Vol. 491 No. 1
18 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of times he has formally met the chairman and directors of Bord Fáilte since taking office; the dates on which these meetings took place; and the issues discussed at them. [11459/98]
Since taking office I have been, and continue to be, in regular contact with the chairman and board of Bord Fáilte regarding a full range of issues on tourism policy. In this regard, like my predecessors, I do not restrict myself to the concept of formal meetings as I believe, with the board, it is what we do together, rather than the format of how we meet, that is important.
It is in the nature of such meetings that all matters raised are discussed on a confidential basis.
The Minister did not answer my question. He may have met the board members informally, but my question is specific. It asks him to state the number of times he formally met the chairman and directors of Bord Fáilte. Will he give me a straight answer to a straight question?
I think I met the chairman 25 or 30 times. I met him four times this week and I think I am meeting him again this evening. I met the board on two separate occasions.
When?
He is an extremely busy Minister.
We had a meeting in Donegal in September or November. We meet members of the board at different times because they are members of a number of boards. I probably met each member of the board of Bord Fáilte at least 20 times.
It is astounding that in 12 months the Minister has formally met the board on only two occasions at a time when morale in Bord Fáilte is at an absolute low and there have been three resignations from the board. Does he consider there is a crisis in Bord Fáilte as we approach this year's tourism season and they are holding workshops in preparation for next year? Even though morale is low and the chief executive and two senior management personnel have resigned, the Minister has met the board only twice since taking office. Has he met it since the shock announcement of the three resignations and, if so, what was discussed?
Morale could not be higher in the tourism industry.
I did not say the morale was low in the tourism industry, I said it was low in Bord Fáilte.
A total of six million people will visit the country this year. The Tour de France will take place here in July. Inquiries from people who want to come here have increased by 37 per cent in the case of France, by 11 per cent in the case of Milan and by 70 per cent in the case of Scandinavian countries. Rather than morale being low and the industry being on its knees——
I am talking about Bord Fáilte.
——the opposite is the case. The Deputy mentioned the Tour de France.
I did not.
This is a unique event for us, but the GRA has decided to target it.
This is a red herring; I did not mention the Tour de France.
It is a serious matter.
This event will occur on 12 July, a date for which the country has been known for other reasons. If a bus is burnt out anywhere in Northern Ireland, CNN and other television channels flash pictures of it across the world. A total of 950 million people, 1,000 journalists and 500 radio stations will focus on Ireland on 12 July this year. Let us show them something different. I hope the GRA will immediately withdraw its threat of action on that day because it is not in the national interest. The Tour de France is a huge bonus for us and, as it will take place on 12 July, let us show the world what this country is really like. The GRA should bear that in mind.
By his own admission, the Minister has met the board of Bord Fáilte only twice since becoming Minister. As he brought up the Tour de France, what discussions did he have with the board about the GRA's threat to disrupt the tour? What discussions did he have with the Minister for Defence on the plans to be put in place in the event of a Garda strike going ahead?
Is it correct that the director general of Bord Fáilte resigned, got his due entitlements but is on a three year consultancy earning £40,000 per annum? Did the Minister meet the board to discuss the report on this matter in a Sunday newspaper?
I have not met the Ministers for Defence or Justice, Equality, and Law Reform in regard to the GRA action plan for the Tour de France. The matter has been discussed and we are extremely concerned about it. I appeal to the GRA, in the national interest, to note the date involved and refrain from action so that the world can see this country in a different light on 12 July this year. I appeal to it to say the Tour de France will not be affected.
I met members of Bord Fáilte on many occasions in the context of the various committees with which they are involved. The issue concerning the director general of Bord Fáilte is an internal matter for board. It does not involve me.
What mission statement did the Government give Bord Fáilte since taking office?
At future meetings with Board Fáilte will the Minister consider the question of upgrading approved self-catering accommodation in Border counties? There has been a fall-off in business in this area because of the troubles in
Northern Ireland. As a Minister from Donegal, will he consider providing a grant for self-catering accommodation in Border counties, in particular, because of the potentially large number of tourists who will visit those counties this year?
I empathise with the Deputy on that matter. In terms of tourism, Border counties in the South have suffered equally, if not more, than those in the North. I have always maintained that the British Government responded to Northern businesses and re-established them right away, sometimes on an even better basis, so that they tended to flourish, whereas along the Border in the South we had ghost towns, not alone in the hotel and bed and breakfast sector but in other industries.
I am looking at this matter but it is difficult to arrange positive discrimination for a particular area. Perhaps we should examine how we could use INTERREG and the peace and reconciliation fund along the Border for this purpose. I agree there is a need to upgrade those facilities. We have marvellous people, scenery, lakes and fishing but when CNN and other channels showed burning buses on their screens no one wanted to come near us. The need to help tourism and bed and breakfast providers along the Border is one reason we should try to ensure an overwhelming "yes" vote because no one will benefit more from peace and reconciliation.
In response to Deputy Allen I have already prepared the plans for the years 2000 to 2006 in my Department. I am in discussions with industry representatives and have asked them to bring forward their plans. We will then try to ensure common ground because the success of the tourism industry has been built on the co-operation of the Department, Bord Fáilte, the unions and the private sector. It is a partnership between those four areas and we intend to keep it that way, working together on each other's ideas.
Has the Minister given a mission statement to Bord Fáilte?
I have already indicated to Bord Fáilte my plans in different areas. The Deputy mentioned people resigning from Bord Fáilte but those who did were moving on to better jobs. They were well trained in Bord Fáilte and were offered lucrative positions elsewhere. We will have to address this issue in the semi-State sector because we will not be able to keep these people. We are losing to the private sector the people I call the Celtic tiger's most vivacious cubs.
I was delighted to hear the Minister's remarks on the Border counties. In light of the British Government's announcement this week that £350 million would be provided for Northern Ireland, I am relieved that money is to be put into INTERREG because that fund is depleted at present. Can the Minister assure this House that funding will be made available for bed and breakfast accommodation, which is crucially important?
I am looking at that to see what can be worked out and whether it can be provided by direct funding or through an incentive scheme.
