Results 5,821-5,840 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Archives (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The records contained in the 70,000 boxes in question are kept in a secure place and will be available to the public in the not-too-distant future. Since 2008, the National Archives has experienced a 41.64% reduction in its operational budget. If the Deputy checks the Estimates from the past three years, she will see how I have done my best to arrest that decline in funding. Last year and...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter this afternoon. Under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, three types of legal agreements have been and are being issued by my Department. First is a legal agreement for qualifying turf cutters who are signing up to the annual payment of €1,500, index-linked, for 15 years. Second is a relocation interim legal agreement for...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: In response to Deputy Naughten's, this is a very complex issue. The Deputy has been raising this issue in the Dáil for a number of years and has been very consistent on the issue. Given the location of the bogs, I would hope it will be possible to find relocation sites for the 700 or so turf cutters who have expressed an interest in relocation. As the Deputy knows, the majority of...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am not aware there is a difference between Clara bog and other bogs. As Deputy Naughten knows, we are not taking ownership of the bog from people. They still own the bog and all we are doing is ensuring they do not cut the bogs. With regard to the letters of clarification and comfort, there is a continuous process between the Department and turf cutters. It is a very busy office as the...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: At the time there was one vacancy, and that has been filled. However, other vacancies are due to arise and I will now outline how it is proposed to deal with them. At present, there are no vacancies on the Arts Council. Section 11 of the Arts Act 2003 states that the Council shall consist of a chairperson and 12 ordinary members appointed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The chairperson has given the Arts Council almost her full-time attention for the past five years. I met Ms Moylan recently and we had a conversation. Contact will continue until the position is filled. A number of people have expressed an interest in both the chairmanship of the Arts Council and the other vacancies that will arise. We will consider those expressions of interest and make...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The profile and competency of the current membership of the board of the Arts Council is extremely impressive. All of its members are arts practitioners with a long history of contributing to the development of the arts. My policy on appointments will be similar. However, in appointing new members of the Arts Council I will be very much aware of the need to strike a balance between...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 17 and 206 together. Some 2,839 applications for compensation under the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, 797 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Deputies will appreciate that relocation is a very complex process in terms of...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The conditions for compensation and relocation were set out quite clearly. It was for those who had exercised their right for the previous five years. That has been quite clear, unless there were other reasons those concerned did not cut turf. For example, if they were in a REPS plan, consideration was given to that. As regards the substitution of SACs by NHAs or anything else, there are...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The proposed plan will be out shortly. The national peatlands strategy was part of an agreement with Europe to address the court case but people have nothing to fear about it. It is very important for the continuation of turfcutting in the future. When Deputy Naughten sees it I am sure he will appreciate that there has been input from several agencies. The Peatlands Council has had been...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The focus will be on SACs and NHAs but there is a broader discussion to be had here. The plan will be available to the public and everybody will get an opportunity to discuss it. The NHA plan to which our Government gave a commitment in the programme for Government will be announced shortly. It will go out for consultation. It will contain solutions to some of the existing problems;...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Yes.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The national peatlands strategy has been discussed by the Peatlands Council for a number of years and, unfortunately, the TCCA decided to withdraw from the Peatlands Council after it had signed up to an agreement that it would not cut any more turf on the SACs. That was a signed agreement back in June 2011-----

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: -----and then they withdrew, which was unfortunate. They should have been discussing whether it was the SAC, the national heritage areas or a strategy for the future. There is nothing to fear about the national peatlands strategy. The law is very clear. European law, transposed into Irish law, states clearly that we have 53 SACs that we promise to protect and allow no damage to. This was...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan does not want any settlement of this issue. He has made no effort to arrive at a settlement and it is in his interest to create mayhem in rural Ireland. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has been totally disruptive and does not want to recognise European law or Irish law.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy was in Europe and it was clearly stated to him that these bogs must be closed. He does not want to accept it.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As regards any contravention of the law, it was obvious that this is breaking the law and people must be brought to justice the same as anyone else breaking any law.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: There were other issues raised by Deputy Denis Naughten and Deputy Bernard Durkan, including an issue of Northern Ireland.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan is not interested in listening.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (3 Dec 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: In Ireland, we recognise the potential of the creative industries and particularly their beneficial characteristics. The creative industries now encompass more than the traditional areas of the arts, film, music and literature, and include areas like advertising, as well as the newer industries such as social media, gaming and animation. As Minister with responsibility for arts, culture and...