Results 4,661-4,680 of 10,556 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Business of Joint Committee (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: Good afternoon folks, and most especially to our guests, Ms Désirée Finnegan and Ms Susan Bergin. We are delighted to have them with us today. This is the first semi-normal meeting we have had. The two lovely ladies are on screen but at least I have one colleague sitting beside me today, which has not been the case for a long time. Deputy Munster, who we have with us online, is...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: We have convened this meeting to have a discussion with Susan Bergin, chair designate of Screen Ireland, regarding her key priorities as the newly designated chair of the organisation. Along with Ms Bergin is Désirée Finnegan, chief executive of Screen Ireland. I welcome both witnesses, who are joining us in Committee Room 3 remotely via Microsoft Teams. The format of the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Ms Bergin very much. I am delighted that both she and Ms Finnegan could attend today. It is good to have the team effort from Screen Ireland. Of course, we recognise that fact that it is facing into a very difficult time when film producers are getting back to some level of normality. As I have no doubt but that the impact has been huge in that sector, it is great to have Ms...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: It is, but I will give you a little latitude if you have another question you want to finish up with.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for that question. We are also joined now by Deputy Griffin. Before we go to the Deputy I have a few observations. Screen Ireland is coming to the end of its strategic plan for 2016 to 2020. While it can be more difficult to be reflective and critical, I must ask a tough question about meeting those goals and objectives. Are there areas that Screen Ireland...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I appreciate that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: In her comments earlier, Ms Finnegan spoke about the trade mission abroad some time ago, meeting with global streamers and production companies and how that was hugely successful. While Ireland is of course an attractive place to come, apart from tax incentives I am curious as to what is the big attraction about Ireland.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: Were I to ask Ms Finnegan what are Ireland's weaknesses, could she tell me? For example, what would put off global producers from coming to Ireland?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Ms Bergin and Ms Finnegan. I will now hand over to my colleague, Deputy Griffin, who I am sure has questions, comments and observations for the witnesses.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Griffin for his question. I thank the ladies. That brings us to the end of our session today. I thank them for being with us. It is always more difficult to do these things remotely than doing it in person. I wish Ms Bergin the very best of luck in her new role. We hope we will have Ms Bergin back shortly when she is more settled into the position to get a flavour of...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I have some housekeeping to get through, but I am sure everyone will bear with me. We convened this meeting with representatives of the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland, CTTC, to discuss the challenges faced by its members as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I live beside the premises of a well-known company called Sillan Tours. I am sure the witnesses are familiar with it...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Mr. Barton. He gave a strong and detailed overview of the situation and of the CTTC's wishes in the context of the upcoming budget. I hand over to my colleagues now to allow them the opportunity to tease out these ideas a little more. I call Deputy Munster.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Mr. Buckley for that reply. I will now move on, if that is okay. The next speaker is Senator Malcolm Byrne.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: Is Deputy Fitzpatrick happy with the responses?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: Yes.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the witnesses. I am sorry Mr. McGinley did not get in. The witnesses gave a very comprehensive account of the impact of Covid-19 on their business. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae was here. He was waiting patiently to ask some questions. He may have spoken with Mr. Buckley during the week. Unfortunately, he has had to go to the Dáil Chamber as he is speaking in a debate, but he...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (21 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I know the Minister of State is very passionate about this. Both the Taoiseach and the Minister have stood up and said this is not on. They have called on the hospital directors and masters of the maternity units to get on with lifting those restrictions and allowing partners in. It would be remiss of me not to say that my own hospital, Cavan General Hospital - and not everyone is lucky...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (21 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: And the same in the Seanad.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (21 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: I am delighted the Minister of State has stayed until this hour of the night to respond to the matter. I am sure that I do not need to convince her of the importance of this debate and this argument. It is pitiful that 18 or 19 months on, we are still having this discussion about women and basic healthcare in maternity services around the country. There are 19 maternity services around...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (21 Sep 2021)

Niamh Smyth: 9. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending the help-to-buy incentive until 31 December 2022. [44723/21]