Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he, or representatives from his Department, attended the recent international Real Green Tourism conference in Kinnitty Castle County Offaly; the efforts he has made to promote eco-tourism in the midlands and throughout the rest of the country; if Ireland can be marketed internationally as an eco-tourism destination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21017/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I received an invitation to deliver the Opening Address at the Laois-Offaly Tourism Conference "Real Green Tourism — Eco-tourism & Biodiversity in The Slieve Blooms". Unfortunately, due to an extremely busy schedule on that date, I was unable to accept the invitation. I suggested, instead, that a representative of Fáilte Ireland be invited to address the conference. I understand that a representative from Fáilte Ireland did, indeed, make a presentation on the Effective Marketing of the Slieve Blooms as a Tourist Destination.

Neither I nor my Department is responsible for promoting individual regions of the country. This responsibility rests with Fáilte Ireland and the relevant Regional Tourism Authority. Responsibility for niche tourism marketing, such as eco-tourism, rests with Fáilte Ireland and is delivered in overseas markets by Tourism Ireland.

The term Eco-Tourism is a phrase that has been around for about 20 years but there seem to be many definitions. Existing definitions range from emphases on conservation, on experiencing nature, on social conscience to a combination of all of these. There is no doubt that Ireland does have elements of its tourism product that can fit under the eco-tourism banner and I expect that, with the recent creation of a new Environmental Unit within Fáilte Ireland, it will look at developing that area within the context of Fáilte Ireland's overall product development strategy.