Results 10,281-10,300 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Anyway, they went by boat.
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (20 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the 2007 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on October 15th and 16th last. The closing date for...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (20 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the 2007 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on October 15th and 16th last. The closing date for...
- Written Answers — Arts Partnership Scheme: Arts Partnership Scheme (20 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 to 412, inclusive, and 414 together. The Arts Council is a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, and is the principal channel through which State support is directed to the arts. Promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Council, which, although funded by my Department, is independent in relation...
- Written Answers — Arts Partnership Scheme: Arts Partnership Scheme (20 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my replies to the House to Questions number 26924/06 and 27235/06 on 6th July 2006, Question number 35071/06 on 26th October 2006 and to Question number 5546/07 on the 15th February last. The Arts Council is a statutory body under my Department's aegis, and is the principal channel through which State support is directed to the Arts. The Council operates independently...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Under my Department's decentralisation programme to Killarney, an advance group of 44 staff relocated to temporary accommodation at Fossa, in September 2006. Of the staff transferred to Fossa, 93% had transferred into my Department within the previous two years. The number of staff who have transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office to date is 11, the average time spent in the...
- Horseracing Ireland. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: The redevelopment of the Curragh racecourse is part of an overall programme through which â¬280 million will be invested in racecourse development throughout the country by the end of 2007 under Horse Racing Ireland's, HRI, capital development fund for Irish racecourses. Under this fund, HRI, which is the statutory body responsible for the horseracing industry, will provide up to â¬140...
- Horseracing Ireland. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: My remarks at the dinner, to which the Deputy referred, were of a general nature in acknowledging the contribution of His Highness, the Aga Khan, and the generosity of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. I was encouraging other people involved in the industry who benefit from it to see whether they could also invest for the benefit of the racing industry and, in particular, the...
- Legislative Programme. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: My legislative priorities are the two Bills from this Department listed on the Government legislation programme for the spring session of 2007 â the Irish Sports Council (Amendment) Bill and the Bord na gCon (Amendment) Bill. The purpose of the Irish Sports Council (Amendment) Bill is to provide for the granting of powers to the Irish Sports Council to establish subsidiary companies. The...
- Legislative Programme. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I imagine the Irish Sports Council (Amendment) Bill, which is at an advanced stage of preparation with just a small number of technical issues to be resolved, will be the first to come before the House. It is difficult to know whether the legislation will be passed during the course of this Dáil. I think the time might be tight.
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 13 and 20 together. The CSO has not yet produced last December's tourism figures, but all of the indications are that 2006 was a landmark year for tourism. We expect to have received a total of 7.4 million visitors in 2006, an increase of close to 10% on 2005. Figures from the CSO for the first nine months of the year show an increase of 11% in foreign...
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: It is estimated that over the next six years, approximately 6,000 additional people will be required for the tourism industry here. The industry already accounts for more than 3% of GNP and has attracted approximately 246,000 to its workforce. It is clearly important we ensure people are incentivised. In that respect I was pleased to announce this morning that we will make â¬148 million...
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: It was not.
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: If Deputy Deenihan wished us to give the specifics, if available, on the breakdown of the amount spent on the east coast and west coast by visitors to the country, he should have put down a question to that effect.
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: What I can say to Deputy Deenihan is there is evidence of a substantial increase last year in the number of visitors coming to the regions. Of that, there is no question. There is a correlation between the increase in the number of visitors and the revenue. I have explained all of that already. With regard to the national conference centre, about which Deputy Deenihan asked, I anticipate we...
- Tourism Industry. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: It is understandable the chief executive of Tourism Ireland would make his concerns known on two very important issues. As Deputy Wall stated, one of these relates to competitiveness and value for money. The other matter relates to the warmth of the Irish welcome. Both factors are of pivotal importance in terms of advancing the cause of the tourism industry. Ours is a free market economy....
- National Concert Hall. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 31 together. The inaugural meeting of the inter-agency steering committee established for the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall was held on 4 December 2006, under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of my Department. The committee members are the Secretary General of my Department, the chairman of the Office of Public Works, the chairman...
- National Concert Hall. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: Whether Mr. Furlong remains as chairman of the steering group will hinge on circumstances which have yet to unfold. It is not possible to say at this point what will be the case. I hope he will be in a position to continue as chairperson because, as Deputy Wall stated, he is a man of considerable experience. He was also successfully involved in the national conference centre. Mr. Furlong...
- National Concert Hall. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I mean Deputy Wall. Maybe Mr. Furlong will be a Deputy later. He would be a great Minister because he helped me. Work is advanced on the accommodation brief of the redeveloped National Concert Hall project.
- National Concert Hall. (15 Feb 2007)
John O'Donoghue: I advised Deputy Deenihan that I would bring this proposal to the attention of the steering group and the board of the National Concert Hall. I have no update on the situation but will make inquiries about the current position and write to Deputy Deenihan.