Results 26,721-26,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (11 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. My Department is currently considering the funding available for the protection and conservation of the built heritage in 2015 in the context of its overall allocation and final decisions will be made following the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume. As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of...

Seanad: Role of Culture and Arts in Irish Society: Motion (10 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the Labour Party Private Members' motion on Yeats2015, as well as the importance of arts and culture in society. I was delighted to attend the official launch of Yeats2015 last week, in the United Arts Club, with the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Senator Susan O'Keeffe, chair of the national steering committee...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (10 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I intend to bring a proposal to Government very shortly in regard to the European Capital of Culture and will be in a position to advise the Deputy further when it has been discussed.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Gathering.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. I want to consult as widely as possible. In that regard, we will work closely with the embassies. I recently attended the Famine commemoration in New Orleans where I met many people of Irish descent. They were keen to get involved in the 1916 commemorations. I encouraged them, as I want them to make contact with us. We will make contact with a number of organisations in America....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: It is my intention to allocate the budget of €4 million in a manner that will facilitate the roll-out of an integrated plan focused on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. I intend to use the money to support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local communities, as well as the arts and education sectors. We are considering a number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arts Plan (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As set out in the programme for Government, the Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to our society and economy. The arts sector...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I assume that her question relates to the indexes of births, deaths and marriages. As part of the Government's policy to enhance public access to our - I cannot say the next word; it is gone from me - heritage,-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: -----online access to the indexes to births, deaths and marriages is in the process of being finalised through my Department's website www.irishgenealogy.ie. The provision of such access is a joint project between the Department of Social Protection, the General Register Office and my Department. I understand from my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The relevant provision of the 2014 Act allows for public access, via , to the register entries. That legislation was signed by the President on 4 December. As I said, users will be able to see entries for births more than 100 years ago, marriages more than 75 years ago and deaths more than 50 years ago.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: They will be able to access the register entries, which I presume is the actual record. I am aware of the facility that is available on the GRONI website. I will double-check to ensure the same facility will be available on our site. Users could previously click a link on the site and access the database that is controlled by the Department of Social Protection. That has been changed, but...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Along with my Government colleagues, I am committed to ensuring the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. I appreciate the concerns of the relatives of those who fought and those who died during the Rising. I am actively engaging with them to ensure they will have a central...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In the recent budget I was pleased to be able to maintain funding for 2015 for the national cultural institutions, including the National Museum, at the same level as 2014. This brought to an end the cycle of unavoidable cuts that have taken place at all of our national cultural institutions in recent years. I was, of course, aware of particular...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am very much of the opinion that they should continue to be open to the public free of charge. In England whenever they introduce charging into cultural institutions, the number of visitors drop by about 50%. I would not want that to happen here. That is why this additional funding is so important. I will publish a breakdown of the €2 million in due course. I intend to allocate...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy. The museum has received almost 1 million visitors this year, which is a tremendous achievement. Things have been difficult for all of the cultural institutions, because their budgets were cut and this is the first time in six years there were no cuts. I pay tribute to the great work they do. I absolutely agree with the Deputy they make a huge contribution to our...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I do not accept that free labour is being used to replace staff. My experience of JobBridge is that it has been very successful. I know many people who have been on this scheme and who have moved into full-time employment. In regard to internships, young people go to work in businesses and they end up getting full-time positions as a result of their work on JobBridge or as an intern. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The eligibility criteria for JobBridge is based on the overall objective of labour market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the live register. There should be an arts strand to JobBridge. It is important that this continues to provide opportunities for those interested in careers in the arts, allowing them to gain hands...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Whereas the arts strand of JobBridge was designed and brokered by the Arts Council, it is run by the JobBridge section of the Department of Social Protection with local authorities across the country. The gathering of statistics for the arts strand would, therefore, be a matter for that Department and the relevant local authorities. I understand that when an extension of the JobBridge...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Monuments (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I want to be clear that I am not abandoning the Moore Street project. As I said, I was disappointed when the decision was arrived at by the city council. I have met with both groups of relatives, one of which is entirely supportive of the proposals for the national monument. They are keen that it should progress. I have also met with Dublin City Council's Moore Street advisory committee...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Commemorative Events (9 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Capital provision of €22 million will be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship projects, including the development of a permanent exhibition space and interpretative centre at the GPO; the restoration of Kilmainham Courthouse to enhance the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol; the provision of a permanent visitor facility at Cathal Brugha Barracks for the military service...