Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to maximise the tourist dividend from the Titanic anniversary in 2012; the budget available to promote the anniversary; the scope for cooperation with his counterpart in Northern Ireland and with stakeholders, including those in Cobh and in Belfast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13744/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is obvious that next year's centenary of the Titanic sailing presents significant opportunities for Irish tourism and work is already under way to ensure the benefits are maximised. Tourism Ireland commenced its Titanic promotion activities last September with a week-long showcase in the Grand Central terminal in New York. It has also set up a dedicated Titanic website and has brought overseas journalists to Cobh to highlight the links to the Titanic. I understand that just last week, the agency met with the Cobh and harbour chamber of commerce to discuss future activity and has also met with the organisers of Cobh 100. Similarly, I understand Fáilte Ireland is meeting with the town council in Cobh this week to explore how to develop a calendar of events around the centenary and promote these events to the overseas trade and media.

With regard to co-operation with Northern Ireland, as the Deputy is aware, tourism was specifically identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North-South cooperation, and consequently it is one of the sectors on which the North-South Ministerial Council meets in sectoral format, to make decisions on common policies and approaches in the area of tourism. Arrangements are being finalised for the next meeting in sectoral format at which I will meet the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, Ms Arlene Foster, MLA. With its historic connections to both Belfast and Cobh, the Titanic story is one with obvious potential for co-operation and I understand the agenda for the next sectoral meeting will permit discussion of major tourism events on the island next year, including the Titanic centenary.

With regard to the budget for tourism-related promotion of the centenary, it is a matter for the agencies to decide on best use of resources. I understand that their plans for this year include Titanic-related promotional activity as already outlined.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The anniversary of the Titanic is a fantastic opportunity to promote the island of Ireland and commemorate those who lost their lives. The Titanic exhibition at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which opened yesterday to mark the ship's launch 100 years ago, should form part of a well-planned calendar of events next year. It is essential that the overall Titanic 2012 anniversary is presented as a complete package that ties in all the various aspects of the voyage and its relationship with different parts of the island, North and South, both in Belfast and Cobh.

The Titanic was Ireland's most famous maritime export. Given repeated Eurobarometer polls indicating the attraction of the sea and waterways for incoming tourists, has the Minister plans to develop further our harbours and marinas for tourism?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am sure the Deputy has seen it already but there is a website, www.the-titanic.com, which has much information and has been translated into a number of languages. It is worth a visit. We have plans to develop amenities at the harbours and ports. There are regular grants for harbours to allow this development. By and large, most of the resources must come from the port companies in the case of ports or the local authorities when it comes to harbours. I agree with the Deputy's basic sentiment that the Titanic centenary is a major opportunity for Ireland, both North and South, and we must consider our harbours in a different way. In particular, we must build on the leisure and tourism opportunities deriving from them.