Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on the overlap and duplication of roles performed by Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland; his plans to address any inefficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18961/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, following the amalgamation of Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT. Its primary functions are the development of quality tourism product, domestic tourism marketing, tourism standards, enterprise support, capability building and human resource development for the tourism industry.

In December 1998, the parties to the Good Friday Agreement decided that a publicly owned limited company would be established by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Bord Fáilte Éireann to carry out functions related to the promotion of tourism to the island of Ireland. The company, Tourism Ireland Limited, was incorporated in December 2000. Tourism Ireland is accountable to the North South Ministerial Council, of which I am a member, with funding for its operations being provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and my Department. The primary remit of the company is to promote the island of Ireland as a tourist destination in overseas markets. The company works closely with Fáilte Ireland, NITB, and the tourism industry in delivering its remit.

The close working relationship between the organisations is strengthened by the chief executive of Fáilte Ireland and the chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board both sitting on the board of Tourism Ireland. The Fáilte Ireland authority also meets the board of Tourism Ireland and the NITB to discuss issues of mutual interest. The chief executive of Tourism Ireland regularly attends the meetings of the Fáilte Ireland board on an observer basis. Furthermore, the chief executives and senior management teams in Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the NITB, work hard to foster closer working relationships between the agencies.

Regarding any overlap in activities, the Government is of the view that it is important that all State agencies constantly review and monitor their operations to ensure that optimal returns are received for public investment. Subject to discussions with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland, if there is scope for potential savings from eliminating any duplication between the relevant bodies, this will be pursued in the months ahead. I am aware that on the corporate side, the agencies in the South are already working to share services, where possible, with a view to driving economies, and so divert all available resources to programme areas.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister said, Tourism Ireland was set up as part of the Good Friday Agreement and as a body of the All Ireland Implementation Bodies. It markets the island of Ireland internationally while Fáilte Ireland markets the 26 Counties locally and the Northern Ireland Tourism Board markets the Six Counties locally. There seems to be a significant overlap in the work of the bodies. Does the Minister see any possibility of merging these agencies into one all-Ireland tourism grouping? This would result in significant savings all around with an end to duplication. Does the Minister see any merit in this suggestion?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Tourism Ireland is a North-South Body established under the Good Friday Agreement and it is accountable to the North South Ministerial Council, of which I am a member. At one meeting I had the opportunity to speak to my counterpart and a bilateral meeting is planned in due course. When this issue was initially discussed it was the view of the Government at the time that there would be a single tourism authority for all Ireland. If there were to be a united Ireland this would be the case. However, for this to be the case, there would have to be agreement from the all-party Executive in Northern Ireland and this is not the case because the Unionist community wishes to retain the separate Northern Ireland Tourism Board as a separate entity to promote Northern Ireland and it is not prepared to move from that position. This is the case at the moment.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I have heard the Minister's reply. I still believe there is much scope for linking up as regards tourism and the promotion of the canals and boating, for example. There is a significant potential to push this forward. We should aim to push forward an all-Ireland tourism approach and not to have a fragmented approach with money being expended in duplication. Proper co-ordination would result in a far better advertisement for the whole island of Ireland.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Our aim is to have a united Ireland and it is the aspiration in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. However, the Deputy will know better than me that these issues are sensitive and complex and we do not wish the Unionist community to perceive a threat or that we are trying to take over their authority. I understand the Deputy's viewpoint and I have sympathy with what he is suggesting, that efficiencies could be delivered by having a single entity but this would have to be agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive and would require a change in an international treaty. This would be as much a matter for the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade as it would be for me.