Results 4,881-4,900 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is important. I cannot answer for a Minister in a Government that does not exist. I cannot answer for what happens in a Northern Executive that does not exist. I can answer for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Deputy is wrong. There is an increase year on year in the tourism marketing fund.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the Deputy looks at-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy has omitted to accept that Tourism Ireland is a Good Friday Agreement body. We do not work in a vacuum. We have to be conscious that whatever the Southern Government does, it has to be reciprocated. We do not have a functioning Administration in Northern Ireland. It is a major problem. In its absence, I brought legislation through the committee to provide for how Fáilte...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I met the IABA this morning. A number of concerns have been raised on an ongoing basis with me. It is my second time meeting the IABA in the aftermath of the Rio Olympics. No one believes what happened in Rio is acceptable. We have had two meetings with the IABA at my level and a number of engagements with Sport Ireland and officials in my Department. I have huge concerns over the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I want to be very clear. An allegation was made about me this morning on "Morning Ireland". I met the IABA previously to discuss governance. An issue was referred to me by a constituent. A matter was referred to me by a boxing club in my constituency about the selection of a person to box for Ireland. I referred the matter to John Treacy, who is the CEO of Sport Ireland, as it was the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I referred an issue concerning a constituent of mine to John Treacy, the CEO of Sport Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: That is correct. This morning was the second time I met the IABA. I expressed the same concerns in respect of governance, the Rio review, the high performance coach, expenditure, clarity and many other issues at our first meeting this morning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have asked Sport Ireland and the IABA to reflect on the recommendation made by the high performance coach, Bernard Dunne. Mr. Dunne is also the high performance director of sport in the IABA, which is funded by and answerable to Sport Ireland and, ultimately, my Department. It is up to him to manage the selection process. Limerick will play Clare next Sunday and I wish them the best of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is not my role to select anybody. It is my role to refer on complaints that I receive, as I am sure the Deputy would do if, for example, a person complained him about a State agency. He would not have been elected if he did not refer on such complaints.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: In terms of business as well as tourism, the issue of visa entries is of concern to all members and witnesses. At the opening stages of Brexit negotiations, the Taoiseach outlined the situation regarding Ireland and what the Government wants to achieve. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has reciprocated in terms of the special case and relationship that Ireland has with the United...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I raised it with my counterpart in the context of a meeting held to consider a number of tourism issues. Ultimately, the Departments of Justice and Equality and Foreign Affairs and Trade take the lead on issues involving people travelling into the country. Both Departments are acutely aware of the importance of tourism and the views of my Department and Tourism Ireland, which is very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: To what issue is the Deputy referring?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have weekly meetings with the assistant secretary of my Department and quarterly meetings with principal officers who deal with tourism and sport. We continually, formally and informally-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The all-island civic dialogue in Dundalk captured all issues raised from a tourism point of view, of which common travel area was one of the most important. The issues raised informed the Cabinet sub-committee on Brexit, at which all Departments are represented.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The issue has been raised with our British counterpart. We are taking a whole-of-Government approach to Brexit. I do not have to send a telegram or a letter to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe - a former Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport - to make them aware of the significance of the common travel area. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It has been raised but I did not write a letter to that effect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The straightforward answer is "Yes". Fáilte Ireland's role regards the development of capital and the domestic element of tourism. I took the National Tourism Development Authority Bill through Committee Stage. Fáilte Ireland is as anxious as I am that the spending ceiling which had to be lifted to €150 million would not be seen as a target but would be seen as something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes, I do. I have regular meetings with the recently appointed CEO, Mr. Paul Kelly and I have also had a number of meetings with the Chairperson, Mr. Michael Cawley. At all of those meetings I have been anxious to know how Fáilte Ireland is getting on. I have asked for an outline of the challenges and opportunities. Money is always going to be an issue. Every State agency would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said to Deputy Troy, the marketing fund went from a pre-recession high of €55 million down to €36 million. I do not have the capital figures with me but I can get them for the Deputy. The overall capital ceiling has been lifted to €150 million, as per the Act. That is not a limit but is required by legislation to make sure that none of us goes mad and starts doing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implications of Brexit for Transport, Tourism and Sport: Discussion (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is happening already and Deputy Munster has identified one example herself. I can give another example of a new tourism initiative on the Fanad Peninsula in Donegal, another Border county, which I visited recently to see the work being done by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council. I go back to the original point I made which is that local...