Results 2,521-2,540 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2021 provides for indoor individual training only at Level 3. It also states explicitly that there should be no exercise or dance classes at this level. My Department has issued guidance to the sports and leisure sector confirming that group swimming lessons are not permitted in Level 3. Only one-to-one swimming instruction is permitted...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I have two pieces of legislation concerning Broadcasting Regulation currently underway, namely the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019, which is at Committee stage and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, for which the General Scheme was published in January 2020.  I will shortly bring additional Heads of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill to Government for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2021 provides for indoor individual training only in Level 3. It also states explicitly that there should be no exercise or dance classes in this level. While I am pleased to note that COVID-19 data indicates improvements across a range of indicators, which gives us hope that the epidemiological situation is once again coming under...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I wish to assure the Deputy that I understand the frustration of individuals and businesses who are anxious to continue the normal day-to-day social,  professional and creative activities which are integral to how we live in society.   The Framework for Restrictive Measures is a risk management strategy designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: Given the current epidemiological situation with high incidence of disease, widespread community transmission, and considerable numbers of hospitalisations and deaths, it has been necessary to put in place very significant restrictions to arrest the current trajectory of the disease and break transmission chains. This means asking people to stay at home and eliminating as much activity and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: Ireland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (18 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: During 2020, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)  held two closed rounds for radio, targeted at the independent commercial and community radio sectors respectively. In June 2020, the BAI awarded €2.5m Sound and Vision funding to 32 independent commercial radio stations across the country supporting public awareness and understanding of COVID-19. ...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The administration of the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Lottery Funding (18 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy is aware my Department was established in June of this year bringing together functions previously under the remit of three Departments of State.  Details of the annual funding allocation to my Department at subhead level are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume. Through these subheads, my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2021 (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The 2021 total gross funding allocated to my Department, as per the budget Estimates, amounts to €1.082 billion. This represents an increase of €79 million, or 8%, on the 2020 allocation as published in the further Revised Estimates for my Department. Those Revised Estimates included additional funding of €183 million, secured during 2020, to deal with the impacts of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2021 (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The 2021 total gross funding allocation to my Department, as per the Estimates, is €1.082 billion. This represents an increase of €79 million, or 8%, on the 2020 allocation, as per the Revised Estimates voted for the Department on 8 October 2020. The 2020 figures published as part of those further Revised Estimates included additional funding of €183 million, which was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2021 (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The budget 2021 supports that we announced last month have been welcomed by all of the sectors that I represent. The Deputy has raised the question of what is Covid spending and what is in the budget on a number of occasions. A suite of funding measures, such as increased funding for the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Sport Ireland, represent an acknowledgement of the important role these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the report of the arts and culture recovery task force, which was a commitment in the programme for Government, was published this week. The report included a recommendation that a universal basic income be piloted for a three-year period in the arts sector. I very much welcome this report and thank the task force members for their time, expertise and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I can speak to the recommendations as they came from this task force, which comprised a broad range of people involved in the screen sector, the artistic community, our cultural institutions and the live event industry. They identified ten key recommendations. The Deputy said the universal basic income was a well-established proposal, long before the pandemic, and would involve a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy. In the interim, I hope he would know that I announced the successful applicants from the €5 million pilot programme in the July stimulus package. I will roll out €50 million in the new year to help the sector. The amount was increased to €50 million because the €5 million programme received €16.5 million worth of applications. This...

Other Questions: Arts Funding (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, I established the arts and culture recovery task force to develop a clear approach, informed by the view of stakeholders, to protect and sustain the arts and culture sector through the Covid-19 recovery and beyond. The negative impact of the crisis on the arts, culture and live entertainment sectors has been well established and...

Other Questions: Arts Funding (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: Under the heading Ensuring the Wellbeing of Ireland's Creative and Cultural Community, the task force report recommends the establishment of a programme to provide well-being supports to the creative sector. This is based on programmes such as Minding Creative Minds, an organisation established to offer a free 24-7 well-being and support programme for the Irish music sector. It provides...

Other Questions: Arts Funding (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: The case for a UBI was well established long before Covid. As I said earlier, those who create artistic or creative work where it is their chief occupation often experience income insecurity and cash flow problems. That was the case pre-Covid and it will be so post Covid. That financial stress can impede creativity. A 2018 review of pay and conditions in the performing arts by Theatre...

Other Questions: Radio Broadcasting (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I thank Deputy Munster for bringing forward this issue. I am acutely aware of the valuable source of reliable and trustworthy news that local radio offers in a time of uncertainty and with much disinformation in circulation. Local radio also plays an important role in bringing communities together, strengthening their bonds of solidarity and mutual support. I recognise the challenges faced...

Other Questions: Radio Broadcasting (19 Nov 2020)

Catherine Martin: I am engaging closely and directly with the stakeholders in this sector. I met with representatives of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland on Monday last, 16 November. We had a productive discussion on the value of the supports the sector has received during 2020 and a follow-up meeting was held yesterday at official level. I also met with the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, on...