Results 26,061-26,080 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Library (7 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The National Library of Ireland is a statutorily independent body and the Board of the Library is responsible for making decisions in relation to the collections. While my Department provides funding to the national cultural institutions, including the National Library, the management and board of each institution are responsible for all operational matters and for determining spending...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (7 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is aware of the decline of certain species as referred to by the Deputy and has reported on these matters to the European Commission as part of its statutory obligations for monitoring and reporting. The species in question are largely dependent upon low-productivity grazing areas in uplands and bogs, and their reduced numbers reflect long-term changes in land use in a variety...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natura 2000 (7 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has prioritised resources in this sector to meeting the requirements arising from adverse judgements against Ireland, under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Against that background, my Department has not submitted any management plans for upland sites in our Natura 2000 network, to the European Commission for approval.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (7 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together. As indicated in reply to Question No. 247 of 14 May 2015, the start of the closed period for hedge cutting was extended, under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, to 1 March, in recognition of the generally accepted nesting and breeding season in order to afford further protection to wild birds. While, as indicated in that reply,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas Designation (7 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together. The process for the designation of sites as natural heritage areas is set out in the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Under the provisions of section 16 of the Act, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht forms the intention to designate a natural heritage area, while the making of a natural heritage area order is carried out...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Meetings (2 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A review of correspondence received by my Private Office indicates that, since my appointment as Minister last year, I have received 150 requests for meetings with a variety of individuals and groups, on foot of which I attended such 43 meetings. This figure includes meetings with representatives of those bodies under the aegis of my Department and with representatives of other...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (2 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: To the greatest extent possible, my Department encourages and facilitates visitor access to and appropriate use of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. Such access and use must, however, be consistent with the ethos of these internationally significant natural heritage properties as places of peace and tranquillity set in scenic landscapes, as well as being compatible with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Aggregate information in respect of expenses incurred by me since my appointment as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in July 2014 is set out in the table below. 2014 €12,385 2015 to date €14,197 More detailed information on these expenses is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. All such expenditure relates exclusively to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (1 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have received licence applications from the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of its affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purposes of hare coursing for the 2015/16 coursing season. In examining these applications, my Department will take account of the various reports available to it in respect of coursing meetings carried out during the 2014/15 season. No...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In line with the Performance Management Development System, which identifies staff training needs and skills requirements to deliver on business plans and objectives, my Department supports the development of staff through formal training courses, in-house training, attendance at relevant conferences and seminars, refund of academic fees, and reimbursement of professional membership fees. My...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that if spending by my Department on all services that are subject to Professional Services Withholding Tax were maintained at the levels observed in 2014, then a reduction of 10% in the associated fees would result in a reduction in expenditure of the order of €300,000 per annum. As the Deputy will appreciate, expenditure of this kind is subject to considerable...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Both of my Special Advisors have been paid at the first point on the Principal Officer Scale since their appointment in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The total amount paid in fees in 2014 to members of State boards under my Department’s aegis was €200,207. On that basis, if fees were reduced by 25% it would potentially result in a saving in the order of €50,000. However, I am advised that expenditure on board fees is expected to fall in 2015, mainly because some board members who could claim fees have waived their...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: City of Culture Initiative (30 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: An allocation of €6m was made in Budget 2014 to Limerick City of Culture. By letter dated 25 November 2014, Limerick City and County Council applied for an additional amount of €1.5m. Following consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the identification of possible savings on Vote 33, my Department applied for and received sanction for virement of up...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas Designation (30 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network waspublished in January 2014and concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (30 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Each local authority has appointed a steering committee and a dedicated ‘Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme’ co-ordinator, to support engagement and facilitation within local communities to generate awareness of the national programme; and to develop and deliver a plan for a suitable programme of events and initiatives to take place at a county level in line with the national...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (30 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Brú na Bóinne Management Plan is currently under review and a public consultation forum was arranged by my Department in February 2015 to outline details of the new draft plan to local residents and other interested parties. The general public was also invited to provide observations on the draft plan through national and local media with a closing date of 10 April 2015. The...

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (25 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-committee on Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies and the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, for their contributions to, and support for, the Bill. I acknowledge the work of the former Minister, the current Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, who commenced this Bill some time ago. I listened with interest to the input of Deputies on all sides and the various issues raised will be considered further in the...

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."