Results 5,441-5,460 of 10,797 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Capital Programme (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: When the Taoiseach appointed me as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, he asked me to fulfil the same role as my predecessor, Deputy Michael Ring, and I am working on the basis of that continuity. The responsibilities that were devolved to Deputy Ring as Minister of State at the time are now my responsibilities. The sports capital programme is one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: 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, such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Trade Fairs (15 Nov 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is disappointing that the Web Summit made the decision in 2015 to move to Lisbon for the following three years, particularly as it had been such a great success in Dublin and grown so impressively over the previous five years. However, the organisers were very clear about their intention to leave and that was a commercial matter for the organisers to...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015 provides for an increase in the upper limit that applies to the overall capital funding that can be voted to the National Tourism Development Authority, which is known to us all as Fáilte Ireland, for the purposes of supporting the development of the tourism product. As this Bill has been certified as a money Bill, tight...

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-----