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The Gathering Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Questions (105, 108, 109, 121, 124, 128, 135, 151, 158, 723, 729, 730, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 748)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

105. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an outline of the events confirmed for the Gathering in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52568/12]

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Seamus Kirk

Question:

108. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on the Gathering project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52652/12]

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Olivia Mitchell

Question:

109. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the recently announced supports available to groups for Gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52583/12]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

121. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the Gathering has been damaged by recent comments; his plans to combat the suggestion that it is a shakedown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52634/12]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

124. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in relation to proposed tourism initiatives such as The Gathering, he has met with airline, rail and ferry companies to discuss the arrangement of special-purpose packages to encourage persons overseas to come and visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52683/12]

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Ray Butler

Question:

128. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the recently announced supports available to groups for Gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52673/12]

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Ray Butler

Question:

135. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the details of the promotional efforts being undertaken to promote the Gathering 2013 overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52672/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

151. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Gathering 2013 project in terms of seeking voluntary effort for the various projects around each county; and if he intends to promote the voluntary input to the success of the Gathering [52697/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

158. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the recently announced supports available to groups for Gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52698/12]

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Alan Farrell

Question:

723. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will advise on the marketing strategy for The Gathering worldwide; when the campaign was launched overseas; the cost of this project to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52723/12]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

729. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department have received any communication from the former Cultural Ambassador in relation to the Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49773/12]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

730. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials have attended meetings in relation to the Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49748/12]

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Ray Butler

Question:

737. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the promotional efforts being undertaken to promote the Gathering 2013 overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52762/12]

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Ray Butler

Question:

738. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the recently announced supports available to groups for Gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52763/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

739. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Gathering 2013 project in terms of co-ordination of efforts through each county steering committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52775/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

740. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide and update on the Gathering 2013 project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52776/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

741. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the promotional efforts being undertaken to promote the Gathering 2013 overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52777/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

742. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an outline of events confirmed for the Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52778/12]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

743. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information on the recently announced supports available to groups for Gatherings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52779/12]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

748. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to involve and utilise sporting events in the context of The Gathering in 2013; if he has fully examined the potential in this regard; if he anticipated any specific steps arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53069/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 108, 109, 121, 124, 128, 135, 151, 158, 723, 729, 730, 737 to 743, inclusive, and 748 together.

The question all relate to the Gathering. Aspects of these questions were answered earlier as part of my response to Deputy Wallace's priority question on the Gathering 2013. 

The full list of committed or pledged events for the Gathering Ireland 2013 is on the www.gatheringireland.com website and has already exceeded 1,300 events and activities.  An announcement of the key headline events will be made in the coming week.

On the Gathering Ireland 2013 generally, there has been a fantastic response to the initiative across the board, from local communities, voluntary bodies, public bodies, businesses and Government.  For example, a special fund of €2 million has been made available to support local Gathering events by IPB Insurance Ltd matching a contribution from my Department via the Gathering team. The funds will be distributed via the 34 city and county councils and the applications process is open until 30 November. The key qualifying criterion is the ability of the event to attract overseas visitors. 

Meanwhile, Tourism Ireland has commenced a major promotional drive for the Gathering in markets across the world and has worked with business networks, clans, cultural and sporting associations, Irish Clubs and societies encouraging them to promote The Gathering to their networks and to mobilise members to organise events in Ireland during 2013.  The second stage of Tourism Ireland’s strategy commenced in autumn and will continue into 2013 with a major consumer campaign to promote The Gathering Ireland 2013 in key markets including Britain, the US, Canada and Australia.  Minister Ring, the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and I have attended events during the year to promote the initiative overseas. I saw myself in Australia last week the tremendous response to the call to come and join in the celebrations, from those with Irish roots and those with none.

Tourism is a valuable service export.  Encouraging those from overseas, whether Irish or not, to sample our tourism offering is not a shakedown – any more than exporting other goods and services.  With the hotel and accommodation sector already generating additional employment since this Government came into office, tourism can offer jobs to those who might otherwise face a choice between emigration and unemployment and I apologise to nobody for seeking to increase that employment still further by investing in the Gathering.  There is also a parallel aim to further strengthen our connections to all of those overseas who have a kinship with Ireland and I saw myself in Australia how much our diaspora values that objective.   

Finally, as well as regular briefings from the project team, the Gathering is on the agenda in many, indeed most, of my meetings, with the tourism industry, transport operators, sporting bodies, other Ministers and indeed overseas representatives.  Even if some are carping, I am determined to continue to promote this unique opportunity for us to show the world all that is best about Ireland and I know the vast majority of Irish people, at home and abroad, will do so.

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