Results 1,961-1,980 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: The Deputy compared the €25 million with the supports given across the water. Making comparisons across different countries is difficult for many reasons, including population size and the nature of the arts and entertainment sectors. For example, the UK has a very large commercial theatre sector. According to the EU, the arts and culture share of public expenditure in Ireland in...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I am quite happy to answer. I welcome the Deputy's engagement which is always highly constructive and helpful on these areas and working with the communities involved. I am aware that options exist in respect of turf cutters which include relocation to non-designated bogs, annual compensation payments and in some instances lump sum payments. My colleague, Deputy Noonan, will have...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: Ar an gcéad dul síos caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil, mar is eol don Teachta, an-suim agus an-ghrá agam don Ghaeilge. Úsáidim í chomh minic agus is féidir liom. Beidh mé féin agus an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Calleary, ag tabhairt cuairte ar an nGaeltacht an mhí seo. Is i nGaeilge a rinne mé mo chéad agallamh. If the...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: On Deputy Cathal Crowe's question regarding Shannon Heritage, we are critically aware of the issues facing the heritage sector, as well as the arts and cultural sector. As a Government, we are working with all stakeholders to ensure facilities can reopen safely and to stabilise them financially. As requested by the Deputy, I will raise this matter with my colleagues in government, including...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Deputy and all Deputies who have expressed their good wishes to me and the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. I look forward to working with them all. While the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for the equality budgeting programme, my Department was one of six that participated in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's equality budgeting...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Control (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: The two species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are both protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their numbers at a favourable conservation level. We are also required to monitor their populations and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy will be aware the Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. has recently announced a reallocation of responsibilities between a number of Government Departments including my own. As soon as the necessary orders to give effect to these changes are in place, the heritage functions of this Department, which includes the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will transfer to the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. My Department has in place a special areas of conservation designation, conservation and management work programme. Under this on-going programme, 276 sites have been designated as special areas of conservation by Statutory Instrument, site specific conservation objectives have been published for 364 special area of conservation sites...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I have asked my officials to collate the information sought for the period in question and I will send it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: The highly invasive non-native weed Rhododendron ponticum occurs in low to moderate, or slight to severe, levels throughout previously cleared oak woodlands of Killarney National Park, depending on the classification terminology being used. Higher densities occur in woodlands close to dense infestations where rhododendron has never been cleared, due to seed rain. Densities of seeding plants...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) sought to undertake an expert Peer Review of Rhododendron ponticum and the programmes and measures for its control in Killarney National Park. Overseas experts were invited to participate in this independent scientific review. Despite agreement to participate from an independent overseas expert, it has subsequently not proved possible for him to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: An environmental NGO made a complaint to the European Commission in 2017. The Commission made the Department aware of the complaint in July 2018. The Department replied to the Commission in respect of the contents of the complaint in August 2018 and an acknowledgment was received. In June 2019 on foot of further correspondence from the NGO, the Commission contacted the Department asking...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: My Department is currently drafting a new National Policy on Architecture which will support long–term planning strategies and will assist in addressing key issues including societal well-being, climate change and urban regeneration. The adaptation of existing as well as the design of new buildings will, of course, be critical to meet the targets set by the Climate Action Plan 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: It would not be Departmental practice to publish the information sought in details supplied. The use of moorings for fishing/pleasure boats on the lakes in the area in question are subject to a fixed mooring allocation to traditional users. On an annual basis there are 20 pegs available which are subject to a lottery by the area’s regional management. This lottery is run in conjunction...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: Under the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003, my Department has responsibility for the inspection and licensing of zoos and aquariums in the State. The role of my Department is regulatory and its functions do not include the provision of funding or grant aid to zoos or aquariums nor does it have a remit with regard to the day to day management of the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Environmental Investigations (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: As set out in the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, Moanveanlagh Bog Special Area of Conservation is one of the bogs identified for assessment as regards the potential for domestic turf cutting within parts of the site, in accordance with the provisions of article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive. Scientific assessments in that regard were...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: It is not possible to answer this question at present as the transfer of functions has not yet occurred therefore there is no agreement on corresponding financial allocations. This question will be proper to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, when reconfigured, in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Investigations (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I am advised that a granite pillar was brought to the attention of my Department’s National Monuments Service as possible evidence of the existence of a famine graveyard at the location in question. However, my Department's view is that the origins and associations of the pillar are unlikely to relate to such burials. While there is insufficient evidence at this point for the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Island Communities (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: My Department currently has 11 different contracts in place to transport light and heavy cargo to the off shore islands. Of these contracts, 9 are dedicated solely to the provision of carrying heavy cargo at a cost of €1.3 million per year to the Exchequer. These subsidies are of great benefit to the islanders as they provide a real reduction in the cost of transporting goods to and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Catherine Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 363 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that arrangements are being made for the publication on my Department's website of this material.