THE Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny, is establishing a National Trade Advisory Forum to provide feedback on the effectiveness of trade policy. The forum, announced at this week's Irish Business and Employers' Confederation sponsored trade conference, will include representatives of exporting firms.

Mr Kenny said yesterday that the forum would not have any direct input into the running of the Trade Board. However, it would provide exporters with the opportunity to express their views on the effectiveness of the Trade Board's activities.

The Minister will chair the forum, which is due to meet around once a quarter, starting next month. Mr Kenny said that he was keen to use the forum to obtain exporters' views on how effectively money was spent by the Trade Board on promotions and other activities.

The Trade Board was close to appointing a new chief executive to replace Mr Alan McCarthy who was retiring, the Minister said. The appointment should be made in a matter of weeks, following the agreement of the Department of Finance that the post can be filled on a contract basis and will not be subject to the Gleeson guidelines on pay levels for State company executives.

The new forum will not be a decision making body and its main function will be to advise on policy and give exporters direct access to the Minister.