McDaid, JamesWednesday, 24 June 1998 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Priority Questions. - Tourism Report.
Was asked: if he has studied the recommendations of the recently published document by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation entitled A Strategy for Growth Beyond 2000; and if he will make a statement on his ...
The Deputy may be aware that I attended the launch of the ITIC document, Strategy for Growth Beyond 2000, on 25 May 1998. The study is a welcome and timely contribution to the consultation process ini...
The three parties involved are Bord Fáilte, the Department and the industry. These parties have been in continuous contact since the publication of their respective strategies. I have a strategy docum...
Priority Questions. - Child Abuse in Swimming.
Was asked: if he has received a response from the Irish Amateur Swimming Association arising from the report from the Murphy inquiry into child abuse in swimming; the discussions, if any, he has had with the ass...
Was asked: the specific proposals, if any, his Department has to deal with the recommendations contained in report of the inquiry into alleged sex abuse in swimming that are relevant to his Department.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA) was given a copy of the report of the Murphy inquiry on 17 June 1998 and was requested to give it urgent and immediate consideration. I have had no discu...
Funding will not be provided for any swimming association until there has been a root and branch change within the organisation. It is not enough for an executive council of the IASA to tick off the r...
The Government and the Department will fund only one credible organisation that will administer the sport and be answerable to FIFA. In the past most funding was spent on élite athletes competing in i...
Of course I care about young people involved in swimming, but the money previously given to the organisation was misused and I will not reconsider funding until confidence has been restored in the as...
In reply to Deputy Ferris, I am anxious to bring together those involved, but this has been blown out of all proportion. I understand the IASA will contact its branch members in July and that we will...
Priority Questions. - National Conference Centre.
Was asked: when he will be in a position to make a decision on the national conference centre; and whether the expert evaluators have yet reported to Bord Fáilte on the matter.
As I announced on Monday evening, 22 June, I have been informed by the chairman of the independent management board for product development of his board's decision to award a grant of approximately £2...
An answer to a later question deals with the last two questions raised by the Deputy regarding the regional imbalance. In the context of the schedule, we are ahead of the EU deadline. There is a CSF...
Priority Questions. - INTERREG Funding.
Was asked: if he will consider allocating a portion of the additional £2 million from the INTERREG II community initiatives fund towards funding community driven projects in Border counties, particularly given t...
The Minister for Finance has overall responsibility for the Northern Ireland-Ireland INTERREG programme. However, I understand the monitoring committee for the Northern Ireland-Ireland INTERREG progr...
I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. An amount of £2 million had to be reallocated and we received 25 per cent of it. I would have gladly accept the entire amount. In...
We are exceptionally grateful to the EU, the UK, the US and other countries which have continued to support Ireland. In spite of the breakdown of the ceasefire in 1995, the EU continued to support u...
Other Questions. - Euro Changeover.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to make grant aid available to hotels and guesthouses towards the cost of conversion to the euro.
The Department of Finance is the Department with overall responsibility for co-ordinating Ireland's preparations for the changeover to the euro, encompassing preparations by the Irish public administr...
On whether the Government will provide assistance in this area, the answer is a categorical no. If people go into business, they must be prepared to pay the price. The Deputy's question is akin to sa...
The employment of consultants was discussed earlier. While I acknowledged the consultants' report was a very good one, it failed to address the question of who would pay. An estimated £740 million w...
That is a matter for discussion.
Other Questions. - Tourist Victim Support Service.
Was asked: the financial support, if any, his Department provides for the tourist victim support service; if his attention has been drawn to the call from the service for greater support from tourism and commerc...
Bord Fáilte, out of moneys provided from my Vote, and Dublin Tourism, is providing a total of £15,000 this year to the tourist victim support service, TVSS, which represents almost 50 per cent of its ...
One would naturally wish to appeal to the private sector to come forward in the first instance but I assure the Deputy I will exert some pressure on them to do so. However, I cannot force people to p...
I do not want to compel anybody to do anything. These issues are being discussed with the private tourism sector. We may feel compelled to deal with some issues and that is how I am approaching this...
I have no intention of setting up any further quangos.
According to the report I received from ITIC there are 22 organisations involved in tourism. We should try to get rid of some of them rather than set up more.
Other Questions. - URBAN Operational Programme.
Was asked: the situation in relation to the allocation of funding under the URBAN Operational Programme.
Was asked: the situation in relation to the allocation of funding under the URBAN Operational Programme.
Was asked: the situation in relation to the allocation of funding under the URBAN Operational Programme.
