Results 201-220 of 3,369 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: I welcome our guests and thank them for the work they do. I will begin with Ms Walsh and Mr. McIntyre. Ms Walsh referred to the 70-odd arts spaces nationwide. Is the review to which reference was made complete in terms of the analysis of the work required to bring some of those spaces up to standard?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: Yes.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: From a practical and theatrical point of view, how many of the 70 centres need major improvements?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: Exactly. Mr. McIntyre referred to the vision in the context of Cavan. I come from County Meath. We have the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, the new centre that has opened in Trim and the theatre in Ratoath. That came from the vision of Meath County Council. I was a councillor at the time. I turned the sod on and opened the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan when I was a councillor. That came...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: That is why these hearings are important in the context of their place within budgets. Ultimately, that is up to councillors. During the recession, we were adamant in ensuring we would not cut from that sector even though many people saw it as low-hanging fruit. In fairness, Tom Dowling, the county manager in Meath at the time, was adamant that would not happen. I will touch base with...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: It is about the increase in costs. I will move to Mr. Croffy in that regard. Before he launches into a series of the issues that were not so good, I thank him for his words in respect of the supports during Covid. He spoke about the reform of local government. I fully agree with his synopsis of the so-called reform by the former Minister, Phil Hogan. I was Fianna Fáil spokesperson...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: Local government is now able to access funds that did not exist heretofore from the Minister, Deputy Humphrey's, Department in particular. They are taking funds from outside the normal strands of the arts sector but they are putting it back in. The Minister turned a 250-year old Church of Ireland church that had been dilapidated for 100 years into a library, which was opened during the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sport and Recreational Development (14 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: Last Sunday was an amazing day for Irish football with a record attendance of 44,000 people at the FAI cup final in the Aviva.Again, however, what was a momentous day for Irish football was overshadowed by events going on off the field. As the chief soccer reporter of the Irish Independent, Daniel McDonnell, put it yesterday, there are good people in the FAI who are being failed by their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sport and Recreational Development (14 Nov 2023)

Shane Cassells: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and the work he is doing. I agree with him in that I too hope the FAI takes the appropriate steps before its AGM in respect of making sure it reaches the gender quotas for the board. I also welcome the audit that Sport Ireland undertook to make sure it had the checks and balances in place to uncover these payments and I welcome that the Minister...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: There have been several contributions this morning regarding yesterday's debate in respect of Local Ireland and the presence of representatives of various local newspapers in Leinster House yesterday. It is important we have that debate. Local Ireland's focus yesterday and when it was here last year was on revenue. Last year, it looked for a reduction of VAT to 0%, which the Government...

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: Before I go to the next slot, I welcome former Minister of State, Áine Brady, and her group to the Gallery. I welcome her back. It is great to see her and I hope she and her group have a lovely evening in Leinster House.

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: I join Senator Black in acknowledging the presence of Professor Colin Harvey, who has published some extremely important reports on Irish unity in the EU. I acknowledge his presence here.

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: That concludes the debate on the political situation in Northern Ireland. I ask the Acting Leader when it is proposed to sit again.

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: I welcome the launch of a scholarship pilot scheme yesterday by former and Irish international footballers James McClean, Gavin Bazunu, Seamus Coleman, Kevin Long and Enda Stevens. On foot of funding they raised, €30,000 will be provided for a scholarship pilot scheme that will provide two bursaries to enable one 17-year-old boy and one 17-year-old girl to train full time with their...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: Following the big announcement yesterday that Ireland will co-host the UEFA 2028 championships we need to immediately begin discussions on who will fund Casement Park in Belfast. Already the rows and wrangling are starting up North, which is depressing. I join my colleague Justin McNulty, MLA in his calls for this to end, for the positivity of yesterday's announcement to be embraced and for...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Inclusion in Sport: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: I welcome all of the representatives of our pillar sports, the Department, Sport Ireland the Federation of Irish Sport. I thank them for the work they do and for taking this opportunity to outline to the Oireachtas the work they are doing across society. This work is primarily at a volunteer-based level and that should not be forgotten. I congratulate them all on that. Dr. May spoke...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Inclusion in Sport: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: The GAA had a successful special congress a couple of weeks ago. There was a resounding endorsement of Mr. Ryan in the position of ard-stiúrthóir in terms of the 80% vote for what was required. Similarly, if I understand it, there will be an extension or expansion from 19 to 21 in the interim period. Can he outline the thought process behind that?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Inclusion in Sport: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Shane Cassells: I have a couple of questions for Mr. Ó Conaire in that respect. Dr. May spoke about hoping that smaller organisations will not be penalised. Is it the Department and Minister’s intention to still impose those cuts or will an allowance be made where if associations, especially in the minority level, are making stringent efforts to try to reach that gender, they will not receive...