Results 26,421-26,440 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: We have established a team within the Department which has been charged both with monitoring progress closely to ensure that the projects will be delivered on time and with monitoring costs. I am satisfied that the various projects are on target both in terms of their completion dates and the costs involved. The centre at the GPO will be a fine facility and we hope it will attract in the...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Many different events are going to take place in the context of 2016, one of which involves connecting with the diaspora. We are working with our embassies throughout the world to link in with the members of the diaspora. I visited New Orleans in November for the International Famine Commemoration 2014 and I am aware that there is a great interest in the 1916 commemorations. The Deputy may...

Other Questions: Hare Coursing (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. Licences were issued by my Department in August...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland, including the music industry. My Department provides significant support to the industry through its funding of the Arts Council, capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure, and through other financial and policy supports. I was particularly pleased that the Government...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I will examine the areas of the report for which I have responsibility. Business training support is provided by the local enterprise offices, LEOs, to help those who want to start their own businesses. I fully appreciate the major contribution Irish music makes to our culture. Our culture is so important to us, and appears on every brochure that leaves the country. That is why I want to...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: While I am not aware that my Department has studied the Canadian and Icelandic models, I hear what the Deputy is saying and I will examine those models to see if we can use some of their ideas to the benefit of our music industry. Music is very important to us and very much part of our culture and part of what we are. I have considered the social protection issue and I will discuss it with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The plan launched last November was an overarching plan and it was not rushed, as the Government wished to allow people to engage with it. It was a high-level plan and has been highly successful in respect of the level of engagement experienced thus far. It was necessary to start with something, and while there was a lot of talk about it, I am glad about that because it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was deeply disappointed by the voting down of the proposal for Moore Street at a meeting of Dublin City Council. The Deputy should believe me when I state that I considered the plans to be highly impressive. It was planned to have a lovely interpretive centre that would reflect well on the entire area. This was a decision of Dublin City Council, and as they are the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My door is open and I will continue to engage to try to make progress on this matter. It is an awful shame that the proposal did not go ahead. I saw a video of what was proposed and it would have been a fine centre that would have respected and reflected what happened in 1916.

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Rising and to recognise all the people whose lives were touched by the events of 1916. It also will reflect on the legacy of that period and will look towards the future,...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I accept what the Deputy is saying on the need to recognise the role of women and, in particular, Cumann na mBan. Their contribution must be recognised. I recently visited Lissadell House, and while one can see the important role played by Countess Markievicz in the events of 1916 and her subsequent election to Parliament, and the important role women played in the Rising, one also can see...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy about the need for a solemn occasion. The parade on Easter Sunday will be a very solemn occasion as we remember those who lost their lives, as that is the ultimate sacrifice. We also need to be respectful and inclusive and it needs to be appropriate. I agree that it is not something about which we need to be triumphalist. It will be a solemn occasion. As we go...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Easter Rising. It will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based on the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree absolutely with the Deputy on the potential for tourism on the waterways. It is only two weeks ago that I was able to announce the start of work on another section of the Ulster Canal. It will move now from Belturbet to Castle Saunderson, which is the first part of the route that will go to Clones. Eventually, I hope the route will go the whole way to Lough Neagh, which would bring...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy mentioned by-laws. The proposed by-laws are intended to encourage tourism and leisure craft users by supporting the investment that has already been made by Waterways Ireland in the new infrastructure and facilities along the canal. The by-laws were drafted by Waterways Ireland and went out for public consultation and are now at draft stage. My Department and Waterways Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. As a North–South implementation body, it is under the joint remit of my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. The Royal Canal is one of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In 2014, my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5 million from capital stimulus funding for a new built heritage jobs leverage scheme to assist with works to safeguard structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This scheme was administered directly through the local authorities and sought to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy said, the built heritage jobs leverage scheme was a great success, which is reflected in the statistics. The Deputy is right that Ireland's heritage and its buildings are a vital part of our villages and are towns. The Heritage Council has done great work over the years in engaging with communities. There is a much greater awareness now of the importance of heritage....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Heritage Schemes (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that the Heritage Council does a great job. Since I took office, I have met all the heritage officers throughout the country because they also do a great job with the local authorities. I must acknowledge the work local authorities have done in regard to the built heritage jobs leverage scheme. A number of different organisations came together. The Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (11 Mar 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government considers the film industry, and indeed the audiovisual industry in general, to be a very important and valuable industry and continues to work to support growth in the industry in a number of ways.In particular, Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 - the Film Tax Relief Scheme - has undergone a number of improvements, which took effect at the start of this year....