Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 1

Written Answers. - Co-operation with Northern Ireland.

Jack Wall

Question:

46 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions, if any, he has had with the Northern Ireland authorities to identify the areas of common interest and co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11298/98]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

There is significant cross-Border co-operation at both Departmental and Agency level in the tourism area. Co-operation at agency level, between Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, has existed since the 1960s and has been considerably strengthened and facilitated in recent years by the availability of financial assistance for marketing and product development from both the European Union and the International Fund for Ireland. In addition, there have been regular contacts and co-operation between the two Departments on a range of issues of common interest in the tourism area. Since taking up office, I have had a number of contacts with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister Adam Ingram, MP, in particular in relation to joint tourism promotion activities.

As a result of the ongoing contacts which I have outlined, I believe that myself and my Department have a good appreciation of the possible areas of common interest and co-operation which exist in tourism and which hopefully will be further developed, to the mutual benefit of both parts of the island as part of the present Peace Process.

As regards sport, my Department and the Irish Sports Council are in ongoing consultation with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to explore areas of co-operation in the overall development of sport on an all-island basis. These include sports development and governing bodies of sport; children and young people's sport; coaching; anti-doping; leadership and training in recreational sport and mutual policy and strategic initiatives. Two cross-Border pilot programmes are currently under way — Youth Sport Foyle (developing school sport) and a leadership programme in recreational sport and sport for all. The chief executive officer of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland is a member of the Irish Sports Council.

In so far as local development is concerned, ADM Ltd. jointly administers the cross-Border Reconciliation Measure of the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme with the Combat Poverty Agency and the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust. I also understand that strong informal links have been developed between ADM Ltd. and the Northern Ireland Partnership Board on the development of local partnership structures.