Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 5

Written Answers. - Authorised Destination Status.

Pat Breen

Question:

17 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the negotiations of an authority's destination status agreement with China which will allow package tours to be organised to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31436/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

27 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if negotiations on an authorised destination status agreement with China have been concluded; the likely timeframe for a conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31631/03]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 27 together.

All group tourism travel from China requires an authorised destination status, ADS, agreement and China has 26 such agreements in effect with other states as well as agreements with Hong Kong and Macao.

The Irish Ambassador in Beijing is currently negotiating on our behalf a memorandum of understanding, MOU, between my Department and the Chinese National Tourism Administration, CNTA, for authorised destination status. The MOU under negotiation is similar to the MOU initialled by the EU with the CNTA on 30 October which, for technical reasons, applies only to the Schengen states, with the exception of Denmark.

I am confident that agreement will be reached in time for the bilateral MOU to take effect around the same time as the EU MOU, namely in the spring of 2004.