By Dan Walsh
Wexford’s Senator Malcolm Byrne was part of a small group of Irish parliamentarians meeting with members of the French National Assembly and Senate in Dublin today. The meeting discussed furthering links between the two countries, particularly in the areas of trade, tourism, culture and education.
The French group is part of the party travelling to Ireland with President Emmanuel Macron who met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Úachtarain and An Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings.
Senator Byrne is a member of both the French Irish Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Brexit Committee in the Oireachtas, and he was specifically raising the tourism potential of Wexford with all the additional direct sailings to and from France through Rosslare Europort.
Senator Byrne told WexfordLocal.com; “There are strong links between our two countries and Rosslare and Wexford represent France’s gateway into Ireland.
“This afternoon, I will be meeting with French parliamentarians to discuss how we can enhance those links.”
The discussions were centred on the Bonjour Wexford initiative in which Senator Byrne has been involved with Wexford and national tourism interests, looking at ways of encouraging French tourists to come to Co. Wexford.
Senator Byrne added that hotels and restaurants in the county as well as Wexford County Council are looking at ways to make French visitors even more welcome, including more brochures, menus and signage in French.
“We have such strong connections going back to the Normans and the French love Ireland. Wexford has a real opportunity now, post Brexit, to build an exciting new chapter of cooperation,” concluded Senator Byrne.
WexfordLocal.com 