Vol. 798 No. 1
6. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to help increase numbers using public transport options available to them particularly in areas with heavy commuter traffic. [15053/13]
Accessible and attractive public transport systems are essential to attract potential passengers out of their cars and to reduce congestion in our cities, towns and villages. Significant investment has been made in the country's public transport network in the last decade. As I am sure every Deputy agrees, we have modern bus, tram and train fleets.
While we are not in a financial position at present to make further substantial investments to expand our public transport network, the Department, working with the National Transport Authority, will continue to invest in public transport infrastructure where it will give the greatest return. For example, the Luas cross-city line will link the red and green lines, improving the attractiveness of the LUAS network as a whole. We are also continuing to invest in bus lanes in cities around the country to get the best use of our buses and improve the passenger experience by reducing delays and improving reliably. We will continue to invest in rail safety and maintenance programmes to ensure the optimal operation of the rail network.
The Government recognises that efficient public transport services are essential for social and economic well-being and will continue to provide financial support to the operators of public transport services under the public service obligation. The National Transport Authority has developed a range of technological solutions to make public transport more attractive and accessible to passengers, including an online national journey planner, the real-time passenger information system, which has been a great success, and the Leap card, which enables passengers to make cashless trips on a range of different transport modes. In addition to investing in public transport infrastructure and delivery, the Department and the National Transport Authority actively promote the use of public transport, through targeted programmes such as the green schools travel flag, smarter travel workplaces and smarter travel areas.
I remind the House there is one minute for supplementary questions and one minute for replies. I call Deputy Ellis.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. There is no doubt the cuts to the public transport system, in particular the cut in the Government subsidy, year on year, has led to serious cuts in public transport, particularly in Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann services, which have led to a lack of services for passengers in a number of areas. I know this from what I see in my own area, where routes have been cut. I question the logic behind cutting these routes when we should be trying to adapt and improve routes, not eliminate them completely, which is what has happened.
There are other areas we need to look at in terms of improving public transport. I again come back to the whole issue of some of the capital projects that have been dropped, such as Metro North, which would deliver a public transport system to the airport. While there were costings in the past, costs have come down considerably. I would like to think we could achieve a link-up between north and south Dublin and our national airport. This is an area that has been neglected.
I thank the Deputy. The reality, from a public finance point of view, is that we were not able to proceed with a number of good projects, as the Deputy is aware.
We have prioritised linking up the Luas lines, a measure the Deputy supports. It is a good project that is progressing. It was unfortunate but there have been other significant investments. For example, there was a requirement to change many bus fleets and that has been done. There was a requirement to modernise many areas, particularly technology. We finally launched integrated ticketing, which is being rolled out in phases. Other developments include real-time passenger information and Wi-Fi on trains and buses so much progress has been made to make the public transport user's experience better. Those were crucial developments that needed to be done and over time we will see the success of those changes. The Deputy raised the issue of Network Direct in Dublin. Much of the analysis shows that many people are quite happy with some of the changes, particularly cross-city services and getting into town more quickly.
There have been some very good improvements. Integrated ticketing has been a massive improvement, as have the bus signs which have been very successful in making times available to people as they are standing at bus stops. However, if we continue to cut the subsidy to these networks, we will end up with more cuts and less people on public transport. I know the Minister of State said in the past that he did not see this but I certainly see an increase in the number of cars being used in certain areas across the city because the public system has been removed from some streets. It is not all about whether it is economical to go from A to B. There are areas with a significant amount of senior citizens and people with disabilities and these people need to be served and helped. This needs to be taken into account. That is why the subsidy was there.
I have said time and gain that it does not make economic sense to scale back road improvement programmes because jobs are created through getting those major infrastructural projects off the ground. A public transport network was closed down in Longford-Westmeath, namely, the rail link between Athlone and Mullingar. This serves two gateway towns and is a very important piece of infrastructure. The road linking those two towns is one of the worst in Europe. It takes well over an hour and a half to commute by road. I ask the Minister and Minister of State to consider opening the rail link between Mullingar and Athlone. Doing so would make sound economic sense.
