asked the Minister for Transport and Power how many international conferences have taken place in Ireland so far this year; how many are arranged for the remainder of the year; and how many have been tentatively arranged for next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - International Conferences in Ireland.
6.
I am informed by Bord Fáilte that so far this year 75 international conferences have been held in this country. Arrangements have been made for a further seven conferences during the remainder of the year. It is expected that about 90 international conferences will be held here next year.
Will they all be staying in Ryan's Holdings hotels?
(Interruptions.)
Will Deputies please allow Questions to continue? We have 98 Questions on the Order Paper.
7.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the number of international conferences at present being held in Ireland and the growing importance of this country as a conference centre, the Government will provide in Dublin a conference hall sufficiently large to cater for a number of international conferences at the same time.
Facilities for conferences have been expanded in recent years and considerable progress has been made in the attraction of international conference business. It is possible to accommodate a number of conferences in Dublin at the same time but Bord Fáilte consider that the facilities available would not enable a number of major conferences to be held here simultaneously.
The generation of conference business is part of the tourist development programme of Bord Fáilte. It is one of the functions of the board to keep the facilities under review and any proposals which the board might put forward in relation to conference facilities would, of course, receive careful consideration.