Results 11,841-11,860 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Tourism Industry. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I thank Deputy Gogarty for his comments. I appreciate the constructive manner in which he approaches questions on tourism. Walkways are the responsibility of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs because they are connected to rural development. He set up Comhairle na Tuaithe which it was hoped would resolve outstanding issues between landowners and the tourism industry. We...
- Tourism Industry. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I am not dismissing the figures, but they relate to specific goods so the survey could not possibly be an accurate reflection of the average cost. Some 97% of visitors to the country have stated they would recommend Ireland to a friend, which is very encouraging. I am not denying Deputy O'Shea's contention that there is a competitiveness issue. Of course there is and I am the first to...
- Tourism Industry. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: On the smoking ban, as mentioned by Deputy Finian McGrath, this is not a negative factor at all. In fact the indications coming back are that it is positive. Far from people recoiling from the country as regards this issue, Ireland has set a precedent for other countries, which will all be following in due course.
- Tourism Industry. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: These are the indications. We carried out a survey before the introduction of the smoking ban in the American market, to find that it is a positive feature. As regards the question of competitiveness, I have outlined my position. Offering value for money to visitors is an issue. To be fair, the industry is responding well to the challenge. Surveys are carried out on a regular basis by Fáilte...
- Sport and Recreational Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 11 together. My Department has an excellent, long-standing and productive relationship with the Institute for Leisure and Amenity Management, ILAM Ireland, with regard to the network of high quality, appropriate and sustainable leisure sports facilities available throughout the country. My Department and ILAM have co-operated in various initiatives over...
- Sport and Recreational Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I am pleased to endorse the initiative ILAM has undertaken which I welcome and commend as an important instrument to promote the highest standards in facility management and maintenance to meet today's requirements. To that extent, the initiative is welcome. As I stated, I indicated informally to ILAM that I did not envisage any direct role which would be appropriate for my Department in what...
- Sport and Recreational Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I hope I would be able to do so.
- Swimming Pool Projects. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: As I indicated in replies to similar parliamentary questions on the subject on 1 December 2004 and 17 February 2005, the local authority swimming pool programme administered by my Department has been closed to new applicants since 31 July 2000. Moneys provided under my Department's multi-annual capital envelope for the programme are being committed to completing projects being progressed...
- Swimming Pool Projects. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: God forbid that any of us should ever become involved in pre-election posturing. Priority must be given to the large number of swimming pools still being processed. It is not proposed to re-open the swimming pools programme at present. However, the question of doing so will be considered following an expenditure review of the programme being carried out by my Department and which is expected...
- Swimming Pool Projects. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The maximum grant that can be allocated for a swimming pool is â¬3.8 million and this does not provide the dry facilities. The problem is that there are not enough resources to go around. When facilities are being put in place, local authorities must come up with funding and if they want dry facilities they must provide them themselves. The only other vehicle for dry facilities at present is...
- Departmental Funding. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: My Department has allocated a total of â¬7.85 million, comprising an original â¬6.35 million towards programming for the event and a further â¬1.5 million which I approved specifically for additional new commissions and a number of larger events with mass audience appeal. EU funding of â¬500,000 has been provided, the event has a sponsorship target of â¬3.975 million and Cork City...
- Departmental Funding. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: We have been generous in terms of Cork City of Culture. It is proving to be a wonderful success, despite forebodings which were vented in some quarters, not least in Cork. The organising committee has done a superb, professional job and the figures, which do not lie, bear that out. In the first three months of 2005, 300,000 people attended events under Cork City of Culture, an astounding...
- Departmental Funding. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The Cork City of Culture organisers knew precisely what the funding would be. Far from staying with the original figure, the Government increased its investment. Sponsorship and benefit in kind have exceeded â¬5.5 million and are heading for â¬6 million. It is true that when we make international comparisons with larger cities that have held the title of European City of Culture, Cork's...
- Departmental Funding. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I have no doubt that the drama in Páirc Uà Chaoimh, a long-running saga in many acts, will give great joy and entertainment to our fellow countymen and women. Returning to the topic, the organisers of Cork City of Culture have ensured that events being put on in the city are innovative, imaginative and attractive. When the entire year is reviewed, we will be proud of what has happened in Cork.
- Sports Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: In July 2004, the Irish Sports Council, in conjunction with the Olympic Council of Ireland and the Paralympic Council of Ireland, commissioned the Athens review to produce an objective assessment of the preparation and performance of the Irish Teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Athens 2004. The review was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of all aspects of the programmes and...
- Sports Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: There is no difficulty in publishing the report. The development of high performance athletes requires a long-term approach. There is no point in believing it can be done overnight. Research indicates it takes ten years of training to develop an elite athlete. It must be remembered that the Irish Sports Council's high performance strategy was only published in 2002. Our strategy is a...
- Sports Development. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I strongly favour the introduction of an institute of sport. The difficulty, like everything else, is to secure funding for such a project. I am a strong supporter of the Abbotstown campus project. I want to see a necklace of sporting centres, such as the aquatic centre, and that we have an adequate campus facility.
- National Aquatic Centre. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Legal proceedings have been taken by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited in the commercial court against Dublin Waterworld for breaches of the lease on the National Aquatic Centre. As this issue relates to proceedings before the commercial court at present, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment or statement on these matters. However, I take this opportunity...
- National Aquatic Centre. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I am limited in what I can say because there are matters before the commercial court. I am advised that it would be inappropriate to make any comment which might prejudice the outcome of a matter which is sub judice. CSID has instituted proceedings against Dublin Waterworld Limited, which is due to the failure of Dublin Waterworld to fulfil fundamental obligations of its lease. These have...
- National Aquatic Centre. (16 Jun 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Until the proceedings are determined, the provisions of the lease will continue to apply. As I already said, the National Aquatic Centre re-opened for business on 20 May 2005.