Results 5,281-5,300 of 10,964 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: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Question Heading for question(s) 250 (31 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: A record 2,320 applications were submitted under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme and all of these are being assessed by officials in my Department. Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the assessment process with allocations not expected until September. A total of €30m is available for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (30 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.  Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Stadium Projects (30 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2016, the RDS submitted outline proposals to redevelop the RDS Main Arena.  In March of this year, representatives from the RDS met with officials in my Department to provide an update on their proposals including the latest costings. At this meeting, the RDS representatives were informed that there is currently no funding in my Department's subheads to cover...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (30 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together. My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, including the Lakelands initative. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. I understand that draft...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (30 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: This is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information and direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (25 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.  Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (24 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.  Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Swimming Pool Programme Funding (24 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP), which is administered by my Department, provides grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. There are four projects in the current programme and the priority in 2017 is on progressing these projects to the next...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland Staff (24 May 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Matters regarding staffing are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.