I move.
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £20,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1963, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, including certain Services administered by that Office, and for payment of sundry Grants-in-Aid.
This Estimate is necessary to provide for the preliminary expenditure on Ireland's participation in the New York World Fair. The Fair, which will open in April, 1964, is being held in celebration of the Tercentenary Anniversary of the city of New York. The central theme is "Peace and Understanding" for the purpose of educating the peoples of the world as to the inter-dependence of nations and the need for universal peace. About 75 countries will have pavilions in the international section of the Fair. The city of New York is in a special category as far as this country is concerned in that it has for so long been a port of entry for Irish emigrants to the United States and a place of residence of millions of Irish birth and descent. The Irish form one of the main population elements of the city. I feel sure, therefore, that Deputies on all sides of the House will agree that, despite the substantial cost, there are very good reasons why Ireland should be represented at an international exhibition of the magnitude contemplated for the 1964 World Fair. We are fortunate that a site of modest proportions has been secured in a very favourable location in relation to adjoining sites, including that of the United States, and ease of access.
The problems involved in participation in the Fair have been under examination for some time by an Inter-Departmental Committee. In considering what form our exhibit might take, the Committee concluded from the outset that any ideas should be discarded of presenting an expensive technical exhibit or one containing mechanical novelties aimed at capturing the imagination. Such an exhibit would be costly and would not be characteristic of the Irish scene; in any event we could not complete in this field with wealthier nations.
Suggestions as to the form of the exhibit were sought from numerous State-sponsored, trade and cultural bodies. The various ideas received were considered from the viewpoint of whether it would be possible to present an exhibit based on one central theme. No acceptable single idea emerged from the suggestions but an idea common to most of them was that a realistic image of Ireland and of the Irish people should be presented from certain aspects, including economic development, tourist attraction and cultural attainments at home and abroad. The Committee noted that it is the practice of many other countries in preparing for exhibitions of this kind, to aim at presenting in an attractive way the industrial, commercial, cultural and social life of the particular country, including a reference to their contributions to international welfare.
They recommended, therefore, that the most practical course to adopt would be to present a comprehensive image of this country using for this purpose the broad divisions of (a) economic development, which would depict selected aspects of industrial, agricultural and commercial activity and would include a reference to the facilities afforded for investment by foreigners, (b) tourism, which could include a display of tourist, recreational and sporting attractions, and (c) cultural attainments, in which could be featured Irish contributions to the development of other countries, particularly to the United States, and to the achievement of world peace. A display of this type would be consistent with the central theme of the Fair and would also possess the advantage that some positive benefits by way of increased trade, tourism or investment by foreigners might result from it.
I should explain that our display will be a national exhibit and will not take the form of a presentation of individual manufacturers' products. Particular products will be featured only to the extent that they are required to contribute to the general impression to be conveyed. I think it will be generally agreed that the Committee's recommendation affords the best prospect for presenting a suitable exhibit at the Fair.
The Government have entrusted responsibility for the design of the exhibit to a prominent Irish architect. In order to deal adequately with the many complex problems connected with the construction of a pavilion and an exhibit at a World's Fair in the United States, the Government have authorised the architect to engage the services of an American architect and exhibition designer of international repute who, in addition to designing and display, will also supervise the construction of the display and the building of the pavilion. I am satisfied that outstanding professional advice has been secured for the project and I am convinced that our exhibit will attain an extremely high standard. The plans for the exhibit are well advanced but they have not yet reached the stage where I could describe them in detail to the Dáil. Without wishing to exert any undue influence on the Committee or on the professional consultants engaged, I have expressed the view that our exhibit should not take the form of a glass and aluminium structure but should consist of something constructed on traditional lines which would have a high prestige value and which might include a colourful presentation of different aspects of Irish life.
The cost of constructing and operating an exhibit at the Fair, which will continue for six months in each of the years 1964 and 1965, is likely to be considerable. The Government have felt it necessary to limit the expenditure on the project to a maximum of one million dollars, or approximately £360,000. The bulk of the expenditure will be made in the financial year 1963-64 and will be provided for in the Estimates for that year. Strict control will have to be maintained over expenditure on all aspects of the project to ensure that it is kept within the limit prescribed. The Supplementary Estimate which I am now presenting to the Dáil makes provision for preliminary expenses likely to arise in the current financial year, comprising such matters as site rent, professional fees and expenses, and other miscellaneous expenditure.
I recommend that the House should approve of this Supplementary Estimate.