Results 2,981-3,000 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: General Data Protection Regulation (1 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The information requested in respect Data Subject Access Requests under GDPR received by my Department during the period specified by the Deputy is set out in the table below. YEAR REQUESTS RECEIVED REQUESTS REFUSED REASON FOR REFUSAL (If Applicable) 2018 7 0 n/a 2019 4 2 In one case...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Táim thar a bheith sásta a bheith anseo chun labhairt faoi thosaíochtaí straitéiseacha na Roinne. I intend to address the committee on tourism, culture, arts and media and my colleague, the Minister of State, will address matters relating to sport and the Gaeltacht. I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the committee on the key priorities of my Department...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Sure. Tourism, culture, arts, language, sport and media are an integral part of the fabric of our society and democracy, serving to enhance our physical, mental and social well-being. As we overcome the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, I am looking forward to turning our attention to the restoration of these activities that sustain us and bring joy to our lives. I will ensure...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank Senator Cassells. Of course, international travel, as we know, accounts for 75% of the revenue generated by the sector due to the pandemic. Specifically, because the time is short, in relation to supports, the Government has committed that there will be no cliff edge. Of course, tourism is one of the impacted sectors recognised in the path ahead and we will be looking at that in...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Quickly, on the tourism oversight group, that is set up to oversee the recommendations from that sector. It is not a representative group but, rather, it is made up of an independent chairperson and eight other members with a broad spectrum of backgrounds who were selected on the basis of each person's capacity to bring their knowledge, skills, experience, competence, capability and...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I will get back to the Deputy on insurance for the outdoor dining scheme. As he will be aware, it is €500 million for outdoor seating accessories for tourism and hospitality and €12 million for the local authority structures. I will get back to the Deputy with a note on that insurance query. The charter boat operators were invited to apply for the first stage of that...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I share the Senator's enthusiasm and look forward to a return of outdoor performances. Unfortunately, the public health advice is that it is still too early to say when that will happen. We must look at the case numbers, hospitalisations, vaccinations and variants of concern. As the Senator will be aware, the Government will meet in advance of 4 May to review the level of restrictions and...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Sorry about that. I just keep switching on and off. I am very familiar with the great work done by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. My children participate in it by Zoom. It has done a wonderful job of keeping it going, even though it is by Zoom. My Department does gives funding and grant assistance to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Additional resources were...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The night-time economy is a hugely important sector, as the Senator said, contributing to our economy and our cultural and creative sectors. It can have a really positive impact on our well-being and has really felt the brunt of the pandemic due to the sector's very nature. I was delighted to establish the night-time economy task force last July, and the Senator will be aware that it has...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy for his feedback on the LPSS. I know that venues such as De Barra's Folk Club, Connolly's of Leap and many others did great work under the scheme. We hope to see a lot more of this with the recent scheme which closed for applications just last week. I absolutely understand the sector's need for clarity and certainty. I have extensive and ongoing engagement with the...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: With regard to the theatres, I conducted that pilot in the Abbey Theatre and in the National Concert Hall, and the feedback was very positive. Due to public health advice, it is still too early to give a definite date for theatres. Obviously, it is something I would like to happen. On the return to live events, the theatre forum is on the expert group that is examining the roadmap for a...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The €17 million outdoor dining scheme is being administered by Fáilte Ireland through the local authorities and there are two elements to it. There is the €5 million element, which is for outdoor seating and accessories for tourism and hospitality businesses, and the second element is the €12 million for local authority structures for weatherproofing and outdoor...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy said, the aim of the scheme is to support local authorities and businesses to increase and operate their outdoor dining offering. It is up to the businesses to apply. I am sure many businesses in County Louth will do so.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: That will depend on how many businesses apply and how much money they want. The maximum grant for an individual business is €4,000. It will depend on how many wish to apply and how many wish to go for the €4,000 maximum. Fáilte Ireland will be running the scheme and assessing the applications.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: It is €4,000 per business. This has been really well received by the Restaurants Association of Ireland and all businesses. I have not heard an individual business question this but rather welcome it. It depends on the individual applications.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I understand why the Deputy is asking. Fáilte Ireland did the assessment. The scheme was developed by Fáilte Ireland based on its knowledge and engagement with the sector.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: It is not a case that I do not know, Deputy Munster, with respect. What I am saying is Fáilte Ireland developed the scheme based on its knowledge and engagement with the sector. Based on the response to this from the sector it has been very well received. It is one of the most positively received schemes we have and I have not heard the questions being raised by the Deputy. I have...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I can get the information for the Deputy but I suspect that for the businesses concerned the priority is not the reasoning of the allocation but rather the actual allocation and how helpful it is to them.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: All supports, including the CRSS, will be considered. I am a strong advocate for the sector and this is reflected every time the Taoiseach makes an announcement. I reflect that the sector needs supports. I am a very strong advocate and voice for the sector and it knows it from its engagement with me. As I said earlier in reply to other members, the Tánaiste and I will meet the...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I can ask Fáilte Ireland to engage with Louth County Council on the scheme if that would be helpful.