I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 64, 80, 84 and 99 together.
I intend to ensure that tourism throughout the island benefits from the achievement of peace.
At my direction, my Department has been working in recent months with its counterpart in Northern Ireland to enhance existing co-operation in North-South tourism development. It was in furtherance of this work that the recent meeting between the director general of Bord Fáilte and the chief executive of the Northern Tourist Board took place. Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board — at the instigation of its parent Department — were instructed to work together to devise a programme of new and expanded co-operation marketing initiatives. I hope to announce progress on these initiatives in the near future.
Of course, one of the markets with the greatest potential for traffic growth in the new political situation is Britain. I have recently received a proposal from the industry for a special marketing effort in the UK and other European markets in 1995 which would be modelled to some extent on the very successful US marketing initiative. As I said on many occasions, I am very much in favour of the concept of involving the private sector in a partnership approach to the promotion of Ireland as a tourism destination. Certainly I will give this proposal very serious consideration.
It is time now to build on the prospect of a "peace dividend" and to make a special effort to exploit the rich potential of the British market in the new and exciting circumstances.
There has already been extensive cross-Border co-operation, including joint promotion overseas, supported by the International Fund for Ireland and the EU INTERREG Programme. I am confident that both the International Fund and the new INTERREG Programme will continue to be increasingly supportive of new ways and means with which to increase cross-Border tourism.
As to the question of establishing an umbrella tourist body for both part of the islands, it should be clear — and if it is not, I now wish to make it so — that any institutional developments such as an all-Ireland tourism body are entirely a matter for the two Governments and not for the tourist boards. In this context, the possibility of institutional change, in all its forms, will be considered in the appropriate way at the appropriate time.