Results 41-60 of 1,227 for speaker:Pauline O'Reilly

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (6 Dec 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: The Minister of State's response has outlined numerous other problems with school transport which highlights the absolute urgency in getting this report. We are now in December and we will be lucky to get sight of it before Christmas. It will end up having taken more than two years to get a report to tell us what we basically already know which is that school transport is a bit of a joke....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. There is a significant amount in it, as others have said. Ireland, through the Minister, Deputy Ryan, but also the Department of Foreign Affairs, was core to getting loss and damage established last year. As Ireland now has that reputation, it is important that we play that pivotal role. On the issue in respect of debt, one would not want...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: This matter does not relate to the Minister of State’s Department but I hope she will have answers for me. I thank her for being here. This is to do with community energy. Two community energy projects are in jeopardy now, in Galway and Mayo. It is fantastic that we have community energy for the first time but it does not work if there are State bodies, such as ESB Networks,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: As already outlined, we need these projects to go ahead as soon as possible in light of the debt and financial issues associated with their not proceeding in a timely manner. One of the issues I have is that there is an enabling grant of up to €180,000 per project through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. No community project of which I am aware is in receipt of that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I thank our guests for all of their input. A huge amount of work has been done, which is fantastic. It is really important for the delegation to ask their question. They have done their bit so they have asked us what are we going to do now. We are all involved in different political parties but we are all here because we share the same passion for the environment and biodiversity and want...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: Recommendation 8 is about having children involved in decision-making and recommendation 15 is about setting up a citizens’ assembly on a permanent basis. Now that our guests have been involved in the decision-making, do they think it makes them more likely to take actions within their own lives and push forward policies that will make the difference in biodiversity? If they do, that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I thank both of our guests. I am conscious of time. I was going to ask about the legislation but Deputy Kenny has covered that. I am trying to get my head around where our guest speakers would see our rivers and waterways if legislation and enforcement were in place. Would there still be an issue because of climate change? When we talk about bloom or invasive species, it is not just a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I thank the witnesses for staying to answer our questions. We really appreciate it, as we know it is late. I am trying to get my head around this. What Ms Donnelly is speaking about is dealing in reality, rather than the idea that we can just change all of these things overnight but in time, with regard to the kind of usage people have for data. If those policies come on stream around...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I do not disagree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: Before he comes in, just so I am clear on the kind of demand reduction, Mr. Gannon spoke a bit about a 30% flexibility but in terms of the envisaged demand reduction, there might be a reduced demand increase when it comes to that sector. What is the actual percentage that we are looking at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: Some of that is coming from domestic users. Does Mr. Gannon know how much of that will be the large energy users? What is the expectation? He is designing these policies in order to meet this requirement. What amount of it is he expecting from the large energy users?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: But the CRU is leading the large energy users piece of the consultation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: So for flexibility rather than reduction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I am sorry I interrupted the response on district heating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: So we do not yet know exactly what the CRU's role will fully look like for consumer protection with district heating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: Is that by large energy users?

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: The Minister is very welcome. This is a piece of legislation we have all been looking forward to in the Seanad. The real reason vapes are so much in our face and that we smell them when walking down the street is due to a cynical attempt by the tobacco industry to find new markets for itself. Our children are the people who not just the industry but, indeed, governments have been letting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: I thank our witnesses for coming in today. I want to go back to an issue that I raised with them previously when they made a presentation to Deputies and Senators in the audiovisual room, namely the public service element of this. I have just come from chairing a meeting relating to a public service performance report for one particular Department. What was fascinating was that in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Discussion (24 Oct 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: As the Chair is delayed, I will stand in for him until he arrives. I welcome from the Department of Education, Mr. Gavan O'Leary, assistant secretary, Mr. Tom Whelan, principal officer in the finance unit, Dr. Paul Alexander, senior statistician in the statistics unit, Ms Valerie Kirwan, principal officer with responsibility for finance in the planning and building unit, Ms Anne Murray,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Public Service Performance Report 2022: Discussion (24 Oct 2023)

Pauline O'Reilly: Senator Eileen Flynn is next.