Results 1-20 of 10,964 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (17 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post, and the post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government’s Digital Connectivity Strategy (DCS) aims to have all Irish households and businesses covered by a gigabit network by 2028. A fibre network is faster, consumes less energy and is more reliable than a copper network. The main copper network is owned by Eir (a private entity) and as such the ongoing operation and maintenance of it is a matter for them. Should Eir choose...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The details sought by the Deputy for the functions under the remit of my Department in the period since September 2020 (when the former Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media was established) are set out in the table below. It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. I am advised that there are no Public-Private Partnership projects that fall within the scope of the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised that my Department has not procured any services from the company in question in the period since the establishment of the former Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in September 2020. It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. Regarding the bodies...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (16 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach, leis na Seanadóirí agus leis an Seanad as ucht an deis cúpla focal a rá maidir le cúrsaí spóirt in Éirinn faoi láthair. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, and I are glad to be in the Seanad for statements on sport, a sector we believe is a vital part of our society, both locally and nationally....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (16 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that over 13,860 premises are now passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and 13,985 premises are available to order/pre-order in County Cavan, with over 4,450 premises now connected. A further circa 3,140 premises in County Cavan will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of network deployment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (16 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that over 12,100 premises are now passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and are available to order/pre-order in County Monaghan, with over 4,900 premises now connected. A further circa 3,900 premises in County Monaghan will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of network deployment. Further...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Arts Council (16 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2025 has provided record funding of €140 million for the Arts Council. The Arts Council is committed to increasing public engagement in the arts in Ireland and it provides financial support to a number of initiatives aimed at increasing public access, participation...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na baill den choiste as an deis chun imleabhar na Meastúchán Athbhreithnithe don tSeirbhís Poiblí a chur i láthair thar ceann mo Roinne mar Aire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt. I welcome this opportunity to outline the 2025 financial allocations of the Department of Culture, Communications and...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is important to point out that when I first became a Member of the Oireachtas, I was a member of this committee - it was previously the committee on transport, communications and sport, I think, and tourism might have been thrown into it as well - and this was the single biggest issue by a country mile facing most Deputies, particularly from rural constituencies, from 2011 onwards. There...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: That cost is met by the income sources it has. There is Coimisiún na Meán's imposed levy, so it is not dependent on the State for its income. That is where-----

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I may have to come back to the Deputy on the detail operator by operator, but every operator is different and every operator has a licence, and within the licence there is a requirement for X number of hours per week through the medium of the Irish language. That also includes the commercial radio stations. I can come back to the Deputy with a table with regard to each of the individual...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Each individual circumstance is different. Some of them unfortunately passed away.

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: There is an individual story behind everything. People would have chosen to opt out. As I said the last day, I am committed to the concept of this and rolling it forward. We obviously have not started the current expenditure discussions yet with the Departments of Finance and public expenditure and reform, but as soon as we do this will be one we will be very anxious to see retained and...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: We have seen in recent years that the Irish-language programming has been particularly successful with the likes of "An Cailín Ciúin" and other productions and in the animation space. We want to try to continue to support that. The presentation I got from TG4 last week would inspire me with hope that there is a lot of stuff in the pipeline. For instance, even the Tour de France,...

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: One could say TG4's success has been overshadowed by other people's sins.

Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 33 - Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: TG4 certainly has not been given credit. In fairness, in some cases it is operating on a shoestring compared to others. A lot of people have been spun out of TG4. Right next door to the place in Baile na hAbhann is a small studio, which is now producing content for TG4 and RTÉ. Again, it started as a sole operator. It now employs 25 people through the medium of Irish in content...