Results 1,081-1,100 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh
- European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: Our Nobel prizewinners belong to Europe and the world, not just to Ireland. It would be no detraction from our Irish heritage, or indeed any other heritage, if the EU were to be more active in enhancing our common European heritage and if, instead of being perceived as a cold, self-interested political and economic project, it were, through culture, to become an overarching dimension of our...
- European Union Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I wish to share the last five minutes of my time with Deputy Cuffe.
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: The development of a national sports facilities strategy was originally a commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government 2002-2007. Before commencing work on the strategy, an assessment of the sports capital programme was undertaken. This was done in the context of an expenditure review of the programme, which sought to assess the benefits that the investment had yielded to date and...
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: To put it in context and to mitigate the criticism, an enormous amount of money has been put into improving sports facilities in this country over the period. Some â¬725 million was spent on this area between 1998 and this year. I am sure the Deputy is as aware as I am, from observation in her constituency, of the transforming effect on many clubs and facilities the sports capital...
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: Not just Kerry South.
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: Tipperary South had no Minister between 2002 and 2008, but it did very well during the period in question. When I was in Kerry one summer just after the sports capital grants had been announced, the message on the front page of The Kerryman was "Thanks Minister", but there was no thanks and several inside pages carried howls of complaint from sports clubs in Kerry that had not received...
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I have not finished my reply.
- National Sports Facility Strategy. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: With regard to the 2009 situation, there is a considerable overhang of commitments. Approximately â¬56 million was allocated this year and it is being spent on previous commitments. Some previous commitments will still require to be paid for next year also. Nonetheless, as indicated in my reply, consideration is being given on the basis of the new strategy as to what form future funding...
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the provision of sports facilities and equipment in this country. Since 1998, through the sports capital programme, the Government has invested over â¬725 million in over 7,400 separate sporting projects. This investment has transformed the Irish sporting landscape, with...
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I shall certainly answer them, and in no particular order. I would not be pre-empting what is going to happen in 2010, and I do not believe my answer pre-empted budget decisions in either a positive or negative direction in that respect.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: My experience, based on being a Deputy and Senator, in regard to grants has shown me that the applications are looked at very professionally by civil servants, assessed and marks awarded based on their quality. In 2007 I had the experience where many clubs in Tipperary were getting grants, except for the one with which I was associated. One has to live with this and I have been present at...
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: Certainly, the programme operates on the principle that if a grant is not used after a year or two, then it is lost. In those circumstances, funding not used by club X goes back into the general fund and can be applied to commitments for clubs Y and Z.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: It stays within the pool.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: As the Minister has previously stated in response to recent questions on the overall development of the national sports campus project, he is currently engaged in discussions with the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA, as to how we might best advance matters in the medium term taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints. Notwithstanding these...
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: The Deputy will appreciate that I do not deal with sports matters. I do not have that information to hand and I will communicate with the Deputy.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I would not speculate on what will or will not be completed within the period. On a more general issue, over many years there has been a tendency to politicise this project in respect of a former Taoiseach. However, at its core are some very worthwhile facilities that are worth providing.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I am not an expert in contract law. However, normally contracts are binding unless the contract provides - as it sometimes does - a method of withdrawing from it.
- Sports Capital Programme. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I could not tell the Deputy what precedents exist.
- Sports Funding. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 110 together. Since 2001, Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries has been provided under the horse and greyhound racing fund, which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. In 2004, the Government put in place regulations to increase the limit of the horse and greyhound racing fund from â¬254 million to...
- Sports Funding. (21 Oct 2009)
Martin Mansergh: I cannot pre-empt what further decisions will be made on either tax or funding in the context of the budget and Estimates. I am certainly well aware of the arguments the Deputy has put forward. If she is expecting me to mark her card as to exactly what will happen, I regret I am unable to do that.