A Fianna Fáil Senator has called for an end to the 'national begrudgery' against Government figures travelling abroad to promote Ireland over the St Patrick's Day period.
Speaking at a sitting of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs this afternoon, Senator Paschal Mooney said, having been an emigrant, he knew "the diaspora want and welcome public figures".
"They see the arrival of a Government minister as an acknowledgement. The diaspora is an extraordinary asset and St Patrick's Day is opportunity that Tourism Ireland should be taking advantage of," he said.
Sectors of the media that criticised Government figures travelling to St Patrick's Day celebrations abroad were "playing to the populous mob".
"They don't seem to add up the dots or see that the amount of money spent on such trips is a pittance compared to what flows back."
His view was echoed by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú who said it was too easy to criticise travelling Government ministers. "It's too cynical to adopt that attitude without looking at the underlying value in promoting the country."
Figures for 2009 would show the number of visitors here fell by over ten per cent last year, with a decline of over 15 per cent from Britain - Ireland's most important market, the committee was told.
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland - the body that promotes Ireland as a destination in the international markets - was addressing the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
"Our most recent forecast for 2009 indicate that visitor numbers to the island will have fallen by 13 per cent. Our most important market, Great Britain, is forecast to fall by 16 per cent.
"In addition we have also seen declines of six per cent from North America and ten per cent from mainland Europe."
While the outlook for 2010 remained "very difficult" and despite international forecasts that there would be a further two per cent decline in visitors here this year, "we need to go for growth in 2010," he said.
"We need to bring the island of Ireland to the marketplace like never before with a collective effort in an unprecedented way."
