Results 26,101-26,120 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (23 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 664 together. Under section 8 of the National Lottery Act 1986, the proceeds of the National Lottery are paid into the Central Fund of the Exchequer and therefore National Lottery funding is one of the constituents of Exchequer funding. The apportionment of National Lottery funding to various lines of voted expenditure is the responsibility of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (23 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 662 of 3 February 2015, in which I indicated that my Department and Longford County Council had agreed to adopt a joint approach to the potential acquisition of this national monument for the State and that the Office of Public Works had been asked to enter negotiations with the landowner to establish if agreement could be reached on the...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Relocation Options (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: If the Deputy could bring that matter to my attention privately I will certainly raise the issue of the specific bogs he is talking about, which we did not proceed to purchase. I would be interested to hear about those and I will follow that up. I have asked my officials to treat relocation as a priority. I have to acknowledge, however, that sometimes it is very slow work. I wish to...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Planning is well underway with all stakeholders, including members of the public and local authorities, for next year’s 2016 commemorations. A widespread public consultation process has been underway for a number of months in order to encourage and facilitate the involvement of both national and local, ground-up, initiatives in the wider Ireland 2016 commemorative programme. The...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it is so important to involve children in our commemorations. Children will be central to the 1916 commemorations and in this regard we have been working jointly with the Department of Education and Skills. I wish to acknowledge the latter Department's huge contribution to this project. That Department has a rich programme for the primary,...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The idea behind the local authority meetings was to get as many people involved in 2016 as possible. Local authorities are the best way to reach out to the whole country. Each local authority will put together a draft plan which will be presented next month to myself and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. They will continue to work on that...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to address the House today. Concern has been growing in recent weeks about the decision of the Alfred Beit Foundation to sell paintings at Russborough House, of which I have been acutely aware. There has also been a lot of misinformation circulating in the public domain. I welcome the opportunity to address this matter in the Seanad today and...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Copies will be available shortly. However, on Tuesday evening last I met the chair and other members of the foundation to discuss the sale of several paintings. I had a very frank conversation with them and made it clear that it would have been preferable if the trustees had come to me before making their decision to sell the paintings. The fact that the paintings are now in an auction...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: That is nonsense.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to state very clearly that, as set out in the memorandum and articles of association signed by Sir Alfred Beit and Lady Beit when they set up the foundation, the object for which the foundation was established "is to promote and further the advancement of education in the fine arts in Ireland". To that end, among a number of things they wished to do was to establish and carry on...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: That is very clear. That is the trust that was set up and signed, and that is a legal document. I want to deal with a few issues that were raised, and I thank the Senators for the matters they raised with me. In regard to the export licensing system, it should be noted that this function was delegated to the director of the National Gallery in 1985 and it has operated under this system...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The first contact I had with Judith Woodworth was the previous Thursday. By the way, the cranes at the National Gallery are being paid for under a €30 million capital investment programme provided by this Government for the renovation of the Milltown and Dargan wings. I want to be clear on that too.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I met the foundation and the paintings belong to the trust. It has entered into a contract with Christie's and the trust has advised me that breaking that contract would cost £1.4 million. That would be the cost of it.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The cost of running the estate is a matter for the Beit foundation. As I said, it is all set out in the memorandum and articles of association. Also, the trustees made it clear that they genuinely believed and they still believe, and I have to respect this - we have to respect that this trust has been set up for 40 years now - that they are taking the right course of action to create an...

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Alfred Beit Foundation is an independent trust and I cannot instruct it on how to do its business. As I said, the memorandum and articles of association make it clear that the trust is perfectly entitled to sell the assets of the foundation. I am disappointed that the sale cannot be, at the very least, delayed or deferred but, unfortunately, I cannot stop the sale. I have spoke to them.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I cannot stop the sale.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I cannot stop it.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: There is a legal action pending here and I cannot get into the details of that.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Regarding what Senator O'Donnell said, I have expressed my disappointment that I was only informed of the sale when contracts had been long signed.

Seanad: Beit Collection: Statements (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: These contracts were signed a number of months ago. In fairness to the owners of all historic houses, whether operated by the State, private trust or private people, these houses are very costly to run. I pressed the foundation on this particular issue and they informed me that they had sought expert advice in regard to all aspects of their operations and that they have taken many steps to...