Results 20,201-20,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Sports Funding (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: The IRFU has engaged in a number of partnerships. One such is with the Government in so far as between 2006 and 2010 more than â¬17.5 million was invested directly in the IRFU, outside of any capital expenditure. One may consider the â¬191 million that went into the Aviva stadium which opened only last week. The organisation also has commercial partnerships and is tied into these with...
- Sports Funding (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: I accept there are arguments on both sides. That is why the consultation period has been extended until 4 July, which will give people ample opportunity to be able to make their case. I will make a formal submission to the Minister but I will also be engaging with the IRFU.
- Sports Funding (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: The value of a consultation process and my being a formal part of it is that we can have engagement, as we have had already on an informal level. The formal process will take place between now and 4 July to balance the different arguments. I will be carrying all the different views into that consultation.
- Sports Funding (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: That is what the consultation will be about.
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. I have received the report from the Irish Sports Council, ISC, referred to by the Deputy. It is my intention to place the report on the Department's website, subject to legal advice, when I have fully considered the issues contained in it. I will also be shortly meeting with representatives of the ISC and take the opportunity to discuss...
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: In the first instance I regret and object to funding given to a sporting organisation being used to fight law cases rather than going into sport.
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: The Irish Sports Council would argue that the direct funding to organisations has not been affected, although it meant there was no money in the contingency fund for events that might arise during the year. Ultimately, money was lost to sporting organisations, which should not have happened. For that reason I said that where disputes arise, as they inevitably will, the mediation process...
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: Having read the report, I am not convinced that another report will solve anything. We know the issues and what needs to be done. The report presented to me was in the form of a letter from the Irish Sports Council setting out the issues. It attached the proceedings from the court, which I already had but which gave all the arguments made by the plaintiff. Neither the Irish Sports Council...
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: I wish to clarify something. The settlement in the case amounted to â¬309,283, of which the Irish Sports Council's contribution was â¬150,000. Its legal costs amounted to â¬225,000. I wish to clarify this in case I gave the wrong impression. We know what occurred because we have both sides of the story. We have the sports council's account in the form of a letter and we have the court...
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: It is a matter for the ISC, but it is important that all appointments be made in an open and transparent way. I hope that any difficulties between the council and an important sport like boxing can be resolved. The funding for this year is â¬959,000, which could go a long way in boxing.
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: The legislation probably encompasses enough of what the ISC is trying to do. A clear policy on recruiting strategically important senior positions into the governing bodies is necessary and the ISC has indicated to me it wants this to be done in order that the process can be as open and transparent as possible.
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: In respect of boxing, the council has indicated that its decision only applies to the two specific posts that have been in question in recent weeks and that the priority is to ensure a minimum of impact on boxers and to see the men's senior team participating in the European championships. In the past month, the boxers have met with considerable success on the international stage, so the...
- (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: No. My understanding is that the settlement ended all future legal action, including before the Employment Appeals Tribunal, etc.
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: The stated mission of my Department is "to enrich Irish society by supporting the growth of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry and increasing access to and participation in sport, the arts and culture". Having particular regard to the cultural sector, my role as Minister is to recognise the social and economic roles of that sector by promoting and encouraging artistic expression,...
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: Regarding the question on the ACCESS programme, 40 projects were funded between 2001 and 2004 to the tune of â¬43 million. The subsequent ACCESS II programme, which will provide â¬81 million, has seen 63 successful projects announced to date accounting for grants totalling â¬32 million. A number of these have already been completed, including the Royal Hibernian Academy, the Druid...
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: There are various grant schemes, but I will forward the details to the Deputy.
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: We have a small Department which works hard. There is a staff of only 108, which breaks down into three parts. There is an assistant secretary in charge of sport, another for culture and a third for tourism. Each of them is backed up by a small team that does tremendous work. The National Concert Hall is one of the major capital projects we would like to progress. All capital projects...
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: I do not have the specific figures. Some 63 projects were initially announced for â¬32 million. An additional 13 projects were then announced and â¬10.29 million in grant aid was given in May 2008. Some 27 of the projects had been completed up to the end of 2009. A further 22 projects have yet to draw down grant aid. These projects have been delayed for a number of reasons - a lot of...
- Cultural Institutions (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: It is an issue that was being led by the Department of the Taoiseach a year or two ago, because it is wider than culture alone. However, culture is one of those areas that could benefit from philanthropy, so I will be following it up at that level.
- National Archives (19 May 2010)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 le chéile. The storage difficulties at the National Archives are widely acknowledged. A permanent solution would be a new storage building, but in the current economic climate it will not be possible to set aside the necessary resources to construct a new building. However, I am concerned that the best possible use should be made of the...