Vol. 431 No. 4
3 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
18 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
36 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
37 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, which are being taken to ensure that major investors in the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, are fully consulted in advance of the finalisation of the tourism portion of the National Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Donegal South-West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, 28, 36, 37 and 38 together.
For some months now, the Government has been engaged in an extensive process of consultations with national and regional interests in relation to the next National Development Plan.
In a tourism context, the Minister and the Department have met with, and received submissions from, a wide range of tourism interests, including trade representative associations such as the Irish Hotels Federation. The Minister has of course also had the benefit of the recommendations of the Tourism Task Force in relation to Structural Funding which, in the course of its deliberations, received submissions from 130 bodies and individuals.
Account has been taken of these submissions in preparing proposals for the next national plan.
I acknowledge the level of contact and consultation that has taken place to date. However, in view of the fact that the detailed proposals of the plan are now being drawn up is it not only right and proper that the Government should consult the main players, the hoteliers, members of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and others to discuss the final detail with them? Does the Minister agree that it is right and proper that they should know the shopping list as the Government expects them to be the main investors in future tourism projects?
I want to assist the Deputy but his questioning is over long.
(Donegal South-West): The Government fully appreciates the investment by the industry which is very much an integral part of overall investment in this sector. In developing its proposals the Government has undertaken an extensive process of consultation with national and regional interests as well as the social partners, Government Departments, and the subregional review committees. In the tourism context consultations have taken place with Bord Fáilte, Shannon Development, the Office of Public Works, CERT, the Department of the Marine, the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and representative organisations from the tourism industry, including the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and the Irish Hotels Federation. As I stated already, 130 submissions were received and they are being considered by the Minister.
If the industry has further views which it wishes to communicate to the Minister, I am sure he will be glad to give them his full consideration.
I welcome the Minister's last remark. Will the Minister convey to his colleague the disquiet among the tourism interests at the apparent lack of consultation? Will he also convey our request that he engage in a final round of consultations before the plan is finalised, in view of its major importance for tourism growth in the next four to five years?
(Donegal South-West): I cannot accept that there is such a degree of disquiet because every opportunity has been given to the industry to submit its views for the Minister's consideration. The further views of the industry will be considered by the Minister if they are submitted to him. I respectfully suggest that they should be submitted at the earliest possible date.
I call No. 5 in the name of the same Deputy.
On Question No. 4, in view of the fact that the Deputy who tabled that question was forced to leave the House this morning, surely it is in order that the reply to the question he tabled be read.
