Results 1,141-1,160 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Library (10 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The National Library of Ireland is a statutorily independent body. While my Department provides funding to the national cultural institutions, the management and board of each institution are responsible for all operational matters. However, I understand that the National Library does not have a valuation of the collection as a whole, due to the volume of material that would need to be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (10 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in sites designated for nature conservation may only be undertaken with my consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (10 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have secured an allocation of €4 million in current funding to support the development in 2015 of the Ireland 2016initiative. This allocation will be used to engage with and support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups, as well as Irish language, educational and cultural projects. The allocation of €4 million is in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (10 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. They roam freely throughout the countryside and are present in many parts of the country. Their presence is not confined to the National Parks and so fencing of these properties would serve no practical purpose in terms of wild deer control or management. There is an annual open season during which deer can be legally shot...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (10 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is in ongoing dialogue with staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with respect to eligibility rules in upland and commonage lands, and, in particular, for lands that are part of the Natura 2000 network.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In 2014, my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5 million from capital stimulus funding for a new built heritage jobs leverage scheme to assist with works to safeguard structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This scheme was administered directly through the local authorities and sought to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy said, the built heritage jobs leverage scheme was a great success, which is reflected in the statistics. The Deputy is right that Ireland's heritage and its buildings are a vital part of our villages and are towns. The Heritage Council has done great work over the years in engaging with communities. There is a much greater awareness now of the importance of heritage....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that the Heritage Council does a great job. Since I took office, I have met all the heritage officers throughout the country because they also do a great job with the local authorities. I must acknowledge the work local authorities have done in regard to the built heritage jobs leverage scheme. A number of different organisations came together. The Heritage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. As a North–South implementation body, it is under the joint remit of my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. The Royal Canal is one of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree absolutely with the Deputy on the potential for tourism on the waterways. It is only two weeks ago that I was able to announce the start of work on another section of the Ulster Canal. It will move now from Belturbet to Castle Saunderson, which is the first part of the route that will go to Clones. Eventually, I hope the route will go the whole way to Lough Neagh, which would bring...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy mentioned by-laws. The proposed by-laws are intended to encourage tourism and leisure craft users by supporting the investment that has already been made by Waterways Ireland in the new infrastructure and facilities along the canal. The by-laws were drafted by Waterways Ireland and went out for public consultation and are now at draft stage. My Department and Waterways Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Easter Rising. It will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based on the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The plan launched last November was an overarching plan and it was not rushed, as the Government wished to allow people to engage with it. It was a high-level plan and has been highly successful in respect of the level of engagement experienced thus far. It was necessary to start with something, and while there was a lot of talk about it, I am glad about that because it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was deeply disappointed by the voting down of the proposal for Moore Street at a meeting of Dublin City Council. The Deputy should believe me when I state that I considered the plans to be highly impressive. It was planned to have a lovely interpretive centre that would reflect well on the entire area. This was a decision of Dublin City Council, and as they are the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My door is open and I will continue to engage to try to make progress on this matter. It is an awful shame that the proposal did not go ahead. I saw a video of what was proposed and it would have been a fine centre that would have respected and reflected what happened in 1916.

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Rising and to recognise all the people whose lives were touched by the events of 1916. It also will reflect on the legacy of that period and will look towards the future,...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I accept what the Deputy is saying on the need to recognise the role of women and, in particular, Cumann na mBan. Their contribution must be recognised. I recently visited Lissadell House, and while one can see the important role played by Countess Markievicz in the events of 1916 and her subsequent election to Parliament, and the important role women played in the Rising, one also can see...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy about the need for a solemn occasion. The parade on Easter Sunday will be a very solemn occasion as we remember those who lost their lives, as that is the ultimate sacrifice. We also need to be respectful and inclusive and it needs to be appropriate. I agree that it is not something about which we need to be triumphalist. It will be a solemn occasion. As we go...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland, including the music industry. My Department provides significant support to the industry through its funding of the Arts Council, capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure, and through other financial and policy supports. I was particularly pleased that the Government...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I will examine the areas of the report for which I have responsibility. Business training support is provided by the local enterprise offices, LEOs, to help those who want to start their own businesses. I fully appreciate the major contribution Irish music makes to our culture. Our culture is so important to us, and appears on every brochure that leaves the country. That is why I want to...