Results 23,061-23,080 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The governance of publicly funded theatres, as with all bodies, is a matter for the board of the theatres themselves. All boards have a duty to ensure their bodies comply with statutory requirements and that their staff can work in a safe and respectful environment. In recent times, as we know, there have been a number of alarming allegations and reports about sexual harassment in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The museum is dealing with a number of legacy HR issues relating to matters that happened a number of years ago and the board of management is taking steps to address these issues. I cannot get involved in HR matters, which are a matter for the executive and board of the museum. I have provided additional support in dealing with the legacy issues. I have been very supportive of the chair...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: -----nor of anyone making a protected disclosure to the Minister. Other staffing matters which came to the attention of the Department at that time were referred to the museum, as the employer. Under the Act, the museum has responsibility for its staff as is clearly set out. This is all dealt with in the review which specifically acknowledges that in 2012 certain allegations of bullying...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 establishes the National Museum of Ireland as an autonomous body. While I view it as an extremely important part of the heritage of the State, I have no involvement in the day-to-day running of the National Museum of Ireland. Section 29 of the Act provides that: "The Director of the Museum shall carry on and manage and control generally the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Bodies Code of Conduct (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: All bodies under the aegis of my Department are subject to the revised code of practice for the governance of State bodies which came into effect in September 2016. The code, which is published on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website, sets out the respective roles of parent Departments, boards and chairs of individual bodies, and includes details of the oversight and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The Creative Ireland programme is not a funding body and does not administer any specific grant or funding schemes. Neither is it my intention that it will become such a funding body in the future. An enabling budget of €5 million was allocated to implement and promote the Creative Ireland programme from within my Department in 2017. To...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Creative Ireland programme did not get an additional €8.5 million in the budget. The €8.5 million in current funding across the cultural sector will assist in delivering the objectives of the Creative Ireland programme, including the €3 million of that allocation which is being provided to the Arts Council. I was delighted to increase the funding to the arts sector...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Creative Ireland is not a funding body. It was set up to collaborate and work with all the different agencies. The Deputy mentioned a number of them. The creative children programme, which followed on from the arts in education programme, will get €1 million in 2017. The local authorities got €1 million in funding last year. I did not have an input in deciding how it was...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I will answer the question the Deputy submitted which was to ask me about the review of records and engagements by my Department. That is the question the Deputy raised with me, so I will answer it first. A review has recently been carried out by my Department of all relevant records and engagements between the Department and the board, management and staff of the National Museum of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Code of Conduct (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Priority Question No 44. All bodies under the aegis of my Department are subject to the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies which came into effect in September 2016. The Code, which is published on the Department of Public expenditure and Reform's website sets out the respective roles of parent Departments, Boards and Chairs...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Code of Conduct (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Let me assure the Deputy that neither I nor my Department received allegations or information on sexual harassment or bullying in the organisations referred to by the Deputy prior to the recent alarming allegations and reports. Nor am I aware that the Arts Council had received any such information. The governance of publicly funded theatres, as with all bodies, is a matter for the Board...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The National Famine Commemoration was announced by the then Minister of State for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in 2008 at an official reception to complement a community event held in Dublin that day. The inaugural meeting of the National Famine Commemoration Committee was subsequently held in July of that year. Its main tasks were to consider the most appropriate arrangements for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Taoiseach has said that he will double the overall budget of arts, culture and sport over the next seven years. I am certain that we can meet this target by implementing sustainable increases on an incremental basis between now and 2025 – a process we initiated in Budget 2018, in spite of it being a tight year across the board. In Budget 2018, I announced a funding package of...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am committed to re-establishing the Oireachtas All Party Consultation Committee on Commemorations and I expect that the practical arrangements to convene a first meeting of the Committee will be made as quickly as possible following receipt of party nominees from the Business Committee of the Oireachtas. In the period leading up to the 1916 centenary commemorations, the All Party...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies Reports (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: In July 2016 I published the draft framework policy document Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025. This underwent a round of consultations, with submissions received from Government Departments, local authorities, and cultural bodies and stakeholders in the cultural sector. The draft framework policy was also submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Creative Ireland Programmeis a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. It aims to put creativity at the centre of public policy. The programme is based on five pillars: 1.Enabling the creative potential of every child 2. Enabling creativity in every community 3. Investing in our...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Pillar Two of the Creative Ireland Programme – Enabling creativity in every community – is being implemented primarily through the local authorities who, as the primary instruments of community engagement, have a particular capacity for engaging citizens. The Culture Teams established in each local authority area under this pillar have put a considerable amount of work and time...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts and Culture Capital Scheme (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 80 together. The Arts and Culture Capital scheme 2016-2018 which I announced in 2016 is focused on the refurbishment and enhancement of the existing stock of arts and culture facilities throughout the country. This scheme is running from 2016 to 2018 over three complementary grant streams. Grant funding of between €20,000 and €2m is being...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (14 Nov 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The hare coursing meetings referred to by the Deputy were not monitored by officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department in either 2015 or 2016 owing to resource constraints.   Trials in one of the areas were monitored by the NPWS on Saturday 4 November, 2017. The meetings for both clubs for 2017 have not taken...