The promotion of tourism on the island of Ireland may be centred in Belfast when a new all-Ireland body is established. A senior Government Minister, who did not wish to be named, told The Irish Times: "I would not be at all surprised if that is on the cards".
A spokesman for the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, said that absolutely no consideration had been given to such a proposal, but other sources say that senior officials in the Department have discussed it. "It stands to reason", the sources said, "that if there are to be all-Ireland bodies, not all of them can be located in Dublin."
As part of the new arrangements, promotion of industrial development on the island will be located in IDA Ireland's offices in Dublin, according to the sources.
A spokesman for the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) said that there were many more important issues of tourism policy than the location of the head office. He added: "Whatever is done, ITIC hopes that it will not be done for purely political reasons and that the industry will be fully consulted in advance."
ITIC wants Bord Failte's future to be clarified quickly because of the pressures which the industry will face when EU structural funding for tourism is sharply scaled down next year.
Dr McDaid says that the industry should pay more towards the promotion of tourism and rely less on the State. ITIC maintains that Dr McDaid underestimates the amount of money the industry is spending.
Dr McDaid's spokesman said that, as part of the Belfast Agreement, future arrangements in relation to the promotion and marketing of tourism on an all-Ireland basis would have to be reassessed.
The SIPTU official who represents most of Bord Failte's 180 staff could not be reached yesterday for comment. It is known that there is considerable apprehension in Bord Failte that the lack of urgency in appointing senior staff, including a director-general to succeed Mr Matt McNulty, may point to a policy within the Government of lessening the tourist board's role.
The job of international marketing director has been left unfilled since Mr Noel Toolan resigned last autumn. Ms Orla Branagan, who was the senior executive in charge of promoting Irish tourism in continental Europe, has not been replaced since she resigned earlier this year.
Mr McNulty's job has been advertised and it is understood that Bord Failte's chairman, Mr Mark Mortell, has told fellow directors that they have received 60 applications for the post and that money "will not be a problem".
Mr McNulty resigned after the Government declined to give him a new five-year contract, despite the success of Irish tourism during his term of office. He was given a severance deal under which he is to become the publisher of Bord Failte's Ireland of the Welcomes.