Results 3,721-3,740 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Turbary Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Further to Ireland's obligations under EU law to protect rare and threatened natural habitats, it is clear that further turf cutting and conservation of Ireland's 53 raised bog special areas of conservation, SACs, are incompatible. Earlier this year, the Government announced a compensation package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting in these 53 raised bog SACs. The package...

Turbary Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: The instrument to which the Deputy refers has nothing to do with the closure of bogs and has been in force for the past four years. As the Deputy knows, we were ruled against in the court, which stated we had not done enough to put in place the birds directive. That instrument went out for consultation last summer and the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association did not respond to it. It...

Turbary Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: -----but it now is clear there will be no turf-cutting next year. It is important to note that I wish to continue to work with the Peatlands Council and to continue to engage with the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, which has come up with some good proposals on relocation. I was in Galway recently when the association's representative made a presentation to Galway County Council...

Turbary Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I acknowledge the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association's contribution to this debate thus far.

Arts Plan (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: At the second Global Irish Economic Forum, organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin Castle on 7 and 8 October, there was a continuing focus on the key role of arts and culture as Ireland's global calling card, building on the strategic recognition at the first forum at Farmleigh in 2009 that for a small country we have arguably the largest global cultural reach and...

Arts Plan (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I agree with the Deputy. Following the first Farmleigh meeting, we created the post of cultural ambassador to America, and I would like to recognise the work that Gabriel Byrne is doing on behalf of this country in America. He is certainly making a major impact. Imagine Ireland has also had a major impact in America. For example, over 1,200 artists have participated in the programme this...

Arts Plan (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I certainly hope it will be available because it will be used in deciding how resources are to be spent. Resources are and will be available, but it is a question of priorities. The attention the St. Patrick's Day celebrations attract for the country across the world was the subject of much positive reaction in Dublin Castle. Without making a total commitment, I will be pushing the idea...

Culture Night 2012 (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Discussions are ongoing on the most appropriate way to build on the success and popularity of Culture Night. One of the commitments in the programme for the Government is to expand the Culture Night concept and I have already set the wheels in motion in this regard. One idea under consideration as a way of achieving this objective is the designation of the week of St Patrick's Day as...

Culture Night 2012 (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: It can certainly be explored. As I said, it is already happening. This year we included Belfast and Derry and the initiative was very successful. It should be possible to extend Culture Night all over the world, where appropriate. We can consider this and I will certainly suggest it. Culture Night was very successful this year. Over 200,000 people took part at 30 locations nationwide....

Culture Night 2012 (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Absolutely. I mentioned this in my reply. There are two possibilities: expanding Culture Night and having a culture week or culture day connected with St. Patrick's Day. Both are under very active consideration because of the success of Culture Night. It is an obvious initiative on which to expand.

Tourism Promotion (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome this initiative of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Gathering will be an important event for the tourism sector and one in which my Department and the national cultural institutions which operate under its aegis will be very pleased to participate. As the Deputy is aware, our cultural institutions play an important role in enhancing the cultural...

Tourism Promotion (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: While opening hours are determined by financial constraints, it would be desirable to open our cultural institutions later in the evenings during the peak tourism season. This possibility is considered. As regards marketing funds, while it would be advantageous to increase funding, the marketing of our cultural institutions appears to be successful in light of the increase in visitor...

Tourism Promotion (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I will explore the Deputy's practical suggestions, although they will obviously be the subject of negotiation with the cultural institutions. The staff in the cultural institutions are very hard-working and the welcome they provide is one of the reasons people visit them. I experienced this welcome during visits to our cultural institutions long before I was appointed to my current...

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 49 together. The Arts Council always had responsibility to promote opera, apart from a limited amount of work undertaken in my Department on the Irish National Opera project. When I assumed the role of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I examined the available information and expert advice. Based on that examination, I believed the best...

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Following the announcement of the budget and the Estimates, I will be providing the Arts Council with its funding. As a result of the established principle under law, the Arts Council will then decide how to spend that money. The council is considering the future of opera at present, has sought suggestions from interested bodies and will obviously arrive at a solution. The Arts Council has...

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: Yes. The Arts Council has made a major investment in Wexford Festival Opera, which has proven to be very successful. I have a personal interest in opera and I will be working with the Arts Council as much as possible in the context of identifying a solution which will ensure opera will be available for the people.

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: We seek, where possible, to collaborate with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. This is something I have tried to encourage and I hope to meet the directors of both councils in the future. It is very desirable to encourage collaboration, where possible, and that is something I support and recommend. Collaboration is already taking place in many areas of the arts and if such...

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: If I could answer that-----

Arts Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: When it was proposed that Irish National Opera would be put in place, there was an expectation that what we are discussing would happen. As a result, the Arts Council reduced the funding it was making available. One of my predecessors announced exactly what would happen, stated that there would be departmental support, relieved the Arts Council of responsibility for the opera brief and...

Heritage Sites (18 Oct 2011)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 57 together. From 2006 to date, the Irish Heritage Trust has received €9.235 million in funding from my Department. This figure includes €2.53 million towards the operational activities of the trust and endowment funding of €5 million towards the conservation and preservation of the Irish Heritage Trust property, Fota House, in County Cork. This...