Written answers

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Culture Policy

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department are engaged in the promotion of Irish culture at home and abroad targeting the tourism and education sectors in particular thereby creating a new awareness at home and abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48354/21]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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In line with Government's Global Ireland 2025 initiative, Ireland aims to increase global impact through the promotion of Irish arts worldwide. Ireland's strong global reputation for creativity brings many benefits to our country including the encouraging of visitors for tourism, education and business, providing compelling reasons to visit Ireland and experience Irish creativity first hand.

Culture Ireland has the primary responsibility for the promotion of Irish arts and artists globally. Through its Grants Programme and Annual Funding Programme, Culture Ireland works to bring Irish artists to audiences worldwide. While much of this activity was online over the past 18 moths, I am delighted to be able to approve support for Irish artists to travel globally again. Representatives of Tourism Ireland, The Arts Council, Screen Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs sit on the Expert Advisory Committee of Culture Ireland and this cross agency representation ensures that there is a joined up approach to achieve the aims of Global Ireland 2025 through the promotion of Irish artists globally.

While I have recently returned from visits to Britain and the US promoting the "Green Button" campaign which aims to highlight all of the benefits Ireland has to offer to visitors whether for culture, leisure or business purpose, the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, have operational responsibility for tourism promotion. I have asked both tourism agencies to respond directly to the Deputy with further information on how they leverage Irish culture for tourism promotional purposes – domestically in the case of Fáilte Ireland and overseas in the case of Tourism Ireland. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

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