Tony Killeen
Ceist:15 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the European Commission's Green Paper on Tourism; and its implications, if any, for the industry in Ireland. [13561/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Green Paper on Tourism.
Máirín Quill
Ceist:33 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his Department's response to the EU Green Paper on Tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13436/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 33 together.
The Commission's Green Paper on the Role of the Union in the Field of Tourism was published in April 1995. Ireland's general position on the various options set out in the paper is towards supporting a specific Treaty competence in tourism for the Union, along the lines of other policy areas which are the subject of detailed provisions in the existing Treaty, e.g. the industry chapter. This issue is currently under discussion in the intergovernmental conference and we remain open to discussing with our Union partners the modalities of the inclusion of a title on tourism in a revised Treaty.
In the meantime, the European Commission has recently adopted a proposal for a Council decision, based on Article 235 of the Treaty, to establish the "Philoxenia" programme to assist European tourism. This proposal, which is currently the subject of consideration at Council working group level, is a follow up to the first Community Action Plan to assist tourism, which expired at the end of 1995.
The Green Paper does not, per se, have specific implications for the tourism industry in Ireland. With regard to any development in the role of the Union vis-á-vis tourism that may emerge, however, my priority would be to ensure a framework which would allow for the creation of an environment favourable to tourism industry competitiveness, profitability and growth, and which would not lead to the development of a highly regulatory regime or enforced convergence of member states practices.
Has the Government a strategy to ensure that any revised Treaty that arises from the Intergovernmental Conference enables tourism to continue to develop and reach its potential?
I am favourable to this matter being included in a revised Treaty which will be the subject of working groups of the Intergovernmental Conference, but I do not wish to see highly regulatory regimes introduced in our current tourism practices. On 30 April this year the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council decision to establish what is known as the Philoxenia programme to assist European tourism. The objectives are to improve knowledge in the field of tourism, improve the legislative and financial environment for tourism, improve quality in European tourism and increase the number of tourists from third countries. This programme was discussed at a Tourism Council of Ministers meeting on 13 May and the proposal was referred to a Council working group for examination. I hope during our Presidency to progress work on this proposal with a view to discussion and possible adoption at the Tourism Council Meeting scheduled for 24 October. Given the delay in bringing forward the proposal, however, it may not be possible to meet that timescale.
I am sure the Minister will have a constructive input in that matter as he will be chairman at that time. He referred to Article 235 of the Treaty which deals with funding. Will he have an opportunity to ensure that Ireland continues to benefit from European funding for tourism after the year 2000, by which time his colleagues may tell him that the country has benefited enormously and has shown huge growth in tourism? Will he be in a position to argue that there is continued potential in this regard and that losses in other areas need to be offset by growth in revenue from tourism?
The priority in respect of the Green Paper is to progress work on this matter and, if possible, to deal with it conclusively at the meeting of 24 October. The Government strategy for the adoption of funding, if any, for the years 2000 to 2005 will not begin until mid-1997 at which point I will be in a position to demonstrate clearly that we have used EU funding wisely, prudently and well for the benefit of tourism.