Results 141-160 of 3,053 for speaker:Mary Upton
- Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 334: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will review the case of a family (details supplied) who are seeking leave to remain here on humanitarian grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37193/10]
- Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 403: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average time taken in 2010 to date to process an application for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; the percentage of applications that were refused on first application for each; the percentage of refused applications that have been appealed; the percentage that were allowed on appeal; the time it takes to process an appeal; if...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 39: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in view of the costs to the publicly funded Irish Sports Council of the legal costs it incurred by the action taken by the former chairperson of Athletics Ireland, if she is now willing to make it a condition of State funding that all governing bodies be required to sign up to a dispute resolution service such as the Just Sport...
- Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the continuing negative effect of the air travel tax on tourist numbers, airlines and the public finances, the action she has taken to progress the removal or significant reduction of the air travel tax, to help promote Ireland as a potential destination for tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36955/10]
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that funding is kept in place for a home help service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36932/10]
- Performing Arts (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: The Minister more or less answered my question. Was what she described an exercise in cost savings or was the decision made because the quality of opera would be enhanced by the merger of the two companies?
- City of Literature Designation (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Designation presents a great opportunity for Dublin to promote our many literary geniuses. I take the opportunity to congratulate Emma Donoghue. Although Emma Donoghue is not based in Dublin, I congratulate her as she did extremely well to be placed on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize. That must be acknowledged. The Minister stated the city's designation is being promoted on the...
- Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I support the tax exemption scheme for artists because I believe it is important. We could perhaps examine how it is distributed. Perhaps, it could be distributed over a number of years because often an artist might earn a great deal of money in one year from, for example, a piece of sculpture, and may not earn anything for three or four more years. The Minister indicated there will be...
- Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I must have misinterpreted what the Minister said. As she pointed out, the majority of people who benefit from the artists' tax exemption earn below â¬50,000 per annum. Why then are we putting such a high cap of â¬125,000 on it?
- Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I accept that.
- Artists' Tax Exemption (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: There may be scope to review the eligibility of particular individuals. I accept this issue has been raised before. There are people who have availed of the artists' tax exemption who, in hindsight, should not have been eligible to avail of it.
- Arts and Cultural Facilities Audit (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Again, I am not proposing there should be any more major capital investment at this time. The main issue is, the need to ensure the proper services and activities are provided. It has been pointed out to me that many art centres and festivals do not have computerised box offices or marketing systems. This is an area in which there could be investment. I do believe we need any more...
- Abbey Theatre (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: There is a serious element of putting the cart before the horse in respect of this matter. Whoever decided to proceed with the feasibility study should first have considered whether we want the theatre to be relocated to the GPO. If a decision had been taken that the relocation should proceed, then we could have moved forward with the feasibility study. If we had decided not to relocate...
- Abbey Theatre (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: What is the current position with regard to the feasibility study? When will it be completed? We must continue with the study and we cannot just drop it now. Meetings relating to this matter have been taking place over many years. In such circumstances, the study must be almost complete. I do not know whether we should have parallel debates on this issue. I take on board many of the...
- Arts Funding (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I agree with the Minister's comments on the protection of the arts and Deputy Deenihan's contribution. It is important in a cultural way, as the people engaged in the arts do so because they love it rather than it being a job. They want to do it and beyond almost any other profession they have a total commitment to the sector. As I mentioned when discussing the arts exemption, many of...
- Irish Sports Council (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport in view of the revelations arising from the case taken against the Irish Sports Council, by the former chairperson of Athletics Ireland, if she has, or plans to commission an independent review of this issue; if she has satisfied herself that the report produced by the Irish Sports Council adequately reflects the findings of the...
- Irish Sports Council (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I welcome the appointment of Mr. Mulvey to the important post of chairman of the Irish Sports Council. The role will undoubtedly be challenging but his experience will be of great importance to the council and in terms of the spin-off for other sporting bodies throughout the State. I tabled this question reluctantly. Like the Minister, I do not wish to see more public money spent - I will...
- Irish Sports Council (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: There are some serious concerns remaining. Does the Minister not accept that an individual's reputation is at stake here? I do not propose to be the judge of the case. However, there is something missing when a report from one side of the argument is published on the Department's website. Why did the Irish Sports Council choose not to put up a defence in court? Is the Minister not...
- Irish Sports Council (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: A great deal of hurt has already been caused.
- Irish Sports Council (14 Oct 2010)
Mary Upton: I raise the secondary issue of the responsibility of the Minister to the House and the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council. The standard reply a Member is given is that his or her query is not a matter for the Minister but for the Irish Sports Council. I, as an elected representative, do not have direct access to that information via this House. That is very important. It is time...