Results 461-480 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibit the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. There are no provisions in the Acts which would allow a derogation to be applied. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Expenditure (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: For the information of the Deputy, there are six national parks. The following table sets out the capital allocations in respect of each national parks since 2011, the year in which my Department as currently configured was established. Current allocations, i.e. ongoing staffing and other day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting and property maintenance, relate to the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which is available to download from my Department’s website at , provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on those raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) which are to be conserved. The review envisages the complete or partial de-designation of 46 existing NHAs where turf-cutting may continue into the future. In these...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I have been advised by my Department that no legal payments were made in 2013 to law firms either in or outside of the State. For completeness, I would bring to the Deputy's attention that my Department makes payments from time to time to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services that it provides to my Department. With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under the terms of the EU Birds Directive, Ireland is required to identify, designate and protect the most important sites for Hen Harrier. Traditional farming is generally conducive to supporting hen harrier in these designated areas. At the time of designation, my Department opened a voluntary incentivisation scheme to support farmers to improve habitat for the Hen Harrier and various...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My responsibility under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 relates to the protection of populations of protected species, such as hares, rather than to individual animals. Under the Wildlife Acts, hares are a protected species and may only be hunted during the Open Season, as prescribed by the Wildlife (Wild Mammals) (Open Seasons) Order 2005. The NPWS statement referred to comes from the 2006...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Mountain Access Schemes (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. My Department actively encourages visitors to its properties, which include National Parks and Nature Reserves. To facilitate enjoyment of the properties, my Department has developed a number of dedicated trails and boardwalks, and within the resources available, these are maintained on a regular basis. Such works include the clearing...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Plaques (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, hundreds of Irishmen were motivated towards voluntary service in the civil war in Spain between 1936 and 1939, and almost a hundred died in that war. Without prejudice to the consideration of a more inclusive monument on a signal anniversary, I am not aware of any scheme to support the provision of a personal memorial or monument at this time for an individual...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: 2,883 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department. A total of 4,273 payments and 442 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received. In addition, 1,050 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made to applicants who have signed and returned legal agreements...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, in July 2007 the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed to proceed with the restoration of the section of the Ulster Canal between Clones and Upper Lough Erne. The then Government agreed to cover the full capital costs of the project, which were estimated at that time to be of the order of €35m. It was always the intention that the Ulster Canal...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and my Department has no role to play in its executive or funding decisions. Full information on the Council's funding decisions is made...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Three years ago when Fine Gael and the Labour Party formed a Government, Ireland was a very different country, a fact conveniently forgotten by Deputy Barry Cowen earlier. During the term of the previous Government, Ireland had entered into a period of extraordinary turmoil, decline and instability. When we came into office, unemployment had ballooned, our finances were out of control and...

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Application Numbers (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I said there was no turf being cut on grassland. The fact is that this is rather complex. Sometimes bog was not registered in people's names and so forth, so to have 1,200 legal agreements returned to the Department is quite an achievement. Anybody who is familiar with turbary rights and bog ownership will be aware that in many cases bogs were not registered in people's names. It is...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 27 together. The increasing interest being shown in the heroic activities of Irish-born Ernest Shackleton and his companions in this centenary year of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–1917, is a welcome development. In these days of easy travel and general convenience, it is almost impossible for us to imagine the challenges and...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: That is a very good proposal and I would be just delighted to speak to the Deputy and the staff of the National Concert Hall about it so as to be facilitating in every way possible. There are a number of young students in the Visitors Gallery and they are fascinated with this story. It is important that we reach out to the education and culture sectors in general to recognise the achievements.

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The proposal seems to be very reasonable. If the Deputy passes it on to me, I will certainly have it examined by my officials.

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I will have the proposal examined but the outcome will obviously depend on resources.

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Application Numbers (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, three types of legal agreements have been and are being issued by my Department. The first is a final legal agreement for qualifying turf cutters who are signing up to the annual payment of €1,500, index-linked, for 15 years. The second is a relocation interim legal agreement for qualifying turf cutters who have expressed an...

Other Questions: Waterways Ireland Remit (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The concerns expressed by Deputy Durkan are expressed in the submissions made to Waterways Ireland. Hopefully, what will be proposed will take into account concerns expressed by Deputies on all sides. Before I reach a final decision, I will consult with Deputies on all sides to ensure that what is proposed is reasonable and workable. It must also capitalise on the major investment made by...

Other Questions: Waterways Ireland Remit (6 Mar 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Waterways Ireland is receiving submissions and I have received copies of some of them. There is a common trend going through the submissions. Waterways Ireland deals with people out there and the commitment I am giving is that I will talk to Deputies and Senators from all parties who are interested in the topic. I cannot reopen the consultative process by meeting different groups. That is...