Results 3,361-3,380 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

National Commemorative Programmes (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: National commemorative programmes are addressed in the first instance by the Department of the Taoiseach in consultation with other Departments and agencies. Having regard to each particular commemorative initiative, implementation arrangements for programmes and events are agreed following consideration of the roles of the interested Departments and agencies. My Department provides...

National Commemorative Programmes (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for his remarks. Perhaps he will advise the Taoiseach along those lines. We served on that Oireachtas committee and I thought it was quite effective whenever it met, which was not too often. The important point for the 1916 commemoration is that it should be inclusive. All Members in this House share roots in 1916. All parties go back to 1916 for their origins....

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 7, 11 and 33 together. The new Government fully recognises the significant role the tourism sector can play in Ireland's economic recovery. After a decline in overseas visitor numbers in each of the past three years, we are determined that, in working with the tourism agencies and the industry, 2011 will mark a turning point for the sector and that we see a...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: There will be a significant concentration on spend in the UK market. It is happening already through Tourism Ireland. The Government tried to use the St. Patrick's Day event to promote this country strongly. I was in London and at every media opportunity I made a strong pitch for this country. I pointed out that, as the Deputy said, we were never more competitive as regards hotel bedrooms...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: St. Patrick's Day was an ideal opportunity to showcase this country in both America and the UK. To its credit, Tourism Ireland did an excellent job. As the Deputy is aware, Tourism Ireland is an all-island body. It is a company more than a statutory agency but it promotes the entire 32 counties. It is doing a very good job. It must keep people happy on both sides which is not always...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank the Deputy for raising that matter. If one travels the roads, one will see the green margins are strewn with bottles and other forms of litter. It is an absolute disgrace. We are lucky that grass grows easily and quickly in this country because it camouflages, during the summer period when tourists come here, how filthy we are. I am glad the Deputy mentioned streets. The buzzword...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy obviously learned his lesson. There seem to be no great deterrents to dumping large amounts of litter. Joined-up thinking is a very important concept. When I was proposing the tourism policy, I suggested there should be more interdepartmental and intradepartmental co-operation to address issues such as this. It is a matter of taking a very practical approach. Various...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: When I was in London, I addressed a huge assembly of young Irish people. I mentioned the Queen's visit and the feedback I received from them was very positive. They are very grateful that they can go to London and other parts of the United Kingdom to work and they are also very anxious that the Queen should receive a very warm welcome when she comes to Ireland. I did not encounter any...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 2. If she wants to add anything further, she may do so.

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Overall, County Cork is a very vibrant tourist destination. West Cork is regarded as one of the primary tourist destinations in the country. People in Youghal and elsewhere can only regard what is being done in west Cork as a very good model on which to base a tourism product. Having a reasonable knowledge of east Cork and the Youghal area — I have relatives there — I realise it has...

Tourism Industry (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 13 together. Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, following the amalgamation of Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT, to encourage, promote and support tourism. Its primary functions are the development of quality tourism product, domestic tourism marketing, tourism standards, enterprise support,...

Air Services (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I congratulate Deputy Michael Kitt on being appointed Leas-Cheann Comhairle today. I wish him the best of luck in the role and I am sure he will be very fair like the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Barrett. Direct, convenient and competitive international access by air and by sea is vital for the development of tourism to Ireland, an island destination. It is in that context that the agreed...

Air Services (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome Deputy McConalogue to his position of responsibility as Opposition spokesperson on transport, tourism and sport. I remind him that the line Minister will be Deputy Varadkar; it is simply that the responsibilities he will have not yet been transferred. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, in a interview on a news programme today expressed his disappointment that this charge was imposed....

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will appreciate the reopening of the Midleton to Youghal railway line is not a matter for me but a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport who will be the Minister with responsibility for tourism shortly. Furthermore, under the National Tourism Development Authority Act, Fáilte Ireland has the devolved function to encourage, promote and support the development...

Tourism Promotion (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I congratulate the Deputy on her election. The fact that her husband is a keen Kerry football supporter makes me even happier that she is a Deputy. As someone who was involved in the completion of a railway project, I am aware of the fascination people have with railways. A strong case can be made for the restoration of any railway line anywhere in the country. One of the major attractions...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome the Deputy to the House and acknowledge his particular interest in sport. He has done an enormous amount of work to promote soccer in Wexford. It is great to see the election of sports enthusiasts to the House and I am sure the Deputy will participate in some of our activities in the coming years. A draft national sports facilities strategy has been completed by my Department....

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I understand the strategy was prepared last summer, but, for whatever reason, it was not published. It will now be managed by the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Ring, and I am sure they will publish it shortly once they have had an opportunity to study it and perhaps insert some of their own ideas. An audit of sports facilities is being...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: That is an important question and it is why there is a need for a sports strategy. Previously, the money was either spent under the influence of the Minister or distributed to wealthy clubs that could provide matching funding. Deputy Ring is anxious that the level of matching funding required be lowered in order that clubs throughout the country can avail of this. The wealthier clubs got...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under the sports capital programme, SCP, funding is allocated to sporting, voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level. A total of €33 million has been provided in the Department's Vote in the 2011 Estimates to meet payments in respect of projects that have been allocated funding under the SCP. More than 1,000 payments were made last year to projects being...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank the Deputy for his positive approach. I agree that a lot can be achieved with a small amount of money. There are many people who are willing to volunteer their services if given the opportunity. I will suggest that the next scheme be more flexible with regard to the input of local labour, which could be considered as the equivalent of matching funding. In this way, much more could...