Results 701-720 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

National Theatre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: If the Deputy has any suggestions regarding international consultants I will certainly consider them. We are proposing to include international figures from the worlds of theatre and architecture on the jury. Regarding costing, this project is a public private partnership so, in that sense, it is difficult to produce an exact figure but it is expected to be around €150 million. One must...

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. I am aware that the Irish Sports Council, under its research remit, is striving to develop a profound understanding of sport in Ireland that can inform policy and investment over the coming years. It commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake studies on its behalf. Four major reports have already been published,...

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will look at the issues the Deputy has raised. None of us can be proud of the conclusion in the report that the large majority of people who play sports in Ireland, and who enjoy the health benefits arising from those activities, are from higher-income and better-educated social groups. It is good that these people benefit but, having spent almost three years at the Department of Social...

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will consider the Deputy's proposal. Anyone who works with me knows that I listen to ideas, including suggestions from the Opposition parties. The Deputy should be careful what he recommends because he might not be too pleased if I act on his suggestions.

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will listen carefully to Deputies' suggestions. I will examine Deputy Wall's interesting proposal to fund sport in communities as opposed to clubs. I do not have sufficient knowledge of the issue Deputy Deenihan raises but I promise to find out about it before sittings resume in September.

Sporting Facilities. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: This is a timely debate with an ESRI report published recently and an exchange on this matter on the floor of the House. It is time to take a long, hard look at this issue and I will do so urgently.

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level. The programme is open to applications from local authorities and other community organisations for the development of multisport facilities. Under the 2007...

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is incumbent on all of us to get the best value for money from the annual budget of approximately €300 million. I accept the Deputy's thesis that sharing facilities and co-operation between various sporting bodies must be at the heart of this approach. To use dreadful business jargon we must sweat the assets because taxpayers' money is involved and must be used in a manner that...

Sports Capital Programme. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have had initial meetings on broad policy issues with the chief executive of the Irish Sports Council and representatives of other sporting bodies. I will meet representatives from all the major national governing bodies in sport in due course and I will keep the multisport concept firmly on the table. My focus will be to ensure the €300 million of taxpayers' money will be used for...

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I welcome the open skies agreement with the USA. It is a very positive development for tourism here and has long been a major objective of tourism policy. It has been supported by industry interests and endorsed by the tourism policy review group. Already, following on from the open skies deal, Aer Lingus has announced new services to San Francisco, Orlando and Washington Dulles. The...

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will have to wait until the Government concludes its thinking on the proposals from my colleague, the Minister for Transport and the Marine, in regard to an economic and tourism development plan for the Shannon Airport catchment area, which the Government will examine shortly. The Deputy will recall that, as Minister for Transport, I put legislation through the House in regard to securing...

Tax Code. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy will appreciate that any change to the tax law in regard to the charging of VAT is a matter for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen. I am, however, aware of the issue regarding the charging of VAT on non-resident performers and artists and have been briefed on the matter recently by my officials. I intend to explore it further, with a view to seeing if there is a way in...

Tax Code. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will certainly discuss the matter with my colleague. The Deputy will recall that the Revenue Commissioners gave a one-year derogation in 2002 in regard to exemption from this charge on the basis of a request from the Arts Council. However, there has been no progress on the matter since. The difficulty is that the people who attend these gatherings, by and large, do not pay VAT on...

Tax Code. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I was not saying that the Exchequer would lose out but that under the mechanism by which VAT is collected one offsets the VAT one pays against that which is charged in. If no VAT is charged in on tickets there is no mechanism for reclaiming it. My point is a technical one but I accept the Deputy's broader point. I join with Deputy Finian McGrath in expressing my admiration for the...

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that there was an increase of over 4% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first four months of the year compared with the same period in 2006. While it will be challenging to maintain the record-breaking performance of 2006, these latest CSO figures confirm that Ireland's tourism sector continues to perform...

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I am concerned about the number of visitors from Britain and will talk to the agencies about addressing this issue. Tourism Ireland has undertaken its biggest ever marketing campaign this year and I propose to examine that carefully to ensure that it is focused. Last year we had over 4 million visitors from Britain which was an increase of 6% on the previous year. There has been some...

Tourism Promotion. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I recall launching the Lartigue Railway when we were doing the Millennium Project. I have built a couple of railways since then on a larger scale, particularly the Luas. It is not quite Lartigue but it does the job. I do not have the figures that Deputy Wall wanted on the numbers of families taking short breaks but I will get them for him. I agree with Deputy Deenihan in regard to bringing...

Sport and Recreational Development. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The previous Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism established a high level London 2012 task force to ensure Ireland can identify and maximise the complete range of opportunities arising from our proximity to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012. This task force includes experts from the sport, tourism, cultural and business sectors and is supported by staff within my Department....

Sport and Recreational Development. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My predecessor established the London 2012 task force last August and it has done very good work. We are awaiting the final report of Indecon International economic consultants, which was commissioned by the task force and is nearing completion. I would prefer to postpone detailed discussion until I have the report but the task force is of a very high order and comprises very experienced...

Sport and Recreational Development. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I can certainly discuss that with the London 2012 task force in the context of the publication of the report. I would be interested in its members' advice on that subject.