Brendan Smith
Question:27 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has given any further consideration to the setting up of a Department of Tourism on a stand-alone basis. [2520/97]
Written Answers. - Departmental Functions.
The implication of the Deputy's question is that I have already given consideration to the setting up of a Department of Tourism on a stand-alone basis. This is not so.
As I stated last June in a reply to a question put down by Deputy Andrews, it is a matter for the Taoiseach of the day to decide on the allocation of functions among members of the Government within the constraints imposed by the Constitution. Under the Constitution, the Government may not exceed 15 members. The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible to have a stand-alone Department for each area of economic activity.
The Department of Tourism and Trade was set up four years ago. Combining the tourism portfolio with trade has resulted in a single Government Department being able to focus specifically and successfully on the optimisation of Ireland's foreign earnings.