Eamon Ryan
Ceist:70 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the specific actions he has taken or is planning in view of the publication of An Agenda for Action, the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group. [22419/03]
Other Questions. - Tourism Industry.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:71 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he will be establishing a high level implementation group to drive forward and monitor the plan emanating from the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group; and the likely make up of this group in terms of sectoral representation. [22421/03]
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:80 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the final report of the Tourism Policy Review Group will be published; if he intends to establish a special implementation committee to put the various recommendations into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 71 and 80 together.
I am pleased to say that the final report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism, an Agenda for Action, was published on Tuesday 30 September 2003. Copies of the report are available to Members in the Oireachtas Library.
I have a copy of the report. A couple of questions arise from it and there are quite a number of recommendations. Will the Minister indicate how the vision outlined in the report will be made a reality? With regard to the task force being established, what powers will it have to influence other Departments, semi-State bodies and others involved in promoting the tourism industry? Will it have any real clout? Many questions which I have put down to the Minister have been disallowed or transferred on the basis that they were not within the remit of his Department. For example, a recent question about a rip-off in relation to car parking at the cliffs of Moher was rejected. Deputies are unable to raise such issues with the tourism authority and obtain a proper answer and a commitment to follow up the matter.
In that regard, should the task force put a ques tion to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government about the quality of rivers and the state of the angling industry? The report states that angling is in decline as a pastime, one of the reasons being a poor product. Reading between the lines, that suggests a water quality problem. Walking and cycling activities have declined. In relation to walking activity, does the Minister believe the problem is attributable to land being barred? What powers would a task force have to ensure the findings of the report are implemented?
In the executive summary of the report, the section dealing with tourism and the environment states that a lead role should be played by tourism industry representative bodies to ensure proper environmental management. Is that passing the buck or should the Minister's Department or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government also take a lead role to ensure that management?
As long as there is no proper transport infrastructure in place, the report will be long on vision but short on specifics when it comes to implementing measures that will benefit the tourism industry for years to come.
I do not agree that the report is long on vision but short on implementation measures. In the report the recommendations are clearly set out and, unusually for a report of this nature, the methodology whereby each of them can be achieved is also set out. I am grateful for that to Mr. John Travers, the former chief executive of Forfás who chaired this group in an outstanding manner. I am also grateful to the group as a whole, whose members proved themselves expert in this field.
The intention is to set up an implementation group with a chairman charged with implementing the recommendations set out in the report. There will be a progress report every six months and a forum every year, meaning we will be in a position to examine progress in implementation of the recommendations.
It is true that if the report is to be implemented, it will require co-operation from a number of Government Departments. The implementation body itself will not have enforcement powers. Accordingly, I expect the implementation body to make recommendations on the structures that will be required to ensure implementation. I also expect the body to require my Department to become involved formally with other Departments to implement some of the recommendations.
I will ensure recommendations applying to my Department will be implemented and that State agencies under my remit will pursue the wider agenda with industry representative bodies and my ministerial colleagues. My Department has already started to re-organise its own structures in line with the approach outlined in the report.
Ireland's green image abroad is of immense importance in attracting tourists and it is crucial that we continue to conserve and improve the environment as far as possible. The beauty of our land and seascapes is a major draw and it is of immense importance that the environment remains unspoilt. In that respect, the product development committee, under the remit of Fáilte Ireland, has been examining applications to see if it can grant-aid some environmental proposals that have been put forward. I hope it is in a position to do that because it is of considerable importance.
This is not a question of passing the buck, it is a question of everyone recognising that they have responsibilities. Staying in some hotels in Ireland, a person will see recycled paper and there will be a sign detailing contributions to the environment but in other hotels there will be no such sign. It is true that the industry itself can help as well. It is a partnership.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.