Written Answers. - Tourism Promotion.
David Andrews
Ceist:
32
Mr. Andrews
asked the
Minister for Tourism and Trade
if he will confirm the view within certain sectors of the tourism industry that the Department of Foreign Affairs should have a greater role in the promotion of Irish tourism abroad; if he has held discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs to assign this brief to a named office within each of our embassies abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5972/97]
The chief executive of Bord Fáilte and the other promotional agencies are members of the foreign earnings committee, which I chair, and which also includes senior officials from a number of Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs. The committee is responsible for ensuring the co-ordination of Ireland's overseas promotional activities. The issue of effective co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs is particularly important given that the embassies and consulates constitute Ireland's most extensive overseas network.
In order to encourage greater use of diplomatic missions to support Ireland's business, economic and tourism interests, the committee has established local foreign earnings co-ordination committees, comprising the market-based representatives of the agencies and chaired by the Irish ambassador in the main markets. The purpose of the local committees is to address specific issues requiring co-operation among the agencies, and most importantly, the potential for complementary action and co-ordinated pursuit of the particular market objectives.
The Deputy will be also aware that the foreign earnings committee has also supported the consolidation, wherever possible, of our overseas diplomatic, commercial and consular offices in Ireland houses. These provide a single point of contact for anyone who wants to do business with or seek information on Ireland and contribute to enhanced co-operation between the diplomatic service and agencies, including Bord Fáilte.
In addition, Bord Fáilte representatives are based in embassies in a number of countries, and in certain countries, where Bord Fáilte do not have a market presence, embassies display promotional literature and service inquiries.
As there is currently a high-level of co-operation between Bord Fáilte and the diplomatic service, which is kept under regular review particularly in the context of the foreign earnings committee, the need for discussions with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs does not arise at present.
