Results 6,961-6,980 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: On the issue of the 9% VAT rate, we are very supportive of it. The Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and I are pushing hard on it, but the decision will not be ours to make. It is a matter for the Department of Finance. We support the rate because it has worked. On retaining The Gathering office, I am glad the Deputy asked that question. I take the opportunity to compliment Mr. Jim Miley...

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 16, 29 and 57 together. These questions relate to the performance of the tourism industry. Over €37 million has been allocated in 2013 for general overseas tourism marketing, which is enabling Tourism Ireland to roll out a major consumer marketing campaign to promote Ireland and The Gathering Ireland 2013...

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: In 2012, tourism was worth €3.68 billion to the economy and there were almost 1.5 million visitors to Ireland. Deputy McLellan is quite correct. We need to start looking at every market where we can bring in business to Ireland. There is no doubt that Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy are the main markets. Those markets provide 75% of the visitors to this country. Of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: The reaction to The Gathering, both domestically and overseas, has been overwhelmingly positive. We are targeting at least 325,000 extra overseas visits to generate €170 million in revenue. The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show a 4% increase in overseas trips to Ireland between February and April 2013 compared with 2012. Detailed CSO figures for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: Tourism Ireland is rolling out a new plan for 2013 development, in conjunction with industry partners, called GB Path to Growth. We hope we can return the GB market to growth by 2016. The positive news is that there are 92,300 extra German visitors to this country. Britain is down only 13,000. We need to grow the British market and we are looking at that and working on ways to promote it....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: We did a major campaign, Jump into Ireland, which ran on television channels, newspapers, at Tube stations and on the Internet. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and I have done fairs in Germany, France and Britain. We have gone there, shaken the hands, met the trade and talked to the people who are bringing people into this country. I am very confident we can deal with the British market....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: VAT Rates Application (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: This question relates to the extension of the reduced VAT rate of 9% beyond the end of this year. I am very conscious that the tourism and hospitality industry would like to see the rate continued through 2014 and beyond. I am also conscious that it has been estimated by the Department of Finance that the VAT reduction costs the Exchequer up to €350 million a year. In that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup Bid (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 35 together. I am fully supportive of the concept of hosting the Rugby World Cup in Ireland but it is, of course,  a matter for the IRFU to prepare and submit a bid.  The IRFU recently presented to Minister Varadkar and myself a feasibility study which they commissioned on the potential for hosting the tournament. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Irish Sports Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: The most recent round of the Sports Capital Programme was launched in March last year. The Deputy will be aware that this was the first round of the Programme since 2008.    The Department received 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme, the highest number of applications ever received. The allocations were...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: It would be neither tenable nor equitable to allow one category of unsuccessful applicants to reapply under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme after the closing date in order to resubmit applications that did not meet the eligibility criteria. The 2012 round of the SCP is closed and the full amount of the available funding has been allocated.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: My Department is conducting an internal review of the operation of the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.  This review has included discussions with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. A primary purpose of the review is to simplify and streamline the application process thereby reducing the proportion of invalid applications.  Consequently...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Facilities Provision (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: A draft National Sports Facilities Strategy was published as a discussion document on my Department's website in September 2012.  A final strategy, taking account of submissions received, will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding for High Performance sport. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Irish Sports Council for direct reply in relation to any steps that have been taken regarding the 2016 Olympics...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport and Recreational Development (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: There was a special allocation of €1.25m made to the IABA in 2011 to allow local boxing clubs throughout the country to improve their facilities with special emphasis on clubs developing facilities for female boxers.  The maximum grant amount per boxing club was €25,000.  This initiative was funded by my Department and administered by...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Sporting Events (26 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the Seanad in regard to the bid to host the 2018 Gay Games in Limerick, and I thank Senator Power for raising the matter. The Gay Games is a major event, with over 10,000 participants and their families expected to travel to the host city. Limerick is very well placed to provide a superb backdrop to what would be the tenth Gay Games in 2018....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Sporting Events (26 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: I gave an endorsement and the Minister has received an invitation. If that invitation comes to me I will consider it. If they let me know, I will make every effort to attend and support them. I am the Minister of State with responsibility for sport.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Expenditure (26 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: No decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme. Any such decision will of course have to be taken in the context of the likely capital provision for the subhead in future years.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (25 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: 524. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the remaining balance on farm payment has not yet issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30681/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Ring: 435. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 588 of 28 May 2013 if he will explain the delay in the agri-environment option scheme payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that on 19 April he stated, in a letter of response, that the Department was currently finalising the application and on 28 May he...