Bernard Allen
Ceist:46 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the position on the setting up of a new North-South tourism body. [11713/99]
Written Answers. - North-South Co-Operation.
On 18 December 1998, it was agreed that tourism would be one of six matters where North-South co-operation would be conducted through existing bodies, as provided for in paragraph 9 (i) of strand two of the Good Friday Agreement. It was further specified that a publicly-owned limited company would be established by Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to carry out overseas marketing and promotion activity on their behalf.
North-South co-operation arrangements are to commence at the time of the devolution of powers to Northern Ireland and of the entry into force of the other institutions provided for in the British-Irish Agreement. It is envisaged therefore that, in line with what was agreed on 18 December, the tourism company's articles of association and memorandum, which would establish its overall strategic objectives, would be agreed at a very early meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council.
Therefore, while the necessary preparatory work is being carried forward at official level and indeed is well advanced, it will not be possible to establish the company before the North-South Ministerial Council itself comes into being. This in turn depends on a resolution of the current impasse regarding the creation of the Northern Ireland Executive.