Vol. 448 No. 8
2 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, he proposes to take to advance the tourism potential of Ireland in view of the cessation of violence in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2407/95]
32 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, that has been made towards common branding for the tourist industries in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2912/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 32 together.
Last week for the first time, I had the opportunity to meet with Baroness Denton, the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland, when she paid a courtesy call to my office. We agreed that the international perception of the island of Ireland as a place to visit and to invest has been considerably enhanced as a result of the cessation of violence in recent months. When allied to the favourable economic situation which now exists in many of our important tourism markets, the economic prospects for people throughout the island are at their brightest for a generation.
Our meeting provided a welcome opportunity to review the developments of recent months and to look ahead to the coming year, which we agreed was full of hope and opportunity. Specifically, both of us expressed our belief that it was possible for the tourism industry, North and South, to greatly increase its revenue within a short period.
One of the measures already introduced to help generate this new business is the £6.3 million overseas tourism marketing initiative, which represents an entirely additional promotional effort to increase consumer awareness of Ireland. It is a private sector led consumer marketing campaign, which will promote the island of Ireland as a single destination in our four most important markets, namely the US, Britain, Germany and France. For the first time, the tourism industry on both sides of the Border, together with Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, are participating in the initiative and are selling the island of Ireland as an attractive holiday location. The initiative consists primarily of generic "Visit Ireland" advertising on television and in newspapers and magazines. Inquirers in each market will receive a joint brochure featuring the participating companies and organisations, together with the Bord Fáilte and Northern Ireland Tourist Board literature. This common approach to marketing Ireland, North and South, is very welcome, and I have no doubt that this initiative, coupled with the existing promotional work being undertaken by the two tourist boards, will deliver tourism business to the whole island in 1995.
I am also hopeful that it will be possible in the coming months to announce details of other initiatives which will be aimed at increasing tourism business to the island of Ireland and to the 12 Northern counties in particular. Officials of my Department and their Northern Ireland counterparts are meeting this week to explore these very possibilities, with a view to designing a mutually-agreed and practical menu of further initiatives which can be undertaken in the future.
President Clinton's US Conference on Trade and Investment in Ireland which will be held in Washington during May next will also be helpful in this context. Exchanges, so far, with the US side have confirmed that tourism in one area which should have a significant presence at the conference, given its clear economic benefits for all parties and for the island as a whole. My officials propose to work closely with their Northern Ireland colleagues in this regard.
Baroness Denton and I have also agreed to meet regularly in the future. We both acknowledge the potential which tourism can make to economic regeneration, job creation and reconciliation between the two parts of the island. The House can be assured that advancing the tourism potential of the island of Ireland will be a very important personal priority during my term as Minister.
It has never ceased to amaze me that we do not have one tourism council on this island. In this context I would have no problem with the concept of Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board operating within their own regions. Would the Minister, in the context of the peace process and the peace dividend, consider such a body as a matter of urgency to promote the interests of the island as a whole?
As the Deputy will be aware, tourism was one of the first subjects discussed by the Anglo-Irish Secretariat, apart from security and politics. It is recognised that it has phenomenal potential for growth, North and South. It is important to have a closer working relationship with our Northern Ireland counterparts. Obviously, in the context of ongoing discussions in regard to the production of a framework document, the issue of tourism generating economic growth, without reference to present structures, is of great importance. In terms of efficiency and concentration of selling, one single body would be preferable but it is my personal priority as Minister to work closely with my Northern Ireland counterpart which, undoubtedly, will lead to a closer working relationship between both tourist boards. When Deputy Andrews and I served on the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body some years ago, there was a great deal of tension between both organisations, North and South. I am glad there is much greater harmony now in terms of the international marketing of package holidays to the island as a whole. I hope to continue that relationship and who knows what it might lead to in the future?
It is clear that the role of the Foyle Fisheries Commission will be broadened in the near future. I am not certain whether the framework document includes an all-Ireland tourism organisation, I am not diminishing the role played by Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the context of their common approach to the four areas which the Minister mentioned, but in the interests of efficiency and the immediate needs of the island, surely this is an area that is crying out to be identified. There is almost a readymade structure in place to have the two organisations involved. I know they meet on a regular basis but it should be structured and by doing so it would be focused in an all-island context.
I empathise with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Andrews. There are five areas on which I intend to work closely with my Northern counterpart and the tourist organisations. In the next few months I hope to again meet Baroness Denton and the Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland to launch the regional marketing initiatives which will have an impact in the Border areas. As I said previously, the overseas tourism marketing initiative helps North and South. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has a seat on the committee dealing with this and is part of it. There will also be developments under the tourism package in respect of the INTERREG Programme which are not yet finalised and additional funds were approved following the EU meeting at Essen. Finally, there will also be cross-Border activity and closer working relationships arising from the Trade and Investment Conference in the United States in May which President Clinton will attend. I hope that working through these five measures will result in greater trust, harmony and a more concentrated and efficient effort which is what the Deputy and I seek.
Mr. Andrews rose.
The time available for dealing with Priority Questions is almost exhausted and there are two remaining questions to be disposed of.
Some of the my priority time was taken up by the tragedy which——
No, I took care of that, Deputy.
My time is being taken up.
I will not intrude on another Deputy's time.
There was no question of a reduction in time, Deputy. The full 20 minutes was allowed.
I will make a final brief point in relation to this. Will the Minister agree that the level of personal violence against tourists in this part of our island is unacceptable? Will he agree that in the light of the complete cessation of paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland, it would be proper and appropriate to decide — in conjunction with the——
We are now having quite an extension of this question. That is a completely separate matter.
——Minister for Justice——
The Deputy is deviating considerably from the question before us.
I am not, Sir. With respect, I am coming to the point now.
The Deputy will please obey the Chair.
I am doing my best to do that. Will the Minister now consider the reassignment of those members of the Garda Síochána on the Border to the main cities in the light of recent events as to the safety of tourists?
That is a separate question. I am now proceeding to Question No. 3.
