Results 23,281-23,300 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Arts Council Funding (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for me to comment on the outcome of budgetary negotiations at this stage. However, the Government has already shown its determination to deliver on the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Arts Council and the Irish Film Board are independent in their decision making processes and it is a matter for the boards of each body to set out its plans. However, both the Arts Council and the Film Board play a central role in delivering the Creative Ireland programme, which is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: On the question about our image to the wider world, pillar 5 of the Creative Ireland programme is about unifying our global message to the world and telling the world that this country is rich in culture and heritage and that Ireland is a good place to come to live, to invest and to study. It is about promoting that image to the world. Creative Ireland is not an oversight body. It is...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The budget this year for Creative Ireland was €5 million. Of that, €1 million was used to facilitate local authorities to set up the Creative Ireland co-ordinators. Some €1.2 million was for Cruinniú na Cásca, which was a very successful cultural day on Easter Monday. We have a website and social media for getting the story out abroad. That is very...

Other Questions: National Monuments (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her work on both the forum and the advisory group on Moore Street. The original schemes of works to fully conserve the national monument buildings at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street were suspended early last year on foot of a High Court ruling. As an interim measure, and pending a permanent solution being found for the future development of the national monument, a...

Other Questions: National Monuments (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The essential protective works that have been carried out had the aim of safeguarding the fabric of the buildings for the coming years. After this period, it can be expected there will be clarity and agreement on the future development of the buildings in the light of future court decisions and what emanates from the deliberations of the Moore Street advisory group. In these circumstances,...

Other Questions: National Monuments (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The work of the advisory group is important. I know it is working with the different stakeholders in the area to come forward with proposals on what can be done on working with the new developer and owner. The issue with the High Court judgment is that it gives rise to much wider concerns for my Department about the administration of national monuments, as well as for other Departments...

Priority Questions: Cultural Property Inventory (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We have the largest Yeats collection in the world. As I know the Deputy is well aware, there is a wonderful exhibition on Yeats in the National Library to which it will be possible to add from today. The National Museum has also acquired pieces and the OPW was looking at others. We have all been working together. An investment of €4 million over the past two years is not...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I intend to fill the position of director of the Creative Ireland programme through an open competition managed by the Public Appointments Service, PAS. The position will be for a five-year fixed-term contract and I am advised that applications will be sought shortly. A key element underpinning the success of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme was the extent to which it was embraced by...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Mr. John Concannon did wonderful work as programme director for the 2016 commemorations, on which we worked very closely together as a team. We then developed the Creative Ireland initiative, which is a legacy initiative on foot of the success of the commemorative events that took place. I want it to be clear that the commemorative programme was very much a team effort in which many people...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: He told me he was moving to a new job and I said that was fair enough. That happens in all organisations. People get opportunities and move on and I wish them well. It is now my job to look for a new director. The job specification has been drawn up and the position will be advertised shortly through the PAS system. I encourage people to apply for it. It is an exciting job with many...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is absolutely off the mark there.

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I told the Deputy exactly what happened.

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Can I finish?

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The programme director of Creative Ireland was seconded to my Department from Fáilte Ireland and that is the arrangement to which he was working. He told me he had another job opportunity, we spoke about it and I wished him well. I had no contact with the Taoiseach in respect of the matter. He told me about his job. There are other people who move on to different jobs all the time,...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Creative Ireland is bigger than any one person. My priority is to implement the Creative Ireland plan and engage and deliver on each of the five pillars. It is a very important initiative. As I said, I wish John well. The Creative Ireland team is in place within my Department and it is working extremely well to co-ordinate all of the relevant agencies within and outside the Department's...

Priority Questions: Cruinnithe an Aire (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: There is a number of schemes, as the Minister of State has outlined, for promoting the Irish language. I am particularly interested in promoting the Irish language in areas that are not Gaeltacht areas, which the Deputy will appreciate, as well as giving supports to the Gaeltacht areas. For example, we were able to support an Irish scheme which was a two week summer school for young people...

Priority Questions: Cruinnithe an Aire (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have the figures to hand but I know that it is very much promoted and that Members have all attended events in our local schools where the schools have achieved that standard. This is important. I feel strongly that it is about integrating Irish language throughout our everyday lives. That is what we want to do and we want to see more of that. Through the Creative Ireland...

Priority Questions: Cultural Property Inventory (27 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Burton for raising this. I know the Deputy has the written reply to her question. I understand that the auction in London is about to conclude, or has just concluded, in respect of the W.B. Yeats collection. The Deputy will appreciate that I have been constrained in what I could say up until now as it is the long-standing policy of the State not to comment one way or another...