The Bill represents a crucial step forward in the journey of both the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Concert Hall. It is a critical part of the National Concert Hall's ambitious vision for the development of symphonic music with the restored symphony orchestra taking its place in a 21st century concert hall. The legislation will support the concert hall's effort to return the orchestra to full strength and further empower it to deliver on the recommendations outlined in the Boaden report. The amendmen…

I move: That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media on the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Bill 2022, that pursuant to Standing Order 187, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill in order to increase the aggregate amount of liability from £150,000,000 to €1,600,000,000 in respect of undertakings of cultural objects on loan from outside the State; and t…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a second time." The National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022 provides the basis to enable the continued provision of capital funding to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, for the purpose of supporting tourism product development and the tourism industry. Section 24(1) of the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 gives me, as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, with the consent of the Minister for P…

Name the towns.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabhail leis na Teachtaí go léir a labhair sa díospóireacht seo agus a chuir a dtuairimí faoi fhorbairt fhoriomlán thurasóireacht na hÉireann in iúl. I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate and offered their views on the overall development of Irish tourism. It is proof of the importance of the industry, which reaches into all parts of the country, both rural and urban. Many of them have been named in the last 30 minutes in particular. Tourism is a valuable source of em…

As I said, the last two years have been most challenging for the tourism sector and we are facing into another demanding year with cost inflation and rising energy prices. Many issues have been raised during this debate. I do not know if ten minutes will suffice to address them but I will attempt to do so. If I do not respond to any Deputy, I will ask my officials to follow up. Deputies Christopher O'Sullivan and Nolan raised regional development, which is at the heart of Fáilte Ireland's remit. The organisation ha…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

Friday, for the tight-knit community of Creeslough, was the beginning of the weekend. School was over. People were finishing up work. Children were buying treats and families in this peaceful rural community were running errands and stopping at the local Applegreen petrol station. Some had stopped to go into the station shop, were queuing for the post office or simply wanted to buy an ice cream. In the blink of an eye their lives ended after a deadly explosion tore the station and apartment complex apart. Everyday …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Dlí tábhachtach is ea an An Bille um Fhorais Chultúir Náisiúnta (An Ceoláras Náisiúnta) (Leasú), 2022 agus tá áthas orm é a chur faoi bhráid an Tí. The purpose of the Bill before this House is to put the necessary legal framework in place to support the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra, NSO, and choirs from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall. This legislation represents a critical step forward for the National Concert Hall as Ireland’s national cultural in…

It is an unusual situation.

That is great.

I thank the Deputies for their contributions today. I am heartened by the engagement we have seen on the Bill. The various issues raised will be considered further in the Department as the Bill makes its way through the House. Having reflected on the contributions, I note that this is a technical Bill which provides for the legislation underpinning the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra and choirs from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall. Its main provisions are to amend the functions of the National Concert …

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

I thank the Members of the House for their valuable contributions. The level of engagement during pre-legislative scrutiny and legislative scrutiny here and in the Seanad has been most welcome and of considerable benefit in ensuring this Bill meets our needs, both today and in the future. I apologise to the members of Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for the delay in sharing the report of the expert group on an individual complaints mechanism. This was an unfortunate and uninten…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I move: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." Dlí ceannródaioch is ea é an Bille um Rialail Sábháilteachta ar Line agus na Meán agus tá áthas orm é a chur faoi bhráid an Tí. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is ambitious, comprehensive and wide-ranging media legislation. It will be the first major overhaul of the Broadcasting Act 2009 since that Act was last considered by this House. Since that time, there has been a dramatic transformation in how we consume content, whether on television, radio or b…

It is a privilege for me to be elected by the constituents of Dublin Rathdown, but I am a proud Monaghan woman and I appreciate the reference to us as neighbours each time I come in. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teach as cuireadh a thabhairt dom bualadh libh chun plé a dhéanamh ar Thuarascáil um Choimisiún na Meán. A diverse, vibrant and independent media sector is essential for our democracy, cultural development and wider society. However, with technological advances, how we consume media has changed dramatically. Th…

I thank Senators for their contributions today. In closing I will try to address as many of the specific matters raised as possible. Forgive me if I do not get to touch upon all the Senators' contributions. Regarding the funding of public service media, as mentioned by all who contributed today in the House, I am sure Members agree that maintaining the independence of the media is vitally important. The Government believes that if it were to directly provide the full funding of our public service media providers, q…

The past two years have provided unprecedented challenges for this country and the coalition Government has risen to these challenges and lead the country through these turbulent times. An extensive range of funding streams and measures to support the sector overseen by my Department have been introduced. The tourism and hospitality sectors felt the brunt of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, record levels of financial supports for those sectors have been provided, as well as the extension of the red…

I thank the Senators for their amendments, which seek to replace the phrase "political end" in the Bill with a definition of "political purposes", with the aim of amending the current definition of "an advertisement towards a political end". As I set out on Committee Stage, the term "an advertisement towards a political end" has been defined in the 1998 High Court judgment in Colgan v . the Independent Radio and Television Commission, IRTC. This case involved an appeal against a decision of the Independent Radio an…