Results 501-520 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The number of applications for grant aid for the construction or operation of sporting or recreational facilities and/or centres involved in the promotion or development of arts in County Kildare in each of the past five calendar years and to date in 2009 is as set out in tabular form below. The funds provided in each of the years in question, including the current year, are as set out in the...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Sports Capital Programme, which is part-funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery and administered by my Department, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the provision of sports facilities and equipment in this country. The table sets out the information requested by the Deputy. Year Expenditure€ (000) 2008 60,137 2007 63,720 2006 60,053 2005 56,782 2004...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos.182 and 183 together. €56 million has been provided in my Department's vote in the 2009 Estimates to cover payments to be made from the C1 subhead, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities. It is expected that all of this funding will be distributed to sports clubs and organisation who have been allocated funding...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved primarily to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following: - - to stimulate public interest in the arts; - to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts; - to assist in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: In response to the current fiscal circumstances the Department has emphasised and will continue to emphasise to agencies under its aegis the importance of making every effort to maximise return on investment while minimising any negative consequences for output delivery. In accordance with Government policy, the Department has issued instructions to agencies with regard to reducing...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Arts Council is the appropriate body to which this application should be made. Under the Arts Act, 2003, one of the general functions of the Council is to promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: My view is that it must be addressed. There has been an enormous growth in the level of offshore, telephone and Internet betting. I have just highlighted that the fundamental difficulty is many of the companies are not based in Ireland and as a taxing authority we do not have the ability to tax in another jurisdiction. That being said, other ways and means are being reviewed as to how we...

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The legislation has a specific ringfenced fund and that will be the intention - certainly mine - for the future. I do not know how the Deputy extrapolated from what I was saying, in a general sense, that the whole income of the industry will be halved this year. I did not suggest that at all. I do not know-----

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The industry is feeling the effects of the economic downturn like everybody else.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: There should still be an income if matters go right, of at least €35 million to €40 million, which would leave a shortfall of somewhere in the region of €25 million or €26 million, but we do not know, as yet, what the outcome of that is going to be, and so I am waiting-----

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: That revenue was based on the assessment last year of increasing the tax.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The point I was trying to make to the Deputy was that it would not have come in as the downturn and the change has been of such a nature that it would not-----

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Of course it will have an impact. I did not say it would not have any impact. However, the impact it would have had would, in effect, have put an enormous number of people onto the social welfare system, thereby moving people out of employment.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am somewhat in the hands of the experts who are working on this with the Department. I hope it can be finished fairly shortly. My intention, as I said to both Deputies Upton and Mitchell, was to get this back to the committee before the end of this Dáil session. It is still my wish that should happen. I should like to have that discussion because it would be helpful for me.

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions No. 46 ,49, 56, 187 to 189, inclusive, and 190 together. Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show a reduction of 6.3% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for the four months of 2009 compared with the corresponding period of 2008. Overseas visitor numbers for 2008 as a whole were down by just over 2% on the record 2007 performance, although...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Nobody wants any extra tax put in place and tax of that nature does not help the situation. However it is time for us to debunk the travel tax issue. I have spoken to all the travel agents internationally and they have no concern with it. They are far more concerned about airlines lashing on charges by the new time for luggage, and God knows what the price of an air ticket is by the time...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: That is not a big issue. I would prefer if it were not in place and I would like to see it gone, but I will not accept that the travel tax, as has been raised by some low-cost airlines and Aer Lingus, is the cause of all their travails. It is not true. If it were true, the costs they have put on in fuel surcharges, luggage charges and God knows what else are way beyond the amount of the...

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I cannot give a brief reply if the Deputy wants that information.

Tourism Promotion. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Tourism Ireland is communicating strongly to consumers in overseas markets that the island of Ireland is a great place to visit, is easily accessible and offers the consumer great value for money. There has been great emphasis on discounting and it is having a very positive impact. Tourism Ireland is spending 66% of its marketing budget in the first half of the year to frontload its...

Ministerial Appointments. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: There are two vacancies on the board of the Irish Sports Council. The term of office of a further five board members of the Irish Sports Council will expire on 30 June 2009. The filling of these vacancies is currently under consideration. Under the terms of section 17 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, the chief executive shall hold office under a written contract of service containing...