Results 4,961-4,980 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (24 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has had consultations with Fingal County Council in relation to this proposed project, which, I understand, would fall to be considered by An Bord Pleanála. The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government may also have a function if a foreshore consent is required (a function previously exercised by the former Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries),...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Meetings (24 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I would like to advise the Deputy that neither I nor any of the officials from my Department have met with representatives from the tobacco industry in the last six months.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Environmental Policy (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 484, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputies to my previous reply to Questions Nos. 157, 158, 160 and 161 of 23 January 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU-IMF Programme of Support (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I would like to advise the Deputy that no such policies arise in relation to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Environmental Impact Statements (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Environmental Impact Statement was submitted to my Department on 25 January 2013. It is available for public examination and interested parties have five weeks from the submission date to provide their comments to me, as Minister, for consideration as part of my assessment of it.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Expenditure (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has operated a number of compensation schemes applicable to those who have been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas for domestic and commercial purposes. Details are set out in the table below of the expenditure on these schemes between 2000 and 2010. Compensation Scheme No. of Approved Applications Expenditure 2000-2010...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under the Priority Axis 2 (Environment and Risk Prevention) of the Border Midlands West Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013, there was provision of ERDF Structural Funds for a natural and cultural heritage intervention. This funding supported the construction of visitor centres for Ballycroy National Park in Co. Mayo and at the Clara Bog Nature Reserve in Co. Offaly. In regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Service Reform Plan Update (29 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Service Reform Plan published by the Government on 17th November 2011 outlined a series of rationalisation measures and some of those measures related to a certain number of the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. In this regard, my Department conducted a critical examination of the structure and operation of the institutions included in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Raised Bog Management Plan (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I apologise to my colleagues for my absence. I have just returned from Dundalk. Compensation has been paid under several measures by my Department and its predecessors in respect of the protection of raised bog habitat designated as special areas of conservation under the EU habitats directive and as natural heritage areas under the Wildlife Acts. In 1999, the then Minister confirmed that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Raised Bog Management Plan (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I was assigned this responsibility two years ago and it has been acknowledged that a great deal of progress has been made in that time. It is a difficult issue. The derogation was announced in 1999 by the then Minister. I did not announce it. It was an initiative of the previous Government, a member of which is in attendance. It is in the past. Any derogation had expired in 33 of the...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 31, 46 and 52 together. Last April, together with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I met Commissioner Potočnik in Brussels where we secured his support for developing a national raised bog special area of conservation, SAC, management plan. This was in keeping with the recommendations of Justice Quirke following...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank the Deputy and his father for the work they are doing to solve this problem in their own area around Mountbellew. Considerable progress has been made in that area because of their leadership, although I recognise that further difficulties lie ahead which will need to be resolved. SACs were designated under European law which was transposed into Irish law, whereas NHAs were...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I acknowledge the responsible approach taken by the Deputy and her party on this issue. In my earlier reply I expressed the hope the national plan would be in place by November. That is a realistic goal. We were also dealing with this issue in 2012, but all of our resources were consumed in enforcing the law because otherwise the Commission would have taken us to court and Ireland would...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I recently visited several contentious bogs and I am willing to visit the bogs to which the Deputy referred in the near future if he can get the other people involved together, as well as any public representative who is interested in finding a solution. I am prepared to do this in the near future if he wishes to arrange such a meeting. We do not have as many people on the ground as we would...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: On the question of the derogation, apparently it was never approved by Europe, but the Government of the time said there was a derogation. When I inherited this challenge, the derogation was finished in the case of 31 bogs and last year it finished for the other 22. Therefore, there are no more derogations. The derogation was provided at a national rather than at a European level, and I am...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: In response to Deputy Lawlor, I would gladly meet the people he mentioned and would be happy to discuss their proposal. It is important that people be positive and co-operative towards finding a resolution to the issues. With regard to Deputy Flanagan's question as to how long it will take, I cannot predict that. I have been working on this issue for two years and we have made significant...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I put it to the Deputy that there is more being done now than has been done in the past 16 years. No one can deny that a really serious effort is being made now. My approach is an all-inclusive one. All of the relevant parties are involved in it. This is a European issue, rather than just an Irish issue. Deputy Naughten made a point about the number of officials on the ground. I accept...

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I was asked how long it will take. That will depend on whether people co-operate with it. If everybody works together, it can be resolved. I was also asked about the number of bogs. There are four bogs. I accept that there should be more bogs. Progress has been made.

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: There are the bogs in Deputy Connaughton's constituency-----

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation (30 Jan 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: There is Clara-----