Má tá fadhbanna ansin, an féidir leis an Teachta an t-eolas sin a sheoladh chugam agus taispeánfaidh mé é do mo chuid oifigigh inniu nó amárach. Mar a dúirt mé, tá liosta de suas le 80 teaghlach atá ag léiriú suime in uaslíon 16 scoláire a bheith acu seolta ag na coláistí Gaeilge ar fud na tíre chuig mo Roinn. Tá oifigigh na Roinne ag déanamh measúnaithe orthu seo agus ag déanamh teagmhála leis na teaghlaigh iúd i láthair na huaire.

The Deputy also asked why responsibility for the commemoration is with my Department. My Department hosts the national famine commemoration day each year. As the Deputy mentioned, the commemoration was established in 2008, with the secretariat to the committee provided by the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The secretariat role and responsibility for organising the national famine commemoration has remained with my Department since then. On 1 May 2018, the Government approved the designat…

The Deputy and his constituency colleague, Deputy Duffy, have been in contact with me about the work of Michael Blanch on many occasions.

The annual national Famine commemoration has been marked formally since 2008 with full Defence Forces involvement and senior level representation, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior Government representation. Because this event is a community-based event, it was originally under the remit of the then Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs. As this event continues to be a community-based ceremonial event, the secretariat remains within my Department. In addition, as my Department is resp…

I was glad to confirm that it is expected to be installed in the coming weeks.

Obviously, all sports fans would like to see more games free to air, particularly if their own counties are involved. As the Taoiseach has already stated this week, it would not be practical to broadcast all the games. Much of that is due to the restructuring in the past couple of years with the length of the season being shortened, which is bound to lead to fixture congestion. Ultimately, other than those events that are designated for broadcast free to air, the question of how sporting events are broadcast is pri…

The management of commercial broadcasting rights is a matter for each sports body. Second to that, the designation of major events, including sports events, is a statutory function. As I said earlier to the previous speaker, that is under review currently. I believe it was reported today that the GAA did have discussions with other broadcasters. Ultimately, the commercial decision is for the GAA to make. Another important factor is the change to the GAA championship structure this year, with more matches within a c…

Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 makes provision for the administration of the TV licence fee system. Total licence fee receipts are comprised of a contribution from the Department of Social Protection in respect of free licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme, and receipts from direct sales by An Post, who act as my issuing agent for licence fee collection. An Post makes every effort to reduce evasion and issues a number of reminders to evaders. Prosecution through the courts is a last resort. In 2…

My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. With specific regard to the development of tourism product offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Walkway, these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in line with its tourism development functions. I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please …

Throughout the past two and a half years, this coalition Government has faced a confluence of crises and challenges never seen before. They included a pandemic that closed the country down, a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by inflation and a war on the footsteps of our Continent that threatens world peace. At each juncture, the Government has not been found wanting in responding to the needs of communities, families and businesses. My Department supported tourism throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with generous grants…

I have full confidence in the Government. Its work must be allowed to continue. Tá mo thacaíocht agus mo mhuinín ag an Rialtas.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: National Archives Act 1986 (Section 1(2)(d)) Order 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 31st January, 2023. Tá mé sásta go bhfuil an deis seo agam chun an rún a phlé leis an Teach. I thank the House for the invitation to discuss this motion to add the Courts Service to the Schedule to the National Archives Act. The National Archives of Ireland was established on 1 June 1988 under the National Archives Act 1986 to pr…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I encourage Members to visit the National Archives, either as members of the public - applications for a reader's card are now online and it is a very simple process - or, alternatively, if they would like to visit the Bishop Street building to see the work that goes on there and be briefed on plans for the new archival repository, I would be happy to ask the director to make arrangements for a delegation from this House to visit. On Deputy Mattie McGrath's question reg…

I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad this evening to speak about tourism and, in particular, the report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media entitled Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Ireland's Tourism and Hospitality Sector. I want to thank Deputy Niamh Smyth and all the members of the joint committee for their work in this report. I would also like to thank the Senators today for their contributions and views on this report and its recommendations. Before I continu…

I was waiting for the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to take that question. We do not have detail on that just now. I expect it shortly, but I do not have the exact date just yet. If the Deputy wishes to wait, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will have a more detailed answer for the Deputy.

I do not know. I think he may be just coming into the Chamber. We absolutely value the sports capital and equipment programme. As the Deputy knows, last year's was the biggest ever and we saw it reach every county and club that needed it; far beyond what was expected. We are after going through the process and it will require some negotiation with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in order to establish an opening date for applications, but it is on our minds to open …

The Lough Derg: Visitor Experience Development Plan 2020-2024 and action plan outlines the strategic direction that Fáilte Ireland and various agencies, including three local authorities, are working towards in the development of Lough Derg and its environs as a tourist destination. Tipperary County Council is also focusing its work on Lough Derg through its Tipperary Transforming: Tourism Product Development Plan 2020-2030. A tourism master plan for the Shannon was commissioned by Waterways Ireland in strategic pa…

We will take the Deputy’s ideas on board, including alternatives, such as glamping, as well as the greenway experience of Lough Derg, and I will link in with Fáilte Ireland in that regard. Publicity is taking place. Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, has invited a crew from NBC to film for the "Today" show and "Open House", a real estate show that reaches over 1.5 million viewers. The crew captured footage in west Clare and at the lakeside in Ballina, County Tipperary. Publicity is happening. I ta…

What the Deputy is saying will fit very well with what we are doing. We are developing a national, sustainable tourism policy. It is about getting into the regions and promoting sustainable types of tourism, including the accommodation the Deputy mentioned, as well as for longer stays in the regions. Fáilte Ireland has a lot of business supports that it provides to the region's tourism industry. Its roadmap is about setting out the steps a business can take on its carbon reduction journey. We should be looking at s…

-----but I can talk to the Minister about that.