Results 641-660 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Other Questions: Turf Cutting Issues (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 7, 15 and 22 together. As referred to in my earlier reply to priority Question No. 3 on 15 January last, I published three comprehensive documents dealing with Ireland's peatlands - an overall draft national peatlands strategy, a draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and a review of raised bog natural heritage areas,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I never called anyone a criminal.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I never described those people as criminals in this House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Since the 53 SAC bogs were designated we have lost 37% of the active raised bogs in those habitats.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: That is being taken very seriously in Europe. If Deputy Flanagan has his way we will be in the European Court and we will face huge fines. I welcome the fact that the Turf Cutters & Contractors Association, TCCA, has gone into consultation with the consultant that drew up the plans. It had a five-hour meeting with him recently. I requested the TCCA to do that with the RPS Group...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: That is the TCCA's own business but now it has entered into discussions. I appeal to Deputy Flanagan. My door is always open to anyone. Many of the Deputies present took up the offer and came to me privately and they have been very helpful. In spite of what he said, the same opportunity is open to Deputy Flanagan. He can speak to me about the matter anytime.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am open to speak to everyone.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: We have made great progress. We can go even further if given the opportunity.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: With regard to Deputy McLellan's question, I was always up to speed with this project, and that is why Limerick was designated as such. It is a suitable designation because of the challenges faced in Limerick, both economic and otherwise, and this was a way not only to lift the morale and self-esteem in Limerick but to shape Limerick and brand it for the future. That was part of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy is aware, I recently published the draft national peatlands strategy, the draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and the review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. The draft peatlands strategy has been prepared in consultation with relevant Departments and with the Peatlands Council. It sets out for the first time a strategic,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I answered the question asked by the Deputy and gave my views on these reports, which are very important. Even the Deputy would recognise that this has been the most scientific approach to this subject ever taken in this country. It has enabled the Deputy to come up with his statistics today. Listening to the Deputy, I wonder if sometimes he does not fully understand the issue. I do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: If I can finish, the Deputy knows that SACs were designated by European law.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Turbary Rights (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: It is transposed into Irish law, and something major is required to change that. This scientific evidence will give us an opportunity to go back to Europe, if we get the co-operation of people on those SACs. In the case of some bogs where there is no relocation, there may be room for a proposal for limited turf cutting under Article 6.4 of the Habitats Directive. We could have that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I was faced with the same challenges as every other Minister. Cuts were commensurate across all Departments but I tried to minimise, over the past three budgets, the cuts to the Arts Council. The Arts Council allocates funding that I give. It makes the decisions on who gets funding and it is a matter the Deputy can bring to the attention of the Arts Council. There is an arm's-length...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As I explained to the previous Deputy, the issue of appointments was a matter for the city council. Programming was a matter for the artistic director and the CEO. From the beginning, I had no involvement and our Department manages the funding and insures everything is done in a proper fashion. We are completing a service level agreement with Limerick City Council to ensure that. It will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: That is agreed.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am aware of that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 together. As Deputies will be aware, the Government approved an allocation in the budget of €6 million to Limerick City of Culture 2014. While the original aspiration was to have a national city of culture designation every two years, it became clear, however, that it would not be feasible to make a similar resource commitment again as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: City of Culture Initiative (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: When I announced the city of culture designation, it was indicated that it would be up to the city council to decide on all personnel issues and the artistic director to decide on programming issues. Obviously, I was aware there were tensions but as I said on a radio interview, I was not aware at the time of the resignation of the artistic director. I am happy to state in the House that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (29 Jan 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I understand that there are currently seven buildings in the Curragh Camp which are protected structures under Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012, which provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities, in this case Kildare County Council, to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including...