Results 3,341-3,360 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: The reopening of the country and the economy has been happening gradually over June and I look forward to further reopening in July and beyond. Tourism accommodation and outdoor dining, tourism attractions and activities have reopened and, subject to satisfactory progress with the health situation, more indoor activities will reopen in July. The Government has supported businesses...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I do not believe the PUP is a disincentive to returning to work. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has shown in its recent study, 95% of workers would be better off back at work. The PUP was an effective response to unemployment brought about the pandemic. The best way to secure the future of the industry and workers' incomes is to facilitate a safe and sustainable...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy said, I am aware staff retention is an issue and am delighted Fáilte Ireland is delivering on a number of strategies and is working closely with the industry, education providers and other State agencies to address the recruitment and retention challenges in the tourism sector. A recruitment for reopening webinar event was delivered on 30 April for tourism and hospitality...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 98 together. The Audience Agency is the independent arts evaluation organisation tasked with carrying out the evaluation under the Galway 2020 monitoring and evaluation framework. The Audience Agency was awarded the contract following a competitive tender process advertised on etenders.gov.ie. The Audience Agency is a registered charity. It is funded...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I will supply the information the Deputy seeks in relation to the extra notes. The legacy planning is a key element of all European Capitals of Culture and an important aspect, as the Deputy pointed out, of Galway 2020. Legacy planning involves taking stock of learnings from the delivery of the European Capital of Culture, incorporating the successes and building on these for the future....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: There are a number of questions there. It will be difficult for me to answer them in the minute available but I am happy to provide the Deputy with all the information she wants and to be as transparent as possible. I absolutely agree about the basic income guarantee for artists. A legacy and lesson to learn from Covid and from what we missed and enjoyed in Galway 2020 will be to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: As part of a €50 million suite of supports for the live entertainment sector, the music and entertainment business assistance scheme opened for applications on 9 June. This scheme aims to support businesses operating solely in the live entertainment sector that do not qualify for other business supports and have been significantly impacted by Covid restrictions. This scheme will see...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy and I assure him I am doing everything I possibly can. I come from this background myself and I am very much aware of the need not just for us to hear and enjoy music but for these people to get back to work. It is not just the musicians but the technicians, the crew and everyone behind the scenes. That is one of the lessons that has been learned because a light has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy. The live performance support scheme is unprecedented. It shows that a sector that never had to reach out before had to reach out, and we responded with €50 million in supports, including €25 million in the live performance support scheme that was announced last week. That will supply thousands of hours of work to thousands of performers and technical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: The tourism sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessary public health restrictions introduced to control it. Since my appointment as Minister, I have been fully engaged with stakeholders in seeking to identify and implement supports to ensure the sector’s survival and sustainable recovery. Until now, the focus has been on the survival phase. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I encourage every Member of this House to slow down and enjoy the wonderful sights across our country, to promote staycations and to support a sector that has been ravaged due to the pandemic. Sustainable development in tourism means using, without exploitation, our cultural and other tourist resources, to preserve them for future use by future generations. This means that tourism can be a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: Sustainable low-impact activities, such as that Waterford greenway, provide a high return and show the potential to bring economic activity to local communities such as Kilmacthomas. A week ago, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 got amazing support in this House. It will establish a legally binding framework for clear targets and commitments set out in law...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: While the aviation sector is of critical importance in terms of the recovery of our tourism sector, the responsibility for aviation falls to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Accordingly matters such as the closure of an airline come under the remit of his Department. As an island nation, Ireland relies heavily on air transportation for tourism purposes....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Budget 2021 (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I allocated €50 million to a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector.  As part of that funding, on Tuesday June 15th I announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021).  I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003. The Agency, under the Act, is a non-commercial State body responsible for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism development as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.  The functions of the Authority are set out in Section 8 of the Act. It sets out that the role...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Government’s longstanding ambition is to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of film, TV drama and animation. This is supported by the initiatives outlined in the Audiovisual Action Plan, launched in June 2018 under the Creative Ireland Programme. The aim is to grow the audiovisual sector in Ireland to such an extent that sufficient employment opportunities...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Policies (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 75 and 113 together. The local media sector faces a fall in revenue arising from the pandemic, but also longer term challenges as a result of changing patterns of media consumption, technology and shifts in advertising revenue. I recognise the essential role that the local media plays and the particular value of local and regional newspapers, as well...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Parliamentary Question No 64. I allocated €50 million to a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector.  As part of that funding, on Tuesday June 15th I announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021).  I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: Primary support for the arts, including support for a wide range of cultural venues, is delivered by the Arts Council. In 2021, the Government allocated €130m to the Arts Council which is an increase of 62% over the amount initially allocated for 2020. The Arts Council is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003. The Arts Council announced details of its investment...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Catherine Martin: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Parliamentary Question No 64. I allocated €50 million to a suite of measures to assist the live performance sector.  As part of that funding, on Tuesday June 15th I announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021).  I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful...