Results 24,541-24,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: There was nothing to preclude groups from coming forward and putting in a bid for that. It was an independent process. It was reviewed and the outcome was upheld. I did not have any input into this. This is the outcome of the process. That is the way it is now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: They were not successful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: FORUM Connemara Limited in its bid demonstrated an ability to deliver to the islands and this was confirmed by the selection committee. That is all I can say. The independent process has been gone through, it has been reviewed and this is the outcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: No. It was an independent review. A retired senior official from the Office of the Attorney General - a very well respected official - reviewed it and upheld it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: First, the West Cork Development Partnership went into a competitive process and was not successful. That is the way it is. It was a competitive process and it was aware of that when it went into it. The partnership was unsuccessful. It was an independent process, it was reviewed and the decision was upheld. The Deputy asked me a number of questions about details. The selection...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I will certainly try.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: If it is possible, I will certainly do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to be clear. This was an open, fair and competitive process. It was based on merit of strategy, including the capacity of the LAG, the quality of the strategy and value for money. The West Cork Development Partnership chose to apply independently. It had the opportunity to develop a strategy with the local community development committee, LCDC, and it was aware of the risks in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: We have already gone over the process and much of the history. The process was completed when the function was transferred to my Department. My priority was to get the money out to communities, which is the big issue. Most of the contracts have now been signed, expressions of interest are coming in and it is working. As I said earlier, Galway Regional Development and Comhar na...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Community Development: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I have met Údarás na Gaeltachta and been down in their offices in Furbo. I understand the issues about the islands, which have been outlined very clearly to me. We will continue to work with them and try to find a solution that will benefit everybody. I do not want to give a commitment about going to the islands because there are many things being scheduled for the new year. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: To be clear, the council, not the Department, was the project promoter. It was not considered necessary to carry out due diligence because we were not the promoter of the project. The project was being assessed by the Department and the grant approved on a set of standard conditions. These conditions were put in place. Mayo County Council was the promoter and it conceived, developed and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: First, I wish to clarify that there is absolutely nothing to hide here. This is a normal process. I wish to be clear about this. The onus on ensuring compliance with the public spending code as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform lies, in the first instance, with the project promoter. That, of course, is Mayo County Council. It must ensure compliance with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Following that, it was a decision of the Revenue Commissioners regarding the valuation, but I am very clear that this project did fit the criteria.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I do not know which reports it is referring to but I know that this project did fit the criteria. I cannot answer that question but I know that it was properly assessed and that it fitted the criteria.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, we will certainly do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I do not know. The project was presented to me by Mayo County Council and, as far as I was concerned, it was the project promoter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Most former Presidents have given their presidential records and other materials to different institutions. It is entirely up to the individuals concerned and not something in respect of which I wish to encroach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The question of having a particular museum space for the presidential records can be discussed with the management of the National Archives of Ireland in the context of the proposed redevelopment of its premises.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mary Robinson Centre: Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. (15 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In addition to their papers.