Results 1,641-1,660 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Since the Government came into office, huge efforts have been made to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland's raised bog SACs within the framework of the EU habitats directive. These have included intense and ongoing engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and the European Commission. Notwithstanding the complexity involved, progress in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As I said in my reply, the review of the raised bog natural heritage area network was published in January 2014. It sets out the future arrangements for turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bogs. There has been consultation on this review and stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide their views. Some people will have to stop cutting on the natural heritage areas from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: What I am saying is that there is a group of natural heritage areas that are already de-designated. We are already engaging with the people who will have to stop cutting by 2017, and we have opened a compensation scheme to them. Some designated sites will be de-designated and we will designate new sites that will be mainly on State lands. We are trying to ensure that there will be a good...

Other Questions: National Library (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: While my Department provides funding to the national cultural institutions, the management and board of each institution are responsible for all operational matters and I do not have a statutory function in this regard. It is the responsibility of the management and the board of each institution to determine the spending priorities for their individual institutions, based on the resources...

Other Questions: National Library (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge that there are issues at the library and I am very aware of them. I am conscious of that and want to see investment in the library increase in the year ahead, but we are working within major budgetary constraints. The economy is doing well, but it is fragile and there will be difficulties. The Deputy can rest assured that I will be putting the case forward for the library. I...

Other Questions: National Library (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The VAT rate is a matter for the Department of Finance. I hear what the Deputy says but it will be a decision for the Minister for Finance. I hope I will be in a position to increase funding but I have to work within major constraints in terms of the budget. Dr. Sandra Collins was recently appointed director of the library. Sandra is a very welcome addition and I wish her well in her...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of Culture 2025, Ireland's first national cultural policy, will be to set out the high-level aims and policies of the Government in this area in the period up to 2025. To help inform the public consultation process, I launched a discussion document on the proposed cultural policy on 7 August last. That document was informed by a colloquium of cultural stakeholders organised by my...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of this and the short answer is "No". The development of our first national culture policy provides an important opportunity for everyone to have their say on what we want to achieve in terms of our arts and culture over the next decade. Setting out high-level aims up to 2025 will help to protect and promote our culture and encourage new cultural forms to flourish. The...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I absolutely agree that we have become a multicultural society and we want to engage with other cultures because that diversity will continue to enrich our culture. We want to protect our own culture but, at the same time, embrace new cultures. We are also going to be looking at new technology because that is going to have a huge impact on our culture as well. I have put out these areas as...

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 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 farming and biodiversity. As a result, a...

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I am fairly familiar with the dates in Northern Ireland, which are the same as ours. They were changed from the end of July to the end of August. I fully understand the need for health and safety considerations, but councils have the authority to cut hedges where are there are health and safety issues and I would encourage them to do so. I live in the country and...

Other Questions: EU Directives (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising all these issues today. The European Commission published a mandate for a fitness check on the EU birds and habitats directives in February 2014. Its purpose was to examine progress in the implementation and integration of the directives across the member states of the EU, the costs of implementation and of non-implementation of the legislation, and...

Other Questions: EU Directives (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have spoken to Commissioner Vella and met him earlier this year. I have highlighted the difficulties we have with some of these directives and there is no doubt about this. I welcome the review which was initiated by the incoming Commission. The Department has engaged at official level and there is much further work to do in the process. We all need to engage in this, including our MEPs...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. There is an annual open season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The open season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer. I am aware that deer species are increasing in range and numbers. Control is normally a matter for the owner of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to today’s Priority Question No 3. As I stated, my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. However, in general, control of invasive species is a matter for landowners,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (24 Sep 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 for the arts and film through its funding of the Arts Council and the Film Board while my Department provides capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure. Other financial and policy supports are also...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: UNESCO Biosphere Designation (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Dublin Bay Biosphere is led by Dublin City Council and managed by means of a partnership between the 3 local authorities in the bay area (Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council), my Department (through the National Parks and Wildlife Service) and the Dublin Port Company. This partnership model provides my Department with a welcome opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Since 1999, a number of applications for compensation from affected industrial and commercial operators have been made to and assessed by my Department. Compensation has been paid by my Department on the basis of proven actual losses incurred as a result of the cessation of industrial and commercial turf extraction on protected sites.The total amount of such compensation, including legal...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Under the terms of the Wildlife Acts, licences are required by the Irish Coursing Club, covering their affiliated coursing clubs, if they wish to capture or tag hares for use at...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Easter Rising Commemorations (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Ireland 2016Centenary Programme, which was launched on 31stMarch 2015, will include a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to formal State occasions, running throughout 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The programme will be an invitation to everyone on the island of Ireland and to the global Irish community to shape and engage...