Results 26,301-26,320 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: They do exist.

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: They do exist in that they have full legal protection since they were initially proposed under planning law and the environmental legislation.

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: They are still granted the full protection of the law.

Other Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of European Union nature and biodiversity policy. It is an EU-wide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 habitats directive. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. The establishment of this network of protected areas also fulfils a community obligation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I live on a farm and I understand farming. The scheme in place in my Department ceased in 2010 and 42 farmers are getting funding under it. The funding available for heritage purposes is not unlimited. We are trying to work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and what we want to achieve is to strike a balance between protecting the environment and allowing farmers to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The designation was put in place a considerable number of years ago. Ireland was faced with multi-million euro fines and the likelihood of daily fines if we did not do something about the designations.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: These are EU directives and we have gone through this before. We are where we are and we must deal with it. My Department is working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it is clear that these farmers will get priority under the GLAS scheme. There was a scheme in my Department but, under the GLAS scheme, many more farmers with lands designated will be able to avail...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Staff in the Department are in direct contact with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to ensure the rules protect the habitat and species and the income of farmers who farmed the land. The issue is being dealt with. I assure the Deputy of that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As I outlined in my reply to today’s Priority Question No 1, my primary function in this case arises from the preservation order that was placed on Nos. 14-17 Moore Street under the National Monuments Acts 2007 in order to protect No. 16 as the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. The area surrounding the Moore Street national...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I can give a guarantee that Nos. 14-17 Moore Street will be developed as a commemorative centre to the 1916 leaders. There are some details remaining to be worked out and I have yet to bring a memo on the matter to Government. Work will commence as soon as possible. On the remainder of the site, as I have said previously, it is outside of the national monument and is in private...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: On the area surrounding Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, a detailed battlefield assessment has already been carried out and I am satisfied with the quality and findings of that research. As part of the Minister's consideration of the consent application, the consent applicant, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by the Department in January 2012 to commission an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The designation of special protection areas, SPAs, is a legal obligation placed on all member states in the EU. In 2007, Ireland was found by the European Court of Justice to have failed to designate a sufficient number of SPAs. It is essential that, wherever possible, use is made of opportunities for co-funding from the EU in providing payments to farmers who own lands subject to such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My primary function in this case arises from the preservation order that was placed on Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street in 2007 under the National Monuments Acts and to protect No. 16 as the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. The area surrounding the Moore Street national monument is largely in private ownership and is not covered by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate some fundamental matters must be dealt with before there is any question of getting the work under way in Moore Street. He can be assured the intention is to have the restoration work completed and the commemorative centre up and running in the shortest possible time-frame. How long that will take I cannot say at present, but all options will be looked at with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: To be clear, my role as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to assess what is best for the national monument, and the national monument has been designated as Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I do not have any powers under the National Monuments Acts to create an historic quarter in Moore Street. The properties around the national monument are in private ownership. They are not...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Staffing requirements for both Killarney National Park and Killarney House remain the subject of consideration in light of my Department’s overall business needs and the approved pay framework for 2015. The final phase of restoration, refurbishment and new works at Killarney House is currently ongoing and, accordingly, the nature and extent of posts required, including their budgetary...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As I outlined in my replies to today’s Priority Questions No 1 and 2, my primary function in this case arises from the Preservation Order that was placed on Nos. 14 - 17 Moore Street under the National Monuments Acts in 2007 in order to protect No. 16 as the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the Leaders of the 1916 Rising. The area surrounding the Moore Street...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Deer Hunting (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 makes it an offence to hunt deer with two or more dogs. It is understood that, since the enactment of the legislation, the hunt in question has operated a “drag hunt” in order to comply with the legislation. This form of hunting involves the release of a deer to set a scent over a course. Following the recapture of the deer, the hounds and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: An Inter-Departmental Steering Group is working on a Threat Response Plan, which is intended to improve the prospects for the Hen Harrier, while bringing clarity to wider issues of concern for landowners and farmers. The Group will examine all of the issues at hand, including forestry consents, planning permissions for wind farms and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wild Fires (30 Apr 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Some 14 per cent of the terrestrial area of the State is designated and this includes many extensive and inaccessible areas. Most land in special areas of conservation, special protection areas and natural heritage areas is in private ownership. My Department also manages a property portfolio in respect of national parks and reserves of approximately 79,000 hectares. Recent weather...