Results 1,881-1,900 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 31 and 35 together. Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions is a matter for the Irish Film Board. This agency is funded through my Department and is independent of the Department in its operations. Funding from my Department to the Board in 2006 amounts...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: As part of its operational responsibility for marketing the island of Ireland as a tourism destination overseas, Tourism Ireland carried out a major Review of the North American Market. I launched the Review on Tuesday last. The full Review is available on Tourism Ireland's website, www.tourismireland.com. North America remains one of the core markets for Irish tourism and its visitors are...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 29, 45 and 49 together. As I have advised the House on a number of occasions this year, most recently on 6th July, individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion or development at regional level are day-to-day functions of the State Tourism Agencies. CSO statistics for overseas tourism for 2005 are very positive with almost 7 million...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The 1990s witnessed the start of a steady decline in visiting overseas anglers, driven by a combination of factors, many of which were outside the control of the industry, such as, changing angling trends in the UK, the aging of the angling population, foot and mouth disease, 9/11, depletion of fish stocks but also the development of other tourism products, such as city breaks, and poorly...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Neither my Department nor I have a function in deciding on the extent of Arts Council funding for particular projects or venues. Indeed, the Arts Act, 2003, underpins the Council's independence in this context. Funding for the Arts Council in 2006 comes to €72.31 million, an increase of nine...

Written Answers — Drugs in Sport: Drugs in Sport (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I have been advised by the Irish Sports Council, the statutory body responsible for the operation of the National Anti-Doping Programme, that there are no indications that the taking of steroids by young athletes is an escalating problem in Ireland. However, it is an area of concern, which the Sports Council's Anti Doping Unit intends to address through its Educational and Research...

Written Answers — Horse Racing Industry: Horse Racing Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The 2005 Annual Report of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) highlights the unprecedented success enjoyed by Ireland's horse racing industry in 2005, both at home and abroad. There was a record nine Irish trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival in March followed by eight Irish winners at Aintree in April, while at home, the Punchestown Festival was once again a major success. On the flat Aidan...

Written Answers — Ryder Cup: Ryder Cup (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 21 and 24 to 26, inclusive, together. The Agreement signed with the PGA European Tour in 1998 for the staging of the Ryder Cup in Ireland provided for a payment of €9.5m to the Tour over the intervening period. Of this, the Exchequer, through Fáilte Ireland, contributed €4.9m and the three co-sponsors contributed the balance (Bord Bia, Waterford...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Under Section 25 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, which established the Council as the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, the Council is required to prepare and present to me a three-year strategy statement for the period 2006-2008. I was happy to approve and, subsequently, launch the Council's three-year strategy "Building Sport for Life"...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Since 1998 this Government has provided over €900 million towards the development of new sporting infrastructure and sports programmes. Included in this figure is an amount of €469.8m in sports capital funding which has been allocated to 5,721 projects throughout the country which is now having a major impact on the range and quality of sports facilities. Almost €11m has been provided...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The 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. Applications submitted to the programme must meet certain minimum qualifying conditions before they can qualify for funding. These include: evidence of...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 47 and 53 together. It is widely recognised that the selection of London as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games offers an unprecedented opportunity for Ireland particularly in the areas of sport, business, tourism, and arts and culture. Aside from the obvious economic and monetary benefits that London 2012 may bring for...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I would refer the Deputy to my detailed reply to Priority Question No. 3.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am not aware of any negative impact on tourism arising from the implementation of the Official Languages Act. Indeed, the implementation of the Act appears to have generated a vast amount of free publicity for An Daingean in particular. As far as travel is concerned, the important thing is that the maps and guides fall into line with the official place names and signs as would be normal...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: In November 2005 the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase one of the development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. The estimated overall cost of the Phase 1 development is €119m and development is scheduled to take place over a 4 to 5 year period. Planning and preparatory work for this project has commenced and work is already underway on the refurbishment of...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 44 together. The nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help 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 is a data gathering...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I continue to keep in touch with the Minister for Finance on this issue which is, of course, of key interest to those involved in seeking to develop our business tourism, in particular, our conference and meetings business.

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: In December 2002, I put in place a high-level Tourism Policy Review Group to report on the state of the Irish tourism industry and to indicate future strategies for the development of a sustainable tourism industry. The Group published its Report, 'New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action', in September 2003. This Report set out a comprehensive tourism development strategy,...

Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 42 together. Government policy for the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy. Having regard for the statutory functions of the Arts Council as set out in Section 9 of the Arts Act 2003, and in accordance with section 21 of that Act, a Special Committee has been established to...

Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (26 Oct 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 43 together. As I informed the House on 3 October last, in reply to a Written Question, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium has been appointed Preferred Tenderer for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin. Subsequently, on 18 October last, I was pleased to visit the proposed site for the National Conference Centre...