There has been strong support for the principle of integration of the functions of Bord Fáilte and CERT from the two bodies, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation and the staff trade unions. Building on this support I established an interim board on 4 July this year which is charged with the task of ensuring the new authority can be up and running in time for the 2003 tourist season. It has an independent chairman and includes the chairpersons and some existing members of the board of Bord Fáilte and the council of CERT as well as a departmental representative.