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Northern Ireland election

Election 07 graphic

Over to Gordon

  • Mark Devenport
  • 14 Mar 07, 12:13 PM

Northern Ireland Questions in the Commons has just finished. The most striking image was a picture of Gordon Brown listening politely to the DUP's demands for what Mark Durkan called "financial lubrication". The Tories raised Michelle Gildernew's comments on political policing. Although the DUP talked about the need for Sinn Fein to deliver their emphasis seemed to be much more on the Treasury than the Army Council.

Peter Hain jousted with David Lidington over what he portrayed as the Conservatives' parlous performance, claiming they had only just pipped Rainbow George. The Tory spokesman pointed out that at least his party had not been scared to stand candidates.

Almost whatever topic was raised the NIO team batted it back by arguing that the future would be rosier under devolution. Affordable housing, tourism, the dairy industry - even the cows will produce more milk apparently if Stormont is restored.

Definitely the liveliest moment, though, was Andrew Mackinlay's denunciation of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Office in Dublin's Nassau Street. The Labour backbenchers reckons the NITB office is less attractive than the average funeral parlour. Presumably the NIO will argue that it will look much better should there be a deal on March 26th.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 01:28 PM on 14 Mar 2007,
  • Aaron wrote:

I could have sworn a few years ago that NITB and Bord Failté merged a few years ago, and were, at the time, marketing all of Ireland under one brand. A breathtaking bit of common sense.

Did I dream it?

MARK REPLIES: NITB still exists - this is how the Tourism Ireland website explains all the various overlapping relationships...

Tourism Ireland was established as one of ‘six areas of co-operation’ under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday, April 1998. The organisation’s role is to provide strategic leadership in international marketing and in the delivery of world-class marketing programmes. The organisation also influences product quality and service delivery through the expression of feedback from consumers and trade in the overseas marketplace.

Tourism Ireland was established under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday, April 1998, to increase tourism to the island of Ireland as a whole. Today the organisation employs 150 people in key source markets – Great Britain, USA and Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Australia – as well as in Ireland, in Dublin and Coleraine, to deliver targeted marketing programmes and work in close cooperation with travel trade, on-line operators, media, carriers and Irish industry partners.

The board of directors of Tourism is made up of 12 individuals representing leading tourism industry interests North and South. The Chairperson and CEO of Failte Ireland and the NITB also sit on the Board. It is a company limited by guarantee, not having Share Capital, incorporated under Irish law and registered with the Companies’ Office in Dublin. Tourism Ireland is jointly funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on a two to one ratio.

Tourism Ireland delivers on this role through:
• Undertaking destination-marketing programmes to stimulate demand for visiting the island of Ireland
• Facilitating and supporting business links to improve distribution of the Ireland tourism product to potential consumers, and
• Acting as an advocate for overseas consumers and trade to influence the quality of the tourism experience on the island of Ireland.

In achieving this, Tourism Ireland seeks to achieve two key goals:
• To increase tourism to the island of Ireland
• To support Northern Ireland to realise its tourism potential

All of this is achieved by working in partnership with industry both at home on the island of Ireland and in the marketplace overseas.

  • 2.
  • At 08:16 PM on 14 Mar 2007,
  • Pandora wrote:

Off topic - but topical!

What's up Doc?

It seems the 'Doc' isn't the only one with 'writings' in his hip pocket. According to the former Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson (The Guardian), a secret side letter from the Prime Minister may have found its way into the Sinn Fein leader's insider pocket confirming a deal for 'on-the-runs'.

The plot thickens...

  • 3.
  • At 11:33 AM on 15 Mar 2007,
  • Aaron wrote:

that explains it - thanks Mark!

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