Vol. 474 No. 2
98 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has satisfied himself with the arrangements for the St. Patrick's Day festival; his views on the future of this festival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2745/97]
Last week in the Mansion House I announced the plans for the 1997 St. Patrick's festival in Dublin. Many Deputies will have attended the St. Patrick's Day festivities in Dublin in 1996 and will have seen for themselves the improvements which have taken place. My intention when I set up the festival company was to encourage the creation of a major international cultural and sporting festival by the year 2000 — a festival which would provide a focus for the promotion of Ireland internationally and concentrate tourism growth in the off-season. The festival this year will build on the success achieved in 1996, spanning the weekend with music, dance, sport, art and theatre presented by professional community and amateur groups from all over Ireland and from overseas. The Celtic Flame music festival launched recently at the initiative of the Tourism Council will also be part of the festivities.
The St. Patrick's festival company which has been in receipt of pump-priming finance through Bord Fáilte and the EU co-funded tourism programme, is also lobbying the business sector whose sponsorship will be critical for the success of the festival in future years. Last year ten foundation sponsors developed a fruitful business partnership with the company and the expansion and deepening of such arrangements will ultimately determine the future scope and scale of the festival. I am satisfied with the progress of the festival company to date, particularly in making St. Patrick's Day more than just a parade but a fun festival with an international flavour, and in beginning the process of securing its long-term viability based on the fullest possible participation of Dublin's and Ireland's business and commercial community.
