Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the aspects of tourism for which he has official responsibility to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11642/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have overall responsibility for the formulation of national policy in the area of tourism and, through my Department, for monitoring its implementation, as set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2008-10 which is available on my Department's website. In this regard I have responsibility to the Dáil in regard to the overall formulation, development and evaluation of policy for the tourism sector with a view to supporting sustainable growth and to address competitive challenges; overseeing and monitoring implementation of the strategy for Irish Tourism development as set out in the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group "New Horizons for Irish Tourism — An Agenda for Action", published in September 2003; and providing the necessary policy context, legislative and institutional framework, finances and corporate governance arrangements for programme and service delivery through the main tourism implementing agencies.

The statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department which have responsibility for the execution of Tourism policy are listed in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2008-10 and Annual Reports which are available on my Department's website. In accordance with long established practice, I do not answer Parliamentary questions relating to the day-to-day activities and programmes of the agencies in question, which activities have been assigned to these agencies by the Oireachtas. Agencies under the aegis of the Department have been requested to ensure that representations from members of the Oireachtas are responded to in a timely and comprehensive manner.