Was asked: if the mid-term review of the URBAN Operational Programme has been completed; if the report will be published; the steps, if any, he is taking to expedite the draw-down of funds approved by the previo...
Was asked: the situation in relation to the allocation of funding under the URBAN Operational Programme.
Was asked: if the mid-term review of the URBAN Operational Programme has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the progress, if any, made on the URBAN II project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the situation in relation to the allocation of funding under the URBAN Operational Programme.
Other Questions. - Special Olympics World Games.
Was asked: the actions, if any, he has taken since the visit of the Special Olympics bid site selection team to ensure Ireland secures this important and prestigious event; and if he will make a statement on the...
As the Deputy is aware, I have facilitated the bid by Special Olympics Ireland to host the Special Olympics World Games in 2003 by securing Government approval for grant assistance up to a maximum £5 ...
The Special Olympics Games will be the largest sporting event in the world in 2003 and would be the biggest international sporting event ever to be held in this country. Over 160 countries will parti...
The main events, with perhaps the exception of swimming, would be held in and around Dublin. Athletes prefer to be based in one location. Belfast was mentioned but this would entail a journey of 45 ...
Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.
Was asked: the extent to which he expects the tourism industry to grow in the next five years; the particular sectors in which he expects most growth; the measures, if any, needed to stimulate growth in these ar...
Was asked: if he will produce a Government five year plan for tourism for the years 1999-2004 on the funding of tourism promotion and training.
Was asked: the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that businesses which benefit from tourism spending make a bigger financial contribution to the development of the industry; and if he will make a statement o...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 31 and 42 together. As I stated in my reply to Question No. 31 of 24 March 1998, my Department has developed an outline strategy for the continued development of t...
Written Answers. - Tourist Numbers.
Was asked: his views on the recently published figures on tourist numbers, particularly as they refer to tourism in the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the official tourism and travel figures for the first quarter of 1998 which were released by the Central Statistics Office on Thursday, 11 June. These figures show ...
Written Answers. - Social Disadvantage.
Was asked: if he will give an update on the establishment of the four pilot projects on social disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of the four pilot programmes on social disadvantage announced in the budget.
Was asked: the report, if any, completed on the worst estates in the country using an index of deprivation so that an integrated and sustained approach can be adopted to improve this situation.
Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.
Was asked: the funding, if any, allocated to date under the measures proposed by the ministerial task force to reduce demand for drugs; and the assessment, if any, carried out of the projects proposed in the des...
Was asked: the funding, if any, allocated to date under the measures proposed by the ministerial task force to reduce demand for drugs; and the assessment, if any, carried out of the projects proposed in the des...
Was asked: the funding, if any, allocated to date under the measures proposed by the ministerial task force to reduce demand for drugs; and the assessment, if any, carried out of the projects proposed in the des...
Was asked: the funding, if any, allocated to date under the measures proposed by the ministerial task force to reduce demand for drugs; and the assessment, if any, carried out of the projects proposed in the des...
Was asked: the funding, if any, allocated to date under the measures proposed by the ministerial task force to reduce demand for drugs; and the assessment, if any, carried out of the projects proposed in the des...
Written Answers. - National Lottery Funding.
Was asked: the timescale for the next round of lottery moneys to be available to groups in the community; if application forms are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Earlier this year, I announced that I was initiating a comprehensive review in my Department of the operation of the sports capital programme. Before work began on the review, I arranged for an exami...
Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
Was asked: if he will reconsider his refusal to allocate a grant of £100,000 to a club (details supplied) Dublin 11 in view of the enormous contributions made by the club to the sporting and social life of the c...
The sports capital programme provides national lottery funding towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. It is the primary vehicle for assisting the developme...
Written Answers. - Sports Anti-Doping Programme.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, he has brought to Government arising from his consideration of the report of the anti-doping advisory committee of the Irish Sports Council; when he will bring forward his plann...
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced this week the introduction of Ireland's first ever national sports anti-doping programme. The programme is targeted for nation-wide application with effect fro...
Written Answers. - Millennium Celebrations.
Was asked: the work to date of the millennium festivals committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Since the Millennium Festivals Company was set up earlier this year it has been working to orchestrate a unique millennium celebration from a tourism perspective by using festivals as its main theme. ...
Written Answers. - Child Abuse in Swimming.
