Results 7,281-7,300 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is telling himself he is the editor.

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Michael Ring: That is because I am in Fine Gael.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: Earlier today I announced a new round of the Sports Capital Programme. This Programme will assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities, VECs and schools to develop high quality, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. The tourism and sports agencies are represented on the London 2012 Coordinating Group which I am chairing and which is looking at opportunities for Ireland from the proximity of this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Tourism Ireland is the north-south body established under the Good Friday agreement with responsibility for...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 55, and 62 together. The normal procedure for the hosting of international sporting events is that the Irish affiliate of the relevant international governing body would bid to host the event in question in Ireland. Accordingly, it would be a matter for the IRFU to decide if it wished to make a bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. If so, the...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: The Minister and I will meet with the IRFU shortly. It is a matter for the union to make the bid. Japan will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and must give a guarantee of €115 million. In 2023, that figure could well be €125 million. Also, television rights are held by the International Rugby Board. Saying that, Ireland would be well capable of holding the Rugby World Cup. If the...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: Deputy Dooley is correct that hosting the Rugby World Cup would be a great boost for the country and tourism. We have shown we are capable of holding major events. I accept we may not have enough rugby stadia to cover the games. We would have to talk with the FAI and the GAA for using some of their facilities. Ravenhill rugby stadium is also being upgraded to 80,000 seats. The IRFU has...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: Everyone is positive about this proposal. The Government is supportive of it. We must sit down with the IRFU and the State agencies such as Fáilte Ireland to work on it. Hosting the rugby world cup in New Zealand was worth €500 million to its economy. This amount would be a great boost to our economy. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and I are prepared to meet the IRFU and Fáilte...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: The IRFU's chief executive has been quoted in newspaper articles as saying that it would need to consider the issue and discuss it with the Government. We have held informal negotiations, but I cannot go into more detail on those. My answer to the Deputy's question on the GAA is "No". First, the IRFU must decide whether it wants to make a bid. Second, it must discuss the matter with the...

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: It would be a great opportunity for tourism, culture and business. Irish companies have gained between €250 million and €500 million through building stadia for the Olympics in Britain. The same would occur in Ireland, leading to employment and business for hotels, for example. The world cup would showcase our small country's facilities. If New Zealand can do it, I do not know why...

Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I am pleased to advise the House that earlier today I announced a new round of the sports capital programme. Allocations of €30 million which will benefit sports clubs, community groups, local authorities, schools and national governing bodies of sport will be made in the late autumn or early winter of this year. Applications will be accepted from all areas of the country. A maximum...

Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy for her kind words. The Deputy is correct. This is the first time since 2008 that we have had a new round of the sports capital programme. It was difficult enough to get the funding and I compliment my colleagues who supported me very strongly as establishing this programme was a commitment in the programme for Government. The Deputy is quite correct that clubs...

Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is a bit like the media who think because I have become a Minister of State that I cannot represent my constituency. I want to tell the media I will represent my constituency. I am not speaking about grant aid, I am speaking about health, social welfare and agriculture. To answer the question, every application will be judged on its merit and criteria will be set. The Deputy...

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I am pleased to respond to Senator O'Brien on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who is on his way to Brussels to attend a meeting of EU transport Ministers. He apologises for his absence. I understand that in 2009, Fingal County Council applied to Fáilte Ireland for tourism capital investment support to renovate Malahide Castle. The...

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: Mayo.

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I certainly will. I will be in Malahide with Deputy Alan Farrell and Senator O'Brien and will have no problem in taking a look around. Deputy Farrell also raised this issue with me. I will meet the Senator on site and will bring his points to the attention of the Minister.

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects over the next five years and to clarify the current position of the application for major capital funding from...

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I will bring Senator Cullinane's strong representations to the Minister. I thank him for raising the issue. I know he feels very strongly about it.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (15 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I recently announced that I will be advertising two new rounds of the Sports Capital Programme between now and 2016. I am currently making the necessary arrangements with a view to launching the next round of the SCP shortly. Once these necessary arrangements are in place I will make the relevant announcement.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Mar 2012)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 211 together. I recently announced that I will be advertising two new rounds of the Sports Capital Programme between now and 2016. I am currently making the necessary arrangements with a view to launching the next round of the SCP shortly. Once these necessary arrangements are in place I will make the relevant announcement.