Results 5,341-5,360 of 10,581 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Acting Chairman. The Deputy will know well that Fáilte Ireland's board and chairperson would take the appointment of the CEO extremely seriously. I had a recent briefing with the chairperson of Fáilte Ireland. As the national tourism development authority, it is very conscious of the fact that we need a good person heading up the organisation, particularly in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have not heard anything other than-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the Deputy had refrained from constantly interrupting me, he might have got the reply.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Administration (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.  The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Data (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.  The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Provision (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​I am advised that the next step for a proposed velodrome would be for Sport Ireland to undertake an appropriate financial appraisal, i.e. a Cost Benefit Analysis, in accordance with the Public Spending Code.  Thereafter, any proposal to proceed would also be subject to the availability of capital funding.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Organisations (8 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 to 478, inclusive, together. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the recognition of sporting organisations as National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs) and the allocation of funding to NGBs. I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Lakelands, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport. As this question is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, Fáilte Ireland has specific powers and functions regarding the registration and grading of tourist accommodation.  In accordance with the legislation, certain categories of accommodation, such as hotels and guesthouses, are statutorily obliged to register, whereas other accommodation segments, such as B&Bs or small self-catering...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 provides for an increase in the upper limit that applies to the overall capital funding that can be voted to the National Tourism Development Authority, which is known to us all as Fáilte Ireland, for the purposes of supporting the development of the tourism product. As this Bill has been certified as a money Bill, tight...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to respond to each of the Senators who have shown up and, in fairness, put a bit of thought into their contributions, and I thank them for it. Starting off with my near neighbour, I agree entirely with Senator Ned O'Sullivan regarding the initiatives that have been taken in Kerry. I was due to launch the Kerry tourism strategy but, unfortunately, on the same day the late Anthony...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: In all seriousness, when Members come in contact with their councillors, I ask that they put this item on the agenda in their local authorities. It has the potential to deliver jobs in every part of the country, as Senator Grace O'Sullivan said. We have an obligation to try to do that. There is a challenge in doing that but we are up for that challenge, as is the Department. I welcome the...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Senator and other Senators for making the point. I agree with Senator Humphreys and that is why one of the first things I did when I was appointed Minister of State was to call in the Irish Hotels Federation and make very clear the Government’s dissatisfaction about what is happening in Dublin and certain aspects of the Dublin hotel base. Unfortunately, we need many more...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Trade Fairs (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is disappointing that the Web Summit made the decision in 2015 to move to Lisbon for the following three years, particularly as it had been such a great success in Dublin and grown so impressively over the previous five years. However, the organisers were very clear about their intention to leave and that was a commercial matter for the organisers to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Capital Programme (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Senator O'Mahony for raising this issue, which I know is one in which he has a particular interest. The sports capital programme, SCP, is the Government’s primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. So far this year, over €22.8 million has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Capital Programme (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: When the Taoiseach appointed me as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, he asked me to fulfil the same role as my predecessor, Deputy Michael Ring, and I am working on the basis of that continuity. The responsibilities that were devolved to Deputy Ring as Minister of State at the time are now my responsibilities. The sports capital programme is one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (16 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects. This...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (16 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects. This is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy.  Please...