Results 5,201-5,220 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the actions he will take to address the issues raised in the recent ESRI report on sport, particularly the need to redirect a much more substantial proportion of expenditure towards sports activities likely to benefit the disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19555/07]

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: I appeal to the Minister to listen to the Opposition, whatever roles we may have next September. Over the past five years Deputy Wall and I came up with many ideas and they were not always heard or implemented. I think this Minister will listen to us and we are prepared to provide him with good ideas and initiatives. The Minister is obviously in agreement with the report and it is stark...

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: I have recommended this course of action for a long time. The Minister would gain from it.

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make special provision in the 2008 national lottery capital sports grants allocation to encourage the development of either municipal or community multisport facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19553/07]

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome the thrust of the Minister's response. While I realise that €5 million from a total budget of €80 million is a relatively small sum, a precedent has been established. I ask the Minister to place particular emphasis on encouraging the main outdoor sporting codes, notably rugby, soccer and GAA, to work together to provide simple, shared facilities such as changing and weights...

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Does the Minister plan to meet the national sporting organisations to discuss the concept of sharing facilities and the development of multisport facilities? It would be a good initiative if he were to bring these bodies together and encourage them to co-operate in the provision of these facilities.

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department will provide a special marketing fund to promote the mid-west and western sea board in view of the uncertainty about the number of flights that will operate into Shannon in 2008 and the number of cancellations from a number of groups for the early part of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19554/07]

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Will the Minister ensure the provisions in the plan which I understand is a proposal to spend €10 million a year on the promotion of the Shannon area are put in place as soon as possible? If the current routes are not supported, they could be withdrawn. The Minister may be aware that American Airlines and Air Canada will cease operations in October and Delta Airlines which I understand...

Tax Code. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am sure the Minister will agree that the quality of a festival is very much determined by its participants. Unless a festival committee or organisation is able to attract major international artists, it will not attract as many people. Festivals are becoming very competitive. If one wants an international audience and to encourage tour operators to bring visitors, big names are needed....

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Traditionally British tourists served rural areas well. They supported small operators in the west and in Kerry principally because they brought their own cars. There is a significant fall-off in the number of tourists from the UK coming here with their cars. We all recall seeing the GB plate on cars around the country when we were youngsters. They are not so prevalent now. Will the...

Sport and Recreational Development. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Following the publication of the Indecon report, I suggest the Minister appoint an individual as a chief executive to spearhead the programme and the campaign to attract teams and their entourages to Ireland for the Olympic Games. I feel such a focus is required. A task force is one thing and it has performed well but we need a high-profile person to take responsibility for selling Ireland...

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: I have a few questions on the cost to the Exchequer over the 25-year period before the facility is handed back to the taxpayer. The Minister said it would cost €380 million. Is there a fee on the handover or does it come back automatically without a fee? Will the Minister confirm the date the centre is supposed to be up and running? I welcome progress on this issue. It is a question I...

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: It is a pity he will not be around to open them.

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: They are getting bigger all the time. Tourism Ireland is promoting the conference centre, as the Minister stated. Generally speaking, some of these companies often plan conferences two, three or four years in advance. Can the Minister refer to the initiatives that are ongoing at the moment? Have businesses already shown an interest in holding conferences in Ireland? What are the plans to...

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Is it Tourism Ireland or Fáilte Ireland?

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: It is important to secure new business if possible. If business is being displaced from Kerry or other places, then it will not serve its purpose. It is very important that new business should be targeted.

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Minister mentioned the institute of sport. Can he indicate when he will bring forward the legislation to set up that institute? I understand legislation is required to establish the institute——

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Not really. The institute of sport is an integral part of this——

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: ——and apparently it is holding up progress on the institute.

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Jimmy Deenihan: Many of the functions of the new campus the Minister outlined are being provided in the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. It may be too early to ask this question but does the Minister believe that the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, which is now referred to as Coaching Ireland, will have less of a role to play in the future because so many of its...