Results 3,981-4,000 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I return to a foreign language. My Department has a broad range of responsibilities in respect of the protection of the national heritage, built and natural. It directly manages six national parks and 78 nature reserves; it owns several national monuments, which are in the care and management of the Office of Public Works; and it has responsibility for policy regarding world heritage sites,...

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome the Deputy's intervention. Other countries possibly put a good deal more emphasis on world heritage sites than we do. If one goes to Greece or Rome one sees a major emphasis being put on something designated a world heritage site. There are two in this country, one near Deputy Kirk at Brú na Bóinne and the other at Skellig Michael in my home county. We are considering the...

Written Answers — Archaeological Heritage: Archaeological Heritage (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In 2011, my Department provided €650,000 through a "Structures at Risk Fund" to assist with works to safeguard structures, both in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. This fund was administered by local authorities. This funding was focused primarily on those protected structures most at risk. €105,000 in funding was also provided...

Written Answers — Interdepartmental Committees: Interdepartmental Committees (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Implementation Committee established last July to examine the feasibility of the implementation of the recommendations in the Creative Capital Report – Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy - has met on three occasions. The Committee is chaired by my Department and has representation from the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Education and Skills,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, tax relief is allowed for investments in certain films and TV productions. The types of productions eligible for certification are feature film, television drama, creative documentary and animation. The scheme is kept under regular review in consultation with the Irish Film Board and any changes considered necessary are brought to the...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 made it an offence to hunt a deer with two or more dogs. This legislation had the purpose of banning stag hunting by riders and hounds. I have a broad remit to protect Ireland's wildlife and natural heritage. One of my biggest challenges will be to work towards greater common understanding of the issues we face in protecting our natural heritage. My...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 81 together. Positioned at the core of local, regional, urban and rural activities, the arts, creative and heritage-related sectors play a pivotal part in the economic life of communities across the country, including the vital area of employment. Employment in the arts sector embraces a very diverse and broad extent of activities, encompassing those...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government, as part of the Public Service Reform Plan, recently announced a radical streamlining of State bodies, including in respect of certain bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. This includes decisions to combine or merge a number of such bodies. In addition, decisions have been taken to critically review, by June 2012, the streamlining and...

Written Answers — Heritage Sites: Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department commenced a review of the operation of the Irish Heritage Trust in 2011 in accordance with a protocol agreed with the Trust in 2006. In this regard, my Department invited observations on an Issues Paper in relation to the operation of the Trust. 16 submissions were received. My Department intends to finalise the review, in consultation with the trust, over the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, in November 2011 the Government announced a number of amalgamations and mergers of bodies that come within the ambit of my Department. Details of these can be accessed on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at www.per.gov.ie. Clearly, the amalgamation and merger of these bodies, including consolidation of boards, raises complex issues,...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I did not fund and am not familiar with the report referenced by the Deputy. However, I consider that the dissemination of any report that the council has itself commissioned is entirely be a matter for the council itself.

Written Answers — Census Publication: Census Publication (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census. The project requires two principal components to be addressed. The first is the legal necessity to change the relevant legislation to permit publication of the Census before the expiry of the statutory 100 year period, while respecting certain rights. The second is the technical process whereby...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I refer the Deputies to my replies to a number of previous Parliamentary Questions on this matter. I have met the chair and chief executive of NAMA in relation to the potential use of NAMA buildings for cultural purposes. NAMA was set up to acquire loans from certain financial institutions and it does not own property as such. In most cases, the property securing these loans is under the...

Written Answers — Commemoration of Events: Commemoration of Events (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am satisfied that the Centenary commemoration of the Easter Rising in 2016 requires a comprehensive programme that will also present the economic, social and cultural conditions of the period. The development of the commemorative programme is therefore oriented towards the entire Decade of Centenaries, 2012 to 2022, with official consideration currently being focussed on the period from...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under the Public Service Reform Programme announced by Government on 17th November last, the Heritage Council is included in Appendix IIb as a candidate body for critical review by end-June 2012. The focus of the review in relation to the Council is to examine the potential merger of functions of the Council into my Department. Any decision in relation to the future of the Council will await...

Written Answers — State Art Collection: State Art Collection (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The State's principal art collections are managed by the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork. The National Gallery of Ireland operates as an autonomous statutory body in accordance with the provisions of the National Gallery of Ireland Act 1928, as amended. The Crawford Art Gallery Cork and the Irish Museum of Modern Art are both...

Written Answers — Departmental Initiatives: Departmental Initiatives (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, presented proposals for "The Gathering 2013" at last October's 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum. The National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, is the lead agency for the implementation of The Gathering initiative. The arts, culture, film and heritage sector constitute an essential part of our national tourism...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I refer the Deputy to my response in the House earlier today to Questions Nos. 45 and 47.

Written Answers — Economic Regeneration: Economic Regeneration (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, a key priority in the Programme for Government is to support and lead economic regeneration, job creation and employment retention over the coming period. In this regard, I can assure the Deputy that my Department's resources and financial allocation will be utilised to the greatest extent possible in achieving these aims and delivering on these commitments. Since...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The 2011 visitor numbers for our national cultural institutions and for other cultural venues supported by my Department are detailed in the table below. Overall visitor numbers were 3.61 million, which represents a moderate increase on the 2010 figures of 3.58 million and a significant increase over and above the 2009 figures of 3.25 million. Initiatives to attract the interest of the...