Results 4,421-4,440 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Indeed, that fits in with our programme for Government commitment with the development of that new national tourism policy with sustainability at its very core, which will commence later this year when the sector begins to recover. Fáilte Ireland has collaborated with Sport Ireland to identify and signpost the full EuroVelo 1 route right along the western seaboard. This work is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Regarding the voucher scheme, I will work with my colleagues to consider all necessary targeted measures to help reboot tourism, which we agree will face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens. I reiterate that I am open to considering everything and anything that will help the tourism sector to reboot. On the outdoor dining grant, we had this...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I did indeed spend a lovely holiday in west Cork with my family, where I bumped into the Deputy. It is a beautiful part of the world. The tourism sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessary public health restrictions introduced to control it. Since my appointment as Minister, I have been fully engaged with stakeholders in seeking to identify and implement supports...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The focus is on supporting tourism now to ensure the sector reopens safely and as soon as possible, as the vaccination roll-out continues. There is a €55 million tourism business continuity scheme and phase 1 was announced on 1 February. In Cork, we can look at some of the benefits in respect of the supports being put in place. A wide variety of businesses in west Cork will be...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: From my engagement with the sector, I am acutely aware of the retention of skills being an issue. That is why we have invested money from the budget in this endeavour and that is why Government work is going on in this area. The work being done in apprenticeships by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, is evident. Two such...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: With respect, I have clarified about the money that the circuses have received.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: There has been a steady increase in the budgetary allocation for circus, street art and spectacle over the past three years, with more than €2.2 million allocated for 2021, representing a 40% increase on the 2020 allocations. The €2.2 million expenditure in 2021 is made up of strategic funding of €1.107 million, project and programming funding of €690,000, which...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The specific circus the Deputy mentioned, Duffy's Circus, was awarded arts grant funding of €59,000 last year. Other circuses got more.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy stated categorically in this Chamber that no funding was going to circuses. I am saying that is incorrect. I have pointed out the exact money that has been given. I pointed out the exact money that the circus in question got too. If the Deputy wants, we can discuss this afterwards, but I am telling him that this is what I have. Some €2.2 million was given and the circus...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I am fully aware of the impact Covid-19 has had on tourism and hospitality nationwide and I also acknowledge that public health restrictions continue to be challenging for the tourism sector.  The national vaccination programme is critical and provides hope that in 2021 we will see the beginning of the recovery for the sector but this will not happen overnight.  For now, the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Policy (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The stay and spend scheme was set up late last summer to stimulate demand for accommodation and hospitality business during the off-season. It was set up by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. It was quite an innovative approach to incentivise spending. However, the public health conditions beyond our control have clearly prevented that incentivisation of spending...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: Circus has a long tradition in Ireland, incorporating classical or traditional circus and contemporary circus. Both strands are valued artistically, with classical circus having a long working history in Ireland, while contemporary circus practice is relatively new. The Arts Act 2003 cites circus as one of nine art forms. As an art form, circus attracts high audience numbers each year...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I recognise that protecting workers and retaining tourism jobs and skills is vital to tourism’s recovery. In September 2020, the Tourism Recovery Taskforce submitted a Recovery Plan to me which sets out a number of recommendations, including a recommendation on enhancing sustainable employment, aimed at helping the tourism sector to survive and recover from the pandemic. ...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead plan sets out the Government’s objectives for the full recovery of social life, public services and the economy.  The plan committed to the development of sectoral guidance for very large purpose built event facilities, for example: stadia, auditoria, conference and event centres. I...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: I am aware of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the visitor attractions and broader tourism sector and most importantly, the people working in the sector.  I am particularly conscious of the reliance of visitor attractions on international visitors and the repercussions of restrictions on international travel for the sector.  As set out in the Tourism Recovery Plan, survival,...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The COVID-19 pandemic has utterly changed the operating landscape for the sectors my Department supports.  I recognise the ongoing impact the pandemic and associated public health measures continues to have on these sectors, on the people who work in them and on the communities that depend on them. However, we should also recognise that these tough decisions have enabled all of us,...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Stay and Spend scheme was set up late last summer to stimulate demand for accommodation and hospitality businesses during the off season. Established by my colleague Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, this scheme was launched as an innovative approach to incentivise spending. However, public health conditions beyond our control have clearly prevented that. The stop and start...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artists' Remuneration (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report titled Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector.   The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a universal basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. The Taskforce was of the view that a pilot basic...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Future of Media Commission (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The Future of Media Commission held its inaugural meeting on 29 October 2020.  Since then, the commission has engaged comprehensively with stakeholders, including broadcasters, journalists, publishers, regional media and the wider public. The first phase of the Future of Media Commission public consultation, which ran from December 12th 2020 to January 8th 2021, resulted in over 800...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Catherine Martin: The focus of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme is to support strategic tourism businesses to offset fixed costs incurred in 2020, particularly those that are ineligible for the CRSS, and support them to continue operating through 2021.  One of the eligibility criteria for the scheme is a minimum annual turnover of €50,000.  The rationale for this threshold is...