asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the salaries and allowances of the chairman and members of the Irish Tourist Board and its present membership; (b) the personnel of present staff and salaries of same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Tourist Board.
The Irish Tourist Board consists of five members, namely, Mr. J. P. O'Brien (Chairman), Mr. Thomas Condon, Mr. Joseph Gannon, Lord Monteagle and Séamus O hEochadha (An Fear Mór).
The authorised remuneration of the Chairman is at the rate of £1,500 a year; each of the other members is authorised to receive a fee at the rate of £200 a year. In fact, the board has voluntarily reduced the remuneration of its members to £500 per annum for the chairman and £100 per annum for each of the other members. When required to travel in connection with the performance of their duties, members of the board are allowed first-class rail fare and a subsistence allowance of 16/- per night.
With regard to the second part of the question, the appointment of officers and servants of the board and the fixing of their remuneration are matters of internal administration which have been placed by Section 11 of the Tourist Traffic Act, 1939, under the control of the board. In the circumstances it is not possible to give the information which the Deputy desires.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, the Minister for Finance informed the House on the Budget debate that he was most anxious to effect economies. Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think there is room for economy during the period of emergency in the cost to the State of this board, either by the reduction of the cost or the total abolition of the board?