1113 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to recognise the importance of volunteerism in the promotion of sport through the expansion of the volunteer awards scheme for persons in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29363/08]
1112 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to create an annual women’s sports award scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29362/08]
1111 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to establish a forum on female participation in sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council to make recommendations on all issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29361/08]
1110 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to appoint a member of the Irish Sports Council to deal with all aspects of women in sport including the gender proofing of all Sports Council decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29360/08]
1109 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that local sports partnerships have an official dedicated to the promotion of girls and women’s involvement in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29359/08]
1108 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to initiate a financial support package aimed at introducing primary school children to swimming; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29358/08]
1107 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to encourage more schools to apply for funding under the sports capital programme by collaborating with their local sports clubs and community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29357/08]
1106 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to promote greater sharing of school and community sports facilities and to make it a condition of the sports capital programme that facilities be made available to schools where appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29356/08]
1105 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to produce a Green Paper on animal welfare in sport and recreation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29352/08]
1104 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to continue with the implementation of effective and modern anti-doping programmes here which have earned recognition internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29351/08]
1103 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to support elite athletes in preparation for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and develop proposals for Ireland to be used as a base for other national teams in advance of the London Games in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29350/08]
1102 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to provide a national stadium at Lansdowne Road in order that the national rugby and soccer teams have a first rate facility in which to play their games; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29349/08]
1101 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to further develop the Sports Campus Ireland at Abbotstown incorporating the Irish Institute of Sport and including the development of a new 25,000 seater stadium to accommodate athletics and field sports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29348/08]
1100 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure accessibility as a key component in the provision of sports and recreational facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29347/08]
1099 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to change the application criteria of the sports capital grants programme in order that only 10% of own funding or contribution is needed in cases in which applicants are located in a recognised area of urban disadvantage such as RAPID and a local drugs task force area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29346/08]
1098 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to promote a national advertising campaign highlighting the health benefits of sport and exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29345/08]
1097 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to continue to support the Irish Sports Council as the statutory agency for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29343/08]
1096 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to support a new local authority swimming pool programme, prioritising need and disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29342/08]
1095 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to fund Special Olympics clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29341/08]
1094 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise sports capital programme grants towards those areas identified as most in need of funding and facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29340/08]
1093 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to put in place a long-term strategic plan to ensure the development of necessary local facilities throughout the country, followed by a year on year monitoring of the improvements delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29339/08]
1092 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to complete, in conjunction with the local sports partnerships, a national audit of local sports facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29338/08]
1091 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to roll out the local sports partnership programme on a nationwide basis to promote the development of sport at community level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29337/08]
1090 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to implement in full the Fáilte Ireland Competing through People Programme, which looks to people working in the industry as a principal source of competitive advantage, and their skills as a key variable in delivering strong business results; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29336/08]
1089 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to invest €149 million under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 in training and human resources in the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29335/08]
1088 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to invest in new information and communication technologies for marketing and customer relations management and training work with the regional tourism development boards, in conjunction with local authorities and the tourism industry, to develop comprehensive, interactive local area tourism websites; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29334/08]
1087 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to seek, with the tourism agencies and local authorities, suitable areas to develop and promote eco-tourism, as well as enhancing the existing north west project, the Green Box; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29333/08]
1086 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to encourage the tourism agencies to highlight national games to a greater degree in their promotional activities and continue the policy of attracting here suitable major international sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29332/08]
1085 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to investigate the feasibility of a regional conference centre in the Shannon and Limerick area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29331/08]
1084 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to put in place a strong promotional programme for the new national conference centre in Dublin with a view to doubling the level of business tourism to Ireland from €400 million to €800 million per year over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29330/08]
1083 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to undertake a strategic review of new and developing markets to identify the investment and actions needed to realise their potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29329/08]
1082 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to build on the opportunities presented by the increasing availability of low-cost flights from mainland Europe and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29328/08]
1081 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to provide significant infrastructural development in the mid west area, as well as marketing support to the Shannon region for a transitional period to help consolidate existing markets and develop new sources of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29327/08]
1080 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to seize the opportunities presented by the open skies arrangement with the US to substantially increase the number of US visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29326/08]
1079 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to invest €335 million under the national development plan in marketing tourism here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29325/08]
1078 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to work with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to capitalise on the beauty of the countryside here and to promote Ireland as a healthy activity holiday destination for walking, cycling, angling, golfing, sailing, equestrian and marine holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29321/08]
1077 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to develop a rolling programme of national culture, musical and literary festivals to enhance the tourism product here, in particular through the establishment of a new fund of €28 million for the creation of a small number of major annual events over the period to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29320/08]
1076 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to develop with Fáilte Ireland, rural-based, package-style holidays through which bed and breakfast owners and farm holiday operators can offer activities such as walking, angling, golfing and cycling in addition to the provision of accommodation and quality home-cooked meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29319/08]
1075 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to establish, through Fáilte Ireland, an innovation fund to promote and support the development of tourism products that are new to the market here and to promote best practice, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability and accessibility for tourists with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29318/08]
1074 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in regard to the commitment in the programme for Government to deepen North-South co-operation on tourism in view of the success of Tourism Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29317/08]
1073 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to place a greater emphasis on the protection, conservation, interpretation and access to Ireland’s natural and built heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29316/08]
1072 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to provide €300 million to assist the industry, tourism agencies and local authorities in delivering the ambitious world-class product outlined in Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Product Development Strategy 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29315/08]
665 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to make rural locations more readily accessible for tourists on shorter visits through the delivery of the plans outlined in Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29324/08]
664 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to enhance the capacity of the regional airports to attract more direct international services through the €86 million regional airports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29323/08]
663 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to open terminal two at Dublin Airport in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29322/08]
629 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the development of public play and recreation areas for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29344/08]
369 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to discuss the sponsorship of sporting events by the alcohol industry with the aim of phasing it out; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29353/08]
127 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has communicated concern to other Departments regarding the effect high energy prices are having on Irish businesses and Irish economic competitiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31027/08]
334 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the policy measures in place or to be introduced to support and develop the music industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28272/08]
333 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grants, financial supports or incentives available to encourage the development and sustainability of the music industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28271/08]