Moving people from A to B and connectivity are incredibly important. In that regard, the dublinbikes scheme has been very successful. However, there are still areas of the city not covered by the scheme, in particular the docklands area. That part of the city, which is a new part and has a considerable number of jobs and young people working there, is not well connected to the centre of Dublin. The same is true of areas south and north of the canals. Could the Minister of State provide a quick update on the negotiations that are happening regarding dublinbikes?
Unfortunately, given the capital constraints, there are no plans to open the line from Mullingar to Athlone. I understand the argument the Deputy is making but the constraints are there. Dublinbikes has been incredibly successful and there are plans to roll it out in other areas. The NTA is always looking at how this can be expanded because it has been so successful, with many commentators arguing that it is the most successful bicycle scheme in the world. I will be engaging with the NTA in respect of the area referenced by the Deputy and I will contact him directly about that. There are also plans to look at rolling it out across other parts of the country and those discussions are ongoing. I am quite hopeful about that into the future.
7. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his vision for the development of the country's maritime heritage, with specific reference to community dividends from tourism associated with lighthouses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12870/13]
My Department's role in respect of tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. It is not involved in the administration of tourism-related funding programmes or in support to specific tourism sectors, which are the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further information and direct reply. As the Deputy may be aware, the integrated marine plan for Ireland published by the Government in July 2012 contains an action that the appropriate Departments and agencies will utilise existing built and natural assets, for example, lighthouses and offshore islands, to develop tourism products and services. Work in this area is ongoing and will be particularly supported by the development of the wild Atlantic way initiative which will highlight all aspects of the maritime experience, heritage and culture.
I am advised that the Commissioners of Irish Lights are currently in discussion with the Special EU Programmes Body about a cross-Border project to develop the tourism potential of lighthouses along the northern coast. Fáilte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and a number of other public bodies are supporting the Commissioners of Irish Lights in respect of the project, which will facilitate the visitor to explore the best of our land and seascapes. I look forward to seeing this project progressed by the participating bodies at an early date.
There are no supplementaries relating to this question.
8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on alcohol sponsorship of sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15270/13]
This question relates to sponsorship of sport by the alcohol industry. I fully support the central aim of the national substance misuse strategy in reducing the level of alcohol consumption and binge drinking. I am very supportive of a number of the measures proposed, including minimum pricing, health warning labels and statutory advertising codes. However, I am concerned that placing constraints on sporting organisations by eliminating the alcohol industry as a source of sponsorship will have negative impacts on the development and availability of sport and, consequently, on our efforts to maintain and increase sporting participation at local level.
There are huge and obvious economic, social and health benefits accruing from sport. It is very important that funding is available to sports organisations to ensure that sport is maintained at grassroots level so that as many people as possible can participate. In view of the current economic constraints, Government investment in sport has had to be reduced in recent years. The imposition of a ban on sponsorship would further undermine the efforts of sporting organisations to be self-sufficient.
It is estimated that sport sponsorship by the alcohol industry amounts to around €30 million per year. To place this in context, the Irish Sports Council's budget is just over €40 million. Difficulties currently being experienced by some of our high profile teams and events in securing sponsorship suggest that the funding lost might not readily be replaced by alternative sources. Sports organisations may well be placed in a position where they have to curtail their development programmes, which are crucial to promoting participation at all levels.
I believe that any measures introduced should be evidence-based, effective and reasonable. The evidence from the Government's report, State of the Nation's Children, is that the proportion of young people who do not commence drinking before the age of 18 is growing very substantially in Ireland. This has occurred in an era of greatly increased exposure to sports sponsorship by drinks companies, particularly through high profile tournaments with saturation TV coverage. On the other hand, in France, which has a ban on such sponsorship, the evidence is that drinking by young people is increasing. It is worth mentioning that Great Britain took the failure of the French approach into account in deciding not to ban alcohol sponsorship of sport. Similarly, whatever decision we take should be evidence-based.
With regard to beer consumption among young people, France is starting from a much lower base than us. Beer consumption in Italy has increased in a country that has nothing like the advertising seen in this country. It does not change the fact that we have a far more serious problem. I agree that damaging sport would be problematic because sport is far more of a social benefit than people realise. The Minister of State talks about evidence. If the alcohol industry thought that spending €30 million would not get young people to consume more alcohol, it would not spend it.
These guys make business decisions, not health decisions. Given that alcohol and tobacco abuse and obesity are costing the State in the region of €5.5 billion, will the Minister of State agree that it would make sense for the Government to replace that €30 million in sports sponsorship? I do not mean that sports organisations should do without the money, but where is the joined-up thinking? It costs the Government €5.5 billion to deal with the abuse of alcohol and tobacco. It is, therefore, a no-brainer that it should spend more on sport. Drink companies would not be spending this money on advertising if it was not profitable for them to do so.
The Deputy is speaking my language. We all know that the drinking culture presents a serious issue, as does binge drinking. The banning of advertising is one option. However, the Government does not have the means to provide that funding for sport. When the national lottery was set up, the money was to be used for the funding of sport and the arts, but that is not the case. The revenue goes into the Exchequer and my Department has to make a case for its budget each year. The Deputy is aware that the economic position is difficult. Our contribution to the Irish Sports Council is more than €40 million. The allocation has been reduced in the past two years because we simply do not have the resources. For example, we could not find a sponsor for the Irish Open golf championship and Fáilte Ireland had to step into the breach. Funding has been taken away from tourism development. I would love it if there was no drinks company sponsorship of sport, but we have to live in the real world. There is a serious economic crisis. All codes, including rugby, soccer and the GAA, have had great difficulty in securing sponsorship. One organisation could not secure sponsorship to cover the cost of jerseys. Another secured sponsorship but at a much reduced level in these difficult times. It would be preferable if it was not necessary to depend on sponsorship, but if the €30 million is taken away from sport and festivals, we will have a problem.
How can the Minister of State say the Government does not have the money? It provides €40 million for sport, but it provides €5.5 billion in order to deal with the abuse which participation in sport would challenge. I thought the Government was planning to exercise joined-up thinking. Where is that thinking if €5.5 billion can be spent on dealing with the abuse of alcohol and tobacco? It only needs to reduce that amount by 20% to save more than €1 billion. A sum of €40 million is peanuts by comparison.
This subject was debated at today's meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications which was attended by the chief executive officers of the three main sports of rugby, soccer and the GAA. They have serious concerns about a restriction on advertising and sponsorship. They outlined issues such as the effect on local clubs. In my area it is often the case that a local club will be sponsored by the local pub and fund-raising events for the club are held in the pub. I am caught between whether I agree with a ban on advertising alcohol at matches. Where would we stop? Should McDonald's not be permitted to advertise because it encourages obesity? The same argument applies in the case of fizzy soft drinks. This debate needs a lot more thought.
Will the Minister of State accept that the introduction of such a ban would be very difficult to police? Many of the televised sports events take place outside the jurisdiction. Therefore, in any ban we would face a difficulty in dealing with content broadcast from other jurisdictions.
All of the Deputies are speaking my language. I would love to see the Department of Finance giving us more funding for sport. Governments think in terms of one to five years rather than one to 15 years. The more money that is invested in sport, the healthier society will be. There will be a lower incidence of diabetes and obesity and as the years progress, less money will be needed to deal with health issues. There will be a decreased need for hospitals and nursing staff, if members of society are fitter. Since I became Minister of State with responsibility for sport, the percentage of the population which does not participate in sport has decreased from 16% to 13%. We need to keep working on that number.
The Deputy is correct that it would be difficult to police a ban on the advertising of alcohol at sports events, considering that sports programmes are broadcast from all over the world. For example, when it was banned in France, the consumption of alcohol increased. This proves that the ban did not have the hoped-for influence. As a result of the French experience, Britain decided not to impose a ban. I would much prefer if drink companies were not involved, but the Government does not have the funds. Deputy Dessie Ellis is correct and speaks my language. The bigger professional sports bodies would survive and the grassroots bodies would be the ones to suffer. We do not want that to happen; we want the grassroots bodies to be funded. People do not start at the top of a sport, they start at the bottom. More than ever, there is a need for grassroots sports organisations. Sport has lifts the soul, the mind and the spirit of the people in the past four or five years, despite the economic downturn. We must, therefore, do our best to find the funding for sport.
