Vol. 472 No. 1
73 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, made on the Ireland House concept; the locations in which it operates; and the other cities, if any, which are to have the centralisation extended to them. [21964/96]
The foreign earnings committee, which is chaired by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, and which includes the chief executives of the promotional agencies and senior officials from relevant Government Departments, is responsible for ensuring the effective co-ordination of Ireland's overseas promotional activities. The committee's remit also include examining opportunities for the consolidation, wherever possible, of our overseas diplomatic, commercial and consular offices into Ireland House so as to ensure the most effective use of available resources.
Representation has already been consolidated on this basis in New York, Tokyo, Prague, Budapest and Kuala Lumpur and the Embassy in Madrid is currently undertaking a feasibility study of the possibilities for an Ireland House in that city. The foreign earnings committee will continue to review possibilities for the expansion of the Ireland House concept to other locations where it can be justified in terms of cost-effectiveness and the enhancement of the representation of Ireland's interests.
