Results 26,241-26,260 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014, under the Wildlife Acts, to the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season. Where resources allow, officials of my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Management (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Slieve League, County Donegal, is a candidate special area of conservation. Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, certain activities within a candidate special area of conservation may not be undertaken, without my prior written consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I am advised that, in March 2013, my Department wrote to 57...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 745 applicants under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 8 of these applicants have been informed by my Department that it has been decided that they do not fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. These applicants have been provided with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Beit Foundation (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The administration of the Beit Foundation, which owns and operates Russborough House, is a matter for the trustees and my Department has no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Schemes (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Structures at Risk Fund 2015, with an allocation of €624,000, will enable conservation works to twenty-eight heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, throughout the country, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended. This Fund is being administered by the local authorities and was open to two applications per local authority, of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Judicial Reviews (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the outcome of this Judicial Review. The content of the recent lengthy judgment of the High Court is presently being reviewed by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 to 556, inclusive, together. My Department continues to assist with and support a range of commemorative events and initiatives to remember the Irish men and women who served during World War 1. The Government has been represented at many national and international events since the centenary of the outbreak of the War in August 2014. Many of these events...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department has no role in relation to the sale of the artwork referred to in the Deputy’s Question, which is a matter for the trustees of the foundation that owns and operates the facility in which the artwork is housed.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 prohibited the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 15 April to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. The start of the closed period was extended under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 to 1 March in recognition of the generally accepted nesting and breeding season...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natura 2000 (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s focus in recent years has been on the production of detailed, site-specific conservation objectives for the Natura 2000 network and, to date, 72 have been published for Special Areas of Conservation and 37 for Special Protection Areas. These are available on In addition, my Department is currently preparing a Threat Response Plan for the Hen Harrier, a species for which...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011. The table below lists the consultants engaged by my Department from that date in 2011 to 2014, together with the associated payments made from my Department's Administrative Budget. Spending on consultants is kept to a minimum and fell over the period 2012 to 2014. Where consultants are engaged, value for money...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Properties (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The final phase of works to the House began in early January 2014 and the works, including the new extension, are now substantially complete. Work is also continuing apace with the landscaping to the grounds and ornamental gardens. The contract for the interpretation phase is advancing. Staffing requirements for both Killarney National Park and Killarney House remain the subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Significant environmental damage is caused by illegal burning. This issue has become more acute in recent years, as evidenced by the recent spate of fires in various parts of the country, including those in Co. Kerry. Even planned and/or "controlled" burning can get out of hand very quickly, so it is critically important that every member of society realises the damage that can be caused to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices and weir boards at Meelick Weir were opened by Waterways Ireland to maximise the flow of water over the weir wall in accordance with the operating procedure as set out in the “Jacob's Review of the Shannon Catchment Based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study.” I have also been informed by Waterways Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. Much of Dursey Island, Co. Cork, was designated as part of the Beara Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA), under the EU Birds Directive. The Chough was one of the species for which the site was chosen. Sherkin Island was not designated as an SPA. The Chough SPA network includes breeding cliffs and adjacent cliff top feeding...

Seanad: Cultural Institutions: Motion (13 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House on the important contribution that our culture and heritage make to Irish society. I believe that our cultural heritage, which encompasses the arts, our cultural institutions and our natural and built heritage, is vital to our national identity and well-being. As well as being of vital intrinsic importance and a great source of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (13 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by the agency concerned that the position in question was advertised on , in the newspaper referred to by the Deputy and on the agency's own website. The position was also advertised internally to all the staff of the agency. As the leading recruiter for public service jobs, the website of the Public Appointments Service, , is the main access route for candidates...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Remit (12 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier replies in this matter. Bull Island is monitored regularly by officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. There are no plans currently to deploy additional staff resources to the site. My officials will, of course, continue to support the main landowner, Dublin City Council, which is working to raise awareness and address...