We need the Minister of State's oratorial skills.
I refer to the participation of young people in sport. In my area Strand Celtic in Strandhill has 300 to 400 young members. The club has banned all sugary drinks and only water is permitted. This is the place in which to start the battle against obesity and the cost to the country. Does the Minister of State have proposals to resist the use and advertisement of sugary drinks?
This question is about alcohol.
I understand. However, sugary drinks present a major issue which has been brought to my attention by many clubs.
The Department of Health is active in this regard. However, the Departments of Education and Skills and Transport, Tourism and Sport also have a significant role to play. I agree that young people must be educated about what they eat and drink in order to have a fitter and healthier society. We need to get people walking and to be health conscious. The Departments co-operate in discussions and at committees on actions needed to educate young people and everyone else to ensure their health and well-being.
9. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he can help the hotel industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15241/13]
36. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures introduced to improve the tourism industry since March 2011; if these measures have had a positive impact on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15044/13]
55. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the measures introduced for the tourism industry since March 2011; his views on whether these measures have had a positive impact on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15031/13]
75. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of his plans to encourage new investment in the tourist accommodation sector to pay for renovations and refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/13]
78. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide specific details of the way he expects the recent extension of the employment and investment incentive scheme to encourage investment in tourism accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15310/13]
81. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide specific details of the way he envisages the real estate investment trusts assisting in the growth of the tourism product and in the provision of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/13]
319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has had discussions with the hotel sector with a view to ensuring its sustainability arising from the economic downturn with particular reference to ensuring that adequate funding is available from lending institutions to meet the ongoing requirements of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15545/13]
320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which his Department continues to monitor developments in the hotel sector with a view to ensuring the availability of adequate accommodation to meet the current and future requirements of an expanding tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15546/13]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 36, 55, 75, 78, 81, 319 and 320 together.
These questions all concern supports provided by the Government for the tourism industry. Since March 2011 the Government has implemented a range of measures to support hotels and the wider tourism industry. VAT has been reduced to 9% on accommodation, restaurant and other services and this lower rate continues in 2013. The visa waiver scheme is encouraging visitors from emerging markets to add Ireland to their trip when they are visiting the United Kingdom. The halving of employers’ PRSI for those on modest wages has reduced the cost of employing people.
More recently, the Government has confirmed that the extended employment and investment incentive scheme, EIIS, and the new real estate investment trust, REIT, initiatives will apply to tourism accommodation.
Subject to the requirements of the legislation, the EIIS should encourage investment in the renovation of existing accommodation by allowing investors in such projects to avail of tax relief, whereas REITS will facilitate investment vehicles in tourism accommodation. Tourism and coach operators in particular will also benefit from the fuel rebate, while small tourism businesses will benefit from the higher VAT threshold of €1.25 million.
During 2013, the Government will provide almost €140 million to tourism agencies to support the industry, to market tourism at home and abroad and to fund product development. Fáilte Ireland is also providing a range of business and training supports to tourism enterprises, including assistance to tourism businesses to engage constructively with their banks. The measures put in place to support tourism helped to contribute to growth of almost 8% in visitor numbers in 2011. While visitor numbers increased only marginally in 2012, figures released last week by the CSO showed that spending by visitors to Ireland increased by 4.5% last year to €3.68 billion. In addition, Fáilte Ireland reports that the number of people employed in the tourism and hospitality sectors in Ireland is now 185,000, which represents an increase of 5,000 on the previous estimate. That is good news.
As Deputies are aware, 2013 is the year of The Gathering which initiative will provide further support for the industry this year as well as a legacy effect for future years.
With all the questions that have been grouped together, it appears no one is here to facilitate a response, with the exception of my colleagues in Sinn Féin, who are always here. I will be happy to make a couple of points.
