Results 25,201-25,220 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Both the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, and I will make some introductory remarks on the heritage programme. Funding of €44 million has been made available from my Department’s heritage programme. This includes €35.4 million allocated for current expenditure, with a further €8.6 million in capital funding. The protection of Ireland’s unique...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I have got agreement that the Heritage Bill will continue where it left off. It is ready to proceed to Committee Stage in the Seanad and I am waiting on a date from the Seanad in this regard.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The closed period for hedge cutting will remain as it is until the legislation goes through the Dáil. Where there are road safety issues, it still applies that local authorities can cut a hedge. Owing to the election and other developments, the legislation got held up. It is to proceed to Committee Stage and I look forward to the Deputy's support on that.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: It is a Seanad Bill.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: That figure is not in these Estimates.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: No, the case was this year. It was defending a case and we have not received any billing yet.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I will have to come back to the Chairman with that figure. I do not have it off the top of my head.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: We have not had any fines yet, but have been working with the Commission. We have been over to visit it in terms of trying to comply with the case. As such, no fines have been imposed due to the ongoing work with the Commission on a number of infringement issues in respect of peatlands and special areas of conservation, which relate to the turf action.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: That is right. We have been working with the Commission very closely to explain that we recognise the right of traditional turf cutters. That is in the programme for Government. I have met the Commissioner personally and explained to him that this is a very sensitive issue.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: It is very much part of our heritage. We are working on that.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: It is something we had been looking at. We looked at these bogs and felt they were not as important as others. The heads of a Bill have been agreed at Cabinet and are with the committee for discussion. We are dedesignating bogs, but will also be designating other bogs which we feel are more important in terms of their conservation. It will take a lot of landowners out of the system and...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, the questions relate to hedge cutting and gorse burning. The Heritage Bill was commenced by the previous Government. I initiated it in the Seanad and it has progressed as far as Committee Stage. I obtained agreement from the Government to progress the legislation and it will continue on Committee Stage. I am awaiting a date to go to the Seanad to continue with the Bill. The proposal...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. There will be full consultation with them and they will have the option to apply for compensation or opt for relocation. Those will be the options that will be available to them.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: If the Chairman agrees, I will take that question as it falls under my remit. We are working with the Heritage Council on a new heritage plan. That is in progress. Regarding the board of the Heritage Council, it has gone through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, process. I have a recommendation on my desk, and in the coming week or so I intend to appoint the members to the board of...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: There was a question on the upgrade of the N59. There was a meeting on the matter attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, as well as other Oireachtas Members. I can confirm that the experts from my Department are sitting down with the local authority experts. They are trying to find a solution and move this forward. I understand the frustration of Deputies. The Minister of...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is correct. De-designation of SAC is provided for under the EU habitats directive. The basis for such de-designation is very narrow but a natural disaster is one of the possible reasons. It is difficult, but, having said that, we are continuing to work with the EU Commission on the matter. There was another question on the €2 million fund. I presume the Deputy was...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The designation is the responsibility of the local authority and the elected members. They make the decision. There are many examples of good heritage projects, but there are also different levels. The local authority and the elected members make the decision and the responsibility is theirs completely. I do not have an input. We set guidelines, but they make the final decision.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: On North-South co-operation, a provision of more than €37.7 million is made available to support the two North-South implementation bodies, namely, an Foras Teanga, comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, and Waterways Ireland. These are also subject to the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council. In respect of Waterways Ireland, the overall allocation of...