Vol. 426 No. 5
268 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the policy changes, if any, which underpin the increases or decreasing in the subheads in votes controlled by his Department; and if he will make a statement on whether increased or reduced services will be provided by his Department in 1993.
The Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-97 acknowledges that national economic growth is crucially linked to the generation of foreign earnings, through both increased exports of goods and services and the attraction of greater numbers of tourists from outside the State. The Government's commitment to these tasks is reflected in the establishment of the new Department of Tourism and Trade and in the 1993 Book of Estimates.
I have already set out in some detail in a speech last Thursday, 18th February, policy objectives which I have set for An Bord Tráchtála whose grant-in-aid is up 11% on last year's level enabling them:
(a) to run what will be the biggest promotional programme ever undertaken by the Bord.
(b) to develop new markets and reduce dependency on the UK, to be achieved through, inter alia, the acceleration of their Regional Markets Programme
(c) to intensify work with indigenous companies;
(d) to increase the emphasis on the placement of marketing personnel abroad.
