Results 9,521-9,540 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: That revenue was based on the assessment last year of increasing the tax.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The point I was trying to make to the Deputy was that it would not have come in as the downturn and the change has been of such a nature that it would not-----

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Of course it will have an impact. I did not say it would not have any impact. However, the impact it would have had would, in effect, have put an enormous number of people onto the social welfare system, thereby moving people out of employment.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am somewhat in the hands of the experts who are working on this with the Department. I hope it can be finished fairly shortly. My intention, as I said to both Deputies Upton and Mitchell, was to get this back to the committee before the end of this Dáil session. It is still my wish that should happen. I should like to have that discussion because it would be helpful for me.

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions No. 46 ,49, 56, 187 to 189, inclusive, and 190 together. Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show a reduction of 6.3% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for the four months of 2009 compared with the corresponding period of 2008. Overseas visitor numbers for 2008 as a whole were down by just over 2% on the record 2007 performance, although...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Nobody wants any extra tax put in place and tax of that nature does not help the situation. However it is time for us to debunk the travel tax issue. I have spoken to all the travel agents internationally and they have no concern with it. They are far more concerned about airlines lashing on charges by the new time for luggage, and God knows what the price of an air ticket is by the time...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: That is not a big issue. I would prefer if it were not in place and I would like to see it gone, but I will not accept that the travel tax, as has been raised by some low-cost airlines and Aer Lingus, is the cause of all their travails. It is not true. If it were true, the costs they have put on in fuel surcharges, luggage charges and God knows what else are way beyond the amount of the...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I cannot give a brief reply if the Deputy wants that information.

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Tourism Ireland is communicating strongly to consumers in overseas markets that the island of Ireland is a great place to visit, is easily accessible and offers the consumer great value for money. There has been great emphasis on discounting and it is having a very positive impact. Tourism Ireland is spending 66% of its marketing budget in the first half of the year to frontload its...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and further elaborated in my Department's Statement of Strategy. My policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. In forthcoming years, it is my aim to continue to implement...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 63 together. The number of staff in the sports capital grants section of the Department is 14. These are all established civil servants. Two expenditure reviews of the Sports Capital Programme have been carried out to date. The first covered the period 1988 – 1998 while the second covered the period 1999 – 2002. Copies of these reviews are...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 57 together. I would like to refer the Deputy to priority question number 39 of today.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The operation of the Artists Exemption scheme is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners under the terms of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The original intention of the legislation was, inter alia, to create an environment in which the Arts could flourish and to encourage Irish artists to remain here rather than going abroad to earn their living. I fully support this scheme, which is in...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I am committed to securing the best possible funding for the Arts Council and the arts sector generally. Future funding for the Arts Council will be addressed in the context of future Estimates processes. The Deputy will be aware that the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. My policy on the arts is to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: In keeping with its corporate objective to allocate resources in line with key objectives, as set out in its Statement of Strategy 2009 – 2011, the Department keeps its staffing requirements under constant review. The recent incentivised Early Retirement, Career Break and Shorter Working Year Schemes, aimed at reducing public service numbers, are currently being implemented in the...

Written Answers — Sports and Recreational Development: Sports and Recreational Development (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, has statutory responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport. In this regard the ISC works in partnership with the Irish Institute of Sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland and the relevant...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy providing the strategic direction required. Its remit is to support the growth of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry, enhancing its contribution to national economic and social goals, through the development, implementation and influencing of a range of policy...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS) is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved access to and participation in the arts for large numbers of people nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces. In this regard, my Department has taken a direct...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: As I informed the Dáil on 3 March, I met with the heads of fifteen State tourism agencies, State arts bodies, and the cultural institutions, on 11 February, to begin the work of further developing the cultural tourism market. This was the first step in putting in place an initiative to further develop the potential of cultural tourism. This initiative will build, in the first instance, on...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to previous replies on this issue. This matter was also addressed in a debate held on 26 May last in the Seanad where it was raised as an adjournment matter. As outlined in the course of that debate, when the Art and Education Report "Points of Alignment" was finalised, the Department held a number of meetings with the Arts Council and the Department of Education and...