Results 10,161-10,180 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing funding to sporting and community organisations towards the provision of sporting facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. The 2007 sports capital programme was advertised in the Press on 15 and 16 October last....
- Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: In line with my Department's Scheme under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act, 2003, the pre-recorded messages which are in place when the Department's Offices are closed or when the switchboard operator is busy are in both the Irish and English languages. Although the National Archives forms part of my Department, it is designated as a separate public body in the First Schedule to the...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The following are the list of current vacancies and vacancies that are due to arise in the period referred to by the Deputy on the Boards of the key bodies under the aegis of my Department. A vacancy currently exists on the Board of the National Library of Ireland for a member of staff of the National Library of Ireland and consultations are in hand for the making of this appointment as set...
- Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: My policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Funding made available by my Department can be provided through a number of channels to sporting bodies and there are ongoing lines of communications through which the needs of sporting bodies are conveyed to the Department including those relating to their plans and aspirations for stadia. I have discussed stadia needs of National Governing Bodies at a number of meetings in the context of...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I believe that the proposed Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US represents a very positive development for Irish Tourism. It has been a major objective of tourism policy and has long been supported by industry interests and endorsed by the Tourism Policy Review Group. The new services to the US will facilitate the opening of new markets for Irish tourism. In this regard, I know...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: As the Deputy is aware, my Department was designated under the Government's decentralisation programme as one of the "early mover" Departments. The tender process in respect of the permanent building was completed some time ago and the Office of Public Works (OPW) selected the preferred bidder, P. J. Hegarty & Sons. Planning permission has been granted. The OPW expects the developer to be...
- Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: With regard to the future development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown, the Government has provided an amount of â¬149m under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of a Campus of Sports Facilities. This comprises â¬119m to fund Phase One of the Campus project and â¬30m, committed at this stage, towards the development of further facilities in the next...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 to 206, inclusive, together. The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing funding to sporting and community organisations towards the provision of sporting facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Payments in respect of...
- Tourism Promotion. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Last year was the best in the history of Irish tourism, as 7.7 million people visited the country and generated almost â¬4.5 billion in revenue. It was an extraordinary performance and is indicative of the resilience of the tourism industry. I anticipate that we will exceed those figures this year, surpassing the 8 million visitor mark for the first time. This is a small island on Europe's...
- Tourism Promotion. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Regarding the open skies arrangement, it is anticipated by the chief executives of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, the officials in my Department and the Department of Transport and the Government in general that open skies will lead to a revolution in Irish tourism. The number of visitors from the United States of America will increase considerably in the coming years. When we speak of...
- Tourism Promotion. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Tourism Ireland has identified 15 major cities in the USA where we can expect substantial growth under open skies. This will mean that we can anticipate a large increase in the number of American visitors. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, has an implementation document regarding the future of Shannon Airport. I have examined the document and stated that the demand for â¬44...
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: My Department operates a range of promotional programmes and initiatives in the arts, sport and tourism sectors directly or through the many bodies under its remit. The overall policy framework governing the work of the Department is set out in our statement of strategy 2005-07 and regular annual reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library or on the Department's website....
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The Sports Council is neither morally bankrupt nor corrupt. The council is involved in so far as it can be in increasing children's participation in sport. It operates Buntús, which is assisted by the commercial sector, as the Deputy pointed out. I do not know the modalities or methodologies of the situation, but the Buntús programme has been successful. We are trying to increase the...
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I am neither a pimp nor a wimp. I am trying to explain to the Deputyââ
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is involved, through the Irish Sports Council, in trying to help more children to participate in sport.
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: We are using our own funding, where possible, to enable us to do this in the greater interests of society. We are also sourcing funding from the commercial sector, where possible. The Irish Sports Council does this where it is appropriate to do so.
- Departmental Programmes. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: It is most unfair of the Deputy â I am surprised at him â to accuse the Irish Sports Council of being amoral and corrupt. Nothing could be further from the truth.
- Tourism Industry. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I understand a Tourism Council operated during the 1990s. It contained representatives of various Departments and State agencies and was chaired by the then Minister for Tourism and Trade. Despite some early progress and enthusiasm, the council had a mixed experience. As its operation was not particularly satisfactory, it eventually petered out. I understand the establishment of a similar...
- Tourism Industry. (28 Mar 2007)
John O'Donoghue: When I became Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, I decided to establish the tourism policy review group to examine the tourism industry and ascertain how a greater degree of interaction between the relevant Departments and State agencies could be facilitated. The review group which operated successfully under the chairmanship of Mr. John Travers produced a report that contained over 70...