Results 9,961-9,980 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Tax Code. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: As I stated in my written reply of 21 January 2010, the original intention of the legislation referred to by the Deputy was, inter alia, to create an environment in which the arts could flourish and also to encourage Irish artists on modest incomes to remain here rather than going abroad to earn a living. Under subsection (12) of section 195 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, there is...

Tax Code. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I am smiling.

Tax Code. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I do not want to, nor do I believe it is the Deputy's intention, to necessarily focus on one particular individual.

Tax Code. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: We have had very good examples in this respect and some books have been very good and very interesting. The issue is subjective and that is the difficulty here. The Arts Council has a view and it has expressed some views to me on this matter. I do not want to say that it takes a narrow focus but it takes one that is very much on the artistic side, if I could put it that way. For example,...

Tax Code. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I am not convinced it undermines action which both the Deputy and I strongly support, the helping of emerging artists whose career will be in writing plays and books, sculpture, music or anything else. That is the intention behind the support. Part of the difficulty, as the Deputy knows well, is how to frame this in a legislative sense so we do not get it wrong. I would like to finalise...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: The report of the tourism renewal group set out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic and social development and its prospects in a changed world, as well as a framework for action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth in the period to 2013. The report proposes five survival actions to minimise the impact of current challenges and nine recovery actions to set Irish tourism back...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's first point regarded the air travel tax, which I raised in budget discussions with the Minister for Finance and my colleagues. Judgment calls had to be made in an effort to maintain the tourism budget or even enhance it. I was not successful in winning the argument as it involves a substantial stream of revenue. It is very hard to quantify in real terms the impact of the tax....

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: It must be charged on the outbound flight.

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I am making the point in general terms. There is no doubt that in broad terms, everybody would prefer if the tax was not there. I will not defend it as a positive mechanism for encouraging people to come to Ireland. I agree with the Minister for Finance that the books must be balanced in the very difficult circumstances we are now experiencing. My preference was to maintain the tourism...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: This is an interesting and one of the more positive outcomes to an issue. As the Deputy is probably aware, there has been a great effort among bed and breakfasts and small hoteliers to substantially improve their reach in e-marketing and the use of technology. Fáilte Ireland has put many resources into such businesses for free in order to get them up to speed and have good sites produced....

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: A draft national sports facilities strategy 2010-2015 has been completed within my Department and circulated to a number of Departments and other relevant bodies for observations prior to finalisation. The draft strategy is now being amended to take account of the comments received and will then be submitted to the Government for approval and publication. The aim of the five-year strategy is...

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: The draft is already completed.

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I have just come from the conference to announce elite funding under the carding system. I am pleased at the very positive comments I received from representatives of all different sports bodies about the level of funding put into the sport, and how significant it is for them that the level of support for our top athletes is maintained. I made my view clear at the conference that we must...

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is raising a separate question. I was specifically talking about Abbotstown. The number of projects done last year for clubs reached record levels. There is another €50 million in the budget this year for the continuation and completion of-----

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: They do not exist until they are built. There were existing applications, but many of them had to apply for planning permission which they only recently received. I would not exclude the possibility of a new round of sports capital funding. It is my intention to get the draft report into a final report, bring it before the Government and publish it as quickly as possible.

Sporting Facilities. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. There is great value for money available at the moment. Facilities that might have cost X plus Y a few years ago will only cost X today. That is to the benefit of those who are building them and to the Exchequer.

Irish Horse and Greyhound Racing Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 64 in the name of Deputy Upton in which I outlined my views on the future funding options for the horse and greyhound racing sectors. I have provided a copy of the Farrell, Grant, Sparks review of the horse and greyhound fund to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, of which the Deputy is a member.

Irish Horse and Greyhound Racing Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: When we recently spoke about this at the committee, I said to the Deputy that the French Government is involved in the same process and we are liaising with them to come up with a solution. It is very hard to disentangle, because the process is the very same whether gambling takes place over the telephone or on-line or wherever. Everybody in the industry has been willing to make a...

Irish Horse and Greyhound Racing Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy smiles and she is right. While a tax on turnover may be somewhat onerous, the figures that have been suggested to me for a contribution in comparison to what is bet bear no resemblance whatsoever. That is just not acceptable and we must be realistic. It is in the interests of the industry to work with this and come up with a solution. Some members of the industry are coming to...

Irish Horse and Greyhound Racing Industry. (17 Feb 2010)

Martin Cullen: I would be keen to do that, but I need a firm workable proposal to put to them in order to do that. I met with them all and I have heard their ideas-----