Results 1,981-2,000 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Lansdowne Road Stadium. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 16 and 23 together. As the House is aware, in January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of â¬191 million, phased over five years, to the joint IRFU-FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road as a 50,000-seat stadium. The estimated total cost of the project is â¬365 million and the IRFU and FAI will provide the balance of â¬174...
- Lansdowne Road Stadium. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I sincerely hope the issue can be resolved by negotiation. If it cannot be resolved by negotiation, then I hope it can be resolved by both sides committing to arbitration. Talks between the two parties have been going on for nearly a year and a half. The offer on the table from the IRFU seems to be quite fair. I understand it includes a replacement fully-equipped club house within the...
- Lansdowne Road Stadium. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The IRFU has requested that the issue should go to negotiation or arbitration â and negotiations have taken place. My understanding is that the deadline for negotiations was Tuesday, 28 November. I am not up to date on precisely what has happened. If the final offer cannot be accepted, then it seems the best way is arbitration. However, arbitration is something that must be accepted by...
- Special Olympics Ireland. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I am happy to place on record the high regard in which both I and my Government colleagues hold Special Olympics Ireland. The programmes which are implemented by the organisation for people with intellectual disabilities have a profoundly positive impact on families and communities. Since 1999, Special Olympics Ireland has received core funding of â¬4 million from the Irish Sports Council...
- Special Olympics Ireland. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I am unaware of any politician who seeks cheap publicity arising from the Special Olympics. At the time, the Government provided an allocation of almost â¬14 million towards the hosting of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland. This was in addition to capital grants under the sports capital programme of â¬21 million to assist in the upgrading of a number of sports facilities...
- Special Olympics Ireland. (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As the organisation is aware, I have never been found wanting with regard to Special Olympics Ireland and to be fair, neither has the Minister for Finance. I do not anticipate that either the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism under my aegis, or the Minister for Finance will be found wanting in respect of the validated needs of Special Olympics Ireland. However, like all submissions, it...
- Written Answers — National Concert Hall: National Concert Hall (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 58 dated 26 October 2006. As I stated in my reply to that Parliamentary Question, the position is that there is no proposal to relocate the Royal Irish Academy of Music in the redeveloped National Concert Hall. The redeveloped National Concert Hall, which will include three auditoria, will have a much greater space requirement...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The recently published Abridged Estimates of Public Expenditure for 2007 provides for a total budget of over â¬316 million for sport, an increase of 30% over 2006. The breakdown of the allocations under each of the subheads is outlined in the publication. I am satisfied that this level of investment following on a period of significant funding for sport will continue to improve the level...
- Written Answers — Greyhound Industry: Greyhound Industry (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: On February 1st, 2006, I appointed Mr. Tim Dalton, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, to carry out an independent assessment concerning corporate governance and related matters affecting Bord na gCon. Mr. Dalton delivered his Report on 5th April, 2006. On 4th July, 2006, the Government approved specific actions to be taken in line with the...
- Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply of 26 October last in relation to the incentives available for film production in the State. As I set out in my previous reply, attracting major international productions to the State is a particularly complex business, subject, as it is, to the dynamics of international competition, including new and...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 22, 32 and 34 together. As I have advised the House on a number of occasions this year, most recently on 26th October, individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion or development at regional level are day-to-day functions of the State Tourism Agencies. CSO statistics for overseas tourism for 2005 are very positive with almost 7 million...
- Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 25 together. As I have informed the House, most recently on 26 October last, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium has been appointed Preferred Tenderer for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin. As the Deputies are aware, the Centre is being procured under a Public Private Partnership process under the auspices of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 21 and 38 together. On 20th November 2006, following consultation with my colleague, Ms Mary Coughlan TD, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, I announced the establishment of a new Agency â Horse Sport Ireland â which will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive...
- Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As the Deputy will appreciate I am not in a position to comment on the forthcoming Budget until after its publication. Since becoming Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism in 2002, I have consistently and effectively made the case, in the context of annual Estimates discussions, for increased funding for the Arts and the results are clearly in evidence. I am delighted to have secured funding of...
- Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The only recommendation in the 1998 Murphy Report of direct relevance to my Department concerned the issue of funding. The Report recommended that increased public funding be allocated through the Irish Sports Council, which is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport, to Swim Ireland for necessary reorganisation and training. Since 1999, Swim Ireland has received over...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: On 20th November 2006, following consultation with my colleague, Ms Mary Coughlan TD, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, I announced the establishment of a new Agency, Horse Sport Ireland, which will act as the Governing Body for the Irish sport horse industry and represent the industry and sport internationally. Horse Sport Ireland will be responsible for developing and implementing...
- Written Answers — Abbey Theatre: Abbey Theatre (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 41 together. In July 2006, the Government approved arrangements for the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock on a Build, Finance, and Maintain (BFM) basis. It also approved the holding of an international design competition for the new Abbey Theatre. Once a winning design has been selected the building will be procured by means of a...
- Written Answers — National Aquatic Centre: National Aquatic Centre (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 3 given by me in the House today.
- Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The brief for a new building for the National Archives of Ireland commissioned by the OPW in 2003, and prepared in consultation with the National Archives, estimates the site area required to be 4,775 square metres and the total floor area required to be just over 20,500 square metres. Broken down by major functions, and rounding areas to the nearest 250 m2, the requirements specified are...
- Written Answers — Arts Council Funding: Arts Council Funding (30 Nov 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my answer earlier to Priority Question No. 4.