Results 2,541-2,560 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In the Action Plan for Jobs, there are 11 specific actions to be undertaken by my Department and the agencies under its remit. Together, I believe that we can work to realise the explicit and implicit targets set for my area of responsibility.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy will be aware that the All-Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on Commemorations, which I chair, was recently strengthened by expanding its membership. Since then, the Group has met on two occasions, the most recent meeting being on 21st February. It will meet again on this afternoon. The Group now includes the Minister of State at my Department, Mr Dinny McGinley, T.D., Ms...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The land referred to by the Deputy appears to be located in a Natural Heritage Area designated in 2004. In 2010, the then Government decided that turf cutting should come to an end on raised bog Natural Heritage Areas at the end of 2013 and also announced the closure of the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme, administered by my Department, to new applicants. However, the current Programme for...

Written Answers — EU Programmes: EU Programmes (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 303 and 304 together. I propose to answer Question Nos 299, 303 and 304 together. At present, there are two EU programmes operating within the areas for which I have responsibility: 1. The Media Programme is the EU support programme for the European audiovisual industry and details are available at www.mediadeskireland.ie ; and 2. The Culture Programme...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Ireland has completed its nomination of sites for designation as raised and blanket bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). We have also designated a number of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). There are no proposals in my Department to add any further specific sites to these designations or proposals at this time.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and I am advised that 27 requests for information were submitted under the Freedom of Information Acts to my Department between that date and end-2011. As the Deputy will be aware, requests for non-personal records are required to be accompanied by an application fee of €15 (a reduced fee...

Written Answers — Arts Sector: Arts Sector (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The arts and culture sectors continue to offer vital opportunities for the provision of important cultural, social and employment benefits to communities throughout the country. The nature of employment within the arts sector encompasses a very wide range of activities. It can include those engaged in the arts practice within specific artistic genres and can also encompass areas which flow...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The 757 national monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht are managed and maintained by the Office of Public Works on a day to day basis. Local authorities are responsible for monuments in their ownership or guardianship. The vast majority of recorded monuments (approximately 120,000) are, however, privately owned and, while they are...

Written Answers — Arts Sector: Arts Sector (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government. In the context of the 2012 Estimates, I have continued my endeavours to maximise ongoing Government support for the arts and culture sector. I remain committed to securing the best possible level of funding for the arts sector. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. Information in relation to the functions of my...

Written Answers — Arts Sector: Arts Sector (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 310, 311 and 313 together. I am strongly of the view that Ireland's arts and culture constitute one of our world-class, distinctive strengths as a nation and this view was reaffirmed by the positive findings of the Global Irish Economic Forum held last October. I am satisfied that the international promotion of Irish arts through my Department's Culture...

Written Answers — Cultural Institutions: Cultural Institutions (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The National Cultural Institutions, which operate under the aegis of my Department, play a key role in increasing awareness of the value and benefit of cultural activities. Visitor numbers to our national cultural institutions and other cultural venues supported by my Department exceeded 3.6 million in 2011. This figure represents a moderate increase on the 2010 figure of 3.58 million and a...

Written Answers — Heritage Sites: Heritage Sites (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has a broad range of responsibilities in respect to the protection of our natural, architectural and archaeological heritage and, in each case, there is a different suite of legislative instruments that provide for the protection of the relevant national heritage sites. My Department directly manages 6 national parks and 66 nature reserves. In addition, it has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am satisfied from the information made available to me that the processes undertaken by my Department which led to the designation of Moycullen Bog as a Natural Heritage Area by Statutory Instrument (SI No 584 of 2005) were undertaken in a fair and proper manner. The decision to designate Moycullen Bog was taken after a survey of the site in October 2003 and copies of the survey notes are...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am advised that the person referred to by the Deputy is not a member of any State board under the aegis of my Department.

Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I acknowledge that the Deputy has always been positive and supportive of what we are all trying to do to resolve this matter, which would be in all our interests, as the last thing we want to do is to pay fines of between €20,000 and €25,000 per day to the European Commission. I do not have to remind Members that formal notice was sent to the Department in January 2011 followed by a...

Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank Deputy Naughten for his contribution. Roscommon is particularly affected by this issue, and I know from my experience of visiting that county that it is a very emotive subject there. Along with Deputies Naughten and Flanagan and the chairman of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, Mick Fitzmaurice, I travelled over that area in a helicopter last year and was given a bird's...

Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy knows, an elaborate process was carried out last week in which representatives for each bog put their case to the judge and a technical group tried to obtain a resolution. I do not think this process has ever been carried out before. I recognise that people entered this process with total intent to obtain a resolution, and they were very honest, open and frank about the whole...

Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: There is a sizeable sum of money - €5 million - available. The Government considers it important that we resolve this, and people will have to be compensated. I have been making this point quite clearly. That is why I will be announcing an enhanced package this evening. Expecting people to move from areas in which they have cut for generations to alternative bogs is a lot to ask, and...

Turbary Rights (6 Mar 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In response to Deputy Naughten, the judge in his conclusion mentioned that ownership of bogs is a complex area so we will take a sympathetic view of those who have established rights in bogs. Many bogs were never registered and people have been cutting on them for generations and that could be the fault of a solicitor who never bothered to do it. I agree with the Deputy that if this process...