THE all-Ireland tourism marketing drive has been welcomed by the Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, although the initiative seems at odds with the views of the party leader.
In May, Mr David Trimble expressed his opposition to any imposition of "a Gaelic image of shamrocks, Irish music and Guinness" for Northern Ireland. Last night, Mr Taylor endorsed the Bord Failte-Northern Ireland Tourism Board liaison.
"This could be a great boost for tourism in the North, and so long as there are no political implications I have no difficulties with it," he said.
"I haven't yet seen the video or the promotional literature but I am quite sure they don't feature anyone singing the Soldier's Song or waving the Tricolour," Mr Taylor added.
His comments would seem at variance with Mr Trimble's views on Ireland being marketed abroad gas a single destination. In Dublin in May, Mr Trimble told the Institute of Directors in Ireland that he rejected the suggestion that a single tourism board should serve the whole island.
But Mr Taylor responded that as this all-Ireland venture separately involves Bord Failte, the NITB and other agencies, the NITB's executive independence was not being undermined.
But Mr Trimble also told the institute: "It is important to unionists that an all-Ireland, essentially Gaelic image of shamrocks, Irish music and Guinness is not slowly imposed on Northern Ireland which has a range of different traditions."
Mr Trimble was unavailable last night for comment on the promotion and the manner in which it advertises Ireland.
But there is no doubt about how the DUP views the project. Deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, firmly rejected the initiative at the Northern Forum last Friday and strongly reiterated that view on Monday after its introduction.
He said decisions affecting Northern Ireland were being taken on an all-Ireland basis. The promotion represented "incorporation, rather than co-operation", he said.
But Mr Taylor maintained his enthusiasm. He proposed that with the Irish pound and sterling approaching parity both governments should fix the currencies at the same rate.
