Results 10,961-10,980 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. As the Deputies are aware, on 1 February 2006 I appointed Mr. Tim Dalton, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to carry out an investigation into issues relating to corporate management in Bord na gCon as well as the management of positive tests for banned substances. I received Mr. Dalton's draft...

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I deeply regret the fact that extracts from the Dalton report were published in some newspapers. I assure the House that neither I nor any officials in my Department were involved in any of the leaks concerned, which I deplore. While it is not for me to make a judgment as to the nature of the leaks, inasmuch as I requested people to desist from commenting on the contents of the report, I also...

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: There is no farce from my point of view. The situation is quite straightforward — I requested people to observe due process. As I have said before, neither I nor my officials leaked the report and we were not responsible for it. I have also said on several occasions that, irrespective of what anybody said, we would observe due process. There was no point in setting out on that road a couple...

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I anticipate that the Dalton report will deal with the question of where drug control at Bord na gCon should lie in future. Clearly, that forms part of the report and I anticipate that we will have a discussion on it. With regard to the question of statements made by various parties, I do not think I would have any difficulty — subject to the Attorney General's approval, which would have to...

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: ——in the past that Mr. Taggart made an enormous contribution to the Irish greyhound industry.

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Mr. Taggart made an enormous contribution to the Irish greyhound industry. In that respect, Deputy Deenihan seeks to suggest that Mr. Taggart had no choice. I would remind Deputy Deenihan that when I called for due process in the first instance, there was no report in existence and segments of a report were not leaked. Nonetheless, the chairman decided that he had to make a public comment,...

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I anticipate that legislation will be required on foot of the Dalton report.

Greyhound Racing Industry. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: He is the chairman until he becomes the outgoing chairman. Is that not the case?

Regional Tourism Authorities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion or development at regional level are day-to-day functions of the State tourism agencies. As the Deputy is aware, Fáilte Ireland is proceeding with the revision of regional tourism structures and is also gearing up its own structures to line up with the proposed new arrangements at regional level. A new senior management position...

Regional Tourism Authorities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The enhancement of the powers of the RTAs should not be considered in isolation. It is the case that enhanced powers will be given to the RTAs in terms of marketing and product development. However, it is also important to realise that we have broken up the country into three regions for the purposes of marketing to improve regional spread — the regions are south, east and west. The idea is...

Regional Tourism Authorities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The PWC report makes clear that six new regional tourism partnerships, RTPs, should be established and that each of the RTPs will include regionally based industry representatives, city and country borough managers, local authority representatives and Fáilte Ireland nominees. The chairperson of each RTP will be nominated from within the partnership and will have relevant commercial...

Sports Capital Programme. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am aware of the wish of the Gaelic Athletic Association to develop a multi-annual programme for the refurbishment and redevelopment of major GAA venues. I am very much in favour of such a development and would point out to the Deputy that it has been practice over recent years to make provision in the annual sports capital programme allocations for grant support for a number of major GAA...

Sports Capital Programme. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The stadium I discussed with the GAA authorities is Semple Stadium — I discussed it with the officials of the Munster Council when we met. I do not think anybody has an understanding of Irish culture unless he or she has stood on the terrace at Semple Stadium on the day of a Munster hurling final. Therefore, the Deputy can take it that I empathise and sympathise with the cause he espouses....

Sports Capital Programme. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: If there is a new proposal we can discuss it then.

National Stadium. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: In January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191 million to the joint IRFU-FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. In January 2006, the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, LRSDC, the company charged with delivery of the project, submitted a planning application to Dublin City Council. Before doing so, the company engaged in an extensive period...

National Stadium. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I do not accept the lifestyle of residents will be changed as a result of the construction of a state-of-the-art 50,000 all-seater stadium at Lansdowne Road. It is the oldest rugby stadium in the world. Frankly, the alternative is worse. I have said previously that there would be a concrete jungle at Lansdowne Road if the stadium were not to go ahead. I would much prefer to have a stadium of...

National Stadium. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The revised cost of the stadium is of the order of €365 million. The Government's commitment is €191 million. It is anticipated that construction will commence in 2007 and will be completed in 29 months. These are the timeframes originally envisaged. When the price was set down at the commencement and for the variation that occurred thereafter, following the redesign, inflationary factors...

Sports Facilities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Plans relating to any proposed relocation of Eircom league football grounds is entirely a matter for individual clubs to decide in consultation with the Eircom league board of control. I made no request to the club concerned to halt work on any proposed move. I have, however, requested the FAI to discuss the concept of ground sharing with a number of Dublin clubs. The recent Genesis report on...

Sports Facilities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It will. The Genesis report is clear on ground sharing and I have expressed my support for that report on a number of occasions. I have had discussions with the FAI which also believes it is necessary for us to have two medium-sized stadiums in Dublin so that the Eircom league can prosper. This makes perfect sense. For example, the facilities of the San Siro stadium, which has a capacity of...

Sports Facilities. (31 May 2006)

John O'Donoghue: In short, I am not because to do so would require us to have a lower capacity ground than will be in existence. This would be required if the pitch were to measure up to the measurements required for a standard size GAA pitch. In addition, a commitment was given that this particular stadium would be a home for Shamrock Rovers. I consciously made that commitment and it is one I will keep. It...