Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will ensure that the considerable cost of rebranding Tourism Ireland, should that be the review recommendation, will not be deducted from Tourism Ireland's annual marketing budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25576/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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As far as I am aware, there is no proposal to re-brand Tourism Ireland. The Deputy may be thinking of the current review of Tourism Brand Ireland which is nearing completion. Tourism Ireland is a jointly-funded North South body. The resourcing of Tourism Ireland and its Corporate and Business Plans are subject to the agreement of the North-South Ministerial Council. There are, therefore, two Ministers for Tourism, two Ministers for Finance and the North-South Ministerial Council involved in the process.

The extent to which the implementation of any recommendations, that may flow from Tourism Ireland's Brand Review, can be implemented by Tourism Ireland will be determined by the overall level of its budget which is, of course, subject to the normal Budgetary and Estimates processes, North and South, and also, of course, its own internal priorities.

I am positively disposed to seeking such resources as may be necessary to implement relevant recommendations but the eventual Southern contribution to the Agency for next year will have to be decided within the context of the national Budgetary process.