Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

My Department and the tourism agencies operating under its aegis co-operate closely with other Departments and agencies on an ongoing basis through a wide range of channels and mechanisms, both formal and informal.

The report of the tourism policy review group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, which set out the strategic framework for Irish tourism, highlighted the importance of Government commitment to creating and maintaining a positive environment for tourism investment and development. In particular, tourism policy was defined as encompassing not only the traditional role and functions of the Department and the State tourism agencies, but, in addition, all areas of Government policy and actions that impact in a significant manner on the development of tourism.

The strength of the Government's commitment to tourism is clear from the provisions of the programme for Government and the national development plan. Along with my Government colleagues, I am determined to develop the Irish tourism industry and provide it with sustained support and investment in the coming years. As I have previously outlined, my priorities include ensuring the tourism agenda is accommodated in the relevant policies and programmes which impact on tourism. This is being put into practice on an ongoing basis by my Department through intensive bilateral engagement with the relevant Departments and agencies on their policies and programmes, supported and complemented by the engagement of the tourism agencies where appropriate. This approach, which is consistent with the Government's and my personal commitment to agile and lean government rather than bureaucratic and unwieldy structures, has worked and is working. Other approaches, such as a formal tourism council or standing committees, have been tried before and, from time to time, found to be less effective in delivering results.

My Department and the tourism agencies engage actively in formal fora, such as interdepartmental committees and high level groups, where appropriate, which consider matters of major significance to tourism development. These fora include the interdepartmental working group on the sustainable travel and transport plan and the National Competitiveness Council. The strategic policy framework for tourism development incorporates not only specific policy measures, but also the broader policy agenda, which impacts on sustainable tourism development, such as competitiveness and the environment.

The Department's role has been supported by the tourism strategy implementation group, which was appointed in 2006 to, among other things, oversee the implementation of the outstanding recommendations in the New Horizons report. The group has, where appropriate, engaged directly with key Departments and agencies, such as the Department of Transport and the Central Statistics Office, in respect of specific areas with an impact on tourism strategy, such as transport and tourism statistics. I am satisfied that the arrangements outlined ensure effective and appropriate cross-departmental co-operation.

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