Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether Ireland's tourism agencies and industry can play a role in overseas development programmes and in offering assistance to developing world countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19333/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Overseas development policy and programmes in general are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The White Paper on Irish Aid, published by the Government last September, outlines the challenges and opportunities for the Government's aid programme, entitled Irish Aid, over the coming years. The White Paper, inter alia, aims to strengthen coherence in our approach to development and to make the best use of the expertise and skills available right across the public service. In that context, many Government Departments and agencies contribute to the official aid programme directly or indirectly.

The White Paper also aims to promote links between the private sectors in Ireland and in developing countries. In that context, I have no doubt that there is, in the private sector, a considerable pool of expertise which could be usefully drawn upon to help grow sustainable tourism in developing countries where, of course, it can be a means of generating much needed private sector employment.

The Tourism Agencies' role is to promote Tourism to Ireland and develop tourism within Ireland. In the case of the Tourism Agencies, I understand that they respond willingly to requests, for information, meetings or other contacts, which can contribute to sustainable global development and to the objectives of Irish Aid, as they arise in the course of their day-to-day operations. It should also be borne in mind that Tourism Ireland is a North South Body which is responsible to two Administrations.

My Department is represented in the Inter-Departmental Committee on Development, established as set out in the White Paper and which met for the first time on 12 April 2007.