Results 5,441-5,460 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: Urban planning and development policy is primarily a matter for local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts. As Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I have no function or authority in...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artists' Remuneration (18 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. The pilot was the number one recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which I established in 2020 to examine how best to assist the sector to recover post-pandemic. I was very pleased to have been able to deliver on this recommendation with payments on...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: 2023 REV provides for gross expenditure of €1,165,509m for my Department in 2023 consisting of current expenditure of €950,542m and capital expenditure of €214,967m and is available online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2023. The overall allocation for Culture in my Department's Vote for 2023 is €356,982m, an increase of 85% on the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Funding (18 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. With specific regard to the development of tourism product offerings, such as the development of infrastructure under Platforms for Growth 2,...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (24 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The funding provided to the organisation referred to by the Deputy is provided in tabular form below for the years 2021 to 2023. These figures are published each year by the Department of Expenditure and Reform in the Revised Estimates Volume. Year Amount €m 2021 30.093 2022 36.743 2023 37.946

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (24 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: Government policy supports the film and television sector in a number of ways to create an attractive environment for film production, including through international film co-production treaties, the section 481 tax credit and funding for Screen Ireland. Screen Ireland is the national development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: Throughout the pandemic I have been very cognisant of the challenges the restrictions caused for the arts, culture and live entertainment industry. In 2021 an allocation of €25m was made available for the 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: Tourism Policy (24 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: While taxation matters are ultimately the responsibility of the Minister for Finance, the introduction of a tax on short-term stays in paid accommodation is not a straightforward matter from a tourism perspective. The tourism sector generates very significant revenues for the Exchequer and the potential increase in costs that this could present would need to be considered very carefully...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Business Supports (24 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department operates a significant range of funding mechanisms across all Sectors, under my Department's remit, including supports to businesses to which the Deputy refers. Details of these funding mechanisms, including eligibility criteria, rates of payments and how to apply are published on my Department's website:...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, continues to put real pressure on the Government's ability to offer humanitarian accommodation and has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is availing of the wide range of offers of accommodation made...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: I have regular interaction with my colleagues in the Government on this issue and have communicated the industry's concerns about the long-term effect this issue could potentially have on our tourism sector, especially, as the Deputy said, with the tourism season really kicking off in March. I meet the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, every week and have discussed the impact of the humanitarian...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: To clarify, there will be 700 rapid-build homes. There will be up to 6,000 beds available in the coming months through the combination of rapid-build homes, the work on vacant homes that is being led by local authorities and the refurbishment work led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am in regular engagement with the tourism sector and am fully cognisant of its...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the film industry in the week that is in it. This is an opportunity to congratulate Irish people on their Oscar nominations. The annual global spotlight on the Oscars is now shining on Ireland's culture, our beautiful scenery and, most particularly, our creative talent. The House will join me in congratulating the casts and crews of "An Cailín...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: I am just stating a fact that employment law is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as are the mechanisms for dealing with disputes. Regarding the protection of workers, significant changes were made in 2019 to section 481 and how it operated. There is an increased emphasis on upskilling and life-long learning as well as much greater...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: I only have a minute to respond, but I am happy to engage with the Deputy afterwards if he wishes to bring further issues to my attention. In the application process for the certification under section 481, a producer company and a qualifying company, as defined by the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, are required to sign an undertaking in respect of quality employment and must, as a condition...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The latest research by Fáilte Ireland shows that while recruitment is still a significant challenge for tourism businesses, the situation is improving and employers are making positive strides. The number of vacancies across the industry has fallen, from 40,000 at the start of 2022 to 22,000 today. Overall, positions have become less difficult to fill while staff retention has become...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I co-chair the hospitality and tourism forum. We are convening a meeting next week with all the stakeholders. I suspect the 9% VAT rate will be one of the issues that arises in that meeting. I have made it clear that I am in favour of the extension of the lower rate of VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector. The decision ultimately lies with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy referred to Duncannon Fort. In December 2022, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced significant funding for Duncannon Fort under the town and village renewal scheme. That is in recognition of the amazing attraction it is. I am acutely aware that the tourism industry supports 250,000 jobs and the vast majority of those are in the regions, outside the capital...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Funding (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: Internationally, tourism continues to recover steadily, yet several challenges remain, from geopolitical to economic. The combination of increasing interest rates in all major economies, rising energy and food prices and the growing prospects of a global recession are major threats to the recovery of international tourism for 2023. Hotel capacity, energy costs and labour shortages will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Funding (26 Jan 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy will be aware that I am familiar with the beauty of west Cork. I met him there when my family and I were on holidays. I am conscious of the impact on the wider tourism ecosystem, including the businesses he referred to. As regards the TBESS finishing on 28 February, the Government is discussing what will happen next, the supports that are needed and looking at detailed analysis....