Results 2,241-2,260 of 5,767 for speaker:Olivia Mitchell

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (6 Oct 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 770: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number employed in the Arts Council in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32935/09]

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (6 Oct 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 809: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are plans to re-introduce the personal alarm security pendants for older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33750/09]

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 980: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authorities that have been authorised to switch houses which were previously identified as affordable homes for resale to social housing to let; the way this decision interfaces with the planning acts in terms of consultation with residents or opportunities to make representations; the legal...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (6 Oct 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 1114: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a commitment that in future education decisions that the Protestant faith school will return to a situation where they are regarded as non-fee paying schools in line with commitments and practices of the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/09]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 1240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if progress has been made on the provision of funding for a school (details supplied) at a new site in Ballinteer, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33760/09]

Film Industry Development. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether the retention of the Irish Film Board as a singular entity is important for the future development of the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32886/09]

Film Industry Development. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: What motivated this question, both for myself and I am sure for my colleague, is the recommendation in the McCarthy report and the concern it would cause to those in the industry and to me. All of us are conscious that not everything which was funded in the past will be funded in future. Nevertheless, it is important to begin establishing priorities to save so we can have something to build...

Film Industry Development. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The McCarthy report stated that an objective case had not been made on this issue but, strictly speaking, that is not true. As the Minister indicated, there are direct benefits and these were highlighted in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. However, there are also the intangible benefits and these are immense. If, as I believe, we are all making the case to retain the Irish Film Board as a...

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the initiatives he has introduced to tackle the downward trend in tourism figures; his views on whether he considers the structures in place sufficient to give strategic leadership to those struggling in the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32887/09]

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The Tánaiste - although it may have been the Taoiseach - stated in recent days that 35% of jobs in the tourism industry are vulnerable. She indicated that she was involved in discussions with the Minister with regard to initiatives to be taken. Regardless of how one tries to play down this matter and state that other countries are also doing badly, the reality is that there is a huge...

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The Minister has not clarified whether the tourism renewal group has reported yet. Will its report recommend emergency or long-term measures? Something that will try to salvage what remains of this year is needed, as otherwise the businesses concerned simply will not be there next year. That is the truth, no matter what the Minister might say. From the perspective of salvaging what...

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The issue is with the airlines. Although we are an island nation, we are losing the airlines.

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: The Minister did not give an answer regarding the tourism renewal group's report.

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether policy initiatives aimed at fostering new talent and sustaining those established in the artistic community have been adequate to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32888/09]

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I wish to raise two aspects that arise from the various reports produced by the McCarthy group and the Commission on Taxation. The first pertains to the issue of the tax exemption on which I seek the Minister's views. Although the McCarthy report suggested its abolition would save money, the case has been put forward that so doing would instead reduce tax revenue. The truth is in there...

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: There appears to be a suggestion that even in conjunction with the cutbacks recommended in the McCarthy report, there will be a cutback based on over-expenditure this year. If that is true, it would amount to approximately 17% and the Minister should clarify this issue.

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Was there not a suggestion of reserves being spent this year?

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: Was there a suggestion of money being spent this year that would not be available next year because reserves were being spent?

Arts Policy. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: I seek the Minister's opinion on the artist tax exemption. While I acknowledge the Minister is not entirely his own master in this regard, does he have a view on it?

Tourism Industry. (24 Sep 2009)

Olivia Mitchell: On that issue, I spoke to a hotelier in Cork who pays €10,000 a week in rates. It adds up to €500,000 a year, which nobody can sustain. That is not even in Dublin; it is in Cork. The hoteliers are reducing their prices but their inputs must come down. That means local authority inputs must come down. My question is related and the Minister was about to touch on it. Many of the hotels...