Results 161-180 of 251 for speaker:Alison Comyn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Would there be an opportunity to expand it though? Would the scheme be taking in more? Could some still be retained or are we going to revert to the 2,000 with some falling aside? This would make for a very uncertain future for them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Okay, we will stick with the funding then, because we all know what the large-scale sports infrastructure fund has done for sport. It has been absolutely transformational for many sectors. I am proposing the establishment of a large-scale cultural infrastructural fund. This would support large-scale culture projects with grants perhaps ranging from €1 million to €30 million....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Given it is in the programme for Government, I hope there is a timeline for that and not just a possibility of it happening in the lifetime of the Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: The Minister did mention the local authorities shouldering much of the burden. Louth County Council is still shouldering a debt of €1.3 million from the very successful fleadh we had in 2028-2029. It brought 750,000 people and a great deal of revenue. We are unlikely to get the fleadh again because of that debt, so should-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I am sorry; it was 2018-2019.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Yes, exactly. We are unlikely to get an opportunity again because of this debt. Is this something the local authorities should be shouldering?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I will address this question to the Minister of State. My colleague Deputy Byrne and I are pursuing compulsory swimming lessons for primary school children in light of too many drowning tragedies. We have approached the Department of Education and Youth. Can this be put through the national swimming strategy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Excellent. I am far too quick asking questions but I got my answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I thank everyone for coming in here again. I am pretty certain I have seen more of them than I have of my family in recent weeks, but it is extremely important we talk about the funding of the arts. Many artists really appreciate the effort that has been put in, the widespread funding and especially the basic income. It is good news the pilot funding for that has been extended. I have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Safety online is not only for young children; it is also for adults. We have a defamation law coming down the line. How can we make sure people are not hiding behind anonymity and you are guilty until proven innocent, basically?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I welcome one piece of vital infrastructure in County Meath, although I am shocked another project just a couple of kilometres from County Louth will not be included in the national development plan. There is a widespread welcome for the green light given to the Slane bypass in County Meath. It is much-needed infrastructure that will save time and countless lives. I acknowledge the work...

Seanad: Post Office Network: Statements (9 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I speak in support of this matter, which goes far beyond simple logistics or commercial viability. I speak of our post office network, a cornerstone of Irish community life, and the urgent need to ensure its survival and sustainability. The post office is not just a facility. It goes even beyond a public service. It is a social connector and, in many parts of rural and regional Ireland, a...

Seanad: Transport Policy: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I thank the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Department for all the incredible work carried out, even in the short time the current Government has been in office, to improve connectivity, reduce transport and commuting costs, improve EV charging, increase train and bus options, and, especially in my home town of Drogheda, effectively cutting the cost of a ticket...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Or, indeed, Louth. I was there this morning. It is looking very good.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: LOITV is probably suffering similar hurdles.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: What are both organisations doing to communicate more strongly the message that piracy is holding them back and the damage it is doing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: So, this is something we could work on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: I thank the witnesses for attending. A lot of my queries have been answered. I have to concur with my colleague Deputy Byrne: the witnesses provide a vital service, and we thank them very much for that. There is no question that, as they themselves said, GAA+ and LOITV broaden the appeal of the sports to so many who cannot get to the venues for reasons of vulnerability, finances, etc. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Alison Comyn: Like many parents, I probably spend a lot of time nowadays trying to get children off screens rather than onto them. It is magnificent that these services are offered, including the streaming services and the apps, etc., but what is being done in terms of outreach programmes, perhaps with juvenile clubs such as Cúl Camps, to try to get them engaged in real life, as they say, too?