asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) under what statutory authority the Tourist Publicity Board has been appointed; (b) whether the members are part-time or full-time; (c) the remuneration paid to each member; (d) the functions which it is proposed the Tourist Publicity Board will discharge, and (e) the method of financing the board and the statutory authority for the funds so provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Publicity Board.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:—
(a) The Tourist Publicity Board was not established under statute but followed on discussions which I had with the Irish Tourist Board and the Irish Tourist Association regarding the combination and more effective performance of the publicity activities of both those bodies. It is my intention, however, to make provision in the Tourist Traffic (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1951, for the establishment of the Tourist Publicity Board as a statutory body, although not necessarily under that title.
(b) The chairman of the board has been appointed on a whole-time basis subject to the retention of such directorships as I approve; the appointments of the other members are on a part-time basis.
(c) The remuneration of the chairman is at the rate of £1,000 per annum and the remuneration of the other members of the board is at the rate of £200 per annum.
(d) The Tourist Publicity Board will be responsible for the direction of tourist publicity both internal and external.
(e) Pending any alternative arrangements which may be made in legislation, which the Oireachtas will be asked to enact, the remuneration and expenses of the members of the board are being provided out of the grant-in-aid of the Irish Tourist Board under the Tourist Traffic Act, 1939, and the general expenses of the board for publicity work are being met out of the funds already provided for tourist publicity purposes.