26% increase in visits to Ireland from China highlights importance of constructive Opposition - McHugh

Fine Gael TD for Donegal North-East, Joe McHugh, has today (Monday) said that confirmation by the Minister for Justice and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) that the number of visits to Ireland from China increased by 26% in the 12 months that followed the introduction of the Irish Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, highlights Fine Gael's constructive role when in Opposition.

Deputy McHugh, who chaired Fine Gael's Border Forum in 2010, said: ?Fine Gael was in Opposition in July 2010, when our Party published a Border Jobs report that called for a short-term joint Irish/British tourism visa. That proposal was part of Fine Gael's 2011 General Election manifesto and it was subsequently included in the Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter TD went on to formally introduce the Visa Waiver Programme in May 2011?.

"Minister Shatter and the Central Statistics Office have now confirmed that the number of trips from China to Ireland increased by over 26% in the 12 months that followed the establishment of the Visa Waiver Programme. Benefits of the scheme also include ten new tour operator itineraries from India and five new tour operator itineraries from the Gulf region. The Government has extended the Visa Waiver Programme until the end of October 2016.

"The lesson of this success story is that constructive Opposition has an important role to play in politics. I encourage parties in Opposition today in D?il ?ireann to be more positive in their approaches.

"Fine Gael worked constructively in Opposition on building policies to solve the country's problems. Our July 2010 visas plan did not grab any national headlines when it was launched, but nearly three years later the proposal is delivering a real dividend for Irish tourism and Irish businesses. I salute Minister Shatter for delivering on this very successful Visa Waiver Programme in Government."

ENDS

Source: http://www.finegael.ie//latest-news/2013/26-increase-in-visits-to-/index.xml

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