Was asked: the action, if any, he intends to take arising from the Murphy report into allegations of sexual abuse of young swimmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the measures, if any, he proposes to take arising from the recently published Murphy report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 51 together. The Government considered the Report of Inquiry into Matters relating to Child Sexual Abuse in Swimming last week, and on Wednesday 17 June, 1998, ...
Written Answers. - Gaelic Athletic Association.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to have discussions with the GAA regarding rule 21 arising from the recent decision of the organisation.
I have no plans to meet the Gaelic Athletic Association to discuss the outcome of their recent meeting on the question of the association's rule 21.
Written Answers. - Hazardous Substances.
Was asked: whether his attention has been drawn to those elements of the Food and Environment Protection Act in the United Kingdom which require golf clubs in the interests of the health of their users and visit...
Was asked: whether his attention has been drawn to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations which apply in the United Kingdom and in other jurisdictions which have the effect of limiting the var...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 46 together. My Department has no role or responsibility in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy, various elements of which fall within the respective r...
Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.
Was asked: the discussions, if any, he has had with the EU Commission regarding the proposed £25 million in funding for the national convention centre project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I have already informed the House in response to a question from Deputy Allen, I announced on Monday evening, 22 June, that I have been informed by the chairman of the independent Management Board ...
Written Answers. - Swimming Pool Projects.
Was asked: when work on the promised 50 metre swimming pool will commence and is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: when a decision regarding the awarding of a contract for a 50 metre swimming pool will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 105 together . In line with the commitment given in its joint programme, An Action Plan for the Millennium, to invite proposals for a national 50 metre swimming...
Written Answers. - Tourism Employment
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to create and encourage the unemployed back to work and generate greater job opportunities within the tourism sector.
CERT is the State tourism training agency and includes in its range of activities, training for the unemployed for positions in the tourism sector. Since 1994, a total of 4,500 unemployed persons hav...
Written Answers. - Tall Ships Race.
Was asked: the assistance, if any, his Department has given to the organisers of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships race; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A sum of £100,000 was paid to the organisers by Bord Fáilte out of the board's 1996 allocation in respect of the Irish leg of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships race, to help defray organisational and marketin...
Written Answers. - Local Development Programme.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has for developing an enhanced partnership approach to local development with a particular emphasis on improving the quality of life of communities characterised by high levels o...
Written Answers. - Safety at Sports Grounds.
Was asked: the steps, if any, taken to monitor the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for Safety at Sports Grounds; and the changes, if any, proposed.
As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to his previous Dáil questions on 13 May 1998, safety at sports grounds is the responsibility, in the first instance, of those who organise events and those wh...
Written Answers. - Office of Public Works Projects.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to objections by the sporting community to the Office of Public Works' plans to construct a recital hall in the only surviving real tennis court at Earlsfort Terrace, D...
I am aware of the concerns of some people in the sporting community about the work proposed at Earlsfort Terrace. However as overall responsibility for the project rests with my colleague, the Minist...
Written Answers. - Tourist Accommodation.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to license all tourist accommodation.
As I have indicated to this House in the past and most recently in December 1997, there is already in place an extensive system of registration and listing in accordance with standards set by Bord Fái...
Written Answers. - Duty Free Sales.
Was asked: the steps, if any, he has taken since the ECOFIN meeting of 19 May 1998 to advance the cause of the Irish duty free industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My colleague the Minister for Finance raised this matter at the ECOFIN meeting on 19 May. While he did not manage to convince all of his ECOFIN colleagues or the EU Commission to change from their lo...
Written Answers. - Transport Policy.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to produce on access transport which will address the regional imbalance of visitors to the country.
The Minster for Public Enterprise has overall responsibility for air transport policy, including the development of more competitive, regular and good access links to our main markets with particular ...
Written Answers. - Recreational Development.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, he has to promote the benefits of recreation; the level of support, grants and funds available to groups in the community to help encourage and develop recreation; and if he wil...
Was asked: the grants, if any, that are available in 1998 and may be available in 1999 to groups in the community for the promotion and development of sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 102 together. One of the commitments in the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium is to recognise the value of sport and leisure to the physical a...
Written Answers. - Tourism Revenue.
Was asked: the estimated revenue generated from tourism in 1998; the regions where tourists are likely to visit in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In 1997, 5.1 million overseas visitors came to Ireland, an increase of 9 per cent on 1996. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism increased by more than 11 per cent to exceed £2.1 billion. This year...
Written Answers. - Computer Software.
Was asked: if he has satisfied himself that his Department and all agencies under his auspices are using licensed software only; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is using licensed software only. The choice of software used by the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.
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