Peter Barry
Question:9 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the proposed Irish Marketing Agency will be set up; if legislation will be required; and when this legislation will be introduced.
Written Answers. - Establishment of Marketing Agency.
For a variety of administrative and budgetary reasons, the new agency referred to by the Deputy will come into existence on 1 January 1992. With this in mind, I propose to introduce legislation to the House shortly after the Easter recess, to give effect to the merger of Córas Tráchtála and the Irish Goods Council, with a view to its enactment before the summer recess.
Discussions have already taken place between both agencies on the broad question of the integration of their respective marketing programmes and I am pleased to be able to say that both have submitted to me unified proposals to realise this integration. They have also identified scope for activities which can be jointly undertaken in advance of full merger.