Results 3,041-3,060 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys
- Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (13 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries. This will be based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well this year. At all times, the Government has been supported in its plans by the guidance and advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations...
- Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (13 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: Leader funding is delivered through Local Action Groups in each of the 28 Leader sub-regional areas around the country. The Leader programme funds projects under three policy themes: - Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation, - Social Inclusion, and - Rural Environment. In order for a project to be eligible for Leader funding, it must be compatible with the actions...
- Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Programme (13 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: There are two published Bills in progress at present relating to my Department. The Heritage Bill, published in January 2016, is on Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann and the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, published in July, has completed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. Other legislation planned by my Department includes the National Archives (Amendment) Bill and the National...
- Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (14 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have supervised the release of hares following six coursing meetings this season to date. My Department will continue to endeavour to attend as many meetings as possible, having regard to the resources available and other priority work on hands. 26 conditions in total,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Ferry Service to Inis Mór: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the joint committee and thank it for the invitation to attend. The committee listed five specific items on today's agenda. I will address the committee's queries on the responsibilities and status of Comhar na nOileán, the West Cork Development Partnership and the proposed Mary Robinson centre in Ballina. The Minister of State, Deputy...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: An bhfanfaidh an Seandóir liom dhá nóimint?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: To give some background to the selection process, in 2015 an open call for expressions of interest was launched by the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government from any group that could show broad local and community participation and wished to develop a local development strategy and be considered as a local action group for the purpose of the delivery of Leader in...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: The decision is not based on the size of population but on the LCDC structure. That was the way it was progressed. It was in the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and all these processes had been gone through and independently assessed and decided before the function was transferred to my Department. Regarding Galway, the local development strategy for...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: There was nothing to preclude groups from coming forward and putting in a bid for that. It was an independent process. It was reviewed and the outcome was upheld. I did not have any input into this. This is the outcome of the process. That is the way it is now.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: They were not successful.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: FORUM Connemara Limited in its bid demonstrated an ability to deliver to the islands and this was confirmed by the selection committee. That is all I can say. The independent process has been gone through, it has been reviewed and this is the outcome.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: No. It was an independent review. A retired senior official from the Office of the Attorney General - a very well respected official - reviewed it and upheld it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: First, the West Cork Development Partnership went into a competitive process and was not successful. That is the way it is. It was a competitive process and it was aware of that when it went into it. The partnership was unsuccessful. It was an independent process, it was reviewed and the decision was upheld. The Deputy asked me a number of questions about details. The selection...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I will certainly try.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: If it is possible, I will certainly do that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I wish to be clear. This was an open, fair and competitive process. It was based on merit of strategy, including the capacity of the LAG, the quality of the strategy and value for money. The West Cork Development Partnership chose to apply independently. It had the opportunity to develop a strategy with the local community development committee, LCDC, and it was aware of the risks in a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: We have already gone over the process and much of the history. The process was completed when the function was transferred to my Department. My priority was to get the money out to communities, which is the big issue. Most of the contracts have now been signed, expressions of interest are coming in and it is working. As I said earlier, Galway Regional Development and Comhar na...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: I have met Údarás na Gaeltachta and been down in their offices in Furbo. I understand the issues about the islands, which have been outlined very clearly to me. We will continue to work with them and try to find a solution that will benefit everybody. I do not want to give a commitment about going to the islands because there are many things being scheduled for the new year. I...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: To be clear, the council, not the Department, was the project promoter. It was not considered necessary to carry out due diligence because we were not the promoter of the project. The project was being assessed by the Department and the grant approved on a set of standard conditions. These conditions were put in place. Mayo County Council was the promoter and it conceived, developed and...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)
Heather Humphreys: First, I wish to clarify that there is absolutely nothing to hide here. This is a normal process. I wish to be clear about this. The onus on ensuring compliance with the public spending code as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform lies, in the first instance, with the project promoter. That, of course, is Mayo County Council. It must ensure compliance with the...