Results 1,301-1,320 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: As I have previously indicated to the House, my Department has been working on a Bill to enable the Irish Sports Council to establish subsidiaries. Issues have arisen during the drafting of the Bill that are the subject of discussion between my Department, the Department of Finance, the Irish Sports Council and the Attorney General's Office. I have said previously that I am not convinced,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to "create a new combined Cultural Visa and Work Permit that simplifies and speeds up entry by incoming artists and groups to Ireland". Discussions regarding the practical implementation of this commitment are ongoing with the other relevant Departments — Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform and Department of Enterprise, Trade &...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations and, in certain circumstances to schools and colleges, throughout the country. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country....

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

Martin Cullen: Letters have issued to each of this year's unsuccessful applicants, including the one in question, setting out the reasons why they were not awarded a grant. As that letter pointed out, given the level of demand for funding and the amount of funding available under the Programme, it is not possible for my Department to allocate grants to every applicant. In this instance, the club did not...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I have not been made aware of the ceremony to mark the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty nor have I received an invitation to attend.

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 283 together. Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Since 1998 the Sports Capital Programme has allocated over €725m to 7,401...

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

Martin Cullen: In the calendar year to date, the Department has estimated that capital or other grant aid has been awarded to approximately 1,000 bodies, groups and agencies. This number is expected to increase to over 1,050 by year end. Details of the capital or other grant aid awarded in 2007 is set out on the Department's website www.dast.gov.ie. It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number...

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

Martin Cullen: My Department has not received any request for funding from this group. Request for capital arts grants are normally dealt with under my Department's ACCESS (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme) scheme; however this scheme is currently closed for applications. Revenue funding for the arts is provided by the Arts Council and I would refer the Deputy to the Council's website...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (8 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...

Sport and Recreational Development. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is aware, we are in the midst of an Estimates process at present. What will happen in the future will be decided as the budget approaches. However, this does not invalidate in any way what I said after the Olympic Games in Beijing. The points I made then remain valid now and I have not changed my mind in respect of them. When people refer to 2012, it is usually in the context...

Sport and Recreational Development. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I do not want to give the impression that whole teams were training abroad. I was talking about a specific part of a team. It was not because of lack of resources in China that it sent cyclists to train in Switzerland. The reason is that Switzerland is the centre of excellence in terms of training. Currently, we have cyclists involved in specific high level programmes in Europe. Even if...

Cultural Events. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Dublin hosted the first culture night in 2006. On culture night key artistic and cultural venues extend their opening hours until late in the evening, providing the public with increased access. Since then the Department's focus has been to develop the event, in conjunction with the Temple Bar cultural trust, which co-ordinates the event by encouraging more venues to participate and to...

Cultural Events. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Deputy for her comments. We all agree culture night was an outstanding success. It got great public coverage, which helped bring the message of what was happening to people. One can never win — the Deputy suggested there was too much to do, whereas, usually, the criticism is there is not enough to do. Culture night is a work in progress in terms of learning how to manage a...

Tourism Promotion. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for the negotiations on introducing pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports rests with my colleague, the Minister for Transport. As I said previously, the introduction of pre-clearance facilities would have some positive aspects for Irish tourism. If such an agreement could be reached, it would help Dublin and Shannon...

Tourism Promotion. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, this is an issue with which I am very familiar because I was centrally involved in it as Minister for Transport, and I believe strongly in advancing it. Unfortunately, the difficulties rest with those with whom we have to work rather than with ourselves. A combination of groups, including Ireland and the US as sovereign Governments, are involved in developing...

Tourism Promotion. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I assure the Deputy that work had already commenced on the legislation while I was Minister, so there is no question of my colleague being slow in progressing it. The Government is aware of the benefits of this agreement. We will certainly endeavour to establish facilities at Shannon at the earliest opportunity, although the construction work on Dublin Airport will have to be completed...

Tourism Promotion. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy can elicit much of that information from the Minister for Transport. I do not wish to avoid her question but I simply do not know who he has met. I know, however, that he is very committed to this issue. I had a conversation with him recently on this and I am almost certain that he has held meetings but I would need to confirm that. A number of technical issues arose that...

Departmental Expenditure. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together. As required by the Government in dealing with the current financial difficulties, an amount of €5.978 million was identified as the savings to be achieved this year on the Votes of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the National Gallery. The savings will be as follows: €3 million in Department operated capital programmes...

Departmental Expenditure. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: Nearly all have moved.

Departmental Expenditure. (8 Oct 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is a separate question.