Results 2,101-2,120 of 5,767 for speaker:Olivia Mitchell
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I recognise and welcome the budgetary measure to give older persons free travel on the trains. It may not go as far as I had hoped but it is welcome. The travel tax, however, was not recognised. The tourism renewal group recommended ending it as a major survival action. It is also a major recommendation of the Competitiveness Council in this month's report. I do not understand how the...
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: While I appreciate all that is being done to improve the American market, does the Minister accept that the travel tax does not impact as much on the American market as it does on the short haul flights to Europe? A tax of â¬10 on a flight that costs only â¬5 has a much bigger impact than on a flight costing â¬200. The travel tax impacts on the short-haul and European flights, the...
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: The Minister does not get the point. The tax is not being charged. The airlines are not passing it on to passengers.
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the report by Dr. Peter Bacon on the unsustainability of many hotels here; his views on the implications of this report for future tourism infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47910/09]
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: No matter what the Minister does, he will never fill all the hotel beds that have been built over a number of years. On the Bacon report, which was the subject of my question, its conclusion was - I find this hard to accept - that we gave tax breaks to developers to open hotels and now we are to give them tax breaks to close them. Nevertheless, this raises a big issue and I have written to...
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Even in the best of days there was not enough business to fill those hotels, so the Minister is not going to do it now in the middle of a world recession. We must do something, however, to save the hotels that are still there. A lot of personal and State money has been invested in that infrastructure around the country. If we wait for NAMA to sort it out, half the hotels will have closed...
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: They have no input.
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: That is not the question I asked.
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Is it legal? Has the Minister of State checked it out?
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: This is predatory pricing.
- Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Is it regulated? Talking to the hotels will not solve the problem.
- Restaurant Sector. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the future viability of the restaurant sector; the discussions he has had regarding the competitiveness issues affecting the industry in view of the importance of gastronomy to the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47911/09]
- Restaurant Sector. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I thank the Minister for his reply. I do not need to remind him what an important part of the tourism industry the restaurant sector is. It supports approximately 64,000 jobs. According to the restaurateurs themselves, at least one in three of them is in danger of closing within the next few months. That will not come as a surprise because in every town and city, including Dublin,...
- Restaurant Sector. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: The Minister says he agrees with it, but what exactly can he do to bring that about? Is there anything he can do?
- Policy of Inclusion. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I am not sure what that response was telling me. As the Minister knows, the sports inclusion disability officers work through the local sports partnerships. The dormant account funding from last year amounted to â¬1.3 million while it is â¬300,000 this year. Clearly, there is significant shortfall of â¬1 million. Approximately 5,000 people were able to participate in sport for the first...
- Policy of Inclusion. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I am pleased to hear the council is of a mind to maintain the programme. I am often of a mind to do things myself but do not have the purse to do them.
- Policy of Inclusion. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I understand.
- Policy of Inclusion. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: Will the Minister undertake to track what actually happens? We will not hear from people with disabilities. They will disappear behind their doors and become invisible. We will not know whether they will have access to what they had access to last year. Will the Minister ensure that the Irish Sports Council provides the money?
- Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: No Member will disagree this valuable industry must be supported. It provides not just 28,000 jobs but the unquantifiable benefit that it internationally showcases Ireland. I am concerned, however, as are those involved in the industry, as to how it will be funded. Many times the Minister has claimed he is examining new ways of funding. I note in his Department's submission on the cuts...
- Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. (17 Dec 2009)
Olivia Mitchell: I too would like to be associated with those good wishes. I would like to wish everyone and all their families a happy Christmas.