Results 25,741-25,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (24 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2012), €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013), €1,521 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2014), €1,521 in respect of...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The chief executive officer can make a comment on Government policies at a meeting of any committee except for the Committee of Public Accounts. Section 18 deals with the appearance of the chief executive officer of the National Concert Hall before the Committee of Public Accounts. I draw the attention of Senators to Standing Order 163 of Dáil Éireann, which deals with this...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The NCH can employ people casually on a commercial basis. Section 28(10) provides that any chief executive of a subsidiary, partnership or other such corporate vehicle formed under such section shall hold office on and subject to such terms and conditions as may be approved by the board of directors and the board of the NCH. As such, it can do that and has the flexibility to employ people...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I want to be clear on Senator Mac Conghail's first question. The concert hall can employ casual staff and the decision is its own. It does not have to come to the Minister to employ casual staff on a commercial basis. If it wants to take on permanent staff, it will have to seek permission because those persons would be employed under the public service arrangements. In the pre-legislative...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: On the issue raised by Senator Norris about gifts of land, the reason this requires the approval of the Minister is just in case the land the NCH is taking over has some unexpected cost or unknown liability associated with it. One has to be careful about that which is why it is included to safeguard against some unknown problem. Regarding the 5% threshold, it is included at the request of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Risk Assessments (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study on the River Shannon (CFRAMS) is currently being carried out on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Work on the study started in January 2011 and will be completed in 2016 with the publication of Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans. In the meantime, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Prevention Measures (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices at Meelick Weir were fully opened to facilitate the maximum flow of water following the recent heavy rainfall at 9am on Tuesday 10 November 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that no such legislation amending the Data Protection Acts has been introduced in the period since my Department was established in June 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that no agencies or State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group have been established since 2011 and I have no plans to establish any additional such bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Permanent staff employed in my Department are either in the established pension scheme, the non-established scheme or the single pension scheme for civil servants. These schemes are not in deficit and there are no plans to consolidate them. Ten bodies operating under the aegis of my Department have a defined benefit pension scheme. None of these schemes is in deficit and there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Gender Equality (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The 2016 Centenary Programme, published on 31 March, emphasises the important role played by women in the events of 1916 and there will be a special focus on the role played by these women in the Programme. A number of signature events relating to women are already contained in the programme, including conferences to be held in NUI Galway and Dublin City University on the role of women in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is my Department’s understanding that the coursing club in question had not captured any hares for their coursing meeting which was cancelled by the Irish Coursing Club.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (18 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 183, inclusive, together. I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I recognise that the red deer of Killarney National Park and the surrounding area are of national conservation significance and that the subject of culling is quite emotive. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (17 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. In that regard, a review of the current legislative provisions was initiated to ensure that they remain both effective and balanced. The submissions received, during a public consultation process on the matter, have been published on the website...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (17 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that responsibility regarding the ongoing issue in Portaneena, Co. Westmeath that has been raised by the Deputy is a matter for Westmeath County Council.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff (17 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department directly employs some 565 staff, who operate across a broad range of functions within my Department’s programme areas (Arts, Culture and Film, Heritage, Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands and North/South Co-operation). As the Deputy will appreciate, the staff of my Department are allocated to these various functional areas on the basis of need, having regard to a...

Other Questions: Deer Culls (12 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for raising this matter. With regard to Killarney National Park, every year, as part of the ongoing management of deer populations within the park, deer numbers need to be reduced. It is intended to commence culling later this month once the rut has finished. This work will be undertaken by qualified and competent National Parks and Wildlife Service...

Other Questions: Deer Culls (12 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The cull is part of the ongoing management of deer populations in Killarney National Park and deer numbers may need to be reduced every year. The proposed cull is no different from what has taken place in previous years. Sika deer numbers in the park are not out of control and are at much lower densities than can be found Wicklow National Park. As I stated, the National Parks and Wildlife...

Other Questions: Deer Culls (12 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I will raise the Deputy's proposal with my officials. I do not know if relocation is possible and if or how red deer would integrate with the herd in another location. I will consider the issue, however. As the Deputy noted, Senator Paul Coghlan raised the issue of deer causing traffic accidents on roads in Killarney. I will raise these issues with officials and revert to the Deputy.

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (12 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is something we can look at. A cultural hub relates to a specific area. The Deputy is moving into the area of tourism, where we have the Wild Atlantic Way and now Ireland's Ancient East. Perhaps we can have something along those lines, given that different areas have unique connections to culture that other areas do not have. We can certainly look at it.