Eamon Gilmore
Question:8 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, made to date in implementing the recommendations of the Tourism Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Task Force Recommendations.
Edward Nealon
Question:14 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, he has made in putting the recent recommendations of the Tourism Task Force of October 1992 in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ivor Callely
Question:84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the recommendations of the recent report by the Tourism Task Force; the recommendations that are under consideration; the progress, if any, that has been made in total; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 14 and 84 together.
In line with the recommendations of the Tourism Task Force, the Government has identified the tourism sector as a key area for future employment growth. In allocating more than £370 million EC aid to tourism in the National Development Plan 1994-99 the Government is doubling the £171 million in Structural Funds resources available in the current Community Support Framework.
The emphasis on increased marketing of Ireland as a holiday destination abroad is also reflected in the Government's proposals, as are measures to improve the seasonality profile of the industry. The Government will shortly submit its detailed investment proposals to the EC Commission for consideration.
Furthermore, several other key recommendations have been implemented. These include the setting up of the tourism council and the establishment of product development groups or companies in a number of niche product areas. I have also reached agreement with representatives of the regional tourism organisations to establish more appropriate institutional structures for Irish tourism at regional and county level.
Finally, there are still some remaining recommendations which are currently under consideration within my Department and are also being looked at by the subcommittees which I have set up under the tourism council. I will take decisions on these issues when these processes have been completed.
Obviously everybody in the tourism business would welcome the proposed doubling of funding under the National Development Plan. In regard to the report that will be submitted to the Commission, will it be published here before going to the Commission? The last time the National Development Plan was submitted, it was all done behind closed doors and people, with vast experience and knowledge of the tourism industry, or public representatives, did not have their say in what went into it. Will the report be made public before going to the Commission?
On the question of a European policy in regard to marketing Ireland and the fact that there is an expanding market, particularly in Asian countries, would the Minister agree that it would be of benefit to Ireland to perceive itself as part of the European product, if I might put it that way, rather than our merely carrying on as simply an isolated island somewhere in the Atlantic?
I presume the first question the Deputy asked was whether the operational programme which will be submitted to Brussels will come before the House beforehand. "No" is the answer to that question because it has to be approved by the Commission. I am not going to publish the operational programme details nor was that done on the last occasion. However, since assuming office I have ensured that all of the submissions by groups, such as the regional tourism organisations and the various county development teams in regard to tourism, will be taken on board in the preparation of the operational programme. Their ideas were taken on board in the preparation of the National Development Plan. However, the operational programme involves the minutiae of the areas which will be assisted under the provisions of the next programme. I am endeavouring to build into that programme a considerable amount of flexibility because what might appear to be a very good idea for 1994-95 may not prove to be a very good idea in 1998-99. To have all of that stuck down in rigid little boxes would not be appropriate. Therefore, the details of the operation programme will not be announced before being submitted to and agreed by Brussels.
The Deputy's second question was a very interesting one, on persuading tourists who come to Europe to travel on to Ireland. I agree with Deputy McManus that millions of people come to Europe, in particular to London or Paris — those places do not have to advertise themselves as we would have to do in the case of Kerry, great and all as the latter may be. Also thousands of people come to Europe from Latin America and, increasingly from the Asian and Pacific countries since they constitute a growing affluent region. My Department is examining how we can tap into that Euro-type tourism, leading to the dispersement of the Euro product, and get such tourists to travel on to Ireland. In that regard any ideas in the previous report of which the Deputy spoke will be incorporated in our examination of such possibilities. We are examining those areas because probably they constitute the key to the successful growth of Irish tourism, that is to tap into the tourist potential created by those travelling to Europe and have that dispersed to the outer regions such as Ireland.
I took a good look through the report of the Tourism Task Force before this Question Time and apart from the establishment of the tourism council, to which the Minister referred, I could observe very few of their recommendations having been put in place by the Minister to date. For example, does the Minister intend to put in place a registration system, as recommended in the report of the Tourism Task Force which, stated that all providers of tourist accommodation should be licensed or registered according to objective criteria and standards. I noted also a strong recommendation that similarly, all food outlets, should be registered and graded for quality. Does the Minister intend doing so? I also observed that there was a recommendation regarding the entertainments committee, to inject professionalism in to the provision of entertainment for tourists.
The Minister referred to the matter of getting tourists to travel on from the Continent to Ireland. What steps has he taken — this too is contained in the report of the Tourism Task Force — to accommodate tourists wishing to come to Ireland on long-haul air routes, such as those from Japan, South America and other points to London so that people who fly from such places to London can continue to travel on to Ireland for the same fare?
I do not accept that I have not put into effect many of the recommendations of the Tourism Task Force. For example, I established the tourism council which is working quite well and I have restructured the regional tourism organisations. The Tourism Task Force expressed the view that they should not be disbanded unless and until an equally effective alternative regional co-ordination mechanism could be put in place. I have done that.
On the matter of the licensing of all tourist accommodation, there have been previous questions in the House in that regard when I made my views known. I will not go into that debate now but I will be bringing forward some proposals in the near future. The national entertainments committee is a matter for the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht but I can confirm that that matter is at present being considered by the tourism council.
The Minister should talk to Senator Donie Cassidy.
Yes, he would be a good choice. A number of product development groups or companies have been established within the past year and are working very well. Other matters regarding taxation are not my responsibility.
What about the areas about which I asked?
I answered the Deputy's question regarding registration and told him that the matter of the entertainment committee is being considered by the tourism council who might bring forward some ideas in that regard.
And the matter of food outlets?
That would not be my responsibility.
On the operational programme, the Minister said he cannot publish it before it goes to the Commission in Brussels.
No, the operational programme will not be published before being submitted to the Commission. The National Development Plan, published some weeks ago by the Government, including tourism, was the national plan but the operational programme will not be published before going to the Commission.
The Minister said he will not be publishing the operational programme——
Not before it goes to the Commission.
The National Development Plan was not published until it went to the Commission and, to date, it has not been passed. On what grounds is the Minister refusing to publish the operational programme? If there is a European directive or some legislative provision to the effect that it cannot be made public? Has there been a Cabinet decision taken that this operational strategy cannot be made public? I do not know whether the Minister is aware but I was in Brussels when the National Development Plan was published, when there was general amazement at the secretiveness that operates within our Government when it comes to any of these plans. The Minister is arguing that he has adopted a new, open approach, that he is out to change things, that he is not hide bound by——
A question, please, Deputy; this is not the time for making a speech.
Is the Minister adopting a new approach and, if so, will he prove his mettle by publishing the operational programme before it goes anywhere?
This will not become the operational programme under which projects can be submitted for grant-aid until it has been approved by the European Commission. This is not the result of a Cabinet or any other kind of decision; it was purely an administrative one on my part. I will take on board all the ideas submitted in recent times in regard to the types of projects that should be grant-aided under the provisions of the next operational programme. I might point out to the Deputy that, if every Minister had to submit every regulation to committees of this House, there is no doubt but that no Minister would ever get any regulation or programme through.