Results 10,801-10,820 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 170 together. The national lottery-funded 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 under the Programme are only accepted from: ∙voluntary and...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I expect to make an announcement in this regard very shortly.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: That little subsection allows for fluctuations in the money markets.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Níl aon dabht ach go bhfuil an Seanadóir Ó Riain agus mé féin an-bhródúil, ós rud é go mbeidh stádas oifigiúil ag ár dteanga san Eoraip. Yesterday, the Government looked forward to the fact that Ireland and Éire would be synonymous in defining this country.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I appreciate the fact that Senator Ryan has recognised that the Irish language is used as the first language in this legislation.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: This was not a contentious Bill and I appreciate the general support that has been given to it. I thank Members of the House for their comments and contributions over the past two days. Although the amendments discussed this evening have not been accepted, I have listened to the points that were raised and I mean to take the Senators' proposals into account even if they are not underpinned by...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: There is no intention to denigrate the role of any person in public life. The proposed amendments would have the effect of removing the intended prohibition on members of local authorities, as individuals, becoming members of the boards of the authority. It has been argued that there is no express legal impediment to the appointment of members of local authorities but, in this instance, there...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Unfortunately, we are at an impasse because of the fact that this is an immense capital project which will stretch far beyond the four to five years phase 1 will take to complete. The Government has committed €119 million to phase 1 but I envisage subsequent Governments, irrespective of their political make-up, to continue the construction of a campus at Abbotstown until such a time as we...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It is not the function of civil servants to argue the merits of any given Government policy. That has never been the case in the history of the State. It should be remembered that the chief executive in this instance is a public servant and has the role of implementing rather than creating or inspiring Government policy. It would be entirely inappropriate for a chief executive as envisaged...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I continue to consider it inappropriate for a chief executive of a State company or authority to express an opinion or criticism of Government policy before the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is no question but that the CEO would thereby become a political football to the detriment of the authority or company concerned.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The amendment would have the effect of making the chief executive of the authority answerable to Oireachtas committees on matters pertaining to the authority rather than the more limited definition in the section as it currently stands. Section 13(3) sets out the chief executive's responsibilities as carrying out, managing and controlling generally the administration and business of the...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am sympathetic to the thrust of this amendment because, in the interests of democracy, we have an interest in ensuring availability of information to Members of the Oireachtas. I expect the new authority to reply quickly, effectively and efficiently. The requirement that the authority produce a substantive answer to any written question submitted by Members of the Oireachtas within seven...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The chief executive officer is an instrument of Government policy and, as such, is neither the source of it nor the inspiration for it. It would be inappropriate for such an instrument of Government policy to criticise it. The individual concerned would be entering the political arena. Many members of Dáil committees are capable of questioning and offering political opinions. That is their...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It is quite straightforward. In this case the chief executive is giving an account of the general administration of the authority, which does not impinge on the policy decisions.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I cannot conceive of a situation whereby a chief executive officer, in giving an account of the administration of the authority, would impinge on policy.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: This section refers specifically to general administration, as stated in section 21(1).

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: In this day and age, with all matters subject to the Freedom of Information Act, I cannot conceive of that happening.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The section provides that the Minister will set an establishment day for the National Sports Campus Development Authority and that it will be set by order. The advantage of a section like this is to allow all necessary arrangements to put in place after the Bill has been enacted.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: As Senator Feighan will be aware, one of the stated functions of the authority is to encourage and promote the use of the sports campus by people participating in sport at professional and amateur levels and by members of the public generally. In this context the authority will encourage and promote the use of the campus by a wide variety of groups. This promotion will be targeted at both...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The specific remit of the authority is to develop a sports campus at Abbotstown, not anywhere else. The reason commercial buildings are mentioned in the context of the campus is that they might be complementary to the campus. For example, the GAA authorities have seen fit to construct a hotel connected to the Croke Park stadium. In the same way, it might be necessary for the authority to...