Results 14,481-14,500 of 15,510 for speaker:Brendan Griffin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: The Minister will be aware that a major bogus self-employment scandal was uncovered at RTÉ a number of years ago. The issue continues and the national broadcaster has been settling some of the outstanding liabilities with the various State agencies as a result and this is continuing. It is my understanding that many of the workers who should have been classed as employees but were...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: With regard to the funding being provided to Tourism Ireland, I presume the Northern Ireland Executive getting back up and running will have a positive impact in this regard and for any initiatives the Minister might be planning on a North-South basis. I know this overlaps with the Minister of State's area too. Le Grand Départ of the Tour de France was one initiative that could not get...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: We know spending in certain tourism hotspots is down as a result of beds, and a substantial number of beds in some areas, being displaced because of the pressures that exist, arising primarily from the war in Ukraine and the need for refugees to be accommodated. I agree with this and this must happen. I am proud that as a country we have responded to this situation in an appropriate way....

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I know that the setting of taxation rates is not the remit of the Minister but of the Minister for Finance. In fairness to the Minister present, she has been vocal about the 9% VAT rate being the appropriate rate for the tourism sector. Does she still articulate that position at the Cabinet table? Is it still her view that the rate most appropriate for Irish tourism and hospitality is 9%?...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I want to ask about a number of initiatives that I was very keen to get into the programme for Government. I have been following up since about the wild Atlantic walkway initiative and the Irish Sea coastal route which goes from Carlingford to Cobh and along the entire eastern seaboard. Has provision been made in the budget this year to progress these respected projects? Both projects...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: Is the Wild Atlantic Way initiative way ahead of the eastern seaboard initiative or will both initiatives move in tandem?

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: There is merit in both initiatives. They are very much worth pursuing.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: There are sustainable and will serve future generations if we do the groundwork now.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I welcome the pilot programme. It is really positive. When the Minister was in previously, I articulated that the programme deserves all our support. One of the teething issues that came up at committee previously related to disabled artists who may be on a disability payment and effectively have to choose between one or the other. Has the Minister had an opportunity to have discussions...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: It is a great scheme. Any feedback here is purely that and it is very progressive. I want to also ask about progress in section 481 for non-scripted productions. Section 481 has been brilliant. It deserves all of our support. We are starting to really see that in the higher profile recognition of the Irish sector. Regarding that, will we see progress this year on the rolling out of the...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: The level of activity that could arise from this would be worth pursuing and would create and sustain jobs, and build the sector here even further. I will use the cliché that it is a no-brainer. We should definitely try to implement it sooner rather than later. It should have the full support of the Department.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I might take up that point. The one thing I have learned is that the more we give in sports capital funding, the more clubs will ask for. I do not envy the Minister of State's position with a request for €360 million. I would have turned pale if I had seen that. I believe my first programme involved an ask of approximately €150 million. There were approximately €30...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: Does the Minister of State expect there will be an equipment only round-----

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: -----by May?

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: That overall figure is stratospheric by comparison with what we have previously had. Previous provisions have been of the order of €30 million or €40 million and sometimes it was doubled up with two years' budget for an allocation. Even with that, the Minister of State will have a massive shortfall. It was fantastic to have that exceptional amount in the latest round. How...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: However, realistically the Minister of State will not be able to come up with that sort of budget. I know he was able to do it the last time but-----

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: It is money that is very well spent and I support the Minister of State's efforts to try to get the funding as high as possible. He mentioned the staff in Killarney. It is a fully transparent system. There is a method to it and it rewards merit. Sometimes the charge is made that it is not; it absolutely is. The staff in Killarney do a fantastic job. Regarding future major events, is...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: That was my next question.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: No-----

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2024)

Brendan Griffin: It could be dealt with rapidly enough. It is actually much smaller than I would have expected. Could I ask in relation-----