I support the call for a debate on the self-employed and small and medium-sized businesses. I acknowledge the role they have played and are playing. We started off with an initiative to ask each of the small and medium-sized businesses to employ one additional worker. There are 200,000 small and medium-sized businesses in the country and it would have been a great initiative to fulfil. I know that some are doing this but I feel they are forgotten.

I support the call for a debate on the diaspora. I acknowledge the role played by the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, and feel a debate in the House would be very worthwhile.

I refer to last week's figures published by the CSO showing that the number of overseas visitors between November 2014 and January 2015 increased by 9% compared with the corresponding period for 2013 and 2014. Tosnú maith, mar a deirtear. These figures also show positive results for the sector with the number of people employed in the accommodation and food services sector increasing by 16%. Last year broke all previous records in terms of numbers of overseas visits-----

Is the Senator looking for a debate on the matter?

I certainly am and it will be a worthwhile one because it is a worthwhile and very successful story. I acknowledge the role played by the tourism industry in our economic recovery. No doubt the initiatives by the Government such as reducing airport tax to zero and the 9% VAT rate were major contributors to this.