Results 7,181-7,200 of 15,510 for speaker:Brendan Griffin

Topical Issue Debate: Transport Policy (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: Tá mé ag fanacht anseo.

Topical Issue Debate: Road Improvement Schemes (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: Gabhaim mo leithscéal nach bhfuil an tAire anseo. Beidh mé ag labhairt ar a shon agus an freagra seo á léamh agam. Tógfaidh mé teachtaireacht ar ais chuige ó na Teachtaí. Tá an freagra atá agam i mBéarla. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ross.

Topical Issue Debate: Road Improvement Schemes (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: This matter has been raised with the Minister, Deputy Ross, previously and I am pleased to restate the position in the House this evening. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local...

Topical Issue Debate: Transport Policy (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I cannot speak for the Minister as to why he is not here. He has had a very busy day, including a Cabinet meeting this morning. We have just had over an hour and a half of parliamentary questions and he will be present again later for the taking of legislation. I apologise on his behalf. I will try to answer as many questions as I can for Deputy Eamon Ryan, give him the detailed written...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: At least it is bright until 11 p.m. at this time of the year but it is not quite the same in December so I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. As a rural Deputy I understand many of the challenges so I will try to assist Deputy Rabbitte with some of those matters. I am taking this issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ross. County and city councils - the local authorities -...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: Perhaps I can finish it after the supplementary question.

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: There is an overlap between Departments in that respect. I have not operated in a dual mandate system and I know it can be frustrating as a Member of the Oireachtas trying to get accountability from local authorities. One does not have a forum in which to demand answers. There are matters that are not being addressed by members of Galway County Council and the executive and officials could...

Other Questions: Sports Capital Programme Administration (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: Every Member has a few projects in mind. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter again. Along with many other Deputies, he has been a great champion of the sports capital programme. The Government allocated more than €60 million to more than 1,800 projects throughout the country under the 2017 programme. The Minister and I were delighted to do that, particularly with an...

Other Questions: Sports Capital Programme Administration (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I thank the Deputy. Great progress was made in the 2017 programme in cutting down the number of invalid applications. In 2012, 48% of applications were invalid while in the 2014 and 2015 rounds, the percentage was in the mid-thirties. It reduced to approximately 20% in 2017 and, for the first time, we had an appeals process for applicants that felt they were harshly adjudicated and their...

Other Questions: Health Promotion (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for raising this. We are all well aware of the important health and well-being benefits of participation in sport by children and adults. Government investment in participation initiatives is having an impact and we will continue to invest in programmes and initiatives to increase participation levels further. The national physical...

Other Questions: Health Promotion (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: As Deputy O'Keeffe knows, the Department of Education and Skills has carried out much work in respect of increasing the status of physical education in schools. I will address some of the other work going on that is worthy of a mention. The Government provides €10.8 million in core grant funding through the national governing bodies and Sport Ireland. Another €6 million goes...

Other Questions: Health Promotion (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: There is a subgroup of the national physical activity plan on children and young people. That focusses on 14 of the 60 actions trying to increase participation by children in sport. There is also representation on that group from Comhairle na nÓg, the National Parents Council and the agencies and national governing bodies as well. That is an important area in trying to implement those...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad to speak about tourism. It is a vital industry in Ireland, one that is perhaps unique in that it reaches every part of the country. It is a sector that has, without doubt, made a very important economic contribution in recent years. I am sure that every Member of the House would concur with me on this point. The year 2017 was another...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: It is an awful responsibility.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I thank all of the Senators who have contributed to this discussion which I hope has been as informative for them as it has been for me. All of the contributions have been helpful. The thing about tourism is that people come up with really good ideas all the time. It is a question of implementing them. Some things are expensive and difficult to implement but others are not. I mention...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I do not want to get into that discussion.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: When Senator Ned O'Sullivan referred to The Gathering, he might have claimed that Fianna Fáil was responsible for it. I am not sure. I know that it was responsible for the scattering, but I thought the concept of The Gathering was born in Dublin Castle. Regardless of who came up with it, The Gathering was a fantastic initiative at a time when the industry was struggling. We spoke...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for his compliments on the work Tourism Ireland does. Since becoming Minister of State almost year ago, I have found Tourism Ireland to be one of the most impressive agencies, with Niall Gibbons, Siobhan McManamy and their team doing fantastic work. They are fantastic beacons for the island of Ireland. One of the many positive things to come out of the...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I was allowed to keep them. When an employer keeps tips meant for front-line staff it is soul-destroying for the workers and it is scandalous, appalling and disgusting. I would hope it is very rare and I am open to proposals to stamp it out. It has not been brought to my attention and in all the places I have worked over the years, I have seen nothing but a very positive treatment of staff...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Brendan Griffin: I thank Senators for their suggestions and the issues they raised. My door is always open to engage with any Senator on tourism-related matters because the sector benefits everybody.