Vol. 445 No. 6
49 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will make a statement on the recent meeting between the Director General of Bord Fáilte and the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourism Board; the progress that was made at this meeting regarding the future co-operation between both tourist agencies; and if the possibility of setting up an umbrella tourist body for the whole island was discussed. [714/94]
64 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has agreed proposals for the joint promotion and/or marketing abroad of Ireland as a whole, particularly in relation to tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [444/94]
80 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if, in view of the IRA ceasefire, he will bring forward proposals to increase the number of United Kingdom visitors to Ireland and to promote the country on an all-island basis. [567/94]
84 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, he has taken to encourage co-operation between Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; and the further steps, if any, now envisaged. [445/94]
99 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to encourage co-operation between the tourism authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with a view to promoting the island of Ireland as a tourist destination, especially in view of the improved situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [579/94]
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.
While welcoming the positive tone of the Minister's reply I am sure he is aware that at present we benefit from 3 to 4 per cent only of the British tourist market, the same as Portugal and Cyprus. Therefore, I am sure he will agree that the British tourism market holds vast potential for us. Will the Minister confirm or refute recent paper reports that there is not a very good relationship between Bord Fáilte and the Northern Tourist Board? Furthermore, will he confirm if some sections within Bord Fáilte in England refused to distribute the "Be Our Guest Guide" this year, believing it would give hoteliers in Northern Ireland an unfair advantage? In addition, will the Minister say what progress is being made on common branding between both parts of this island in that in the past the brand "Heritage Island" was very successful as was the Gulliver initiative? Will he say whether, at the last meeting between the two chief executives of the respective tourist boards, any progress was made——
I must dissuade Members from engaging in long questioning at this time having regard to the strict time limit.
Was any progress made on common branding between both agencies on either side of the Border?
As Deputy Deenihan said, the percentage of United Kingdom visitors here is approximately 4 per cent. Therefore, even if we achieved a small percentage increase, it would represent a very large number of new visitors here, which is one benefit which should accrue from the announcement of the cessation of violence by the IRA on 31 August 1994. Indeed it makes sense that our nearest neighbours should come here and that we should have a greater percentage travelling here than to Portugal or Greece, as the Deputy said.
I might add that there have been good relations between Bord Fáilte and the Northern Tourist Board for some time past. Within my period in office I have met my counterparts in Northern Ireland, as have the people in Bord Fáilte and the Northern Tourist Board continuously, and they co-operated with one another. I should say that the International Fund for Ireland funded a number of joint tourist marketing efforts abroad which has continued over a number of years.
The Deputy also referred to the distribution of a particular guide. I might point out that that was a story attempted to be hawked around this city for some time, which surfaced last week in a certain magazine which specialises in that type of journalism——
The editor is not unknown to the Minister's party.
——in which some of the ordinary media did not engage because it is not correct. I had the matter checked and it is incorrect.
In regard to the matter of common branding on both parts of the island — the Deputy gave the example of "Heritage Island" which has been very successful — I might say that in recent months, before the announcement of the cessation of violence by the IRA on 31 August last, officials of my Department and their Northern Ireland counterparts met regularly and proposed some very interesting ideas. A number of such meetings took place between Bord Fáilte and the Northern Tourist Board. Something on the lines suggested by Deputy Deenihan may come forward but it is too early to predict just yet.
50 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade when he intends to publish the management consultants' report which he commissioned to look at the future role of Bord Fáilte; if he intends to implement the recommendations contained in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [715/94]
56 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will make a statement on the preliminary report of consultants (details supplied) which he commissioned on the future of Bord Fáilte; the reason the report was sent back to the consultants for further work; if his attention has been drawn to criticism of the questionnaire issued by the consultants to the effect that the questions were biased against Bord Fáilte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [577/94]
355 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the present position regarding the consultants' report on the future role of Bord Fáilte. [826/94]
356 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the fundamental changes, if any, he proposes to the existing structure and methods that are in place for the promotion of tourism. [827/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 56, 355 and 356 together.
I expect to be in a position to respond to the findings of the consultancy review of Bord Fáilte within the next few weeks. Until then, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on changes, if any, to existing structures. In July, the consultants were asked to do some further technical work in relation to the review which has recently been completed. In reply to questions earlier in the year, I said that my disposition was to publish the findings of the consultants and that remains my position.
I am satisfied that the consultants adequately canvassed the views of the industry during their work and any criticism in this regard is unwarranted.
Will the Minister agree that he should decide once and for all the exact future role of Bord Fáilte? Is he aware of a certain degree of uncertainty within the tourist industry as they are unclear as to the precise future role of Bord Fáilte, bearing in mind also the demoralising effect on Bord Fáilte employees occasioned by the delay in taking decision on their future? Will the Minister say whether he returned the consultants' report to them following its initial submission to him?
We received the final report in July. Since August is a holiday month, we have been considering the consultants' report in recent weeks. Having considered their report I will be outlining my proposals in the next few weeks. I said on many occasions in this House that we will study the consultants' findings in depth and I will bring forward my proposals having considered them carefully. Indeed I said to Deputy Deenihan previously that the future of Bord Fáilte employees should not be an issue. I do not accept for one moment — in the case of a semi-State agency which has existed for the best part of 60 years — that the fact that I commissioned an independent study to examine its role should cause unease. If semi-State agencies were to be established, continue to function over a period of 60 years, independent of the relevant Minister and never be examined, there would be no point in a Minister being responsible.
All the State agencies have been reviewed during the past number of years. This consultants' report looked at the role of Bord Fáilte. I do not accept that there has been any demoralisation, in fact, I find the opposite as many people in Bord Fáilte look to the future with confidence. Those in the industry who earn a living from tourism are pleased to move forward with the Minister and welcome new ideas. That is my feeling from travelling around the country. I am sure Deputy Deenihan, who is in touch with his constituents in north Kerry, will find the same from those involved in the tourist industry.
The Minister may not agree that the point at issue is the campaign he orchestrated through the media against Bord Fáilte rather than getting consultants to examine its role. Is the Minister aware that Bord Fáilte had its own internal examination of its role? The point at issue is not so much the consultants' report as the campaign the Minister launched, through the media during the past year, in regard to Bord Fáilte. I appeal to the Minister, in everybody's interest, to make a decision on the future role of Bord Fáilte as soon as possible because it is hindering preparations for the 1995 season.
That should be adequate, Deputy Deenihan.
I will be submitting my proposals shortly. If every State agency could define its own role, more or less on the lines of "physician heal thyself" there would be no point in having a Minister in any Department. If all the State agencies could define their own role, independent of Government, we could either do away with the agencies or the Government. I have not conducted a campaign against Bord Fáilte. I said in other fora that if many of the agencies spent an equal amount of time in doing what they were set up to do rather than promoting themselves we would be an awful lot better. This applies not only to the agencies under my remit but to all agencies. Ministers have always found that State agencies spend an inordinate amount of time looking after the promotion of themselves. I will publish my proposals shortly and I am confident that Irish tourism will be better as a result of this consultant's report.
We will see.
