Pat Rabbitte
Question:12 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the number of tourists from the Republic who visited Northern Ireland during 1992; and the number from Northern Ireland who visited the Republic.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourism Statistics.
Compilation and publication of tourism statistics is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office.
I understand from the Central Statistics Office that the tourism statistics in relation to traffic between the North of Ireland and the Republic for 1992 should be available before the end of next month.
Does the Minister consider it a reflection on his ministry or on the Opposition that we have not managed to think up sufficient questions for Question Time? Does he compliment Fine Gael on the tactic of tabling the same question in the name of five different Deputies——
That is not the question on the Order Paper, Deputy.
——or if it was a good idea that five questions should fall because of the crazy priority questions system——
Does the Deputy have a supplementary question on his Question No. 12?
Over 60 questions were tabled.
——where there were substantial questions from all Deputies which were not adequately answered.
Deputy Rabbitte should have been here to support me.
I observe also that this is essentially a statistical question and matters appertaining to policy ought not, therefore, arise.
I will then ask a statistical question, a Cheann Comhairle. Is the Minister glad that Democratic Left tabled six questions to keep Question Time going? Has the Minister planned any measures to encourage the exchange of tourists between the North and the Republic? Does he acknowledge that such an exchange can contribute to a better, mutual understanding between the two parts of the island? Will he encourage joint ventures between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Bord Fáilte to sell the country as a whole and promote the fact abroad that not only is this part of the island peaceful but that large tracts of Northern Ireland are peaceful and very suitable for tourists?
I want to facilitate Deputy Rabbitte in eliciting information but the Chair must be consistent in saying that matters of policy must not arise from an essentially statistical question.
I now call Question No. 13. The Deputy should put down a separate question on matters of policy.