Vol. 395 No. 2
4 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if, during the period of his Presidency of the Council of Ministers, he will initiate discussions towards the development of a separate budget and secretariat for tourism within the EC.
The EC Commission has a Tourism Division which is responsible for the formulation of EC tourism proposals. The division is part of DG XXIII and has its own budget line since 1986. This has been used to finance promotion campaigns, studies, public opinion polls, surveys, pilot projects, a hotel training exchange scheme and statistical work.
The total moneys allocated for 1990 is 4 million ECU. The Tourism Division has been given a special, additional allocation of 4.6 million ECU for this year in respect of European Year of Tourism activities.
Will the Minister agree that having regard to the responsibilities of the current Commissioner for Tourism which include personnel, administration, translation, energy and supply services, small businesses, co-ops and the distributive trade, it is not possible for him to give the necessary direction to all aspects of tourism?
I have a further question to dispose of if at all possible and, consequently, there is a need for brevity.
Will the Minister agree that in this, the European Year of Tourism, the industry carries a greater responsibility? Will he accept that employment in that industry is worth £7.5 million? As president of the Council of Ministers the Minister has a unique opportunity, in the interests of Irish tourism, to press for the establishment of an independent secretariat for tourism.
Time is of the essence here.
I share the Deputy's concern and I have expressed that to Commissioner e Cunha who is responsible for tourism. I have asked him to consider developing further the services of the Commission in regard to tourism. He has kindly undertaken to bring forward some papers for consideration at the meeting of the Council of Ministers which I am holding here early in March, with the possibility of a subsequent Council meeting in June. I share the Deputy's concern about the small resources that are available to tourism and that has been pointed out to the Commission. The Deputy will appreciate that this is a matter for the Commission.
Will the Minister agree that the necessary resolution for the establishment of such a structure was completed in 1983 and adopted, by unanimous vote, by the Council of Ministers? That should enable the Minister to press forward.
I must move on to the next question; time is running out.
