Results 2,441-2,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Private Members' Business - Broadband Service Provision: Motion [Private Members] (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputies Burke and Fitzpatrick, and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, for their comments supporting the motion. The importance of rolling out high speed broadband to premises, schools and businesses right across the country cannot be underestimated. The Government's national broadband plan aims conclusively to address Ireland's connectivity challenges by ensuring that every...

Private Members' Business - Broadband Service Provision: Motion [Private Members] (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Would Deputy Mattie McGrath mind if I took another minute?

Private Members' Business - Broadband Service Provision: Motion [Private Members] (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: High speed broadband will be a lifeline for rural Ireland. Awarding the contract is a matter for the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and we work very closely together, so it is of great interest to me. The reality is the gap funding model approved by the Government will deliver rural broadband more efficiently and cost-effectively. To go for the public ownership model, as espoused by Opposition...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Council (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: While the Heritage Council is funded by my Department, it is a statutorily independent body and as such I have no role in respect to this matter. However, officials in my Department have requested the Heritage Council to make direct contact with your office to discuss the issue in question as applicable.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artworks Sales (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy which was received in recent days. My Department is considering the correspondence and will respond directly to An Taisce shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Service Provision (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Local Authorities will have a key role to play in the roll out of Rural Broadband. I have already commenced a programme of meetings with Local Authorities to underline this and I intend to meet with each Local Authority Chief Executive over the coming months to reinforce the importance of the rollout of broadband, and explain to them exactly what will be required. I will be asking them to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The cost of the acquisition of Nos. 14 – 17 Moore Street (and part of No. 18) by the State amounted to €4m. The purchase from the previous owner was effected with the assistance of the National Asset Management Agency and the €4 million consideration was arrived at in the normal commercial manner. Half the purchase price was paid to NAMA in 2015 and the balance is due...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos 599 of 2 February 2016 and 872 of 14 April 2016 in relation to board appointments to bodies under my Department’s aegis. Since 14 April 2016, I have made a number of appointments as set out in the following table. TABLE: Appointments to State boards from 14 April 2016 to date Board Name of appointee National Concert Hall Maura Mc...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (6 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am not aware of any current plans to conduct filming at this location. Previous filming activity in 2014 and in 2015 was subject to the statutory and other requirements prescribed my Department’s National Monuments and National Parks and Wildlife Services to protect both built and natural heritage. A detailed report was subsequently submitted to UNESCO by the Department which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Heritage Plan (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. As outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government, it is the intention to develop and publish an updated national heritage plan. I am currently considering how best to approach its development in the context of ongoing policy priorities across the heritage sector, both built and natural. The National Heritage Plan 2002-2007 was the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Heritage Plan (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I was not in a position to make Heritage Council board appointments for a number of months this year due to the general election and the period that followed before a Government was formed. I have appointed boards to the National Concert Hall and to the National Museum of Ireland in recent weeks, and I will be appointing the new board to the Heritage Council very shortly. Board...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Heritage Plan (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: With regard to the National Library of Ireland, earlier in the year I was delighted to announce a €10 million project in the National Library, which is a magnificent building but needs a good deal of upgrading. Those plans are under way and funding has been provided to the library. Regarding the National Museum of Ireland, we work very closely with the museum and I was pleased...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network was published in January 2014. It sets out a series of measures to ensure that Ireland meets its obligations under the EU Habitats Directive to maintain or restore raised bog habitat to favourable conservation status, as well as its obligations under the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive relating to the regulation of turf...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: To reassure the Deputy, this process started in 2004. I am very conscious that I have to respect the environment and the European directives. This is a win for the people it impacts and it is a better outcome for the environment. We brought in consultants to examine 79 bogs. It was all done scientifically and the worth in heritage and environmental terms of the designated bogs was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I do not agree with the Deputy on that point. I am certainly not trying to be all things to all people. I am trying to find a balance which ensures there is an appropriate network of NHAs which would better contribute to the protection of raised bog habitats and related habitats and species as required under the EU nature directives and wildlife Acts. Drafting of the Wildlife (Amendment)...

Other Questions: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, has shown that rural towns have felt the impact of the economic challenges of recent years more acutely than cities and larger urban centres. This significant deterioration of many small towns and villages throughout the country is clearly visible in the form of empty shops, abandoned buildings, vacant lands and a generally...

Other Questions: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Applications for the scheme will be open to all towns. I want to run the scheme through local authorities, in conjunction with local community groups. It will be up to towns to identify their priorities, in terms of what they feel is best suited to improve them. A REDZ programme was rolled out last year and a number of towns benefited. Some towns had different ideas about how they wanted...

Other Questions: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, I very much want this to be a bottom-up approach. I am quite happy to consider the different initiatives local authorities bring to me. Some local authorities have established town teams and they will establish their priorities. Under the REDZ pilot scheme that was introduced last year, Limerick received €192,000. I am familiar with a project in my county, where funding...

Other Questions: Film Industry (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Irish Film Board has primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of the indigenous sector and inward productions. Its aim is to help film-makers to make Irish films and provide production and development loans for features, television programmes, animation projects, documentaries and short films. The board supports and promotes the Irish...

Other Questions: Film Industry (7 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The success of the Irish Film Board is tremendous in terms of the level of funding it receives. The Deputy is correct. It supports productions. It secured seven nominations at this year's Oscars. Lenny Abrahamson was nominated in the best director category for "Room". "Room" and "Brooklyn" were nominated in the best picture category and Emma Donoghue who was nominated in the best adapted...