving small grants every year? It would be very useful for places in South Kerry such as Cahirciveen where there is much unemployment.

There is another matter to which I should like to refer. It is strictly a matter for the Minister for Lands and Fisheries but I would just refer to it in passing in the hope that the Minister for Industry and Commerce, responsible for Bórd Fáilte, might see his colleague about it. It is the question of erecting a dam to make two fresh water lakes, one at Cahirciveen, about which I have spoken so often here, and one at Kenmare. Fishing is a very important part of tourism and it is important also for the local people. There are many things like that which could be done for these remote areas, especially Gaeltacht areas such as South Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. You have in Ballinskelligs a really forgotten area with one of the most beautiful strands in Ireland. It has never been developed. It would be a lovely place for people wishing to spend a quiet, restful holiday.

Deputy Davern mentioned the countries he travelled as a member of Council of Europe delegations. I have travelled as such myself recently, and our hotels are entirely different from those on the Continent. The hotels there are fully equipped with every amenity you could think of, but there is nothing as homely as our Irish hotels.

Hear, hear.

While tourists, especially American tourists, may have grievances from time to time, I think they all agree that this country is the most restful and loveliest of all. They even like our weather, bad and all as it is at times. Travelling by train during the tourist season you sometimes find yourself in a compartment with American tourists and it is interesting to hear their comments on our hotels. I understand there is a C.I.E. regulation by which the heating of trains ceases on the 1st April, or it may be the 1st May, until October. People who come from warm countries, especially the Americans who are used to central heating, like heat. I have heard a lady remark about the bill she got from the C.I.E. Hotel at Killarney and commenting that she had paid a shilling for the electric heating in her bedroom and asking why that should be. There should be no regulation like that depriving people during the tourist season of having their rooms properly heated. The same thing should apply to trains. You can have a very cold, wet day during the summer months and you can imagine how travellers from warm countries would feel. At any time during bad weather the heating should be turned on to make the tourists, and our own travellers, too, more comfortable.

I do not think anyone can have any grievance about the food and other amenities provided in our hotels. Coming from a remote part of the country I have to spend much time travelling and I have to stay at many hotels. I never have yet had any grievance. There is always a lovely bedroom and the best of food and attention. The only thing I notice is that sometimes the menus, especially in the C.I.E. hotels, are printed in French. Few of our people have a knowledge of a foreign language. Why in the name of goodness could the menu not be printed in Irish and English? Every document we get from the various Government Departments is printed in those two languages, and why not have the same thing with the menus? Why have French, German or something else? You will see "Soup". You wonder what kind of soup is that, is it the thick soup or the light soup? You find it is only the ordinary soup.

It is the very same with "Lamb" and other meats. They all have different names. Why would we not print the menu in a language the people would understand? I suppose few people come here from France or Germany. Why not print the menu in Irish and let them try and decipher what it is? We serve the food of our own country and why not use the language of our country?

I have met many people who are very interested in bringing American tourists here and they have told me that there is no publicity at all in the United States to advertise our tourist attractions. It is well-recognised now that our best tourists are the English visitors who come here for their holidays and our own exiles returning home to see their own people. I do not know what money is being spent in the U.S.A. in order to attract American tourists to our shores, but surely our first responsibility should be to attract and cater for the people who buy our surplus agricultural and industrial produce? English tourists came here before ever there was a Tourist Board. I remember them coming here when there were no motor cars; they rode bicycles and they went for drives on jaunting cars. They were always good spenders.

Generally, this Bill should have the approval of the House and of the people. It is rather odd that Bills like this should be introduced on the eve of a general election. However, I suppose better late than never. Tourism is now our second biggest industry: it is second to agriculture only. Anything that will help to develop it further is to be commended.

I welcome the Bill and I congratulate the Minister on introducing it. Some Deputies have criticised Bord Fáilte. I think it is unfair to criticise the very excellent work that body is doing. I compliment them on their work. In the city of Galway one can see the improvements that have been carried out there. When the larger cities have been dealt with I hope that Bord Fáilte will extend its operations to the country areas. Everybody realises that when it comes to holiday time most people move out to the country or to the small seaside resorts. In my constituency there are several small resorts well worth development. A little has been done at Barna. A little has been done at Furbough. A little has been done in Spiddal. Something has been done in Carraroe, but much still remains to be done. The western end of the county has not been touched at all. There is a very fine strand at Mweenish about three miles from the village of Carna. There is another very fine strand at Moyrus which offers very safe bathing. I hope that, when they have finished in Galway, Bord Fáilte will turn their attention to the western seaboard and develop the little places I have mentioned.

I should like to take this opportunity of complimenting Bord Fáilte and its officials for the excellent work they are doing. We should all be proud of them. I agree with the last speaker that our menus should be in Irish. That would set a lead.

There is not a member of this House who appreciates what the tourist industry is doing for this country more than I do. It is now our second best industry and one of our best money spinners. I think tourism is closely linked with prosperity in our agricultural industry because of the market it provides for meat, eggs, vegetables, etc. I have no objection to money being spent on the tourist industry because any money spent will ultimately pay a dividend.

