Results 21-40 of 10,569 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Economic Policy (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for his positive remarks. Any suggestions that will be made on this will be welcome. As I said a while ago, once I have had a chance to meet all the relevant stakeholders and also had the chance to review the documentation that is going to be submitted to the Department when it is done, I will have no problem in engaging with Opposition spokespersons on their suggestions....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Ghaeltacht (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Mar is eol don Teachta, tá cúraimí na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge ag aistriú chuig an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, faoi láthair. Bhí sé le bheith anseo inniu ach ní raibh sé in ann teacht go dtí an Teach inniu mar gheall ar chúrsaí pearsanta. Rinne an Rialtas ordú Dé Máirt chun na...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Ghaeltacht (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Tuigim go soiléir cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an cheist seo. Nuair a bhí me i Roinn na Gaeltachta, bhí an-suim agam san ábhar seo. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé ní hamháin do na ceantair Ghaeltachta ach freisin do dhaoine lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a bhfuil suim acu sna hábhair a bhaineann leis na Gaeltachtaí...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Ghaeltacht (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Aontaím leis an Teachta. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an t-ábhar seo. Tuigim cé chomh fada is atá muid sa Teach seo ag caint ar an ábhar seo. Maidir leis na ceantair Ghaeltachta, is é sin an polasaí is tábhachtaí do na daoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu sa Ghaeltacht. B’fhéidir go mbeidh an tAire, an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not know if there is a question there. There is certainly a big statement, and I have addressed that statement previously with regard to the OPW. The Deputy will appreciate the Accounting Officer for the OPW came before the finance committee and the public accounts committee and laid out in real terms what happened with regard to the Office of Public Works. No more than I did not know...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: We have beaten the Deputy to it because RTÉ has been put under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and all State entities, including An Post and the other ones I will be taking responsibility for once there is a transfer of function order, come under the auspices of NewERA, which to all intents and purposes is a holding agency or accounting body to keep a watchful eye on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: At the moment there are none to my knowledge. That is not to say there will not be. I did not expect there to be three in the first place, and I certainly did not expect that we would be back to RTÉ again after everything that happened, but we are. I turn to information that has been compiled and the investigative process under way. I would like to think Members support that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: There is one important thing to point out here, which is that the Department has no role in the sanctioning of capital expenditure within RTÉ. I know the Deputy knows that. With regard to Professor Niamh Brennan, the Deputy's assessment has been quite unfair. I know him a long time and I know he will reflect on that. The work she did on RTÉ unearthed a serious culture that had...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. I know everybody is anxious to see what we will ultimately get to by way of a report and how quickly. What I do not want to do is put pressure on the group I have assigned to carry out the work for fear people will say I am in any exercising undue influence. I want a report I can stand over and present to the Oireachtas. I am sure it will be debated by committees and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Economic Policy (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Since becoming Minister, I have been particularly interested in the amount of work my Department has been undertaking on the night-time economy. This has primarily been focused on supporting the development of safe and vibrant nightlife across the country. In 2022, the Department invited all local authorities to put in a night-time economy pilot initiative. The aim is to stimulate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 93 together. I thank the Deputy. Following my appointment as Minister, issues were brought to my attention regarding a failed ICT project in the Arts Council and an unused X-ray machine in the National Gallery. Both projects were funded directly from my Department. Given the serious nature of the issues, I wanted assurance in relation to capital...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Coastal Protection (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will appreciate that tourism is now the policy responsibility of my colleague, Peter Burke TD. Following the making of a Government Order on Tuesday, statutory responsibility for the sector will transfer to Minister Burke from 1 June. Minister Burke has already had a number of engagements with key tourism stakeholders across a range of priority areas.However, the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: An Ghaeltacht (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Mar is eol don Teachta, is dúshlán náisiúnta í seo atá níos leithne ná an Ghaeltacht féin ar ndóigh agus tá an Rialtas an-ghníomhach sa réimse seo. Ar an 15 Aibreán 2025, cheadaigh an Rialtas an scéim ghinearálta don Bhille um Ligean Gearrthéarmach agus Turasóireacht. Soláthróidh an Bille...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Centres (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Proposals for the development of new local arts centres are a matter in the first instance for the local authority. County and city development plans, including for the arts sector, are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. Much of the existing nationwide infrastructure of arts venues and centres was initiated and funded...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourist Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will appreciate that tourism is now the policy responsibility of my colleague, Peter Burke TD. Following the making of a Government Order on Tuesday, statutory responsibility for the sector will transfer to Minister Burke from 1 June. I understand that Minister Burke has welcomed the recent ESRI research profiling Short Term Letting (STL) usage across Ireland. The research is based...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I stated to the Deputy previously would like to assure the Deputy of my firm commitment to ensuring that all aspects relating to the Arts Council IT project are fully explored, all findings shared with Oireachtas colleagues and that all recommendations which emerge are fully implemented. The Arts Council Business Transformation Project has cost €6.75m and resulted in a...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Údarás na Gaeltachta (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is ceist thábhachtach í soláthar tithíochta dóibh siúd atá ina gcónaí agus ag obair i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Chuige sin, tá Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta ag féachaint ar bhealaí inar féidir leis an Údarás tacú le soláthar tithíochta inacmhainne i gceantair Ghaeltachta ar fud na tíre. Go...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourist Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 134, 136 and 143 together. On 15 April, the Government approved the general scheme for the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill. This Bill will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings (STLs) in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will appreciate that tourism is now the policy responsibility of my colleague, Peter Burke TD. Following the making of a Government Order on Tuesday, statutory responsibility for the sector will transfer to Minister Burke from 1 June. This Government recognises the central importance of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and communities. Marine and coastal tourism has...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (8 May 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 124 together. The Deputy will appreciate that tourism is now the policy responsibility of my colleague, Peter Burke TD. Following the making of a Government Order on Tuesday, statutory responsibility for the sector will transfer to Minister Burke from 1 June. Minister Burke has already had a number of engagements with key tourism stakeholders across...