Results 5,761-5,780 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee (17 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: When considering the report of the Future of Media Commission, Government decided not to accept the recommendation that the TV licence be abolished and replaced with Exchequer funding. Instead, Government decided that the current system should be reformed and enhanced to provide a more equitable and sustainable funding model. Government established a Technical Working Group to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: In 1997, the Government authorised the inclusion in the budgets of all Exchequer-funded capital construction projects of an amount of up to 1% as funding for an art project, subject to an overall cap of €64,000.  This authorised expenditure has been reviewed occasionally, most recently with effect from 1 January, 2022.  Although the Per Cent for Art Scheme is within the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (17 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111, 112 and 113 together. My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy and the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, deal with the implementation of this policy. Fáilte Ireland's role as the National Tourism Development Authority is to support the long-term...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Organisations (17 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The designation of events as free to air is an important statutory process which allows for certain events to be so designated following a prescriptive process which is undertaken every three years. The process however, is not intended to ensure free to air coverage of entire competitions or all of one particular sport’s event. Likewise, it is not possible to predict how events and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The arrival of refugees from the war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The national response to this challenge is underpinned by an all-of-government approach. As part of this effort, Ireland is now accommodating more than 83,520 people, compared with 8,300 in February...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: My focus now is on examining whether there is a need for mitigation measures. At a senior officials group, my Department has communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in the parts of the country where, as the Deputy pointed out, a high proportion of the tourism accommodation stock has been directed to humanitarian purposes. This is the largest...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: I need to, have been and am raising my concerns about the wider tourism ecosystem, but it is only right that we give refuge to those who need it. This time last year, we were giving refuge to 8,300 people. That number is now approximately 83,500. This brings its own challenges. It is the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the State. I am considering mitigation measures that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy will forgive me. When I saw her question on financial supports for sustainable policies, I thought she was referring to the greening of tourism, but she is also referring to possible mitigation measures for the wider tourism ecosystem. I addressed the issue of mitigation measures when replying to Deputy Munster, so I will discuss sustainable tourism practices. The Department...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: Absolutely. I have said here and to my colleagues that I have concerns about that knock-on impact to businesses. Some of those in the hospitality sector are under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, with whom I co-chair the tourism and hospitality forum. These are issues that will come to us in the coming weeks but I am sure he too, like myself,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: I again commend communities the length and breadth of the country on giving that céad míle fáilte to those fleeing from such horrific circumstances. While people always have a right to peaceful protest, those fleeing such horrific circumstances also have a very much equal right to peacefully adapt to their new communities, where they are seeking refuge. On the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The basic income for artists, BIA, pilot scheme has been introduced following extensive consultation with the arts sector to assess how such a scheme can best support professional arts practice in Ireland. The associated research programme will capture data on all aspects of the scheme to inform future policy responses to the needs of the sector. This will include the interaction of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: As I said, I assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating in the BIA scheme was and is a matter I take very seriously. Issues around the disability allowance are something my officials and I were aware of at the very outset of planning this intervention. I understand how important the social welfare payments, and issues such as medical cards, are for people with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: These issues relate primarily to the manner in which the social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. These matters are an issue for the Minister for Social Protection under the various chapters of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. As I said, I believe that the value of the research programme associated with this scheme is that it will capture the experience of all...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Údarás na Gaeltachta (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: Tá tugtha le fios ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil leasaithe déanta ag an eagraíocht ar na córais agus an cur chuige riaracháin a bhí in úsáid roimhe seo chun measúnú agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar na pleananna teanga atá aontaithe agus á bhfeidhmiú ag a chuid cliantchuideachtai. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Údarás na Gaeltachta (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: Mar a dúirt mé, tá sé curtha in iúl ag an údarás go bhfuil fócas na heagraíochta anois ag díriú ar na bealaí gur féidir leis tionchar a imirt ar iompar agus ar chleachtas teanga leis na 8,000 fostaí atá ag obair ina chliantchuideachtaí ar fud na Gaeltachta. Agus an próiseas pleanála teanga faoi lán...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Údarás na Gaeltachta (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: Sa chur chuige leasaithe atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag an údarás ó thús 2022, aontaítear pleananna teanga ar bhunús tréimhse trí bliana leis an gcliant. Aontaítear plean teanga bunaithe ar líon aontaithe spriocanna gníomhaíochtaí a bheith bainte amach gach bliain le linn na tréimhse sin agus déantar measúnú...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy has asked about the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector. While elements of the hospitality sector are also important parts of the wider tourism ecosystem, as the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I do not have responsibility for the general hospitality sector. However, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: The 9% VAT rate was introduced in recognition of the fact that the tourism and hospitality sectors were among the most impacted by the public health restrictions put in place throughout the pandemic. As I said, it is extended now until September 2023. The Government has strongly supported the tourism and hospitality sectors over the past few years and in the current economic challenges,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: As I said, I continue to engage with my Government colleagues on what further supports may be required. In the budget I did secure additional funding of €15 million for overseas marketing, after 2022's once-off pump-prime investment of €35 million. I also secured additional funding of €50 million to support a range of measures including domestic marketing. Fáilte...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (18 May 2023)

Catherine Martin: A key objective of the overall European Capital of Culture is the development of a legacy framework to sustain and build on the capacity, networks and opportunities arising from the Galway 2020 cultural programme. To develop the legacy framework, an extensive consultation process was undertaken by Galway 2020, which included stakeholders such as local artists, cultural organisations,...