Donal Carey
Ceist:17 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will expand the sale of Irish goods through the use of home shopping networks in the USA as this has proven to be a very effective method of selling Irish products.
Written Answers. - Sale of Irish Goods.
Bord Tráchtála's overall strategy for selling Irish consumer products in the US is to encourage and assist companies to develop business through mainstream department stores, Irish and other speciality shops, television home shopping networks and mail order catalogues. Television shopping is a rapidly growing part of the retail sector in the US and it represents a useful addition to the established outlets for Irish consumer and giftware products in the US.
For the past three years An Bord Tráchtála has used cable television to promote Irish goods around St. Patrick's Day and, in co-operation with the Festival of Kerry Office, during the Rose of Tralee. These promotions have shown that the TV shopping approach is capable of getting good results for Irish companies with good quality products suited to this type of marketing. The St. Patrick's Day promotion this year featured the products of some 30 Irish companies against the background of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin. I understand that sales turnover for this promotion and for the very successful Rose of Tralee event in September 1992 was of the order of £3-£4 million.
An Bord Tráchtála is working closely with the major cable television shopping channel and with Irish suppliers to develop new products for their 1994 promotions. If the Deputy knows of anyone who might be interested in participating in this type of promotion, or in home shopping network sales generally, An Bord Tráchtála will be happy to give further information and advice.