Results 721-740 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: There are point-to-points.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I thank Deputies on all sides of the House for what has been a very good debate. Much knowledge was brought to the House. I particularly appreciate the spokespersons from Fine Gael and the Labour Party for the manner in which they presented their support today, and colleagues who contributed on all sides. It was important that a clear unequivocal message should go out from this House to...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Yes, it is presented now under its own heading, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. I listened to the debate on agriculture but the synergies being developed in the tourism sector are having a considerable effect. A tourism package was created last year by the greyhound industry which flew in several thousand people from France. It organised a specific dog weekend aimed at the French...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Regarding our international show jumpers there is an anomaly with regard to what Irish horses are bred for. I attended the Olympic Games at which the gold and bronze medal winners were Irish bred. Two or three of the team horses were Irish bred. I was astonished at the amount of Irish bred horses. It has come to my attention - it is pretty bizarre - that there is an issue regarding what...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following order in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009, a copy of which order was laid before Dáil Éireann on 6 April 2009. Under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support through the horse and greyhound racing fund. Under the provisions of the Act,...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Hear, hear.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: That is correct.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: To clarify, as I said in my speech, this change will be implemented on 1 May.

Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: That is a bloody disgrace.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Arts Council operates the centre in question jointly with the Northern Ireland Arts Council as a cross-border initiative. The Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, and I have no role to play in relation to its funding decisions. My Department is not involved in either the funding or operation of this facility.

Written Answers — Lottery Funding: Lottery Funding (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Work on the five-year National Sports Facilities Strategy is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department. It is my intention to publish the strategy once it has been completed and considered by the Government. A provision of €56m has been made in the Vote of the Department for 2009 under subhead C1 for the payment of grants for sporting bodies and the provision of sports and...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (8 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Mid-Shannon Tourism Infrastructure Investment Scheme, which was introduced in section 29 of the Finance Act 2007 and launched in June 2008, provides tax incentives for investment in tourism attractions and facilities in the designated Mid-Shannon Corridor. The approval and certification of projects under the Scheme is a matter for the Mid-Shannon Tourism Infrastructure Board in...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The funding of the Gaelic players grant schemes is a matter for the Irish Sports Council (ISC) in the context of the distribution of its budget for 2009. In light of the current economic constraints and the reduction in the ISC's allocation of funding in the 2009 Estimates, I am having discussions with the Council on optimum funding options, in order to maintain its existing programmes while...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. On the basis that the awards are confidential to the officer concerned details of individual awards are not disclosed nor is the total amount awarded under the scheme made known in respect of Departments where there are less than 5 officers covered by the scheme...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department's role, functions and objectives are set out in its Statement of Strategy which can be accessed through the Department's website www.dast.gov.ie. The staff employed in the Department are engaged in the delivery of its objectives as set out in the Department's Annual Business Plans which can also be accessed through the same website. The number of staff in the Department,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The net cost of official mobile telephony services in respect of rental and calls provided to me since my appointment as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in June 2008 amounted to €5,014.28 in 2008 and €477.23 to date in 2009. The cost of handsets purchased for me amounts to €507. I do not use an official Blackberry or PDA. ^^ Swimming Pool Projects. ^^

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is not intended to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at this time. The matter will be reviewed again later this year. When a new round of the programme is launched it will be open to all Local Authorities, including Monaghan County Council on behalf of Carrickmacross, to submit an application under the terms that will apply.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: No member of staff in this Department with less than two years service on 1 March gave notice to terminate their employment before 1 April 2009 under Section 5 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy will be aware that in addressing the public finances all areas of expenditure have been examined and the budget in relation to sport, like all areas, has been impacted following this process. Nevertheless the huge social and economic benefits of sport are acknowledged by this Government and are reflected in the unprecedented level of Government funding for sport over the last...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: There are currently seven staff in my Department employed under temporary employment contracts on a fixed term basis. The existing cost of these contracts is in the region of € 310,000 per annum. These contracts will expire at varying dates over the next 5 years. As each contract expires, the question of whether it should be renewed will be considered in light of Departmental priorities...