Letter from Liam Cosgrave to Seán MacBride (Dublin)
(Secret)

Dear Seán,
One of the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Tourism which was approved by the Government was that facilities should be provided at Shannon Airport for the display and sale of pictures and objects of art as well as goods of Irish manufacture. Arrangements necessary to give effect to that decision have been under consideration in my Department and there have been consultations with the Irish Tourist Board and with the Department of Finance. A meeting was, in fact, held last month at which it was agreed to recommend that space for an emporium for the display and sale of goods of this kind should be provided by the construction of a special annex to the passenger lounge. Alternative plans for the provision of the necessary space have been drawn up and are at present under consideration. Consideration was also given at the meeting to which I refer to the best arrangements to be made for the display and sale of the goods. This aspect of the matter presents a number of difficulties and no final decision as to the method to be adopted for the actual operation of the emporium has yet been taken.

A report has now reached me from Shannon Airport that an officer of your Department visited the Airport recently and made suggestions to the Catering Comptroller who runs the Airport shop at present, about the types of books which should be on sale at Shannon. The officer also indicated that she had been in touch with certain Dublin firms about providing Irish lace suitable for sale at the shop. She had mentioned further the interest of the Cultural Relations Committee in displaying murals at Shannon and had stated that Mr. Michael Scott,¹ Architect, would be visiting the Airport shortly to advise in this connection. I understand that the officer concerned has since written to the Catering Comptroller and has asked, in connection with the proposed visit by Mr. Scott for plans of the passenger dining room.

While we welcome the interest taken by your Department in this matter and would be very glad to consider any suggestions your Department may have to make I feel that you will agree that it is not only desirable but essential that the action necessary to give effect to the Government's decision should be co-ordinated by this Department. Indeed there was a specific decision by the Government to that effect. If Departments independently are to initiate discussion with the Catering Comptroller and other officials at Shannon Airport, confusion is bound to result. The Catering Comptroller has, in fact, sought a direction as to whether he is to deal directly with your Department or with this Department. In view of the fact that Shannon Airport is part of the Department of Industry and Commerce, the answer obviously is that he should deal with this Department but as we would not wish to let it appear that there was any conflict between our two Departments in the effort to achieve the results we mutually desire, I think it would be helpful if you were to instruct your officers that any suggestions that they may have to make should be conveyed to this Department in the first instance. The Department will be very happy to discuss them and to arrange meetings for that purpose.