Results 581-600 of 3,444 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: I thank the Minister for her presentation and outlining the provisions of the Bill on the National Concert Hall. It is exactly one year on today from the agreement that has paved the way for the Bill and the formalisation of the relationship between the NSO and the NCH. The Minister mentioned the challenges the symphony orchestra was facing and the Boaden report of April 2018. It gave me...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: I welcome the witnesses. Mr. Lynch mentioned the non-television homes. There has been an increase to 16.5% in that regard. We are talking about the future of public broadcasting. We dealt with the print media at the committee before Christmas. Of course, in the budget the Government reduced VAT to zero but it is a stop-gap measure. As a person who has worked in the print media, I know...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: Notwithstanding that, we are discussing the future of the media sector. I genuinely want RTÉ, the State broadcaster, to survive, but Dee Forbes previously said at this committee that the funding model was broken. In his opening statement, Mr. Lynch said there is not a sustainable future for RTÉ. That is stark language.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: Does Mr. Coveney believe we are at odds with the marketplace? Mr. Farrell mentioned where the US media is going. Are we at odds with the marketplace? If the marketplace is moving to a space where consumers just accessing what they want to access, and that is a political problem, as Mr. Coveney said, will the Exchequer ultimately have to intervene? Mr. Coveney did not want to use the word...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: The commission stated that RTÉ should have €288 million funding last year and €293 million this year. As a traditional step, €15 million was made available to address the recommendations of the commission on funding for RTÉ. How far did that go in bridging the gap or what was required?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: My next question is for Mr. Farrell and Ms Ní Chaoindealbháin. Virgin Media Television does not have the comfort of public funding from the licence fee. Its analysis is of a changing marketplace where people may be migrating. It depends on advertisers. In terms of assessing its future, is it the case that Virgin Media Television, as a private enterprise, will be seeking...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: Going back to direct subvention from the State, is that something that Virgin Media Television would be lobbying or looking for?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: That is true. Getting back to the kernel of this, and the same applies to the newspaper industry, ultimately, the question is whether entities should be allowed to fail if they are commercial entities, regardless of whether they are providing a news service. You would think the Taoiseach has changed his tune but, previously, when he was speaking about the newspaper industry, he was not...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: I will turn my attention to community television. I wholeheartedly support this sector. Where I come from, Navan, we were very lucky to have a community television station for a long time, as naturally befits Navan's status. We had Navan Television which subsequently became Province 5 Television and was run by Kevin Mac Namidhe. I want to give him particular mention because the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: I support the call in respect of the bursary that exists within community radio. We have seen young journalists and graduates get opportunities for training in real-life situations, which are becoming fewer and fewer in number from two decades ago. I support anything that aids that. I have just one final question to Virgin and RTÉ. I commend them on working on the collaboration...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: May I ask Mr. Lynch and Mr. Coveney a question? I have an interest in sport. I remember the League of Ireland coverage and RTÉ being very frank in saying that for what it costs to cover games it could just put on a repeat of a film and get ten times the number of viewers. Is that an area for working in collaboration as well across sporting with, potentially, Virgin or others as well?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of the Media Sector: Discussion (18 Jan 2023)

Shane Cassells: Absolutely. That should be recognised as well.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: It is my pleasure to speak as the Cathaoirleach takes this position. It is a very auspicious day for him and his family. I thank the Cathaoirleach for mentioning my family. I am delighted to welcome my mother and father, Olive and Oliver, to the Chamber today. As the Cathaoirleach has said, we are nothing without those behind us and it is a privilege for me to have my parents here today....

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: I now invite the Minister to respond to the debate.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: I acknowledge the significance of the passing of the Bill. Last week in the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, we welcomed representatives from Fáilte Ireland, including the CEO, Paul Kelly, the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF, and the Department. I also acknowledge the significance of the extra capital expenditure provided under the Bill for an...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2022)

Shane Cassells: I welcome the witnesses back to the committee. I will pick up on that point about the breakdown of counties. That is hugely relevant to the discussion. Mr. O'Mara Walsh touched on it, saying Kerry is at 35% and Donegal is at 50%. The witnesses talked about solutions by Government. By March next year, the more than 60,000 people will not be housed in their entirety, so the facility of...