The Minister of State will be aware that representations have been made by the Irish Hotels Federation to complain about a lack of appropriate information to help it to develop niche markets and to engage in more efficient planning and marketing. The federation believes the Central Statistics Office should be encouraged to conduct frequent and more detailed surveys of visitors and their requirements. Surely, we must engage in that activity. In particular, good and frequent intelligence is required about where foreign visitors go, their requirements and how their holidays could be improved. The president of the Irish Hotels Federation, Mr. Michael Vaughan, says a lack of detailed information has reduced the effectiveness of his organisation's international marketing campaigns. He said there must be a greater emphasis on attracting business conferences and the promotion of the regions. Unfortunately, the back-up data required are not available. I ask the Minister of State to impress on the Taoiseach, under the aegis of whose Department the agency operates, the necessity for the CSO to put in place additional modules in its ongoing investigative work to address the deficit in information which would be of use to the Irish Hotels Federation to do what it does best.
My officials have met the CSO because, as Deputy Dooley is correct to say, we need up-to-date information. If there is a problem in the market, we must know on time, whether that is at the beginning, middle or end of a year. If we must carry out a marketing campaign in a particular quarter in which there is a problem, we need the information. My officials have met representatives of the CSO who have told us their agency will try to provide us with more accurate figures more quickly. I hope that will happen.
I met a number of hoteliers last week from all over the west. I had meetings with the representatives of Irish hoteliers in Dublin. They were complimentary and expressed their delight that we held the marketing budget this year. They were also delighted that we were able to maintain this year the lower VAT rate of 9% down from 13.5%. The VAT reduction has provided hotels and restaurants with a great return. Hoteliers are pleased that The Gathering initiative is in place and will help to fill beds this year. Hoteliers are approaching and talking to us. Of course, there are problems, but we are trying to work through those with them. Overall, sentiment is good this year and we are confident that, with The Gathering and last year's spending increase, we will have a good tourist season.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Certainly, some of the initiatives which have been introduced, including the change to VAT, have done wonders. I have received good reports. Are we satisfied that in all cases the VAT reduction has been passed on by the industry? Are there instances in which people have abused the reduction by failing to pass on the cut? I do not know. I have not heard of anyone being brought to task.
I want to ask the Minister of State about the Moore Street site, which is very important leading up to 2016. If we were to work on the initiative to preserve buildings and to get the battlefield site up and running, it would be a major boost to tourism. We should also not forget that 2014 is the anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf, which was one of the few victories we won on an all-island basis and is one of the few we can celebrate. It is a big anniversary for us.
We want to support any event that takes place if it will bring people into the country. This year, we have The Gathering, which I hope the Deputy will encourage. The Gathering is not being led by the Government or Fáilte Ireland, it is community led. The people of the country have come in behind the initiative. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people turned up at public meetings on the initiative which took place nationally last year. Almost 3,500 events are planned for 2013. Those events will create a legacy for next year and the year after.
Deputy Ellis asked about VAT. We reduced the rate from 13.5% to 9% and there was a positive reaction. Customers will always give their reaction. They were happy to see that prices, particularly in Dublin, fell. Of course, there always will be people who do not pass on the benefit but hotelier and restaurant representative bodies encouraged their members to do so. The Deputy will have seen from my earlier reply that 180,000 were employed in the industry last year and that this number has increased now to 185,000. That is 5,000 jobs we did not have last year. It must be welcomed. Hotel and restaurant bodies encouraged their members and the public, as always, reacted. The public saw the menus and saw the reduction in prices. It was good. The cut was passed on. Businesses know this is only a temporary relief and we told them clearly that if it was not passed on, we would quickly put the rate back up. The reduction is in place until the end of 2013 and it has worked very well.
Could the Minister of State say something about Moore Street?
Deputy McLoughlin wants to ask a question.
I welcome the VAT reduction and acknowledge that The Gathering has been a fantastic success to date. It is a community-based initiative across the length and breadth of the country. I have received a number of complaints about the Irish Hotels Federation. We must put down a marker that people must not be fleeced by hotels on peak occasions, including St. Patrick's weekend. It is a particular problem in Dublin when people come to major events. This has been brought to my attention and I ask that the Minister of State maintain contacts with the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland to ensure prices are maintained and that inflated prices are not charged at certain times of the year during major events.
