Results 1,261-1,280 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, and the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Since the establishment of the Department in June 2002, four new agencies have been established, as set out in tabular form below. Year of Establishment Agency 2003 National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland) which was an amalgamation of CERT and Bord Fáilte 2005 Culture Ireland (non-statutory) which is part of the Department 2006 Irish Institute of Sport (non-statutory)...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: To date, no financial commitments have been made in respect of accommodation in Mallow for Fáilte Ireland nor has there been any money spent on the acquisition of, or the renting of property. The Government decided on 8th July last that no further expenditure on the acquisition of accommodation for decentralisation should be sanctioned pending detailed consideration by the Government of two...

Written Answers — Information Obligations: Information Obligations (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: In March 2008, the Government set a target of 25 per cent for the reduction of the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by the year 2012. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) is leading the cross-Government process to achieve this target. DETE has developed a methodology to identify, prioritise and measure administrative burdens, as a necessary...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. The Department does not normally have any EU measures to transpose into primary or secondary legislation. Accordingly none were transposed in the past 12 months nor are any waiting to be transposed.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Programme has been run on an annual basis over the past number of years. It is open to any organisation with a suitable project, which satisfies the terms and conditions of the programme, to...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project following the submission of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Two proposals have been submitted to my Department by Cork County Council on behalf of Dunmanway. The first proposal was for a...

Written Answers — Performing Arts: Performing Arts (9 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act, 2003, the general functions of the Council include the following: -to stimulate public interest in the arts;to promote knowledge, appreciation and...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: The proposal for a new Irish film channel is contained in the Broadcasting Bill that was published earlier this year, and is currently before this House. The draft legislation provides regulatory framework to allow for the broadcasting of the film channel, under the aegis of the Irish Film Board, that will showcase Irish, European and world film on a free-to-air basis by Digital Television...

Written Answers — Museum Projects: Museum Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Since the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 on 3rd May 2005, the Board of the National Museum is statutorily responsible for operational matters concerning its collection and I, as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, do not have a statutory function in respect of operational matters. I understand that the...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, immigration policy is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and its implementation is a matter for the relevant authorities, including the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. Tourism Ireland has made my Department aware of some incidents where visitors encountered...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Agreed Programme for Government commits to the roll out of the Local Sports Partnership programme on a nationwide basis to provide for the development of sport at local level. The Irish Sports Council has a statutory role in the promotion and development of sport, including initiatives such as the Local Sports Partnership network, through which sports initiatives at local level are...

Written Answers — Sports Facilities: Sports Facilities (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 143, 151, 178 and 180 together. Since 1998, over €700 million has been provided for the development of sporting facilities at national, regional and local levels. Through this investment my Department is funding the development of a network of top quality facilities around the country designed to meet the training, coaching and competition needs of our...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 137, 139 and 280 together. Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The aim of the Programme is to maximise participation in sport through the provision of modern high quality, safe, well-designed...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 176 together. The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 for the purpose of giving support to both racing industries. Under the provisions of the Act, the Fund is calculated on the basis of excise duty on off-course betting in the preceding year, subject to a minimum level based on the year 2000...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 146, 148, 276 and 285 together. I would refer the Deputy to my detailed reply to the Priority Question No. 121 on this subject today.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 142, 147, 166 and 172 together. Work on the National Sports Facilities Strategy is at an advanced stage in my Department. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment/grant assistance at national, regional and local level. It is intended to identify the facilities requirement for sport so that participation at...

Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 165, 277 and 284 together. The Government's priorities for the Arts are set out in the Programme for Government and are elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy and the Arts Plan 2008, which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved primarily...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I have received the representations referred to by the Deputy. The tax relief on donations to certain sports bodies scheme, established under section 847a of the Taxes Consolidation Act came into effect from 1st May 2002. It allows for tax relief on donations made to approved sports bodies for the funding of sports capital projects. This scheme applies to donations of over €250 made toward...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Minister for Integration, in his statement, Migration Nation, announced that new funding lines would be established to promote integration. One of these was for sporting bodies. I understand the Minister will be in contact shortly in this regard with a number of these bodies to assist them to reach out to newcomers and get them involved in sport as part of their overall integration into...