Results 1,541-1,560 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The opening of a Los Angeles office by the Irish Film Board is formally a matter for the Board itself, and although I initially suggested this strategy, the final decision and implementation are Board matters. However, I understand from the Board that this new office will focus on the promotion of Ireland to the U.S. film industry, with the aim of attracting an increased range of U.S. feature...
- Written Answers — Sports Facilities: Sports Facilities (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As I have previously indicated, the steering group overseeing this work has decided that the audit will be undertaken in a number of phases to speed up the availability of information. Phase one of the audit will establish a record of national and regional sports facilities and is being carried out within my Department. The work currently being undertaken by my Department is a data gathering...
- Written Answers — Sports Grounds: Sports Grounds (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 47 together. I welcome this opportunity to expand on my views regarding offers from developers to purchase and develop sports grounds. Over the years, many sports clubs of all kinds have developed their facilities in very central locations which are strategically placed at the heart of their community. However, in these times of high property prices...
- Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 46 together. The House will be aware that in November last, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium was, with the approval of the Government, designated as the Provisional Preferred Tenderer for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin. In accordance with the competition process, the Contracting Authority, the Office of...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In 2005, visitor numbers from Mainland Europe to Ireland were up almost 20% to 1.9m generating revenue of â¬1.23 bn â up 32% on 2004. The performance of this market has surpassed the targets in the New Horizons report. The fact that Mainland Europe is now almost on a par with Britain in revenue terms confirms that we are very much on target in relation to the tourism priority in the Agreed...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, was published in September 2003. It contained a very practical Action Plan. It had a time-frame for implementation and, more importantly, a strong and public monitoring mechanism. It contained ambitious targets for the industry, namely to achieve annual figures of 10 million visitors and â¬6...
- Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Cannes Film Festival is one of most prestigious networking events on the international film circuit. Ireland continues to have a prominent presence at the festival through the Irish Film Board, which in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Film Commission, co-sponsors the Irish Pavilion at Cannes. I was delighted to officiate at the formal public launch of the Irish Pavilion in Cannes....
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I met the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) on 8th March, 2006 to discuss their proposed grant scheme for GAA players. I met with the President of the GAA and officials on 16th May last. At both of these meetings, I indicated that this issue is, in the first instance, a matter for the governance structures within the GAA itself, to determine how best the important contribution of its own elite...
- Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I have long considered that the unfortunate people, who suffered greatly during various Irish famines, and the Great Famine in particular, deserved commemoration on an annual basis. The Great Famine, which was responsible for the death of so many Irish people and which ushered in the age of effective compulsory emigration that has only recently been turned-around, has had a great impact on...
- Written Answers — Tourist Accommodation: Tourist Accommodation (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As I have previously advised the House, I do not have responsibility for the registration and listing of tourist accommodation facilities. This is a day-to-day function of Fáilte Ireland under the National Tourism Development Authority Act, 2003. Since taking up my appointment as Minister with responsibility for Tourism, I have met with representative organisations of the bed and breakfasts...
- Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Tourism Ireland and the Irish Film Board are continuing to develop joint activities such as trade missions, familiarisation tours and marketing activities to maximise the links between Ireland's on-screen presence in film and television and tourist interest that follows. Recently, Tourism Ireland directly assisted several film and television productions that have clear potential tourism...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 88 and 94 together. The provision for sport in the 2006 book of estimates, including the Sports Capital Programme, the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, the Irish Sports Council, Horseracing Ireland and Bord na gCon, amounts to â¬228.795 million. A further â¬14.5...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery-funded Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Primary and post-primary schools wishing to be considered for funding under the programme may only apply for funding jointly with...
- Written Answers — Public Relations: Public Relations (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I have no intention of changing my Department's arrangements for information gathering in reaction to what, as the Deputy is well aware, was a single unfortunate error in the Department's Press Office.
- Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following: âto stimulate public...
- Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: There was a welcome increase to almost 7 million in the number of visitors to the country last year. Domestic tourism has also shown robust growth. It is true that all regions have not benefited equally from recent growth in tourism and this continues to be a matter receiving attention from both my Department and the State tourism agencies. Just over a year ago Fáilte Ireland commissioned...
- Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (31 May 2006)
John O'Donoghue: There are four local authority swimming pools on the north side of Dublin, located at Sean McDermott St, Ballymun, Finglas and Coolock. As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 209 of 26 April last, under the current round of the local authority swimming pool programme the following projects have been/are being dealt in the Dublin area as of end May 2006: Skerries â contract...
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
John O'Donoghue: That was always the law.
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Deputy should read the Bill.
- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Deputy Howlin is wrong again.