Results 20,121-20,140 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Cultural Promotion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: My general policy on the arts, culture and the creative industry is to promote and strengthen it, increase participation and to see what added value we can get for the economy. It would be easy at times such as this to look at all aspects of society from an economic perspective but I firmly believe that arts and culture, being a part of what we are, are of value in their own right. It is an...

Cultural Promotion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: In his article Mr. Fintan O'Toole recognised that I am the Minister for everything that is important to us. He is probably right in that. What Deputy Upton said about sport is correct. My answer was so long that I did not read it all. Thomond Park, Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium, which will open on 14 May, are three major centres of sport that have the potential to attract a significant...

National Opera Company. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 77 together. The foundation of Irish National Opera was announced recently and an interim board, chaired by Mr. Ray Bates, former director of the National Lottery was appointed. The Irish National Opera will be based in Dublin. It will stage opera on all scales in the capital and throughout the country. The company will also encourage the development...

National Opera Company. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Funding for 2011 will have to be agreed in the Estimates. We must await the outcome. The high-level objectives have been agreed with Opera Ireland, the Opera Theatre Company and the Arts Council. These have already been set out and include producing opera at all scales, promoting and encouraging the experience of opera productions among a wider audience, encouraging the development of the...

National Opera Company. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I cannot answer that as yet.

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The Central Statistics Office provides monthly reports on the number of overseas visitors coming to Ireland, including the country of origin, but this data is not broken down according to tourism regions. In any event, the new pre-clearance facility in Shannon is only operational since August 2009 and it would be too soon to estimate its impact on tourism numbers, in advance of its first full...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: No additional responsibilities have been assigned to my Department following the recent re-configuration of portfolios but, responsibility for the horse and greyhound industries has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Government envisages a very important role for the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, not only in the vital areas of tourism...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, operated by the Department, provides grant aid to a maximum of €3.8m to local authorities towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: First of all I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Richard Baneham in winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on "Avatar". Congratulations should also go to the other four Irish nominations for Academy Awards that unluckily did not capture an Oscar on this occasion. These were wonderful achievements, against the might of the large studios, and it is...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I fully support the Government's commitment to achieving its vision and strategy in relation to the transformation of public services and I welcome the assignment of special responsibility in this regard to Minister of State Calleary. I can assure the Deputy that I and my Departmental officials will continue to engage actively to transform and modernise the public service. While many of the...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: In 2002, an unsuccessful bidder in the competition to construct and operate the National Aquatic Centre took a legal action against the former CSID (that is, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd.), the Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation, Ireland and the Attorney General. Following lengthy Court proceedings, a settlement was finally reached between all parties in November last....

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, and part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. While no decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme, €48 million has been provided in my Department's Vote...

Written Answers — Cultural Ambassador: Cultural Ambassador (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 87 together. In order to enhance the cultural promotion of Ireland abroad, the Government decided to create the honorary position of Cultural Ambassador. This decision recognises the worldwide importance of Ireland's culture and its connection to our economy, which was one of the major conclusions of the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh. The...

Written Answers — Sports Tourism Promotion: Sports Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The International Sports Tourism Initiative, which is administered by Fáilte Ireland, was set up in 2000 to support the attraction to Ireland of major international sporting events, with tourism potential. Since 2000 more than 160 events have been supported by this initiative representing an investment of over €50m. The events targeted have the ability to generate significant numbers of...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 90, 91 and 160 together. Full-year figures from the Central Statistics Office show a reduction of 11.6% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in 2009 compared with 2008. These figures must be seen in the context of a decline in tourist numbers internationally. Tourism worldwide in 2009 was deeply affected by the global economic difficulties and...

Written Answers — Royalty Rights: Royalty Rights (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I have not received any representations regarding royalty rights for actors. If the Deputy can arrange for the relevant documentation to be sent to my office I will arrange for it to be examined.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: Although not every foreign visitor to Ireland requires a visa to travel here, those from many of the countries identified as "New and Developing Markets" do typically require visas to enter Ireland. Tourism Ireland's review of New and Developing Markets (including India, China and 17 other markets), which was completed in late 2007, found that visitors from these markets stay twice as long...

Written Answers — National Concert Hall: National Concert Hall (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I would like to confirm my Department's support for the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. The procurement stage of the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall is currently progressing. In accordance with the Government Decision, the project is being tendered on a design, build, finance and maintain PPP project basis. Two participating consortia submitted tenders on 25...

Written Answers — Tourism Development: Tourism Development (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: The role of the Tourism Division in my Department is set out in the Statement of Strategy of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, accessible on the Department's website www.arts-sport-tourism-gov.ie. The website also sets out in detail the functions and key responsibilities of the Tourism Development Policy Unit. The high-level goal of the Tourism Division as set out in the Statement...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 94 together. Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, and part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. While no decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme,...