asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has received representations from the Irish Development Association in Birmingham requesting his co-operation and the assistance of his Department and of Córas Tráchtála in organising an Irish week in Birmingham, and, if so, what steps have been taken to assist in the project.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Birmingham Irish Week.
72.
The Deputy may recall that in recent correspondence with him it was explained that responsibility for the promotion of merchandise exports has been assigned to Córas Tráchtála and that I do not customarily intervene in their day-to-day operations.
It was also explained that, in the view of Córas Tráchtála, the holding of an Irish week on the lines proposed would not be the best way of expanding sales of Irish goods in the Birmingham area and that the Board's experience suggested that to generate a greater awareness for what Ireland has to offer and win favourable publicity for our export products, it is preferable to stage store-wide promotions in carefully selected top class stores.
I understand that representatives of Córas Tráchtála have explained the position very fully in several discussions which they had with the Irish Development Association in Birmingham.
Is the Minister aware that the Northern Ireland Government are putting on a very impressive Irish week in Birmingham next April? Our fellow kinsmen in Birmingham feel a bit annoyed that our Government, and particularly Córas Tráchtála, are not paying more heed to the appeals and representations made by the various Irish associations. Would the Minister undertake to establish some type of liaison with the Irish associations to explain the difficulty, and generate better goodwill between the Irish associations in Birmingham and the Government bodies here?
I am aware of the goodwill towards Ireland and Irish products on the part of many people of Irish birth and Irish descent in Birmingham, but this may well be a case of their enthusiasm exceeding practicality. In my view Córas Tráchtála do an excellent job in the promotion of Irish exports. They have a good deal of experience, and they take the view that the proposals suggested by the Irish associations in Birmingham are not the most effective way of selling Irish products abroad. They have had a number of meetings with the Irish development associations and explained the position very fully to them.
The Minister has had representations from the associations apart from the representations I made. Would he undertake to communicate directly with those people and let them know he recognises their existence? That would solve the problem and might satisfy them for a while.
I cannot say with certainty that I have communicated with them directly. If I have not I will look into that.