8.—(1) The general functions of the Authority shall be to—

(a) encourage, promote and support (either inside or outside the State)—

(i) the development of tourist traffic within and to the State,

(ii) the development and marketing of tourist facilities and services in the State,

(b) encourage, promote and support the recruitment, training, and education and development, of persons for the purposes of employment in connection with the tourism industry in the State,

(c) establish and maintain registers of hotels, guesthouses, holiday camps, holiday hostels, caravan sites, camping sites, approved holiday cottages, holiday apartments, motor hotels and youth hostels,

(d) promote and engage in research and planning in relation to any matter specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), either alone or in cooperation with other persons, and

(e) support, subject to section 25, such enterprises and projects relating to—

(i) the development of tourist traffic within or to the State, and

(ii) the development and marketing of tourist facilities and services in the State.

as it considers appropriate.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may—

(a) for the purposes of subsection (1)(a)—

(i) engage in advertising and sponsorship or any other form of publicity,

(ii) publish lists of registered and unregistered premises and such other tourist information as it considers appropriate, or

(iii) establish and operate tourist information offices,

(b) in relation to the recruitment, training, and education and development, of persons to whom subsection (1)(b) applies, provide financial aid (including the granting of money in respect of such recruitment, training, or education and development, to persons engaged therein),

(c) in relation to an enterprise or project to which subsection (1)(e) applies provide—

(i) financial aid (including the granting of money in respect of the enterprise or project concerned to persons engaged in the enterprise or project),

(ii) advisory or consultancy services in respect of the enterprise or project, and

(iii) training for persons employed in connection with the enterprise or project, or

(d) provide training to persons in connection with the tourism industry in the State.

(3) The Authority may provide (whether for reward or not)—

(a) advisory services in relation to tourism, or

(b) training to persons in connection with tourism,

other than tourism within or to the State.

(4) The Authority shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance by it of its functions.

(5) The Authority shall, in the performance of its functions, have regard to policies of the Government (including policies of the Government relating to the Irish language and culture) for the time being extant.

(6) The Authority may perform any of its functions through or by any member of the staff of the Authority duly authorised in that behalf by the Authority.