Results 3,601-3,620 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (28 Sep 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme, was introduced to assist Republic of Ireland based Inbound Tour Operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) who package, sell and distribute Ireland’s tourism product overseas and have suffered significant losses as a result of COVID-19. The overall purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Homeless World Cup (28 Sep 2021)

Catherine Martin: The hosting of international sports events, both participative and spectator sports, can provide a positive showcase for Ireland and help attract additional international visitors. I am supportive of the on-going efforts of the tourism agencies and the national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport to attract international events. Any proposal to support the hosting of an event must be subject...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2021)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department assumed its current configuration in June 2020 following the General Election. Details of expenditure for the period incurred by the Department in its previous configuration is available in the published Appropriation Accounts in respect of Vote 34 for 2018 and 2019 (Vote 34) which are available at...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Sep 2021)

Catherine Martin: Officials in my Department and I have engaged continuously with the tourism sector throughout the pandemic, with a view to ensuring that the appropriate supports are in place to ensure that this critically important sector can survive and recover.  The Tourism and Hospitality Forum, which I co-chair with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has also...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Forbairt Calaí agus Céanna (30 Sep 2021)

Catherine Martin: Leithdháiltear maoiniú caipitil um fhorbairt táirgí turasóireachta ar Fáilte Ireland. Deirtear liom nach soláthraíonn Fáilte Ireland maoiniú faoi láthair d’oibreacha athchóirithe nó feabhsúcháin ar chéanna nó ar shleamhnáin chun cabhrú le forbairt turasóireacht uisce. Tuigim,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the organisation to which he refers has sent copies of its pre-budget submission for 2022 to me and to my officials. I am familiar with the recommendations made by the organisation. Budget 2022 will be announced on 12 October 2021. A number of the recommendations listed in the pre-budget submission that come within the remit of my Department are also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I acknowledge it has been an incredibly tough time for all those who work in the arts and culture sector. Effectively, they have been unable to do what they do best, to do what they love and to earn a living. The Deputy may argue that they languish on the bottom rung, but the fact I secured a commitment from Government for a basic guaranteed income pilot scheme, which was the number one...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: There is where we are in absolute agreement. On numerous occasions in just over a year since becoming Minister, I have pointed out that my focus is not only on sustaining artists during this very difficult time. We are a nation which talks so much about valuing the arts and now is the time for us to put our money where our mouth is. If there was one lesson to be learned during the pandemic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: My Department’s role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy development. It does not have any role in the administration of tourism business support schemes including the setting of eligibility criteria. These are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland. In 2020 Fáilte Ireland established the Ireland-based inbound agents business continuity...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy. I do not believe it is accurate to say that Fáilte Ireland has made a decision against any specific business. The facts are that under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, Fáilte Ireland is not permitted to assist businesses in respect of activities outside the State. Accordingly, Fáilte Ireland has provided business continuity funding to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy. If the Deputy wants, she can forward the details to me of the specific business, but I do feel that the agencies are prohibited from funding these businesses because of the 2003 Act. Perhaps Tourism Northern Ireland should be approached and not Tourism Ireland, which the Deputy is aware is a separate body. Maybe this is the angle from which to approach it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: To date, €14 million has been drawn down from the total commitment of €15 million from my Department to the European Capital of Culture. Of this €14 million drawn down, €13 million has been spent on the development, production and delivery of the key projects under the Galway 2020 cultural programme, most of which were set out in the original winning bid book. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy raised a number of questions to answer in one minute. All European Capital of Culture designations carry with them a wide range of challenges in delivering on their broad objectives, and, in the case of Galway 2020, these challenges have been made more acute by the global pandemic. Nonetheless, even against this challenging background, much was achieved. Some 350 Irish-based...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: With regard to the reference to 50%, in the 2014 decision by Government to exercise Ireland's right to nominate a city to be Ireland's 2020 European Capital of Culture, it was noted by Government that Exchequer funding would not exceed 50% of its overall financial costs. The €15 million in funding for the Department was subsequent included by the Government in Project Ireland 2040,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: The published statement of strategy for 2021 to 2023 for my Department sets out the priorities for this Department over the next few years to ensure all sectors recover and grow in a manner that underpins social cohesion and supports strong, sustainable economic growth with a focus on a number of cross-cutting goals of equality, diversity, social inclusion, the Irish language and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: My Department is developing a number of policies to support diversity and full and effective female presentation and engagement. I would point the Deputy to the Creative Ireland programme. There have been a number of initiatives that encourage diversity within the arts, for example, to facilitate the integration of migrant populations. Songs from Direct Provision in south County Dublin;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I am stuck for words, which is a first. I thank Deputy Lahart. I will not sing it now. In response to Deputy Devlin, due to my background teaching in DEIS schools, I have asked for more DEIS schools to be included in creative schools. Another great initiative is the fighting words creative writing programme, of which the Deputy is probably aware, that works with children from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 49 and 63 together. I am critically aware of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on all areas of the arts and cultural sector and have endeavoured to make sure the concerns of those in this sector have been understood and addressed. I have met with numerous representative organisations and officials in my Department have continued contact with these...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I believe that with this pilot and this commitment and by delivering the number one recommendation, we as a country have an opportunity to lead. In earlier questions I mentioned how we really value and the arts. I see this opportunity, so I am grabbing it. That is why we had so many meetings over the summer. The pilot scheme we are working on relates to the commitment in the National...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Policy (5 Oct 2021)

Catherine Martin: I can confirm that I am looking at the recommendation in the task force report from last year. The oversight group presented a number of options to me. I will make my decision based on the option that I think is best for the arts sector. I cannot give any more detail than that. The Deputy will appreciate that this information is sensitive. It is also part of the budget negotiations....