Results 1,181-1,200 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. My Department is currently in discussions with the key stakeholders, North and South, to ensure that the 2015 ceremony will be a fitting tribute to those who perished in Ulster during that tragic time in our history. The...

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 that a detailed programme of commemorative events will be published in 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 this regard,...

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

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. My Department is currently in discussions with the key stakeholders, North and South, to ensure that the 2015 ceremony will be a fitting tribute to those who perished in Ulster during that tragic time in our history. The...

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

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with regard to the protection and management of our built and natural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation. Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under the provisions of the...

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

Heather Humphreys: While my Department provides funding to the national cultural institutions, the management and board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters, including storage and conservation, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of such day-to-day matters. It is the responsibility of the management and the boards of the individual institutions to determine the spending...

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. Relocation is a complex process in terms of: - investigating suitable sites for turf quality and quantity; - the infrastructure/drainage works required; -...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am committed to the delivery of the country's first ever national cultural policy - Culture 2025- and will be initiating a wide-scale consultation process to ensure that all stakeholders and members of the public can make their views know. With this in mind, a draft discussion paper is currently being finalised, which I hope to publish shortly. As the purpose is to set out the high-level...

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

Heather Humphreys: It is important to point out that there is no blanket ban on cutting turf in Ireland. The need to curtail turf cutting has arisen in the context of the requirement to conserve legally protected sites. As set out in the draft National Peatlands Strategy, the Government has no intention of ending the traditional practice of cutting turf for a person’s own domestic use but is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts 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; through capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure; and through other financial and policy supports. I was particularly pleased that the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: City of Culture Initiative (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The criteria for the selection of the European Capital of Culture is available on my Department's website at the following link:

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not collate information in relation to the number of legislative amendments tabled to Bills which are before the Oireachtas. The Legislative Observatory section of the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas at and the Irish Statute Book website at detail all legislation enacted by the Oireachtas, including the particular enactments introduced by my Department.

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

Heather Humphreys: Staffing requirements for Killarney House remain the subject of consideration in light of my Department’s overall business needs and the approved pay framework for 2015. The final phase of restoration, refurbishment and new works at Killarney House is currently ongoing and, accordingly, the nature and extent of posts required, including their budgetary implications, have yet to be...

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

Heather Humphreys: One of the core objectives of the Ireland 2016initiative is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the citizens of Ireland to the greatest extent possible in the programme of events to commemorate this significant centenary. In order to facilitate engagement with local communities and people of all ages nationwide, I have met with the County and Cities Management...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Promotion (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: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question No. 654 on 10 February 2015. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the proposed bye-laws that Waterways Ireland intends to make in order to enhance the management of the canals for all canal users. Waterways Ireland undertook a public consultation process in relation to the proposed bye-laws in 2014. I am...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. Culture Ireland recognises the significance of culture and the importance of cultural identity for our...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that it is not within the competence of Member States to re-examine legislation enacted by the EU. However, the European Commission has recently commenced a “Fitness Check” of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. It is my understanding that the Commission will launch a 12-week public internet consultation in April to assist in its examination of the Directives.

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

Heather Humphreys: 160 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog and 60 applications in respect of Ballynafagh Bog in County Kildare. A total of 245 annual payments, 146 turf deliveries and 20 once-off incentive payments have been made in respect of the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Directives has been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and...

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

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