Results 1,481-1,500 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hedge Cutting Season (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Historic Towns Initiative (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) aims to promote heritage-led regeneration of the historic cores of our rural historic towns by harnessing the cultural heritage assets of participating towns. The wider objective is to help stall and, ultimately, reverse the trend towards depopulation, loss of vibrancy, vacancy and dereliction which currently exists. This approach has been successfully...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Plans to commemorate the 1916 Rising are well underway, with the aim of having a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to formal State occasions, which will run throughout 2016. In this regard, I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The scope for financial support for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, I keep the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage under on-going review, having regard to the resources available to my Department. The Heritage Council, which my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 278 together. Licences to export cultural goods/objects from Ireland to destinations within the European Union are issued by the relevant National Cultural Institution and/or my Department, depending on the nature of the cultural object, document or painting involved. Applications for licences to export paintings and drawings within the European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. In February 1999, compensation arrangements for industrial and commercial operators affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bogs, which were proposed as special areas of conservation, were announced. These compensation arrangements become applicable to additional sites over time. Since then, applications for compensation from...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that the Beit Foundation met with my predecessor, where the financial challenges facing the Foundation were outlined. In terms of financial supports, the Heritage Council, which my Department funds, has provided since 2002 just over €2.1 million for works to Russborough House. In 2005, the Heritage Council published the Conservation Plan for Russborough House as a first...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The information that the Deputy has requested is not readily available and is currently being compiled by my officials. My Department will revert directly to the Deputy with a response shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sale of Artworks (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The administration of the Beit Foundation, which owns and operates Russborough House, is a matter for the Trustees and my Department has no role in the matter including in the sale of any works in the collection. However, I did meet on Tuesday night with the Chair of the Alfred Beit Foundation and two other Trustees. I asked the Chair if it would be possible to delay the sale, or to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Maintenance (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question No. 39 on 30thApril 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: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.276 and 277 together. Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland's raised bog candidate special areas of conservation within the framework of the EU Habitats Directive. This has included intense and on-going engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Jobs 2015 was published in January this year and is the fourth in the multi-annual series which promotes a whole-of-government approach to economic recovery, export growth and job creation. The Action Plan sets out a number of actions in relation to the arts sectors. The nature of employment within the sector encompasses a wide range of activities and may also embody the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Promotion (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions, is the responsibility of the Irish Film Board. This includes assistance with locations for the making of films. The Film Board has a good track record of using Irish scenery as a major asset in attracting film makers to Ireland. Detailed information...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was launched in the National Museum, Collins Barracks, on 31stMarch 2015 and planning is well underway in relation to the activities, events and initiatives set out under each of the seven strands of the programme. One of the core objectives of the programme is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is a scheme of tax relief for the donation of heritage items to the National Collections. Under the scheme, heritage items that are considered outstanding examples of their type and that are pre-eminent in their class, whose export from the State would constitute a diminution of the accumulated cultural heritage of Ireland, or whose import...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 2015 was the first year in many years that there is growth in current funding for my Department. Additional funding was announced in Budget 2015 for a number of key targeted initiatives in my Department. These include: - €2m in additional funding for the Arts Council; - €2m in additional funding for the National Cultural Institutions; - €1m in extra funding for...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to address the House today. Concern has been growing in recent weeks about the decision of the Alfred Beit Foundation to sell paintings at Russborough House, of which I have been acutely aware. There has also been a lot of misinformation circulating in the public domain. I welcome the opportunity to address this matter in the Seanad today and...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Copies will be available shortly. However, on Tuesday evening last I met the chair and other members of the foundation to discuss the sale of several paintings. I had a very frank conversation with them and made it clear that it would have been preferable if the trustees had come to me before making their decision to sell the paintings. The fact that the paintings are now in an auction...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: That is nonsense.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to state very clearly that, as set out in the memorandum and articles of association signed by Sir Alfred Beit and Lady Beit when they set up the foundation, the object for which the foundation was established "is to promote and further the advancement of education in the fine arts in Ireland". To that end, among a number of things they wished to do was to establish and carry on...