Results 2,861-2,880 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Exchequer Pay allocation for my Department and the bodies under its aegis for each of the years 2015 to 2018 are included in the Annual Revised Estimates for the years in question published at . The exchequer pay outturn for 2015, 2016, and 2017 for my Department and the bodies under its aegis are contained in the Annual Appropriation Account, published by the Comptroller and Auditor...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Procurement Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that both my Department and those bodies under its aegis are subject to Public Procurement Procedures as set out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. These are available on the Office of Government Procurement’s website at www.ogp.gov.ie. Within this context I would also advise the Deputy that the normal practice is for contracts to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I note his comments on biodiversity. As he knows, today and tomorrow I am hosting a national biodiversity conference in Dublin Castle. The Government takes this issue very seriously. High Island is a spectacular island; there is no doubt about that. It contains an early medieval monastery dedicated to St. Féichín. This is a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy can understand that if there was to be an approach made to the Department, it would have to be done in a formal way, not on the floor of the House, although I appreciate the Deputy's offering. I reiterate that there has not been any reasoned approach to us to purchase this particular area. It is also important to say that the Department will support all initiatives to study...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: This motion is out of order.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: In the interests of the preservation, conservation, management and presentation of the built and archaeological heritage, my Department seeks to acquire certain heritage properties and monuments as resources and opportunities permit. From time to time these may come onto the open market, may be bequeathed to the State or may be offered to it free of cost. In addition, lands surrounding or in...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I can confirm that following a commitment I gave to Deputy Smith last October, Waterways Ireland have recently re-examined the development potential of extending the Erne navigation from Belturbet to Killykeen/Killeshandra, Co Cavan. The preliminary work previously completed has now been externally reviewed. However, the results of the initial assessment remain unchanged in that significant...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Waterways Ireland commenced the development of Blueways as a means to attract new visitors to use the waterways, recognising changes in recreational activity with the growth in demand for activities such as walking, canoeing, cycling and stand up paddle boarding, on and beside the water in a comfortable, safe environment. Waterways Ireland is continuing to support and expand the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ulster Canal Restoration Project (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: In July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council agreed to a proposal to restore a 13km section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. This project is hugely important for the border region with potential to stimulate economic activity, giving a much needed boost to job creation and with the growth in water based tourism helping to attract significant numbers of visitors to the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts and Culture Capital Scheme Funding (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: This is a project led by Cork City Council with the development company BAM, having been selected by Cork City Council as the preferred tenderer. BAM in turn has engaged international events company Live Nation as the preferred operator. The project is ultimately being developed and managed by Cork City Council. This means that Cork City Council has responsibility for its delivery. The...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (20 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: My Department issued the Irish Coursing Club with licences in August 2018 on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2018/19 coursing season. There are 29 conditions associated with the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club which have been developed and refined over the years. Officials of the NPWS of my Department have monitored 33 coursing events during...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Exemptions (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of the artists tax exemption scheme which was introduced in 1969. Under the scheme, the profits or gains accruing to a writer, composer, visual artist or sculptor from the publication, production or sale of his or her work is exempt from income tax. Under section 195 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the Arts Council and the then...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Exemptions (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: It is important to note that just over 1,000 artists have been granted a favourable determination by the Revenue Commissioners since 2017 under the categories of writing, plays, musical composition, painting and sculpture. The focus of the Government is on increasing funding for the arts in general, as evidenced by the Taoiseach's repeated commitment to double the amount of funding over a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Exemptions (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I do not believe Fianna Fáil is in a position to lecture this Government on the funding of the arts or artists' pay and conditions. As we know, Fianna Fáil, when in government between 2007 and 2011, cut funding for the arts by €67 million. The majority of the funding available was for the Arts Council, which the Deputy has mentioned before. There was a decrease from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: A capital programme of major restoration and development projects was initiated under the Ireland 2016 centenary programme to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The most recent guidance of the expert advisory group on centenary commemorations, which I published on 8 January, highlighted the fact that the decade of centenaries created unprecedented opportunities for people of all ages to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: With regard to Beyond 2022, I approved in January a funding allocation of €95,000 to support the transition phase of the project, which will, to some extent, be a capital project of the kind the Deputy speaks about. I have requested my officials to engage with the project team to ensure that an appraisal is carried out in line with the requirements of the public spending code and to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I am not ruling anything in or out. What I am trying to point out to the Deputy is the advice of the expert advisory group on commemorations in general. The local authorities will have a significant role, including Dublin City Council. There will be an event on 13 March at which the local authorities will come together collectively and will be in a position to explore ideas they may have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Archives (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for her question. I received her letter and I understand an acknowledgement was issued. All matters concerning records of the Irish Land Commission are a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I have no function in this regard. As the Deputy will be aware, this is a very complex and sensitive area. I have had initial inquiries made of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Archives (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Following Independence the commission's records were divided between the jurisdictions. In 1923, the Land Commission was reconstituted to recognise the Free State. The Land Commission archive has two main components, the records branch and the administration branch. The Deputy mentioned these records are publicly available in Northern Ireland. We do not hold the records in question in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Archives (21 Feb 2019)

Josepha Madigan: We have to understand the constraints involved in regard to the endeavour which the Deputy mentions. As of 1 February 2019 the National Archives has received transfers of 154,579 files in archival boxes, relating to the termination of fair rents by the former Irish Land Commission, which the Deputy mentioned in her letter. Unfortunately, the National Archives are currently unable to make...