Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

The Gathering

2:40 pm

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on recent criticisms of the Gathering initiative; his views on whether it is an appropriate allocation of resources in view of the fact that 87,000 persons emigrated from here last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52682/12]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to The Gathering. There has been a fantastic response thereto across the board, from local communities, voluntary bodies, public bodies, businesses and government.  That is why I was surprised at the tone of some recent adverse comments.

Tourism is a valuable service export.  Encouraging those from overseas, whether Irish or not, to sample what we have to offer is not a shakedown. It is no more so than exporting other goods and services.  With the hotel and accommodation sector already generating additional employment since this Government came into office, tourism can offer jobs to those who might otherwise face a choice between emigration and unemployment. I apologise to nobody for seeking to increase that employment still further by investing in The Gathering.  There is also a parallel aim to further strengthen our connections to all of those overseas who have a kinship with Ireland. I saw myself in Australia the extent to which our diaspora values that objective.

Tourism Ireland is implementing a major promotional drive for The Gathering across the world and has worked with business networks, cultural and sports associations encouraging them to promote The Gathering and to mobilise members to organise events in Ireland during 2013.  In autumn, Tourism Ireland commenced a major consumer campaign to promote The Gathering in key markets, and this will continue into 2013. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and I have attended events during the year to promote the initiative overseas.

Meanwhile, The Gathering project team and Fáilte Ireland are mobilising communities throughout the country and finalising details of the exciting programme of events for 2013, which will be announced shortly. I am determined to continue to promote this unique opportunity for us to show the world all that is best about Ireland, and I know the vast majority of Irish people, at home and abroad, will do so also.

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister is well aware of the comments on The Gathering by the former culture ambassador, Mr. Gabriel Byrne. His main comment was that The Gathering has been presented in such a way that it sounds as if we are just trying to make money from the diaspora. Given that so many people have left the country under terrible conditions in recent times, they may find the manner in which The Gathering has been presented as hard to take.

I submitted a question on the termination by the Garda of more than 100,000 fixed-charge penalties from 2008 to 2011, but it was rejected by the Department. The money lost to the State would have paid for 500 patrol cars. Gardaí have approached me, as a Member of the Oireachtas, to express their great concern that honest gardaí are being undermined by this activity. It is corruption and should be investigated. This Parliament should be discussing the matter. My questions for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Justice and Equality have been blocked. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has had my question on his desk since January.

When I put it to Department of Justice and Equality officials, they said they had not investigated yet. This is a road safety issue and the Minister has had the report as well, although probably not for as long.

2:50 pm

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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A question on The Gathering please.

Photo of Anthony LawlorAnthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is a gathering of all the rogues.

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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This is a huge disappointment. This is corruption that the Government has refused to deal with.

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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It is a cover up of questions that the Government does not want to answer.

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that question was disallowed but not by me. I imagine it was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle's office. We have received those allegations, which I take seriously. My officials have met the person making them, as has the chief executive officer of the RSA. However, they are allegations and they need to be investigated. That is why they have been sent to the Department of Justice and Equality with the request that it does so.

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Department has had them since January.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Has the Deputy a supplementary question on The Gathering?

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister did not answer my question on The Gathering.

Photo of Derek KeatingDerek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is gathering his thoughts. He is a chancer.

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The gardaí in question have taken a risk in this matter by coming forward with this information, which is with the Minister since last January. This is a serious matter and I find it hard to believe that the Government has not been more firm in dealing with it.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not the subject of the question. Has the Minister anything further to add?

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not had the allegations since January. Once we received the information, we acted expeditiously. I asked my officials to meet the person and they did. The chief executive officer of the RSA has also met the person in question. As it is a Garda matter, it was passed on to the Department of Justice and Equality to investigate. It is something we take seriously and I have raised it with people at the highest level in that Department and in the Garda.