asked the Minister for Transport and Power on what basis persons are selected on the regional tourist committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regional Tourist Committees.
37.
The regional organisations are being established as limited companies. Membership will be open to local authorities and to local development and other associations and to persons and firms concerned in the tourist industry who register as members and pay the annual subscription. Local authorities who subscribe £500 per annum may nominate a director and local authorities who jointly subscribe this much may also nominate a director. There will be a Bord Fáilte director on the board of each company.
Following local consultations, Bord Fáilte in each region invited a number of suitable persons to subscribe to the memorandum and articles of association and to act as caretaker directors until the general meetings of the companies to be held in 1966. County directors and ordinary directors will then be elected by the members other than the local authorities.
I am arranging to obtain copies of the memorandum and articles of association of the regional companies from Board Fáilte with a view to placing them in the Dáil library for the information of Deputies.
Who extended the invitations to the people to subscribe?
Bord Fáilte.
And they selected the directorate?
Yes, on the basis of it being a caretaker directorate until after it has prepared the machinery for the ultimate organisation.
How were these people selected?
They selected representatives from each area whom they thought would be the most suitable.
It would appear that certain sections were asked and the people would appear to be representative of certain sections, professional, industrial and local authority. Could the Minister explain, or has he any reason to offer, as to why Labour and the trade union movement were ignored?
I think they selected people on the basis that they would be people most likely to be useful in promoting a company of this type.
Would the trade union people not be useful to that extent?
The people who were interested in and concerned with tourism were invited to take part.
But the trade union people have a greater interest in the tourist industry than many who are represented. The trade union people are employed in the industry.
On what basis do they select the representatives?
On the basis that they would represent a reasonable area of the region. They could not have too many people. They wanted a number sufficiently small to be able to get the work completed. There have been complaints in various quarters in connection with some but not all of the regional companies. The representatives were not selected on a completely geographical basis. In every case where there were complaints I have also seen statements that the best possible thing was done under the circumstances and that on the whole it would be best to wait until the final organisation was established in which everybody interested in the area would be able to elect representatives, other than county councils.
When the permanent body is established, will it then be open to elect people other than those who subscribed initially?
Yes.
Is the Minister aware that public relations broke down completely with Bord Fáilte during the establishment of the regional organisation?
I would not agree. There may have been delays. If the Deputy knows of any I should be glad to communicate them to Bord Fáilte so that replies can be given. This organisation necessitates a great deal of very hard work. I have read reports of all that has been going on, and on the whole I think they are being, and have been, set up on a very satisfactory basis. Wherever there have been complaints, these have arisen because naturally certain areas felt they were under-represented. I think on the whole this organisation is proceeding satisfactorily.
No. The method by which these directors were appointed has ensured that the goodwill which should be expected, will not be forthcoming.
Will the Minister explain why the trade union movement in Dublin was not notified and asked to send representatives to meetings prior to the setting up of the regional company?
As far as I know Bord Fáilte notified and invited all the people whom they thought would be useful for this purpose.
Does that mean they regarded the trade union movement as not being useful?
Is the Minister aware that the caretaker directorate will complete the articles of association before the local authority will have any opportunity of discussing them and seeing how they fit in with local authority ideas?
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Would the Minister be prepared to admit that they have made a mess of it and should be prepared to reorganise these companies?
Arising out of all that has been said, would the Minister consider having a further discussion with Bord Fáilte and, if necessary, withdrawing and reorganising so as to get the maximum goodwill for this project?
I shall draw the attention of Bord Fáilte to the observations made here. This matter seems to be grossly exaggerated. Some of these bodies have been established without any complaint whatever.
That is not true.
In regard to the Dublin trade union movement, we were not consulted prior to the establishment of the regional council. Is the Minister aware of that?
It is a pity to spoil a good project.
Deputies are making unnecessary trouble over this.
Trying to show you the light.
There was not a single case where I did not see county councillors and others interested, and all of them, while they may have had complaints about the organisation, had this to say: "Let us get this thing started now." There were people of all Parties and all persuasions who, while criticising Bord Fáilte, agreed that we should get on with the job. I have read pages and pages of newspaper reports in which there was somebody always to say——
Of course there will always be somebody.
The Minister says "all sides of the House"; yet he persists in his attitude.
He will wreck this magnificent project.
It is already on the rocks.
Stop the money.
Now the Minister has it from his own Deputy.