Deputy McLoughlin makes a good point. Everybody has his or her part to play in the recovery of the tourism industry. I send the message loudly and clearly to hoteliers, restaurateurs and anyone else involved in the tourism business that this is the year we bring people to Ireland, in particular for The Gathering. They will be our ambassadors when they go home. If they get ripped off here, we will not be able to do anything about what they say. There has never been better value in Ireland.
The hoteliers are playing their part and the restaurants are playing their part, and I hope they will continue to do so. There are sometimes complaints about hotels, but most hotels have 95% of their hotel rooms filled when an event is coming up. They may have a small capacity remaining and when they come to the end of their capacity they may increase prices. If there is a major event in Rome, Spain or any place, one will pay if one comes in looking for a bed at the last minute. To be fair to the restaurants and hotels, they are giving good value for money and doing a good job. There is plenty of competition and spare capacity, which is why everyone must compete.
While the industry has indicated a belief that the reduction in VAT to 9% has been helpful, I am not so sure that is proven. There has been increased activity but that was in line with an upturn that was already taking place in the tourism sector. It is worth remembering that it was not a gift of the Government to the tourism sector; it was a gift of the private pension funds of the State that has provided the funding. It was done on a three-year basis, so it was not willy-nilly that the Government managed to provide funding again this year. Some €400 million was taken from private pension funds. Funding was extracted to abolish the travel tax, or a portion of it, but it did not materialise. I supported the Minister of State on this point because the airlines did not buy into the kind of increased activity that was suggested. The saving to the State was not returned to the private pension funds, but that is another day's work. I am guarded about the impact of the reduction. It was a stimulus, but on a meal costing €50, the saving buys a cup of tea at the end. I am not sure that is an incentive for increased spending. It created a good story and increased talk about reduced costs, but the jury is out on its effectiveness.
With regard to The Gathering, I encourage the Minister of State in his effort to increase the number of international sporting events held here. The American football match was a huge event for the country and tourism got a major bounce out of it. We should get further events like that, and work needs to be put in now to achieve this. I refer in particular to the bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. It could be incredibly significant for tourism, the economy and brand Ireland, which we are promoting so well this year.
We have had three extraordinarily successful all-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil events in a row in Cavan. The great success was that there was no inflated pricing. Can the Minister of State introduce a system of checks and controls-----
Checks and controls to ensure Cavan does not get it again.
-----or statutory instruments to ensure we have proper pricing so that we do not ruin the country's image?
I disagree with Deputy Dooley, as someone who, like him, comes from a tourist town. It is all about perception. If people think they are not getting value for money, it creates a problem. People saw the effect of the VAT reduction from 13% to 9% when it was passed on. In addition, the trade started to introduce deals and realised it had to do something with its cost base and provide value for money. It was a good move. We had to negotiate with the troika. Hoteliers are hoping it will continue, and we must examine that point.
Deputy Eoghan Murphy is correct in respect of sporting events. The Navy-Notre Dame game was probably the most successful event that took place in this country. When those people went back to America, they sold a positive message about the country. It did not just happen in Dublin; when these people arrived they spread to every corner of the country. They came back to Dublin for the event and the message sent home was that there was value for money in Ireland. The figures for December, January and February show that the number of trips to Ireland increased by 2.6%. From mainland Europe they increased by 5.7%, although tourism from Britain is weak again. Trips from North America have increased by almost 10%, while other long-haul markets are up by 15.3%. People realise they are getting value for money.
Tomorrow the Minister and I are meeting the IRFU, which will make a proposal and talk to us about hosting the World Cup. I compliment the GAA on its decision last weekend to open up its facilities. It was a credit to the organisation and I was delighted to see it making its wonderful facilities available.
Hear, hear.
I hope we can attract the World Cup in 2020 or 2024. We are meeting the IRFU tomorrow and we hope we can attract many other sporting events similar to the World Cup. Next week, the Sports Council, the Minister and I will announce a number of sporting events for The Gathering. Sporting events bring people into the country, fill beds and bring in badly wanted revenue.
Perhaps the Minister of State can do something about Mr. Trapattoni.
