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Cross-Border Co-operation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (690)

Gerry Adams

Question:

690. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the nature of north-south cooperation and contacts regarding Tourism Ireland's Business Plan 2013, the Gathering Ireland 2013 and festivities related to Derry the City of Culture 2013. [54368/12]

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Written answers

Tourism was specifically identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North/South cooperation and consequently is one on which the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meets in Sectoral format. The Council meets in this format in order to make decisions on common policies and approaches in the area of tourism including decisions on policies and actions to be implemented by Tourism Ireland Limited, the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination. 

The most recent NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format took place last Wednesday, 28th November in Armagh. Amongst the agenda items for this meeting was Tourism Ireland's Draft Business Plan for 2013. The Plan outlines Tourism Ireland's targets and strategic priorities for 2013 including how the organisation plans to capitalise on major tourism events north and south next year.  The Council also discussed a specific paper dealing with major tourism initiatives including The Gathering Ireland 2013 and the Derry - Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, and noted the major role which Tourism Ireland is playing in the overseas promotion of them.  The Council agreed to meet again in Tourism format in Spring 2013 and it is  likely that progress on each of the matters raised by the Deputy will again be discussed.

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