I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Deputies for their many enlightening contributions to this Bill and to acknowledge the broad support which it has received from all sides of the House.
When I opened the debate on this Bill, I highlighted its purpose, to increase the statutory limit on the aggregate amount of Exchequer grant in aid which may be paid to Bord Fáilte Éireann to support tourism capital development works. It is also important to point out that under the original 1975 Act the moneys provided to Bord Fáilte under this specific provision are solely for the purpose of giving grants for development works which are capital and non-accommodation related in nature, along the lines of those mentioned in my earlier statement.
In the debate a large number of areas were identified as problems in what is otherwise a very successful industry: jobs, the peace process, litter, Bord Fáilte, taxis, pricing, grants for small hotels, tidy towns, congestion, marketing, Dún Laoghaire, disabilities, sign-posting, the rail service, complacency and Dublin, to name but a few. As I will be dealing with most of these issues in the Seanad in the weeks before Christmas, I hope I will be able to address them in more detail at that time.
A number of Deputies made contributions regarding the more important of these areas. After today's visit of the British Prime Minister, one of the events to the fore in the minds of most Deputies is the peace process. I am delighted that a great deal of work has been done in this area and already we are looking forward to cooperating with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in this field.