Results 2,901-2,920 of 3,053 for speaker:Mary Upton

Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: I support the tax exemption scheme for artists because I believe it is important. We could perhaps examine how it is distributed. Perhaps, it could be distributed over a number of years because often an artist might earn a great deal of money in one year from, for example, a piece of sculpture, and may not earn anything for three or four more years. The Minister indicated there will be...

Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: I must have misinterpreted what the Minister said. As she pointed out, the majority of people who benefit from the artists' tax exemption earn below €50,000 per annum. Why then are we putting such a high cap of €125,000 on it?

Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: I accept that.

Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: There may be scope to review the eligibility of particular individuals. I accept this issue has been raised before. There are people who have availed of the artists' tax exemption who, in hindsight, should not have been eligible to avail of it.

Arts and Cultural Facilities Audit (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Again, I am not proposing there should be any more major capital investment at this time. The main issue is, the need to ensure the proper services and activities are provided. It has been pointed out to me that many art centres and festivals do not have computerised box offices or marketing systems. This is an area in which there could be investment. I do believe we need any more...

Abbey Theatre (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: There is a serious element of putting the cart before the horse in respect of this matter. Whoever decided to proceed with the feasibility study should first have considered whether we want the theatre to be relocated to the GPO. If a decision had been taken that the relocation should proceed, then we could have moved forward with the feasibility study. If we had decided not to relocate...

Abbey Theatre (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: What is the current position with regard to the feasibility study? When will it be completed? We must continue with the study and we cannot just drop it now. Meetings relating to this matter have been taking place over many years. In such circumstances, the study must be almost complete. I do not know whether we should have parallel debates on this issue. I take on board many of the...

Arts Funding (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: I agree with the Minister's comments on the protection of the arts and Deputy Deenihan's contribution. It is important in a cultural way, as the people engaged in the arts do so because they love it rather than it being a job. They want to do it and beyond almost any other profession they have a total commitment to the sector. As I mentioned when discussing the arts exemption, many of...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 39: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in view of the costs to the publicly funded Irish Sports Council of the legal costs it incurred by the action taken by the former chairperson of Athletics Ireland, if she is now willing to make it a condition of State funding that all governing bodies be required to sign up to a dispute resolution service such as the Just Sport...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the continuing negative effect of the air travel tax on tourist numbers, airlines and the public finances, the action she has taken to progress the removal or significant reduction of the air travel tax, to help promote Ireland as a potential destination for tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36955/10]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that funding is kept in place for a home help service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36932/10]

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 291: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans that are in place for the existing children's hospitals in the Dublin area following the provision of the new tertiary children's hospital; if services will continue to be provided at the existing hospitals; if so, the nature of these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37635/10]

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 326: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding the dangers posed by cyclists on our roads, and the lack of controls and penalties in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37330/10]

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 334: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will review the case of a family (details supplied) who are seeking leave to remain here on humanitarian grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37193/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 403: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average time taken in 2010 to date to process an application for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the percentage of applications that were refused on first application for each; the percentage of refused applications that have been appealed; the percentage that were allowed on appeal; the time it takes to process an appeal; if...

Loan Guarantee Scheme: Motion (Resumed). (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion relating to the difficulties being experienced by small and medium enterprises. I believe the difficulties being faced by these enterprises are a serious threat to the economy as a whole because these industries are the backbone of our economy. These enterprises are in every town and village in the country and provide a host of expertise and...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm the date on which the REFIT price recently announced for miscanthus will be implemented; if he will confirm that the 9.5 cent price is the full tariff to be paid to suppliers and farmers or if it includes the capital costs of the power stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Forfás report on State owned enterprises; his further views regarding semi-State major utilities; if he will ensure that these assets will not be sold off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37775/10]

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a comprehensive graduate internship programme as advocated by the Union of Students in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38183/10]

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce a national third level skills initiative as proposed by the Union of Students in Ireland to cover essential skills for graduates to improve their employment prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38184/10]