Results 4,621-4,640 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The dormant account situation is unusual. Any Department that gets an offer of some millions of euro for any of its projects is happy to receive and allocate that money, which is what we did in this case. We allocated it on the basis of the area needing it at the time. A significant proportion of our investment in sport is targeted at disadvantage. Having spent a few years at the...

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The Government has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to sport as evidenced by the continued, substantial investment in sport, with a total sports budget of €336 million in 2008. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport in Ireland and that the level of funding to the Olympic bodies, national governing bodies...

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: It is much more than a token. Tomorrow, I will announce the Irish Sports Council's package of investment in high performance sport for next year, which is a very comprehensive package. Government funding to sport has increased by 14% since last year, which is significant. Bringing home the medals is not just a matter of piling in funds. I will ensure that any funds that are needed to...

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: No. I am telling the Deputy that the overall Government allocation to sport is €336 million.

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: That is an increase of 14% on last year's funding of €297 million.

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The Irish Sports Council allocation is €57.3 million, which is an increase of 6.1%.

Sports Funding. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: My brief says the 2008 allocation to the Irish Sports Council is €57.3 million, which is an increase of 6.1%.

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: My Department and the tourism agencies operating under its aegis co-operate closely with other Departments and agencies on an ongoing basis through a wide range of channels and mechanisms, both formal and informal. The report of the tourism policy review group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, which set out the strategic framework for Irish tourism, highlighted the...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: If the Deputy goes back through the record of my time in the House, she will find that I am a Minister who seldom hides behind or points to an agency. I will indicate whether something is the primary responsibility of an agency, but I will give the Government's and my thinking on the question. Tourism cuts across a range of sectors. Arts tourism is an important and growing area and sports...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The agencies need policies to direct them, which is my job.

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I am 100% in favour of responding to policy issues, even if there is a relevant agency.

Proposed Legislation. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The purpose of the Irish Sports Council (Amendment) Bill is to provide for the granting of powers to the Irish Sports Council to establish subsidiary companies, which may include the institute of sport and coaching Ireland. Policy issues arising from the drafting of the Bill are being discussed between my Department, the Department of Finance, the Irish Sports Council and the Attorney...

Proposed Legislation. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: As we progress the Bill and make final decisions on its possible content, some of the Deputy's questions will be answered. The institute will have a board and four or five key staff members have been recruited, including a chief science officer, an athlete services officer, a chief medical officer and a chief technical officer. The Bill arose from studies following the Athens Olympics and...

Proposed Legislation. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I am examining this issue generally in terms of sport. On the one hand, we must ensure experts have enough autonomy to do their jobs and, on the other, ensure the entire effort lines up in the same direction to achieve a result. This might seem contradictory, but I do not believe it is. I am referring to the necessary amount of autonomy to ensure we play as a team. It is a whopper of a...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 351 to 353, inclusive, together. We have been fortunate in recent years to enjoy record growth in numbers of overseas visitors and associated revenue. While final Central Statistics Office, CSO, figures are not yet available, the estimates are that in 2007 alone we welcomed almost 8 million overseas visitors to the Republic of Ireland, with associated...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: This year will be challenging for the Irish tourism industry, particularly given the situation regarding currency markets and oil prices. I do not think we should hide behind this, however, as to do so would be unfair to the fine Irish tourism industry. The new Northern Ireland Executive together with Tourism Ireland, which is more determined than ever and has an increased budget, will...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: In study after study the issue of signposting has repeatedly been mentioned as an irritant when it is not done properly. I will raise this issue again with the agencies involved. The UK market slipped but I understand it has bounced back and Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland are taking account of the fact that it should be our easiest target due to its proximity. Money invested in the UK...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: A restructuring has occurred due to very high property prices and this has affected not only hotels but service stations and such sites. All over the country hotels are becoming apartment blocks and residential sites but, given changes in the property market, I think this will be short-lived and will slow substantially. The conference centre will meet one of the requirements the Deputy...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I do not wish to name them but there are many large hotels with hundreds of bedrooms and planning applications are in the pipeline for similar sized hotels in different locations such as the financial services centre. I will consider it but I am not aware of a shortage of conference centre facilities with associated bedroom space, which is the point made by the Deputy. The agencies are not...

Arts Council. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 121 together. Funding of the Arts Council, as with all Departments and State agencies, is a matter for consideration under the annual budget and Estimates process. In doing so, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. I am aware of the Arts Council's desire to have multi-annual budgets, having met with...