Results 701-720 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate that a comprehensive assessment of the proposed works on the national monument site was carried out, at my Department's request, as part of the consent application under the National Monuments Acts. The consent applicant, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by my Department in January 2012 to commission an assessment of the wider battlefield...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I have met members of the Dublin City Council sub-committee which deals with the national monument on Moore Street. I do not consider that the assessment was flawed. The Department is satisfied that there is no basis to the suggestion that the previous Minister was misinformed or had inaccurate information when making his decisions on consents granted under the National Monuments Acts in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Culture Night (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has no plans to become involved in or fund Hallowe'en or Samhain celebrations in a manner similar to Culture Night. Most families already celebrate Hallowe'en. Every house has trick or treat and one makes every effort to be at home when children call and to have something to give them. Gardaí organise fireworks displays also and there are a great many things going on at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Culture Night (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am reluctant to do anything that would dilute the success of Culture Night which has grown from a relatively small cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to a significant national cultural event with approximately 350,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists studios and cultural centres across the State. Funding totalling €230,000 was allocated to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Culture Night (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Gardaí have been very proactive nationally in organising fireworks displays and such things and must be commended for their great work. They have taken the initiative over many years and organised this. It is a great night in many towns which many attend. One sees skies lit up by fireworks around the country but rather than to have that, gardaí organise a safe environment. We...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes and also for having raised this matter. Some 3,017 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Some 6,116...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: It is difficult to quantify these issues. It is hoped to relocate turf cutters from Barroughter bog and Clonmoylan bog to Shragh bog and Mount Hevey bog to Colehill bog, Kinnegad, County Westmeath. I can provide further information to the Deputy later. The majority of those cutting turf on raised bog SACs are co-operating with my Department in resolving relevant issues. Up to 3,017...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: There are turf cutters who do not want to relocate and make the argument they should be allowed to continue cutting at a certain bog. In one instance, I asked officials to meet with the people in question to explain to them the full issues. The only way to resolve this is through engagement. Much progress has been made already but we need to deal with these individual cases through...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014 under the wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014-2015 coursing season. Where resources allow, officials of the NPWS attend coursing meetings on a spot-check basis to monitor compliance with conditions on the...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The matter was brought to my attention and I discussed it with the officials concerned. I decided that in the circumstances the Department should write to the clubs and I also spoke to some representatives from the clubs. I listened to both sides and I discussed it with the officials. I wrote to the clubs asking them to give me assurances, which they did, that this would not happen again....

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The approach I took in this case worked satisfactorily. The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While I understand that many individuals are...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I congratulate Deputy Fitzmaurice on his recent election to Dáil Éireann. It is always a great honour to represent the people of one's county and constituency. I was very pleased to note that the morning before he came to the Dáil, he had time to feed his cattle. I wish him well in his new position. Since this Government has come into office, major efforts have been made...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has put in place more resources and greater effort to resolve the issue of protecting Ireland's raised bog special areas of conservation than any Government which went before. This includes the establishment of a substantial compensation scheme of which the vast majority of active cutters have availed. More than €10 million has been paid out by the Government. The...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: We must work within the law. The habitats directive was transposed into Irish law after being passed in Europe in 1992. We must abide by it.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: We must abide by this law. I met the Deputy with a delegation of turf cutters from my constituency and I will be happy to meet him again to discuss the specific matters he wishes to discuss regarding turf cutters. The Deputy was the chair of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association. Given his involvement and his obvious expertise in this area, I urge him to work with the Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been developing since 2012 to commemorate the key events leading to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question 6 today. I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Gallery (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The 2013 Comptroller and Auditor General Report contained a recommendation that the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, should consider including all resources of the National Gallery within the appropriations process and that restricted funds from non-Exchequer resources (such as fundraising) should be accounted...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of a recent report referred to by the Deputy. I understand that project costs in this case are estimated at over €5m and that Na Píobairí Uilleann is seeking €2.5m of this from the public purse. My Department does not have a capital budget to support new projects of this magnitude. The limited capital funding available at present for cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: In aggregate, €245.897m has been allocated to the Arts Council since 2011. Although the Arts Council is funded by my Department, it is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, as provided for in the Arts Act 2003. This specifically includes independence in its decisions on who it funds and the amounts it allocates. Full information on the Council's funding decisions is...