A chara, - I refer to the recent editorial in The Irish Times asserting that the state of the Irish roads, or more specifically le pothole Irlandais, could prove a serious deterrent to the success of the proposed holding of the initial stages of the Tour de France in Ireland in 1998.
Hosting the Tour de France in Ireland would represent a unique opportunity for us to showcase the best of what this country can offer to an international audience. In recent years, elements such as our friendly people and their hospitality, our green and unspoilt environment, our unique scenic landscapes and our highly developed sporting and specialist activity facilities have all combined to offer a tourism product of international repute.
I have every confidence that should the Societe du Tour de Fiance decide in Ireland's favour, our local authorities will make concerted efforts to cooperate fully with the Tour organisers so that Ireland can put its best foot forward. In so doing, they will make the Irish part of the Tour a resounding success that will generate positive publicity worldwide.
We should all work together to accentuate Ireland's many national positive attributes and not dwell on the negative ones, which are continually being overcome. We are a specialist tourism destination par excellence, a fact which we will, hopefully be given the opportunity to demonstrate to the world at large, in 1998. - Is mise Ie meas,
Press Officer, Department of Tourism and Trade, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.