Results 1,861-1,880 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Gender Equality (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The 2016 Centenary Programme, published on 31 March, emphasises the important role played by women in the events of 1916 and there will be a special focus on the role played by these women in the Programme. A number of signature events relating to women are already contained in the programme, including conferences to be held in NUI Galway and Dublin City University on the role of women in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is my Department’s understanding that the coursing club in question had not captured any hares for their coursing meeting which was cancelled by the Irish Coursing Club.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 183, inclusive, together. I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I recognise that the red deer of Killarney National Park and the surrounding area are of national conservation significance and that the subject of culling is quite emotive. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Risk Assessments (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study on the River Shannon (CFRAMS) is currently being carried out on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Work on the study started in January 2011 and will be completed in 2016 with the publication of Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans. In the meantime, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Prevention Measures (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices at Meelick Weir were fully opened to facilitate the maximum flow of water following the recent heavy rainfall at 9am on Tuesday 10 November 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that no such legislation amending the Data Protection Acts has been introduced in the period since my Department was established in June 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that no agencies or State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group have been established since 2011 and I have no plans to establish any additional such bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Permanent staff employed in my Department are either in the established pension scheme, the non-established scheme or the single pension scheme for civil servants. These schemes are not in deficit and there are no plans to consolidate them. Ten bodies operating under the aegis of my Department have a defined benefit pension scheme. None of these schemes is in deficit and there are no...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The chief executive officer can make a comment on Government policies at a meeting of any committee except for the Committee of Public Accounts. Section 18 deals with the appearance of the chief executive officer of the National Concert Hall before the Committee of Public Accounts. I draw the attention of Senators to Standing Order 163 of Dáil Éireann, which deals with this...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The NCH can employ people casually on a commercial basis. Section 28(10) provides that any chief executive of a subsidiary, partnership or other such corporate vehicle formed under such section shall hold office on and subject to such terms and conditions as may be approved by the board of directors and the board of the NCH. As such, it can do that and has the flexibility to employ people...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I want to be clear on Senator Mac Conghail's first question. The concert hall can employ casual staff and the decision is its own. It does not have to come to the Minister to employ casual staff on a commercial basis. If it wants to take on permanent staff, it will have to seek permission because those persons would be employed under the public service arrangements. In the pre-legislative...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: On the issue raised by Senator Norris about gifts of land, the reason this requires the approval of the Minister is just in case the land the NCH is taking over has some unexpected cost or unknown liability associated with it. One has to be careful about that which is why it is included to safeguard against some unknown problem. Regarding the 5% threshold, it is included at the request of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 607 together. Funding is provided by my Department through a number of schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings. This funding is either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and certain agencies. My Department is currently operating a Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: From 2007 to 2012, a major conservation programme of the Asgard was undertaken by the National Museum at Collins Barracks. An expert team, led by Master Shipwright and Ship Conservator, John Kearon, set out to conserve the Asgard, while retaining the structural integrity of the vessel and preserving as much of the existing original material as possible. The historic yacht is now on...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Forestry Sector (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Afforestation licences and the terms, conditions and timing of the Locally-Led Agri Environment Scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. An Inter-Departmental Steering Group was convened in July 2014 to assist in the development of a Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan. The Group is examining all of the issues at hand, including forestry and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am not aware of any European Regional Development Fund monies available for the development of the film industry either nationally or on a regional basis.The European Union's financial support programme for the creative, cultural and audiovisual sectors is Creative Europe. The MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe supports European audiovisual industries in the development, distribution...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turbary Rights (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 to 612, inclusive, together. A natural heritage area is considered important for the habitats present or for the species of plants and animals it holds whose habitat needs protection. Natural heritage areas are designated under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and are legally protected from negative impacts from the date they are formally proposed for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that, together with my own officials and officials across other relevant Government Departments, I am working closely with the relatives of those who took part in the events of 1916, including in particular the 1916 Relatives Association, to ensure, inter alia, fair and balanced representation of relatives at official commemoration ceremonies during 2016. In this...

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

Heather Humphreys: An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2012), €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013), €1,521 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2014), €1,521 in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to Question Number 274 of November 19th, in which I confirmed that no agencies or State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group have been established since 2011.