Results 161-180 of 4,385 for speaker:Catherine Martin in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Public service media is critical to a well-functioning democracy, as well as for our cultural development, social cohesion and wellbeing. As such it requires a funding model that provides certainty, is sustainable and importantly protects the independence of media providers. Successive Governments have failed to address this issue, however, this Government is committed to bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadcasting Sector (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the important role that the community radio sector plays within the overall media landscape, and I commend these stations as they fulfil a vital role in community engagement, cohesion, and in the promotion of social inclusion in our communities large and small. Funding for the sector is not administered by my Department but rather by Coimisiún na...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Programme (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: In respect of the current legislative programme, my Department is currently progressing the Registration of Short- Term Tourist Letting Bill and the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill. Registration of Short- Term Tourist Letting Bill The Registration of Short Term Tourist Letting Bill 2024 provides for new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: My role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy. The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. Public Service Media plays a vital role in our democracy and our society as a whole. It is therefore essential, as I have always maintained, that households continue to purchase a TV licence and contribute towards funding quality public service media. The total number of TV Licences purchased, and the total revenues collected from these...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 makes provision for the administration of the TV licence fee system. As statutory collection agent, operational issues regarding collection and enforcement are primarily a matter for An Post, who make every effort to promote the purchasing of a TV licence and thereby ensure compliance. This includes issuing of reminders and undertaking household visits to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Policy (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland. The Arts Council's commitment to the arts is provided for in its 10-years investment Strategy - Making Great Art Work. Arts participation is a core value across all areas of the Arts Council's work and it is committed to increasing public engagement in the arts in Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: It is vital that the tourism sector keeps the value for money proposition to the fore across all its segments to ensure that our high quality reputation is maintained and that new and repeat visitors continue to come to Ireland. While Ireland is not a low-cost destination, the potential long term impacts need to be carefully considered by all tourism businesses in setting their prices. This...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourist Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: The proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill that will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of the STTL register is currently the subject of ongoing engagement with the EU Commission in accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. The TRIS process requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourist Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Recruitment and retention of staff in tourism, while showing improvement in 2023, continues to be a significant challenge for the tourism sector. My Department and Fáilte Ireland continue to support the tourism industry to build the talent and skills it needs to remain profitable, competitive and resilient. A key priority in this regard is to support tourism businesses to adopt...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: As Minister with responsibility for the tourism, arts and culture sectors, I recognise the valuable symbiotic relationship between these important elements of Irish society and identity. Irish culture in its various forms - built heritage, the arts, cultural institutions, festivals - plays a very significant role in Ireland’s tourism offering and are among the primary motivators for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy rightly notes, Ireland has long held a reputation for the warmth of its welcome to visitors. The famous céad míle fáilte that awaits visitors to Ireland, combined with the beauty of our landscape and the richness of our culture, are enduring strengths and have been instrumental in making tourism one of our most important economic sectors. Our hospitality is a...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourist Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: I am advised that Fáilte Ireland has completed a number of Accommodation Audits to establish a baseline on existing tourism accommodation capacity for local authorities in each destination and region. This includes a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis along with the projected accommodation requirements. Additional capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Funding (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: My role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy. In Budget 2024 I secured funding of €218 million to continue the support for tourism development at home and amongst overseas visitors;...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Programmes (15 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will issue directly to the Deputy in accordance with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (14 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: On 4 July 2023, following Government approval, I commissioned a root and branch examination of RTÉ comprising two elements:an independent review to examine the governance structures and organisational culture of RTÉ, overseen by an Expert Advisory Committee on Governance and Culture; and,an independent review to examine the mechanisms by which external contractors are engaged, the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (14 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: I welcome the publication by RTÉ of the Grant Thornton report into Toy Show The Musical on 25 January 2024 and, in particular, the revised version which has now been published and which, following my request to the Chair for further transparency, identifies the majority of those individuals who engaged with Grant Thornton in relation to the report. As I said at the time, the facts...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: In accordance with standing procedure, officials in my Department issued a guidance note last December to all Ministers and civil servants within my Department in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns, which are generally referred to as the ‘McKenna/McCrystal principles’. I...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee (14 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: Under the Broadcasting Act 2009, An Post are the statutory collection agent for the TV licence. An Post make every effort to promote the purchasing of a TV licence and thereby ensure compliance. This includes issuing of reminders and undertaking household visits to confirm possession of a TV licence or otherwise. While it is an offence not to possess a TV licence, prosecution through the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (14 Feb 2024)

Catherine Martin: I am advised that Fáilte Ireland has completed a number of Accommodation Audits to establish a baseline on existing tourism accommodation capacity for local authorities in each destination and region. This includes a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis along with the projected accommodation requirements. Additional capacity...