Results 6,521-6,540 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Cultural Relations Commission: Cultural Relations Commission (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he intends to establish the new cultural relations commission; if the proposal has been approved by Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/05]

Written Answers — Lansdowne Road Redevelopment: Lansdowne Road Redevelopment (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the design team and a project management team, for the development of the stadium at Lansdowne Road, has been appointed; when it is expected that planning permission for the new stadium will be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5310/05]

National Conference Centre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the national conference centre steering group has authorised the OPW to issue invitations to tender to the three pre-qualified candidates; when the preferred bidder will be selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5346/05]

National Conference Centre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: As I mentioned in the House previously, a national conference centre is vital for the future economic development not only of Dublin but of the country. I stated also, and the Minister referred to it, that international business tourism is now worth approximately €40 billion and this country gets approximately 1% of that business. Approximately 4,000 conferences take place throughout...

National Conference Centre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: In view of the fact that a national conference centre would encourage approximately 30,000 extra tourists to come here, with a spin-off of about €50 million, such a facility is very important. On a related issue, business tourists who visit other countries in Europe can reclaim VAT. As we will shortly debate the Finance Bill, I ask the Minister to make personal representations to the...

Abbey Theatre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the acquisition of a new site for the Abbey Theatre; the reason the Government failed to announce a suitable site during the theatre's centenary year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5405/05]

Abbey Theatre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: It seems strange that on 1 December the Minister indicated that the OPW had recommended a site and that he was going to put this site forward to Cabinet and did not, as a result, want to announce details about it. Surely the OPW would have reached agreement on a price with all property owners at the location, Coláiste Mhuire, before that recommendation was made. What went wrong? Was...

Abbey Theatre. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Is Coláiste Mhuire, which is a good site in a good location, off the agenda? In light of the motion passed by Dublin City Council regarding the Carlton Cinema site, is that site back on the agenda for consideration? Are other sites being considered at present? I read a newspaper report in which it was stated that the GPO might be a possible site. Will the Minister confirm that all sites are...

Swimming Pool Projects. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Will the Minister intervene to ensure that repairs are carried out to the National Aquatic Centre as soon as possible?

Swimming Pool Projects. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Minister was about to answer.

Irish Genealogical Project. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: When this project was set up, 1994 was given as the date of completion. Yet ten years later, we have a considerable way to go. As a result, many people living in countries such as the US, where 40 million people claim Irish ancestry, and in other places, such as the UK, Australia and Argentina, are very disappointed that they cannot trace their roots. There is a growing interest in genealogy...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: A number of questions have been tabled. While the Minister provided a very comprehensive answer earlier, there are other questions to ask. One of the reasons for the fall off in tourist numbers in the midlands and west is our seeming failure to communicate to tourists from the United Kingdom a reason to come to Ireland. Previously, tourists came here because we successfully communicated...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: While the midlands and west benefited from traditional holidays, does the Minister have any plans to rebalance the market between these parts of the country and the east, which is doing very well?

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: One of the reasons less people travel to the midlands and west is because fewer people bring cars to Ireland, especially from the UK. They come for shorter breaks and they travel by air. There is an increase in the number coming to Ireland by air, and this is likely to increase further in future.

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Will the Minister try to address the market that traditionally came by car and also encourage more people to come to Ireland by ferry? Will he try to address the issue of car hire? It has become more competitive but it could be more attractive. Regarding the issue of regional tourism authorities, RTAs, will the Minister outline the review he is carrying out and which he promised on a number...

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: Will "Lassie" become the symbol of Irish tourism?

Tourism Industry. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: My question was therefore appropriate, even though the Ceann Comhairle tried to cut me off.

National Concert Hall. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: This is becoming a long-running saga, comparable in some ways to the Abbey Theatre saga. Hopefully, however, it will not be put on the back burner. I am sure the Minister will agree that the provision of an enlarged national concert hall is important for the country. Currently, a number of international performances cannot take place in Dublin due to the lack of proper facilities, including...

National Concert Hall. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: The National Concert Hall is currently working at full capacity. It is likely that UCD will be moving out of the Earlsfort Terrace site at the end of 2006, so surely it is now time for the advance planning to commence on a blueprint for a new concert hall facility. The planning mechanism should be put in place immediately. A symphony hall with capacity for 2,000 places should be provided,...

National Concert Hall. (17 Feb 2005)

Jimmy Deenihan: The provision of such a facility is more urgent in view of the fact that places such as Gateshead and Cardiff have developed concert halls.