Results 1,341-1,360 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

National Aquatic Centre. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It is my understanding that the case is, or may be, subject to appeal. Therefore, I must be very careful about what I say in regard to it. To the best of my knowledge, to date, funds have not been received in respect of VAT from Dublin Waterworld. With regard to the report to which the Deputies refer, there have been many reports on this centre and I assume that Deputy Burton's question...

National Aquatic Centre. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The question was nominated by Deputy Gogarty.

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 92 together. The recent publication by the Central Statistics Office of data for tourism and travel in 2005 presented a healthy overall picture for tourism in Ireland. This was evident in both an increased number of overseas visitors, up 6% to almost 7 million, and a significant rise in revenue, up almost 8% to €3.455 billion, excluding carrier...

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am fully supportive of the promotion of the country for walking and activity holidays in general. In that context, the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, established Comhairle na Tuaithe which is charged with seeking to resolve difficulties in regard to access to land for hill walkers and therefore comes within the remit of that Minister. I am fully supportive of his efforts in this respect. As...

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: A full regional tourism marketing campaign is being conducted in all the major markets and this will help the regions during 2006. A considerable number of golfers, approximately 138,000, are coming to Ireland specifically for those kinds of holidays. Tour operators last year voted Ireland the number one golf destination in the world.

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: With regard to the Ryder Cup, the Fáilte Ireland budget has recently been increased by €4.5 million to enable it to become involved in an aggressive marketing campaign which will use the Ryder Cup to promote Ireland as a golfing experience.

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 84 together. As I previously advised the House in response to a similar question on 1 March, individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion or development at regional level are day-to-day functions of the State tourism agencies. As the Deputies are aware, Fáilte Ireland commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers just over a year ago to conduct...

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The opposite is the intention. In fact, the new proposals envisage a wider brief for regional tourism authorities playing a strategic rather than administrative role and providing input into national policy. There will be a greatly increased emphasis by the regional tourism authorities on targeted marketing, product development and inter-price support, and this is precisely what has been...

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The super regions initiative, which was launched by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in February, is the latest and, incidentally, possibly the most significant innovation from an overseas marketing perspective in presenting a better, more tangible concept of Ireland's regions to potential consumers abroad. The initiative, which is additional to Tourism Ireland's destination marketing...

Tourism Industry. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Everybody will be well aware by now of Transport 21 which contains exciting initiatives intended to improve access throughout the country, not least in the case of the western corridor. It is a measure that Deputy Cowley, in particular, would welcome. Access needs to be improved and that is why the plans are in place. Never in the history of the State has more funding been invested in...

National Institute of Sport. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to the reply given earlier in response to Priority Question No. 59.

National Stadium. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 87, 88 and 91 together. As the House will be aware, in January 2004 the Government agreed to provide funding of €191 million to the joint IRFU-FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. In January 2006 the planning application for the project was submitted by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, LRSDC, the company charged...

National Stadium. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Clearly, it is difficult to know what the planning authority will say about the objections that have been raised. On 12 January 2006 the planning application for the proposed new stadium was lodged with Dublin City Council by the development company and the closing date for the lodgment of objections was Wednesday, 15 February 2006. A total of 151 submissions were received, of which 20 were...

National Stadium. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The Government's commitment is €191 million and there are no plans to increase it.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: We would need Joe with the rifle then.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Where is Joe, by the way? We would need Joe with the rifle.

Written Answers — Transport Policy: Transport Policy (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: As the House is aware, I am not responsible for implementing Transport 21. That responsibility lies with my colleague the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen. Transport 21 addresses many issues of importance to tourism development. My Department has developed a close policy relationship with the Department of Transport on issues of concern to tourism. It has also been in dialogue with the...

Written Answers — Cultural Projects: Cultural Projects (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: My Department supports capital arts projects through the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme or ACCESS scheme. Under the ACCESS scheme, 180 applications were received and 44 of these were selected for funding in 2001. A total of €45.71 million was available for the scheme but applications for grant aid of £224 million were received. All the funds under the current scheme...

Written Answers — Punchestown Festival: Punchestown Festival (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Last month I launched an economic impact report on the 2005 Punchestown festival, carried out by NUI, Maynooth. The report estimated that the economic contribution of the Punchestown festival is in the region of €43 million. The report calculates the direct economic effect of the Punchestown festival to be almost €33 million. During the four days of the festival on-course spending...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Apr 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am familiar with the US consular information sheet in question. US consular information sheets are routinely issued by the US Department of State, in reespect of individual countries, for the guidance of US citizens travelling abroad. They should not be confused with travel warnings. These sheets cover basic topics of interest to travellers, including potential hazards. Topics include entry...