A new task force, ordered by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, to carry out a fundamental review of the Irish tourist industry, will hold its first meeting tomorrow.
Last night a spokesman for the Minister said he was placing great importance in the work of the high-level steering group. "Tourism is worth €4 billion annually. It is regional. The Minister believes that the recommendations that will come from the task force will play a very important role in the development of Irish tourism in the years ahead," he said.
The full membership of the taskforce is as follows: Mr John Travers (chairman); Mr Brian Patterson, chairman of the Irish Times Ltd and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and former chairman of the National Competitiveness Council; Mr Paschal Taggart, businessman; Mr Patrick O'Donoghue, chief executive, Gleneagle Hotel; Ms Gillian Bowler, businesswoman; Mr Peter Cassells, executive chairman, National Centre for Partnership and Performance; Mr Pat McCann, chief executive, Jurys Doyle Hotel Group; Mr Tony Kelly, marketing director, Irish Ferries Ltd; Prof Frank Roche, academic; Mr Paul O'Toole, chief executive, Tourism Ireland Ltd; Mr Shaun Quinn, chief executive-designate, National Tourism Development Authority; Mr Niall Reddy, acting chief executive, Bord Fáilte; and Mr Paul Bates, assistant secretary, Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism