Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)

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?

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