Results 9,201-9,220 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

National Theatre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: As it is a PPP, there is a great hunger for projects.

National Theatre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is possible because it is a guaranteed PPP scheme. On the gestation, the Deputy knows the history as well as I, with all the different locations, ideas etc.

National Theatre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: The decision to proceed was taken in autumn 2006. There have been 21 meetings since and from the time I came to this Department, I have been aware of the complexities in terms of technical specifications, the arguments and substantial differing views of what the project should comprise. Much of that has been washed out and resolved through the system, and that is why we have moved to a...

National Theatre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I have consulted my notes but I do not have that figure before me. I will try to get it for the Deputy.

National Theatre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I do not have a problem with that.

National Aquatic Centre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: The National Aquatic Centre is operated by NSCDA (Operations) Limited, a subsidiary company of the National Sports Campus Development Authority. All day-to-day operations of the National Aquatic Centre are a matter for the authority and the operations company. In parallel with overseeing the ongoing operation, in 2008 the authority undertook an international benchmarking exercise comparing...

National Aquatic Centre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am happy to deal with the issue. The international benchmarking report was prepared by Mazars——

National Aquatic Centre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I cannot tell the Deputy as I did not hire it. The history of the aquatic centre has been unhappy but I give credit to the chairman, Mr. Dan Flinter, and the group there currently, which has done a remarkable job since it took it over. The numbers have been brought back from approximately 350,000 and the group has addressed a raft of problems in the way the facility was being run. There...

National Aquatic Centre. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I agree that we must maximise this world class facility. We should use it.

Arts Funding. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 57 and 291 together. The State appreciates and values the contribution the arts sector has made to the internationally renowned artistic reputation of this country. Even within the current economic constraints I do not consider investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors as somehow discretionary. As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, I was...

Arts Funding. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy raised a number of points. I agree with her that the industry is dispersed throughout the country. It percolates down into small communities and villages and the people involved in it get good employment. The industry plays an important role in the heart and spirit of many communities. Unlike many other businesses, it has the capacity to get into areas. Through the Arts...

Arts Funding. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I hope we took the right decision and the early indications are that we did. Rather than people losing their jobs, I expect all the jobs in the film sector will be sustained this year in Ireland because it was indicated in Los Angeles last week that there is €150 million worth of potential projects in the pipeline.

Arts Funding. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am aware of that but I am referring directly to the people involved in the specific high end of the digital sector, the television film sector. That indication is very positive. I hope that is the outcome at the end of the year. There is an informal tracking of jobs through the Arts Council and I can examine whether we can put it on a formal tracking basis through the CSO or some other...

Arts Funding. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: The present economic circumstances will impact on some of the points the Deputy is making and it would be foolish to think otherwise. I am conscious of that and I am trying to track through the local authorities, the Arts Council and other bodies what exactly is happening to ascertain the impact. I am also getting the message back that people can be smarter, more efficient and more...

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: On 11 February I met the heads of 15 State tourism agencies, State arts bodies, and the cultural institutions to begin the work of further developing the cultural tourism market. This is the first step in implementing my undertaking to put in place an initiative to further develop the potential of cultural tourism. This initiative will build, in the first instance, on co-operation and...

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: And operating them.

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy and I would be very regretful about such incidents. I have no reason to disbelieve her that that was the experience of those people. I do not know why it happened. I do not know whether it was a one-off incident for some specific reason. However, I take the point. If we are to be serious these things need to be in place for seven days a week in a seamless way....

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is right that the aim should be that every facility should be open 12 months of the year. We would all accept there may be some smaller facilities where it would not be realistic to achieve that, but the aim should be to achieve it. A substantial number of projects, large and small, have been identified throughout the country to enhance the product. A number of those are in State...

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am sure it would be the Deputy's experience, and it certainly would be mine, that the people one meets at the sites are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what they are doing.

Tourism Industry. (3 Mar 2009)

Martin Cullen: If the Deputy is suggesting there should be a further ownership incentive in terms of reward for the activities they undertake, I would not disagree with her. That is why, to some degree, there might be better structures working in the private sector. I do not know the possibilities of this. I can mention it to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, who has...