This industry is not confined to any particular class. You have the tourist who books in to the fifteen or twenty guinea hotel. You have our own people coming home for their holidays from England. You have civil servants, and others, who seek rest in some of the seaside or inland resorts throughout the country. They should receive some benefits as a result of the money spent on tourism. Consider places like Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and Kilkee. I know people who have almost gone to extremes renovating their premises to cater for tourists coming into the country and to encourage still more tourists to come. It is an odd commentary that while you have one Minister anxious to develop the tourist industry you have another Minister interfering with the amenities. I know that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will pull me up shortly, but I think it is only right to say that there should be fair play for all. Why should the man who books into the fifteen or twenty guinea hotel enjoy amenities and privileges denied to the ordinary man in the street?

The Deputy must not continue on that line.

I know I am on the plimsoll line.

That is a matter for another Minister.

It is a matter that effects tourists here.

It may affect the tourist industry but the Minister has no responsibility for the licensing laws.

I grant you he has not.

If the Deputy agrees he has not, it would be a waste of time pursuing it in the debate.

I do not want to cross any Minister but I want to say that there is no good in voting money in this House if any action or any Bill coming from the House can interfere with it. I know people who are affected and it looks as if that has been set aside now.

I cannot see how the Deputy can discuss the amendment of the licensing laws on this measure.

On a point of order, in discussing the provision of an increased amount of money for the tourist industry on Second Reading, surely every aspect of the situation affecting the tourist industry is open for discussion?

That would widen the debate very considerably and the Chair does not agree with the Deputy that it can be so widened. The question of the licensing laws and their amendment do not arise in this debate.

Are they not most important where the tourist industry is concerned?

Again, I suggest that every——

Is Deputy Mulcahy raising a point of order, because Deputy Murphy is in possession?

I am raising a point of order to press that when we are dealing with an elaborate provision of finance for developing the tourist industry, in a general way, every aspect affecting the industry and its wellbeing, I suggest, is open for discussion. It is not a question of discussing legislation that exists or legislation that ought to be there. It is the general effect of what is happening and what the general circumstances are.

That is what Deputy Murphy is doing, discussing legislation and a recent court decision.

I submit that is not so.

Deputy Murphy will please come to the Bill before the House. I have already pointed out to him the matter he has just raised is not relevant. I do not want to argue the position with the Deputy.

I am coming to it in this way.

The Deputy may not come to it in any way. I am asking the Deputy, if he does not want to come to the Bill before the House, to resume his seat.

What is this tourist money for?

There may be no argument about the licensing laws. The Deputy is entitled to refer to the matters contained in the Bill and nothing else.

Who gets this money that is being provided? Do these hotels of which I am speaking not get so much for the improvement of their premises? Was that tourist money not spent to give them the facilities which the Supreme Court has given them?

The Deputy is continuing to discuss a recent court decision. I would ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

I am sorry but I want to say this much. There should not be one law for one section of the people and another law for another section.

I would ask the Deputy to resume his seat. He is completely out of order.

I feel it is my duty to say a few words on behalf of the people of Sligo-Leitrim whom I represent here because in those two counties and through the West of Ireland, we have many beauty spots which are neglected. I have been around a bit and I see the amount of money running into hundreds of thousands of pounds being spent on very short stretches of road. It would be far more beneficial to spend that money on schemes to provide better facilities in beauty spots throughout the West of Ireland. As well as drawing tourists to these places, it would provide much-needed employment. In that area, an appeal was made for a pier at Rosses Point and no money was granted for it.

How does the question of the erection of piers arise on the Bill?

The Tourist Board covers the grant for such amenities.

I thought it would be from the Tourist Board this money would come. A group of people made an appeal to the Tourist Board to have a road leading from the main Sligo-Dromahair road down to the lake shore, with a turn-table for cars. The Tourist Board said they would not consider giving a grant for that, which I as a public representative regard as most disappointing.

There is another seaside resort at Strandhill which is the same seaside resort since I was a little boy. Nothing has been done to improve it. Then there is another place called Lough Melvin which attracts a number of people because it is a centre for fishing. I would ask the Minister to give some consideration to that resort also. Many tourists have made complaints to me about a grant not being given for the road at the Glencar waterfalls about which I have been agitating for a number of years. I hope the Minister or those in charge of Bord Fáilte will take an interest in that and carry out the work as soon as possible.

I would ask that grants be made available particularly to backward areas where there are places of great interest which would be an attraction to many tourists, instead of spending money on constructing highways leading to big towns. These big towns will attract the tourist, whether there is a good road or bad road leading to them. Tourism is a great benefit to the country but unfortunately its importance is not brought home to a number of our people in rural areas because they feel the money brought to this country is of no direct benefit to them. If a little more attention were paid to the rural areas, these people might have a greater appreciation of the value of tourism.

Somebody mentioned the licensing laws and how they affect the tourist trade. To my mind, they have been detrimental to the tourist trade.

Debate adjourned.
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