Deputy Tom Kitt has been elected Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at today’s meeting of the Committee. He replaces Deputy Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher who was elected as a member of the European Parliament in June.

Deputy Kitt, who has a keen interest in the arts and sport, said: “As Chairman of this Committee, I look forward to overseeing scrutiny of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the bodies under the aegis of this Department. This Committee has a wide remit in a number of key areas of social and economic importance.”

Deputy Kitt underlined the Committee’s strong support for the Irish tourist industry and expressed the hope that the fall-off in international tourist numbers this summer could be offset by domestic holiday makers.

“Ireland still offers a very attractive tourist product with a lot of fantastic events and festivals taking place throughout the country,” he said.

At his first meeting as Chairman, Deputy Kitt welcomed the Chief Executive of the Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI), Liam Harbinson to discuss the role and functions of the council.

The Paralympic Council of Ireland was founded in 1987, initially as a Coordination Committee for the Seoul Paralympics in 1988 and later to become the national representative organisation for sanctioned events of the International Paralympic Committee, including: the Paralympic Games; the World Championships; and the European Championships.

Deputy Kitt said: “I would to thank Liam Harbinson and the Paralympic Council of Ireland for attending today’s meeting of the Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Committee was very impressed with their presentation. We were encouraged by the Council’s role in encouraging young people with a physical or sensory disability to become involved in paralympic sport and impressed with the fact that its preparations for the London 2012 Paralympic Games are well in train.”