Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

3:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had representations from a group (details supplied) seeking his support for a food tourism initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16471/09]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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To date, I have not received such representations from the group in question. However, I am available to meet with the new president and chief executive of the group and will be glad to receive details of any specific initiative from them. Any initiative that is received will be examined and considered.

I understand the group has made a written submission to the tourism renewal group. This submission will be considered in the context of the group's work. The tourism development unit in the Department has already agreed to meet with the group and is awaiting further contact from its chief executive so that the meeting can be arranged.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is great to discover the type of activity that can be generated by a parliamentary question. Before I submitted this question, there was no indication that the meeting to which the Minister referred was likely to take place. Nevertheless, I am pleased that some progress is being made in this area.

As I have said before in this House, the old methods of promoting tourism are no longer effective. Dining is a leisure activity in its own right and many people choose holidays based on their interest in food. For visitors to France and Tuscany, for example, a great part of the attraction is the food and wine. Some of our brands, such as Clonakilty sausages and Dairygold butter, already enjoy wide recognition internationally. We must work to develop the potential of the dairy and beef industries. Irish beef is more highly regarded outside Ireland than it is at home. There is the potential to build a food tourism sector but there must be investment. Will any money be available from the product development fund to bring together the elements of the industry, including food festivals, food trails, cookery schools and so on, in a more comprehensive way in order to sell Ireland as a food destination? If we are to differentiate our product from that of every other country, we must develop this type of niche offering.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Good Food Ireland has received significant support in recent years. For example, representatives have travelled to the various destinations with the Volvo Around the World Race, where I understand they enjoyed enormous success, with funding from Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I attended a dinner last night at which some 300 foreign travel groupings were represented and some 280 from the island. Everybody was blown away by the quality of the food and by the presentation made by Good Food Ireland. I agree with the Deputy that it is important to continue to improve the image of Ireland in terms of the quality of food now available. That product development has been led from the front and a huge internationalisation effort has taken place in the past 12 months which is strongly supported by the agencies. The feedback I am receiving from people who have visited target countries is that the campaign has worked extremely well.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have already raised with the Minister the decision of the Dublin Institute of Technology to break up the faculty of food and tourism at Cathal Brugha Street. The Minister has dismissed this development as unimportant. However, it is considered of immense importance by all those involved in the food and dining industries, including the Restaurant Association of Ireland. I accept that the Minister is not responsible for education, but I urge him to recognise the significance of this in terms of its implications for tourism. As far as I can see, the only reason for breaking up the faculty is to suit the timetabling requirements of the college.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have tried to get some answers on this issue. Tourism Ireland is in discussions with the Dublin Institute of Technology on the restructuring. I have not had a detailed response but the information I have received is that the Tourism Ireland representatives are satisfied there is no diminution in the quality and organisation of the courses offered by the institute. There is nothing further I can do as this is not my area of responsibility. However, I will take up the Deputy's point if she still has concerns in this regard. Tourism Ireland considers the food and tourism courses offered by the Dublin Institute of Technology as very important and would not wish to see any diminution of quality.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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My point is that while the tourism industry in general is fragmented, this was one faculty that brought all the elements of tourism together. It seems this decision is being taken merely to facilitate laboratory availability.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The bottom line is that quality and access for students are as good as they ever were and will, hopefully, get even better.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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My point is not about access but about retaining a single facility.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, I understand the Deputy's point about retaining a single facility. It is my understanding that the Dublin Institute of Technology is moving its tourism courses more into the business sector. I will get back to the Deputy on this issue.