Vol. 442 No. 6
8 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if the report of the consultants appointed by him to review the structures and functions of Bord Fáilte will be published; if so, when it will be published; the cost of hiring the consultants; the organisations and individuals with which the consultants will enter into discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the incoming Tour Operators Association, ITOA, regarding his appointment of consultants to examine the role of Bord Fáilte and particularly its concern that the review may destabilise the board and disrupt its promotional activities; his response to the concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the total cost of the consulting firm appointed to examine Bord Fáilte; if he has set a deadline for their final report; and if he intends to publish this report.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 16 and 22 together.
As indicated in a press release issued on my behalf on 15 April last, the review of Bord Fáilte will pay particular attention to the suitability of existing structures and functions of Bord Fáilte in terms of strategically responding to the Government's targets for tourism growth; the compatibility of its existing mix of functions with the priority exercise of its core promotional role; whether Bord Fáilte's involvement of, and participation with, the sector in its developmental activities is likely to promote an evolving level of sectoral self-reliance over time.
The study will also take into account whether or not various programmes and activities of Bord Fáilte are efficiently operated, effective and sufficiently responsive to the needs of the sector. The review is due to be completed by mid-July.
At this point, I have made no decision about whether or not the report will be published as I think that such a step would be both premature and inappropriate without knowing what will be in the final report. Ultimately, it is only when the full contents are known and it can be determined whether or not issues of confidentiality or sensitivity are involved that such a decision can responsibly be made. For what it is worth, however, and without prejudice to the reasonable concerns I have just mentioned, my disposition currently is to publish the report.
As to the cost of the study, a fee not exceeding £150,000, and expenses not exceeding £30,000 have been agreed with the consultants involved.
My attention has indeed been brought to the concerns expressed by some few organisations, such as the tour operators association (ITOA) regarding the consultancy study. I have my doubts about the value of such statements which seem to be emotive and based on a clearly incomplete understanding of the situation. There is no sensible reason I can think of to sustain the view that the proposed consultancy study will do harm to the tourism sector. Rather, it seems it should be very clear to all really concerned with the future of the sector that the study is designed to ensure this country will have the best possible institutional support available to it in the national drive to develop the full potential of the sector by the end of this decade.
I am glad it is the Minister's intention to have this report published. I am sure he would agree that, having paid £180,000 for the report, and having spent over £2 million on similar reports in the past ten years, the taxpayer deserves to know what is in it. Would the Minister agree that the consultancy group should look into the relationship between Bord Fáilte and other groups? This will have to be done by a further consultancy group if it is not done on this occasion. Finally, will the Minister ensure that the consultants will confer as widely as possible with all interested groups? It is important that this job not be done quickly just to satisfy the Minister but that the tourism industry be involved.
The Deputy seems to think this is a similar report to one submitted previously. Reports have been commissioned on the tourism industry, on one occasion by the former Department of Tourism and Transport; other reports were submitted by the Irish Hotels Federation and others involved in the industry. However, there has been no study by any consultant on the role of Bord Fáilte. The consultancy report I am commissioning is unique.
At this point I see no good reason why I should not publish the report. However I cannot give a guarantee because the report may contain commercially sensitive items which it may not be appropriate to publish. In principle I have no objection to publishing it, but I cannot give a commitment without seeing the report.
I have previously given an outline of how I see the role of Bord Fáilte in tourism development. Some time ago I said I would commission consultants to examine some of the items I spoke of both inside and outside this House. When I receive the report from the consultants I will finalise my decision-making in regard to the role of Bord Fáilte. That should be before the end of this year.
I should like to take this opportunity of saying that Bord Fáilte has done excellent work for many years. However, it is well to remember that nearly all of the State agencies have been examined in some way since their inception. The exception is Bord Fáilte. There is nothing unusual, therefore, in the Minister of the day deciding to look at an organisation that has been there for 50 years or so with a view to defining what its present role should be. No one should fear what may come about as a result of this examination. If State agencies we set up were allowed to carry on ad infinitum and never examined, the Minister could retire.
There has been a certain amount of propaganda in the newspapers regarding this consultancy study. Some of the suggestions were put forward with good reason but others were merely mischievous. My role as Minister is to ensure that the Government's programme for increasing jobs and investment in the economy is carried out.
Will the consultants take Bord Fáilte's own proposals for the restructuring into consideration when producing their final report?
I am sure the consultants will take everything into account. However, they were appointed with particular terms of reference. I am glad the Deputy raised the question of Bord Fáilte's own proposals. I did not see them until after I had proposed the consultancy study. If they had proposals they must have kept them to themselves. It is as well to clear up that point. I am sure the consultants will take everything into account and come forward to me with ideas as to what should be done. As I said to Deputy Deenihan during my last Question Time here, I will make my own decisions as to the changes I will make. I am using the consultants to tease out some ideas and see what they come forward with but the decision regarding Bord Fáilte or any other matters will be my decision. Some of those decisions will be successful, others will not but I am prepared to make them one way or the other.
