Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions No. 96 and 97 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, the report of the tourism renewal group was launched on Thursday, 8 October 2009. This report sets out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic, social and cultural development and the prospects for Irish tourism in a changed world, as well as a framework for action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth over the period to 2013.

The report proposes five survival actions for short-term action to ensure the survival in 2009-10 of a strong Irish tourist industry and to minimise the potential impact of current challenges. Nine recovery actions are proposed for action from 2010 on, to set Irish tourism back on a growth path from 2011, as the world economy recovers.

Under each action in the framework, a number of measures are recommended. The measures are wide-ranging in nature and scope, and are addressed variously to this Department and its agencies, to other Departments and agencies, and to tourism and transport enterprises. Some measures would be matters for Government decision, including in the context of the budget and Estimates, while others fall to individual Departments and agencies at an operational level.

The framework for action set out by the tourism renewal group and the analysis underpinning it is, from a tourism perspective, robust, realistic and soundly based. The Minister fully agrees with the group's conclusion that this is a critical time for the Irish tourism industry and that it is essential Government and State agencies respond with focused and effective actions, to sustain the industry in the short term and to maximise its potential in the medium term.

When the report was published, the Minister stated his intention to engage in consultations with other Ministers involved on the implications of the recommended actions in the report affecting them and their Departments. Some actions are properly matters for Government as a whole, particularly in the context of the budget and Estimates, and the Minister will raise the report of the renewal group with his colleagues in that context.

This Department is also following up on the recommendations of the tourism renewal group with other relevant Departments, agencies and other organisations, especially where they are ascribed a lead or support role. The Minister has already asked his Department and the agencies under its remit to look directly at progressing the recommendations addressed specifically to them. The Minister is also considering the recommendation of the renewal group that a small group be established to oversee and pursue the implementation of the framework for action, on the lines adopted in following up on tourism strategy reports previously.

The Minister is satisfied that the tourism renewal group has fully met its terms of reference. The group's detailed analysis of the tourism sector and broad-ranging consultation has resulted in a clear focused report with soundly-based recommendations. Drawing on the report of the group, the Minister is determined to take the lead in identifying and driving the right measures to assist in ensuring that tourism survives and remains a major industry for Ireland and to position the sector for recovery and growth as the Irish and global economies get back on track.

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