Results 3,641-3,660 of 5,767 for speaker:Olivia Mitchell

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (15 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 336: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is planned to commence the roll-out of domestic water meters; the funding that has been made available to local authorities; the anticipated average cost per house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46975/09]

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 378: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a direction was given to local authorities regarding fee scholarships as income, which has rendered many PhD students ineligible for the local authority grant; if he will review this in the case of students who have already started their degree in view of the fact that the subsequent hardship may force them to drop out of their...

Social Welfare Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I shall start on a positive note by suggesting a saving in Government expenditure by turning off the air conditioning in the Chamber for the rest of the winter. Cold air is being pumped down on us non-stop, come hail rain or snow. Today we are in the direct line of an arctic flow of air and air conditioning is still being pumped in here. Somebody should tell the OPW in order to save some money.

Social Welfare Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I do not think it will have any impact whatsoever. Before the budget, there was widespread agreement that €4 billion needed to be taken out of the economy. There was recognition that the quantum of money was important. However, how the cuts were to be made was equally important. Where would the spending cuts be made? What priorities were to be established? What incentives or...

Social Welfare Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: That is all I need. In my own area of interest, the travel tax was left in place. This tax, which is absolutely counterproductive, was retained despite all the advice from business groups and the Government's own advisers, including the tourism renewal group and, this month, the National Competitiveness Council. It is madness for an island country dependent on inward travel to bring in...

Decentralisation Programme. (16 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 27: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest developments regarding the proposed decentralisation of his Department to County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47120/09]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 34: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received representations regarding the impact the introduction of a carbon tax will have on rural Ireland; if he has discussed with officials from the Department of Finance possible exemptions from the tax for rural persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47088/09]

Priority Questions (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I would like to be associated with the remarks in respect of Ciarán Mac Mathúna and Liam Clancy.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he has taken to implement the survival actions outlined by the tourism renewal group to ensure the endurance of the tourism industry in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47909/09]

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I recognise and welcome the budgetary measure to give older persons free travel on the trains. It may not go as far as I had hoped but it is welcome. The travel tax, however, was not recognised. The tourism renewal group recommended ending it as a major survival action. It is also a major recommendation of the Competitiveness Council in this month's report. I do not understand how the...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: While I appreciate all that is being done to improve the American market, does the Minister accept that the travel tax does not impact as much on the American market as it does on the short haul flights to Europe? A tax of €10 on a flight that costs only €5 has a much bigger impact than on a flight costing €200. The travel tax impacts on the short-haul and European flights, the...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The Minister does not get the point. The tax is not being charged. The airlines are not passing it on to passengers.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the report by Dr. Peter Bacon on the unsustainability of many hotels here; his views on the implications of this report for future tourism infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47910/09]

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: No matter what the Minister does, he will never fill all the hotel beds that have been built over a number of years. On the Bacon report, which was the subject of my question, its conclusion was - I find this hard to accept - that we gave tax breaks to developers to open hotels and now we are to give them tax breaks to close them. Nevertheless, this raises a big issue and I have written to...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Even in the best of days there was not enough business to fill those hotels, so the Minister is not going to do it now in the middle of a world recession. We must do something, however, to save the hotels that are still there. A lot of personal and State money has been invested in that infrastructure around the country. If we wait for NAMA to sort it out, half the hotels will have closed...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: They have no input.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: That is not the question I asked.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Is it legal? Has the Minister of State checked it out?

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: This is predatory pricing.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Is it regulated? Talking to the hotels will not solve the problem.