Results 3,321-3,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Foreshore Licence Applications (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. Under the Foreshore Act, 1933, a decision in relation to the lease of foreshore in this instance is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. In accordance with Regulation 27 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (2011 Regulations) it is a matter for that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Environmental Regulations (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department maintains frequent contact with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in regard to environmental matters, including the provision of advice on matters where I, as Minister, am a statutory consultee. This contact can and does include matters which are the subject of communications from members of the public which may relate to areas which are the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the committee for the invitation to address it today on the National Archives (Amendment) Bill. I just want to say that we have been here since 2.15 p.m. and it is planned that we will leave around 4.30 p.m. That was the anticipated time as I believe other officials will come in at that stage. This proposed legislation will provide the flexibility for certain Departments to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Senator has rightly pointed out that an addition is being made to the Bill. I decided to make this change, after giving careful consideration to the move to a 20-year rule, because I am of the opinion that notwithstanding the significant resourcing issues involved, it is important to provide for the early release of records of significant historical or public interest value. We are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I would never assume that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: That is right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We are putting together a public service records management project. The Deputy is right, in that there is a large amount of material. This is a matter of deciding what we need to keep. I understand that, currently, everyone is keeping everything. We are undertaking a pilot study with four Departments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We do not get them. The archives do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We are trying to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My understanding of the problem is that Departments are holding onto all of their records because they do not have clear policies on what they need to keep, particularly given the increasing number of digital records. There is an expense in keeping records. The public service records management project will allow us to have a policy so that people will know what they must keep. We provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: That is what the public service records management project is about. We will give directions to public bodies to reduce their spending on offsite records storage and we will produce a framework by which public service bodies can implement electronic systems. The long-term plan is to develop the public service's records management capacity, especially as regards electronic records, and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Once the first phase of the 20-year rule is finalised, the Department will move to survey all other Departments' record holdings of more than 30 years of age with a view to scoping what is needed to eliminate backlogs in transferring such records to the National Archives. Lack of compliance has been a function of the reduced resources of the past ten years. We must build capacity. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: That is where the records management project comes in. The guidelines will be done in conjunction with the National Archives. The Departments must find out how much is there and how much needs to be kept. They will have guidelines to work from. Then it will be referred to the National Archives, which can then decide what needs to be retained. They must get approval from the National...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: No. A plan will be developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in co-operation with the National Archives. The plan aims to assist in the establishment of a coherent and consistent approach to records management within the public service. There will be a clear plan to deliver the policies, guidelines, structures and systems to achieve the objectives. There will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have the power to compel any Department to comply with this. That is not my job; I cannot do that. Each Department is responsible for its own records. Obviously, we have come through a difficult economic time and I can understand why there was pressure on resources. Everything has been held. It is not the case that it just built up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is up to every Department to work that out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It got funding this year of €300,000 and funding of well over €100,000 was allocated last year. That is to prepare-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. Four additional archivists have been employed in the National Archives.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have written to all Departments asking them to outline the present position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Absolutely.