Results 24,021-24,040 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Senator Humphreys was counting when I mentioned things. I wish to be clear that sometimes I do not always get the opportunity to speak. I appreciate the concerns that have been expressed by a number of Senators on the impact the provisions might have on biodiversity. I share the views of Senators that hedgerows are a very important wildlife habitat that provide food, shelter, corridors of...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department will work towards gathering further data to inform decision making into the future.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department will work towards gathering further data to inform decision making in the future.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I also intend to launch a public awareness process for all stakeholders, including local authorities, landowners and members of the public so that they are fully informed as to the restrictions on hedge cutting and burning. Accordingly, I am of the view that the monitoring regime that will be put in place during the two-year pilot phase will allow my Department to decide on whether to...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: People will not have to cut hedges.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Could I finish please? However, if a hedge is blocking the view of road users or where land management requires, the landowner will have the option to cut back one season's growth in the month of August if he or she so wishes. That is a serious issue on local byroads in rural areas where hedges grow out on roads in particular in the month of August following heavy rain. I know because I...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We cannot have a situation where people are damaging their cars and accidents are being caused because people cannot see around corners due to overgrown hedges.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is a real problem.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The proposals in the Heritage Bill 2016 represent a moderate and common sense approach. Many people talk about common sense. This is a common sense solution to address the problem.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I will talk about the curlew because I know it was mentioned.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I recently established a special curlew task force to examine what steps can be taken to support our native curlew. This has been warmly welcomed by groups such as BirdWatch Ireland. Similar funding has been provided by my Department to support important conservation projects, such as the red grouse management plan in Boleybrack Mountain in County Leitrim. That project, which involves a...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I will clarify that I did not name any specific Senators. I said that general accusations are thrown around that all farmers are looking-----

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: They are on social media. They are all over the place.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: That could not be farther from the truth. Farmers are the custodians of our countryside.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: This legislation is not and has never been about widespread heavy cutting of hedges. It will allow hedges to be cut in August in certain circumstances only, subject to strict regulations, and in this regard, any cutting of hedges in August may only be of the current season's growth and may only be carried out on roadsides and on land where reseeding or tillage is taking place. This...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: What I am trying to do is introduce flexibility into the system. Managed hedge cutting will be allowed under strict criteria during August to help to tackle issues such as overgrown hedges on roads. Controlled burning will also be allowed in certain areas around the country to be specified during March should it be necessary due to adverse weather conditions such as those we had this month....

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: May I speak on some of these amendments? I did not have an opportunity.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I did not get to speak to any of the amendments in this group.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Two amendments were voted on and I did not get the opportunity to speak to them. I have been listening to Senators for 16 hours, I have provided extensive briefing and I have engaged constructively. The Chair put it to the floor that I be allowed to speak and Senator Norris said "No".

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: If that is what the Senator considers to be democracy then so be it, but it is not what I consider to be democracy. It is not funny. I have been here for 16 hours and will stay for as long as it takes. I have been very co-operative and I am disappointed. I will outline my position on amendment No. 3b. Grubbing and flailing would not be permitted in August but if a farmer wanted to trim...