Results 26,941-26,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Appeals (14 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The draft National Peatlands Strategy, draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan and the Review of the Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network were published in January of this year. In the subsequent public consultation process, almost 1500 submissions were received and are currently under examination. This includes a submission received on behalf of the Committee representing turf...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Rehiring (14 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The number of persons who are on public or civil service pensions employed on permanent or temporary fixed term contracts in my Department and the bodies funded from its Vote Group in the years in question is summarised in the table below: Year Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Public Bodies 2012 2* 5 2013 2* 3 2014 2* 7*Includes a former special adviser in receipt of a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my written reply to Parliamentary Question No. 615 of 7 October 2014. The commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme in place since 2012, commemorating the events leading to the proclamation of the Irish Republic. These have included the introduction and progress of the third Home Rule Bill in the Westminster...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Staff of my Department visited Inis Bó Finne on 3 occasions during June 2014, and accessed lands on the island on those visits. The corncrake is an endangered species in Ireland and listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Monitoring of this species is required under that Directive. All survey work was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Birds...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Feasibility Study (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the feasibility study on the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal will be available on the Waterways Ireland website by the end of October 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The overall spending allocations for my Department for 2015 will be announced in the forthcoming Budget and, accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time on the issue raised by the Deputy. I can assure him, however, that I will continue to maintain, to the greatest extent possible, my Department's core functions and the range of services provided to the public in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Under the provisions of the 1979 EU Birds Directive, Ireland is required to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for endangered birds, including the Hen Harrier. In 2007, Ireland was found by the Court of Justice of the European Union to have failed to meet its obligations in this regard. Six sites containing suitable breeding and foraging habitat for the Hen Harrier have now been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As at 30th September 2014 there were 50 staff employed in my Department on fixed term contracts. This figure includes 33 seasonal employees of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On the same date a total of 58 staff were employed on the basis of fixed term contracts in the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. This figure includes 23 seasonal employees in Waterways Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 2 June 2011. The number of contracts of indefinite duration sought and granted in bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group over the period since that date is set out in the table below. Year Number sought Number granted 2011 (June – December ) 7 7 2012 26 26 2013 2 1 2014 (to 30 September) 0 0 Total 35 35

Seanad: Arts and Culture Sector: Motion (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The intention is to copperfasten the legal position of each of the cultural institutions to ensure that there is absolute clarity and certainty as to their roles and responsibilities. The reform of the cultural institutions was first mooted by Fianna Fáil as far back as 2008 when little or no progress was made in relation to this issue. Indeed, it was that Government which proposed...

Seanad: Arts and Culture Sector: Motion (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on Fianna Fáil's Private Members' motion. Yesterday evening I addressed the House on the issue of the board appointments I have made since I became Minister. I do not want to go over the same ground this evening. I appointed John McNulty and Sheila O'Reagan based on merit and I stand over my statement of yesterday evening. Tonight I was...

Seanad: Arts and Culture Sector: Motion (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: No. I am happy to wait until other Senators have contributed.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commissions of Investigation (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: There have been no commissions of investigation, inquiries or similar investigations established under my Department in the past 12 months or being considered for establishment during the next 12 months.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Student Grant Scheme Administration (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Funding decisions, including bursaries, are a matter for the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is a statutorily independent body, funded by my Department and independent in its day-to-day operations, and I have no role to play in relation to its funding decisions. My...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: St. Michael’s Grange in Abbeyland, Duleek, Co. Meath, is privately owned. As it is not a national monument in my ownership or guardianship, as Minister, the State is not responsible for its management or maintenance. The monument is, however, included on the Record of Monuments and Places established under Section 12 of the National Monuments Acts 1930, as amended. As a consequence,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Fund (8 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Heritage Fund was established under the Heritage Fund Act 2001. The purpose of the fund is to provide resources for use by the principal State collecting cultural institutions in acquiring, for the national collections, items of moveable heritage such as artefacts, manuscripts, books and works of art that - are both rare and of national importance, -are outstanding examples of their...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Appointments to State Boards (7 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The great thing about this country is that it is a democracy and when one votes, one does so in secret. That is the way it will stay. I am responsible for appointments to the board, which function I carried out based on merit. That is what I am responsible for. I have listened closely and taken the criticisms on board over the last two weeks in relation to board appointments. I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Appointments to State Boards (7 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to appear before the House again this evening to address matters concerning the appointment of Mr. John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. As I have previously outlined, I appointed Mr. McNulty and Ms Sheila O'Regan to the board of IMMA on Friday, 12 September 2014. I made the appointments while being particularly conscious of the balance of talent, experience...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (7 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: A draft conservation and management plan for the Hill of Tara, funded by my Department in association with the Heritage Council, has recently been completed by the Discovery Programme. My Department is currently considering the plan and its recommendations in advance of discussions with the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for the management of the lands at Tara that are in my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: City of Culture Initiative (7 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The composition of the programme for the National City of Culture is a matter for the organisers, Limerick City of Culture 2014, Culture House, 2 Pery Square, Limerick Phone: 061-525031, Email: info@limerickcityofculture.ie and it would not be a matter for me, as Minister. Therefore, I recommend that the Deputy contact the organisers directly on this matter.