Results 5,221-5,240 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to respond to each of the Senators who have shown up and, in fairness, put a bit of thought into their contributions, and I thank them for it. Starting off with my near neighbour, I agree entirely with Senator Ned O'Sullivan regarding the initiatives that have been taken in Kerry. I was due to launch the Kerry tourism strategy but, unfortunately, on the same day the late Anthony...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: In all seriousness, when Members come in contact with their councillors, I ask that they put this item on the agenda in their local authorities. It has the potential to deliver jobs in every part of the country, as Senator Grace O'Sullivan said. We have an obligation to try to do that. There is a challenge in doing that but we are up for that challenge, as is the Department. I welcome the...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Senator and other Senators for making the point. I agree with Senator Humphreys and that is why one of the first things I did when I was appointed Minister of State was to call in the Irish Hotels Federation and make very clear the Government’s dissatisfaction about what is happening in Dublin and certain aspects of the Dublin hotel base. Unfortunately, we need many more...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Lakelands, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport. As this question is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland (10 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, Fáilte Ireland has specific powers and functions regarding the registration and grading of tourist accommodation.  In accordance with the legislation, certain categories of accommodation, such as hotels and guesthouses, are statutorily obliged to register, whereas other accommodation segments, such as B&Bs or small self-catering...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Organisations (8 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 to 478, inclusive, together. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the recognition of sporting organisations as National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs) and the allocation of funding to NGBs. I have referred the...

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will know, having himself been a Minister in this Department, and indeed having headed up a Department, namely, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, that there is no requirement that the authority in question, Fáilte Ireland, use the service to which the Deputy refers. The decision-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have no reason to suggest that the decision Fáilte Ireland made on the appointment process in this case is anything other than transparent, I have no reason to suggest that it is anything other than fair and I have no reason or evidence to suggest that it is anything other than a process to try to identify the best possible candidate. If there is some reason the Deputy believes should...

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: -----or anything other than-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy has not. What he has done is-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy had a good run at it.

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes, and he should-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Acting Chairman.

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Acting Chairman. The Deputy will know well that Fáilte Ireland's board and chairperson would take the appointment of the CEO extremely seriously. I had a recent briefing with the chairperson of Fáilte Ireland. As the national tourism development authority, it is very conscious of the fact that we need a good person heading up the organisation, particularly in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have not heard anything other than-----

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the Deputy had refrained from constantly interrupting me, he might have got the reply.

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will pass on Deputy Alan Kelly's concerns to the Minister as to his well-being.

Topical Issue Debate: Fáilte Ireland Staff (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: He is on his way to the Ireland-New Zealand rugby match in Chicago. I will also pass on the Deputy’s good wishes to the Secretary General of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I agree with him that he does a fantastic job. I can also attest to the fantastic job the assistant secretary, who the Deputy has not met, does. I have been informed by the board of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Administration (3 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.  The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects....