Results 11,561-11,580 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

National Conference Centre. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 33 together. I am pleased to inform the House that, following approval by the Government, I announced yesterday that Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium is being invited to become the provisional preferred tenderer for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin. The decision was taken by the national conference centre...

National Conference Centre. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Of necessity, this has been a complex and difficult procedure. The tenderers underwent a rigorous examination and evaluation by the steering group, which was obliged to make a decision as to the preferred tenderer to go before Government for its decision. Issues had to be examined in detail. The current status is that the contracting party, the Office of Public Works, will enter into...

Tourism Industry. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: As the Deputy will be aware, tourism was identified in the Good Friday Agreement as an area of co-operation. With the establishment of Tourism Ireland as a North-South body responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas, we now have a shining example of the tangible benefits to be achieved from closer, more structured collaboration on this island. I have just returned from a tourism...

Tourism Industry. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Waterways come under the remit of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. I am not up to date on developments in that area other than to say that it might be possible for Deputy Wall to table a question on waterways to the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív. Naturally, I would encourage as much co-operation as possible in this regard and agree with Deputy Wall about...

Water Quality. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The report referred to by the Deputy has just been brought to the attention of my Department, and I have now asked my officials to review it in the context of the deliberations on the possible framework for tourism product development, post 2006. It is widely acknowledged that one of the strategic challenges for Irish tourism over the next ten years, in the area of product development, lies...

Water Quality. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: All my Department can do as regards the issues raised by Deputy Wall is to encourage the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to control waste and ensure there are as many beaches as possible that qualify for blue flags. These are issues for that Department. Under the report, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, to which I have referred, various...

Avian Influenza. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I am happy to have the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health...

Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Government decided in 2004 to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited undertook an in-depth preparatory process, which included engaging with the major governing bodies of sport and stakeholders, and drew up proposals for...

Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Today's Estimates relate only to current expenditure. It is anticipated that capital projects will be announced later. Some work needs to be done on the Abbotstown campus proposal. We would have to enter into arrangements for funding over four years for phase 1 of the programme. It will be decided in the current discussions with the Minister for Finance on the capital provision for the...

Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: All else being equal, phase 1 will proceed and will involve a four-year period, but it may be a five-year cycle. The plan for phase 1 would provide pitches and ancillary facilities catering for the three major field games, rugby, soccer and Gaelic games. It would also include an indoor sports centre to cater for a range of indoor sports with spectator accommodation, as well as shared core...

Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: To answer the Deputy's last question, there is no provision in the first phase of the proposed Abbotstown project for aninstitute of sport. The Irish Sports Council is compiling a proposal for an institute of sport for presentation to Government. That proposal is at an advanced stage and I expect to receive it soon. With regard to the construction of regional facilities across the country,...

State Airports. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I take this opportunity to congratulate again my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, on the agreement he concluded with the US authorities last week in the context of the current EU-US negotiations on open skies. This is great news for, and has been generally welcomed by, the Irish tourism industry, which will be a huge winner when the anticipated new and additional gateways...

State Airports. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: We have all heard these dire warnings for some time. They are not representative of the general air of optimism for the future that is more evident in the Shannon region, especially in terms of maximising the potential of Shannon Airport. The airport has already this year reported a 36% growth in traffic and stated it is on target to deliver an additional 1 million passengers this year. The...

Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: As I advised the House previously, in January 2004 the Government agreed to provide funding to the joint IRFU and FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. The facility will be a 50,000 all-seated stadium to be built on the grounds of the existing stadium at Lansdowne Road and will meet all the current international standards for rugby and soccer. The Lansdowne Road stadium...

Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The IRFU has met with the residents of the areas around Lansdowne Road a number of times, who are well aware of the development proposals. A consultative forum with an independent chairman, Mr. Dermot Egan, has been established through Dublin City Council to act as a channel through which the residents' anxieties and fears can be made known, dealt with and resolved where possible. In order to...

Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: A planning application will hopefully be lodged by the end of the year and we will deal with the matter from there.

Performing Arts. (17 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: When the relocation of UCD from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield began in the 1950s, the expectation was that the site and premises at Earlsfort Terrace would transfer to the State as progress with the development of Belfield enabled Earlsfort Terrace to be vacated. Against this background, Government decisions in 1974 and 1981 to convert a portion of the building for use as a National Concert...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (16 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Since taking office in 2002, I have consistently and effectively made the case, in the context of annual Estimates discussions, for increased funding for the arts. The results are clearly in evidence. Funding for the Arts Council has increased by a total of 28% from €47.67 million in 2002, to €61 million in 2005. This built on earlier increases of about 80% between 1997 and 2002. I must,...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (16 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The Government has provided capital funding towards the provision and development of a wide range of sports facilities and stadia at national, regional and local level. The capital cost of the National Aquatic Centre was €71 million; the GAA received €109.84 million towards the costs of the redevelopment of Croke Park; while the redevelopment project at Lansdowne Road Stadium, being...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (16 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The detailed design for the provision of a new stadium at Lansdowne Road has been costed at €365 million, including VAT, of which €191 million is being provided by the State. The Government is committed to providing a maximum of €191 million towards the project and this position has been reiterated and is accepted and understood by both the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football...