Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 2

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

62 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the all-island tourism marketing company to be established under the North-South political structures; the way in which this company will operate; and the funding arrangements in this regard. [24472/99]

As the House will recall, the agreement of 18 December 1998 with the First and Deputy First Ministers – designate – included tourism as one of the six areas for enhanced North-South co-operation, this co-operation to be taken forward by the establishment of an all-island tourism company.

This earlier agreement was endorsed by the meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in shadow or transitional form yesterday and details of the remit of the new tourism company are available and will be sent to the Deputy. It will now be for the North-South Ministerial Council to take decisions on the structure and operation of the tourism company, including funding and board appointments, and I very much hope that this will happen at an early date.

I look forward to the role that the all-island tourism company, once established, can play in developing the very significant tourism potential of the whole island, to mutual benefit.

Top
Share