Results 9,661-9,680 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

National History Museum. (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: When I was in the Office of Public Works I was involved in some of the earlier work undertaken there. We need that project and the storage facilities for some of the artefacts.

Written Answers — Art Exhibitions: Art Exhibitions (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: Dublin International Art Exhibition was the original working title assigned to a proposal to host an internationally recognised and acclaimed contemporary and modern art event in Dublin, which would showcase excellence in Irish and international art. The appeal of such events elsewhere is evidenced by the success of the Venice and Sydney Biennales, Documenta XII in Germany and Prospect 1 in...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is aware, under the Arts Act, 2003, primary responsibility for the support of the arts is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is a statutorily independent body and autonomous in its day-to-day operations, including its funding decisions. Decisions regarding funding for the arts whether within my Department's Vote or on the part of other relevant Departments will be...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was designated for relocation to Killarney, County Kerry, under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, which was announced in the 2004 budget. The Department, excluding the National Archives, was designated an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG). To date, 79 members of staff (including two service officers who were...

Written Answers — Horse and Greyhound Racing Industries: Horse and Greyhound Racing Industries (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: Since 2001, Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries has been provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. In 2004, the Government put in place regulations to increase the limit of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund from €254 million to €550 million to continue the fund for a further...

Written Answers — National Library: National Library (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: I take it that the Deputy refers to the future vacancy that will occur when the current Director of the National Library of Ireland retires from that post in 2010, and will answer accordingly. Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to the Director of the National Library of Ireland, Mr. Aongus Ó hAonghusa who has indicated he will leave the Library and return to his former employment at the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: As I outlined in my reply of 16 June 2009, 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....

Written Answers — National Cultural Institutions: National Cultural Institutions (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The suggestion by my Department that the national cultural institutions look to develop and exploit more commercial opportunities for their own financial benefit was well received. It is a matter for the statutorily independent boards to decide on the precise way that such development and exploitation will take place. There is no doubt in my mind that the performance of all of the national...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Government has facilitated the use of the Dublin Castle Conference facilities for this conference. This represents a substantial public support to the organisation. I understand that this conference is also being funded by the Arts Council and by Fáilte Ireland.

Written Answers — Statement of Strategy: Statement of Strategy (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department's Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 sets the Department's high-level goals in the arts, culture and film; sport; tourism; and corporate services organisational sectors; as well as in respect of synergies between these sectors. The objectives, actions and performance indicators in respect of each of these goals are also outlined in the strategy. The Department's Business Plan...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 597 [29577/09], on 9 July 2009. The work required to progress to the decisions to combine the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery, while reinforcing their separate brand identities, and to merge the National Archives, the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Library, could include...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: 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. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The present arrangements are that the Arts Council provides funding to the Abbey Theatre from the grant allocation provided to them by my Department. No discussions have taken place with the Department of Finance in connection with the funding mechanism.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: My Department commissioned an analysis from DKM Economic Consultants of the economic impact of the arts, culture and creative sectors. Some preliminary results of draft research, to which I alluded at the Global Irish Economic Forum show that the cultural and creative sector is one of the most dynamic areas of the Irish economy, with a total economic impact in 2008 of €11.8 billion. At...

Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with the provisions of section 8(1) of the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, it is a day-to-day matter for Fáilte Ireland to encourage, promote and support either inside or outside the State (a) the development of tourism traffic within and to the state and (b) the development and marketing of tourist facilities and services within the State. Accordingly, my...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 79 together. As I have previously stated in response to questions on the overall development of the national sports campus project, I have been engaged in discussions with the NSCDA as to how we might best advance matters in the medium term taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints. Notwithstanding these constraints, I am...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: Apart from some minor current expenditure related mainly to travel expenses in respect of visits to the proposed decentralised locations, no other expenditure has been incurred by my Department on plans to decentralise the bodies under its aegis. No sites or offices were acquired as part of the planned decentralisation of the bodies.

Written Answers — National Cultural Institutions: National Cultural Institutions (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The proposals in the Report of Special Group on Public Sector Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report) have not been adopted by the Government as policy but are rather a suite of options which will be considered in the context of the 2010 Estimates. The generally held view among the cultural institutions here and abroad is that the introduction of admission charges will reduce...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: The table below shows the allocations made in each of the last 5 years and the amounts of these allocation outstanding as at end August 2009. For a variety of reasons it can take grantees several years to draw down allocations. Some of the more common reasons include: delays in finalising the legalities required to protect the State's investment; delays in the planning process; and...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (24 Sep 2009)

Martin Cullen: In my address to the Fáilte Ireland National Conference in November 2008, I gave an undertaking to put in place an initiative to develop the exciting potential of cultural tourism. The Cultural Tourism Initiative was subsequently launched on 11 February 2009, when I hosted a meeting with the heads of the State tourism agencies, cultural institutions and arts bodies. I set out the areas in...