Results 26,881-26,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate that a comprehensive assessment of the proposed works on the national monument site was carried out, at my Department's request, as part of the consent application under the National Monuments Acts. The consent applicant, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by my Department in January 2012 to commission an assessment of the wider battlefield...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I have met members of the Dublin City Council sub-committee which deals with the national monument on Moore Street. I do not consider that the assessment was flawed. The Department is satisfied that there is no basis to the suggestion that the previous Minister was misinformed or had inaccurate information when making his decisions on consents granted under the National Monuments Acts in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Revised designs for the restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, and the creation of a commemorative centre to the leaders of the 1916 Rising on the site, were approved by my predecessor under the National Monuments Acts on 30 April 2014. Consent has been granted to the owners under those Acts for the full repair and conservation of the monument buildings....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The preservation order covers Nos. 14-17, with the objective of protecting No. 16, as the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising prior the surrender. A small number of buildings on Moore Street, in varying states of order, can be identified with specific events which took place within them, with No. 16 being the main one. It was what the then Minister was asked to save when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: A comprehensive assessment has already been carried out at my Department's request, as part of the consent application under the National Monuments Act, for the proposed works on the national monument site. The consent applicants, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by my Department, in January 2012, to commission an assessment of the wider battlefield...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I do not accept the suggestion that the decision made by my predecessor was based on misleading or inaccurate information. As indicated in previous replies, revised designs submitted by the owners for the restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street and the creation of a commemorative centre to the leaders of the 1916 Rising on the site were approved by my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The programme for Government includes a commitment to take steps to ensure that all State boards have at least 40% of each gender. Nine of the 17 bodies funded from my Department's Vote group that currently have boards in place have already reached that target. I have developed an implementation plan to reaffirm and achieve the target of 40% of each gender on the remaining boards and will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate that I am absolutely committed to gender balance. It is important that there is strong representation of both genders on all boards because decision-making is much better when issues are viewed from different perspectives. The legislation is at a very early stage and I am happy to engage with the committee on it. I am open to suggestions that will improve the legislation. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As I have already said, the general scheme provides that the Minister may issue general policy directions on matters such as pay policy and staffing but not artistic or curatorial matters. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, of which the Deputy is a member, is currently engaged in pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill. These issues...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been developing since 2012 to commemorate the key events leading to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question 6 today. I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Gallery (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The 2013 Comptroller and Auditor General Report contained a recommendation that the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, should consider including all resources of the National Gallery within the appropriations process and that restricted funds from non-Exchequer resources (such as fundraising) should be accounted...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of a recent report referred to by the Deputy. I understand that project costs in this case are estimated at over €5m and that Na Píobairí Uilleann is seeking €2.5m of this from the public purse. My Department does not have a capital budget to support new projects of this magnitude. The limited capital funding available at present for cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: In aggregate, €245.897m has been allocated to the Arts Council since 2011. Although the Arts Council is funded by my Department, it is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, as provided for in the Arts Act 2003. This specifically includes independence in its decisions on who it funds and the amounts it allocates. Full information on the Council's funding decisions is...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As part of its obligations under the EU Habitats Directive, Ireland must include a representative proportion of certain endangered habitats with Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and provide for their protection. Raised bog habitats are in danger of disappearance in Ireland and in the EU. 53 SACs, including Coolrain Bog, were nominated for designation as SACs to meet our legal obligations...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014 under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, on behalf of its 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 the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question 6 today. I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question 6 today. I am committed with my Government colleagues to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. As I have previously outlined to the House, the commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I believe it is right that we acknowledge the work of Irish parliamentarians in keeping the cause of self-determination alive and sustaining hope through some of the bleaker periods of our history. It is appropriate, therefore, that John Redmond's leadership has been, and is being, remembered with events, exhibitions and lectures in Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Dublin and London. In...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 1750 of 17 September 2014.My Department’s National Monuments Service will, on request, be glad to provide any advice or guidance required by the landowners or Fingal County Council on any matter relating to the protection of the national monument at Drumanagh.