Results 981-1,000 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Tourism Industry. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Clearly, the potential for growth in terms of visitors from China, India, the Middle East and from Australia, if we can get direct services into Ireland, is enormous. The system will shortly become the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which will take a fresh and streamlined approach to ensuring it is as efficient and as accessible as possible to those...

Tourism Industry. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I believe legislation on the matter is currently before the House.

Departmental Agencies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 136 together. Primary legislation will be required to give effect to the Government decision to combine the three galleries referred to, while retaining the separate brand identities and niches of the Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery. As I stated in my reply to Questions Nos. 76, 77 and 84 of 19 November 2008, the corporate, legislative...

Departmental Agencies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. If the outcome of this were to dilute the value of the institutions, I would not proceed with the process. There are obvious synergies between the three galleries referred to. For instance, a question arises as to whether 40 board members are needed. That is probably not necessary. Equally, I accept there are important brand issues between the institutions. The...

Departmental Agencies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: In saying 40, by the way, I was not casting any aspersions, and neither is the Deputy, on the quality of the board members who are in place. I was simply commenting on the size and unwieldiness in some respects of such large numbers.

Departmental Agencies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Some countries have gone down this road quite successfully, in terms of having one overarching body, one national board, for example, the national galleries of Ireland, within which are the various other bodies such as the Irish Museum of Modern Art or the Crawford Gallery, in Cork. I am waiting to see the outcome of this exercise, and on that basis we shall decide what legislation is...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The five year Agreed Programme for Government includes a series of commitments, in respect of sport, for achievement in the period to 2012. I am pleased to say that action is being taken in a progressive manner in these areas to ensure these targets are met in the lifetime of the Government. As Deputies will be aware, many of the commitments on the promotion of sports in schools are a...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: All Members will be aware of such problems within their local communities. Given the resources that have been provided through my Department and others in recent years, there is no doubt that the facilities available have been increased and enhanced enormously in recent years, and they should be maximised. There is nothing worse than seeing facilities being used a couple of times a week and...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am trying to be as flexible as I can, because I want to see——

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Does the Leas-Cheann Comhairle want me to answer?

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am trying to be as flexible as I can. The answer to the Deputy is "Yes", as I wanted to facilitate that. It was quite clear, within the area, that one project could not proceed. I did not want the area to be entirely without a pool. Quite clearly the other project was ready to run, and I thought that was the sensible approach. I must compliment all the local councillors and others...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The intention is, certainly, to continue with that programme. It has been fantastically successful. To go from nothing to more than 50 swimming pools around the country is great and is having a massive impact. In the Deputy's area of special interest, health, the impact on children and young adults, as well as older people, is just phenomenal. We are very pleased with the programme and...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The process is in place, and I do not have an issue with it.

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am not long in the Department, and I have opened nine already myself.

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: No, they were all brand new.

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: If there were refurbishments in some cases, one could not possibly call them such. They were literally——

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: ——entirely new. I would not consider €15 million on a project a refurbishment.

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 110 together. An extensive refurbishment and redevelopment plan has been drawn up for the Natural History Museum at an estimated cost outside the scope and capacity of current budgets. In view of this cost and the extensive nature of the proposed plan and, as the reopening of the Natural History Museum is a priority, the Office of Public Works, at...

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I hope the Natural History Museum will re-open this year. That is the plan. Obviously this is not in terms of the major investment which is part of the OPW budgets. If Deputy Mitchell puts down a question to the Minister responsible for that, I am sure she will get the answer. I am anxious that it does not remain closed. If we cannot proceed with the big project, let us do the next best...

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's questions are important and I suggest she will get a fuller and more correct response from the Minister responsible if she puts down a question to him. The budget for that project was in the OPW. It still has budgets, although they are scaled back like everybody else's.