Results 21-40 of 10,778 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 138 and 141 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. The scheme has now been operating for almost three years and is underpinned by a robust research programme collecting data about all aspects of the lives of the artists and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I agree with the Deputy, to be honest about it. It has shone a light on the precarious nature of the income, which was the initial overriding consideration my predecessor had when this scheme was brought in. Not everybody was enthusiastic about this scheme when it was brought in but, qualitatively and quantitatively, when we have the research concluded, it will demonstrate in a clear way...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will take the last part first. Once I have had an opportunity to digest the material - the Deputy would accept that is not unreasonable - it will give me an opportunity to make further decisions. As regards the result of the analysis and the possible publication, we want to be sensitive to people's individual identities, etc. I do not want to compromise people one way or another. I also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Regarding the previous question Deputy O'Donoghue raised, it will be appreciated by Deputy Ó Snodaigh that a small town like Buncrana has a night-time economy adviser that the Department made provision for. Many towns in Ireland that are much bigger than Buncrana do not have one. This is the basis of pilots. There will always be disappointment but once the pilots are concluded, that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Ah Jesus.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Oh my God.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The question is whether I will abolish the television licence and replace it with a tax. No, I will not. That is the end of that. I have no notion of doing it. That fund is in place to support RTÉ and public service broadcasters. It also supports Sound and Vision. I have no intention of replacing it. I also have no intention of going down a cul-de-sac as the Deputy would like us...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am here to answer questions regarding communications, so I will answer the question on communications. There was not really a question in the Deputy's second contribution. My position remains the same. The television licence is not a tax, by the way. I do not see that reference anywhere in the legislation, so I do not know what hat he drew that rabbit out of. It is an important funding...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy is no stranger to RTÉ and he gets a fair crack of the whip there. Of course, he never uses the opportunity to express his thanks for the unbridled coverage he seems to get from RTÉ on a day in, day out basis. Those of us on this side of the House might have something to complain about if there was a fairness test. I do not, however, because it is a public service...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy has form in this space. He does not want to pay for anything. He feels that everybody else should pay for something else other than him. He is entitled to start whatever campaign it is he wants to start to undermine another public service. I do not wish him the best of luck with it. Most people do not either. When he does get an opportunity to sit on this side of the House,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Artists' Remuneration (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for the question and for his remarks at the start of his contribution. The programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the basic income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that the Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. In support of action 19 in the report of the night-time economy task force and as part of the Department's key role in driving the night-time economy in Ireland, we are funding nine night-time economy advisers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Sligo, Longford, Buncrana and Drogheda. The night-time economy pilots are a significant project within the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. The Oireachtas broadcasting unit, as the Deputy knows, is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. All parties are represented at that commission. Those are ultimately the people who have responsibility for the operation and running of the Oireachtas. It would not be appropriate for me to cut across the Ceann Comhairle and members of the Oireachtas...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I acknowledge the Deputy's support for the sector. He has been consistent in his remarks.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. I launched the grassroots music venues support scheme in March this year to support small and established music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists, in recognition of the contribution they make to the music industry and the wider night-time economy. The support scheme aims to provide employment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will appreciate it was a pilot scheme that had a relatively small amount of money available and attracted considerable interest. The officials in my Department had to ascribe a basis for the allocation of the moneys, as I have outlined. They also had to cut it off at a certain point because there was no point in continuing secula seculorum. We will be doing this again and will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Healthcare Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Online safety for children is a Government priority and a top priority for me as Minister. It’s essential that we make sure children do not see illegal, harmful or inappropriate content while being able to safely avail of all the benefits of the online world. It is my view that robust age verification is essential for keeping children safe online. Last week, I met the main social...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Increasing participation levels in sport among all cohorts is a key objective of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and is a priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport. I therefore welcome the results of the Irish Sports Monitor 2024 survey which revealed that active sports participation has reached record levels, with 49% of the population now taking part in sport on a weekly basis....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government commits to supporting the sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential from grassroots right up to high performance level. We will achieve this through a number of measures including maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in...