Results 1,161-1,180 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: While I am not aware that my Department has studied the Canadian and Icelandic models, I hear what the Deputy is saying and I will examine those models to see if we can use some of their ideas to the benefit of our music industry. Music is very important to us and very much part of our culture and part of what we are. I have considered the social protection issue and I will discuss it with...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Last year, I established a 2016 project office in my Department which has responsibility for co-ordinating and leading on all activities relating to the development and implementation of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which is focused on the commemoration of the centenary of the events of the 1916 Easter Rising. The initiative will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: We have established a team within the Department which has been charged both with monitoring progress closely to ensure that the projects will be delivered on time and with monitoring costs. I am satisfied that the various projects are on target both in terms of their completion dates and the costs involved. The centre at the GPO will be a fine facility and we hope it will attract in the...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Many different events are going to take place in the context of 2016, one of which involves connecting with the diaspora. We are working with our embassies throughout the world to link in with the members of the diaspora. I visited New Orleans in November for the International Famine Commemoration 2014 and I am aware that there is a great interest in the 1916 commemorations. The Deputy may...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. Licences were issued by my Department in August...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her question. I know this is an area she is very passionate about, but I wish to make clear that issues relating to welfare and cruelty are a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and not me as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. My interest and area of responsibility is in the conservation of the hare. The scientific evidence...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The conservation of the hare is my responsibility and the evidence I have received indicates that it is in good conservation status. From my perspective, no issues arise in terms of conservation. However, if the groups wish to contact my office, we will certainly consider a request for a meeting.

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan for raising this matter. Officials from my Department have met the Committee for the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims periodically in recent years. At the most recent meeting with the CCIFV last month, my officials committed to keeping it apprised of all arrangements in relation to the 2015 famine commemoration and provided its representatives with...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge the work of the committee and the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which I chair. The event goes from place to place each year and issues always arise about timing. If we keep the date flexible it means we can give a broader range of venues an opportunity to host the famine commemorations. A commemoration was held in my local town of Clones and it was a lovely event....

Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the opportunity to clarify the position. Having a site progressed from being on a national tentative list to its inscription by UNESCO on the world heritage list is a long and involved process that requires comprehensive management plans for the site, full agreement with local interests, significant local authority actions and support and,...

Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I listened carefully to the Deputy and I share his views on the importance and value of securing world heritage status for these sites as quickly as possible. I take on board what he said about the progressive county councils. When county councils work with us, it does make it much easier. When we have their assistance it is preferable, but my Department will continue to push for progress...

Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I hope I have clarified this but I take the Deputy's point that there are county councils that are not interested in getting involved in this process. I have taken on board what the Deputy said.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government considers the film industry, and indeed the audiovisual industry in general, to be a very important and valuable industry and continues to work to support growth in the industry in a number of ways.In particular, Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 - the Film Tax Relief Scheme - has undergone a number of improvements, which took effect at the start of this year....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: 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, Waterways Ireland 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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that the 2015 Famine Commemoration will be held in the province of Ulster and that the format for the event will have a clear cross-community aspect. My Department is liaising closely with the key stakeholders regarding the logistics and other arrangements. My core focus, and that of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which I chair, is to ensure that the 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 3,064 applications have been received under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation. Of these, 781 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Notwithstanding the complexity involved, progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases and arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Plans to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising are well underway and I expect to be in a position to publish a detailed programme of commemorative events within the coming weeks. The aim of the commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising is to have a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to formal State occasions, which will run throughout 2016. In...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Last year, I established a dedicated 2016 Project Office in my Department, which has responsibility for co-ordinating and leading on all activities relating to the development and implementation of the Ireland 2016initiative, focused on the commemoration of the centenary of the events of the 1916 Easter Rising. To date, four officials from my Department have been assigned full-time to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department directly employs some 565 staff, who operate across a broad range of functions within my Department’s programme areas-Arts, Culture and Film; Heritage; Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands; and North/South Co-operation. As the Deputy will appreciate, the staff of my Department are allocated to these functional areas on the basis of need, having regard to a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Protection of wildlife species is provided under the Wildlife Acts and I have no plans at present for any further protective measures for species through legislation. My Department has published species action plans for species which require strict protection under the EU Habitats Directive. These include cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), otters and bats. These are available in the...