Results 3,661-3,680 of 4,673 for speaker:Seán Canney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I have listened intently to what the Deputy has been saying. I would like to explain what we have to do right now in terms of our supply. We have to transition to cleaner sources of fuels. In the meantime, we need to have a transitionary period. We cannot say we are not doing this or that. The Shannon project is a private enterprise that is governed by EU regulations. This means it can...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy that we have to get to a stage where we will be using more renewables. That is part of the whole-of-Government action plan on climate change. As I said earlier when we spoke about the warming of our fisheries, this is happening and we have to face up to it as a reality. We need to have an adult conversation about it. We have to make sure whatever we do is done in a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Observations show that Ireland’s climate is changing in terms of sea level rise, increases in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns and weather extremes. The observed scale and rate of change is consistent with regional and global trends, and these changes are projected to continue and increase over the coming decades. Climate change will have diverse and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Project Ireland 2040 which was launched in February 2018 consists of the national planning framework which sets out a spatial strategy for the country. It also sets out the expenditure on the national policy position, a planned €21.8 billion investment including €14 billion to be invested by semi-State companies and private sectors in the national strategic low carbon and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Project Ireland 2040 is the lifespan of the plan. The Minister has already announced that seven major climate action projects will share €77 million in funding, leveraging a total investment of €300 million in the first round of applications for the climate action fund. These projects will support decarbonisation of transport, heating, electricity and agriculture and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Consistent with European energy policy, gas markets across Europe are commercial, liberalised and competitive. Europe is currently importing approximately 70% of its gas needs, with this share expected to increase. The diversification of sources is important for security of supply purposes. The involvement of US or other companies or corporations in the European gas industry is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is well understood by Government and is reflected in national climate action and energy policy which seeks to balance the competing aspects of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply. Ireland will, within the EU and UN climate frameworks, pursue and achieve a transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector Funding (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector (SSNO) is a key element of my Department's support for the role of the sector in contributing to the development of strong and vibrant civil society and in improving outcomes for those most disadvantaged. The scheme provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations in the sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: My Department published new Guidelines for dog breeding establishments in July 2018. The Guidelines came into effect on 1 January 2019. The revised guidelines were developed in collaboration with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) Dogs Working Group.  The working group included representatives from the ISPCA, the DSPCA, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I want to reassure the Deputy and everybody in the House that the Minister will take on board what he said. He has had discussions already with the Department. The important point is the valuable work being done by the Tidy Towns committees, which is so relevant when we talk about our environment, climate change and keeping communities tidy. The committees do a great deal of work on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I am sorry. I hope we will see Carlow coming back up to the top of the ranks, perhaps after Galway or Mayo.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I will answer the question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ring, because he has been answering questions all morning. The Tidy Towns competition was originally launched by Bord Fáilte more than 60 years ago. Since its inception, the competition has grown from 52 entrants in 1958 to 883 entrants in 2018. The continued success of the competition is due to the countless hours of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tidy Towns Committees Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Deputy is quite right that it is important for communities to have the information at the start of the year or as early as possible in order that they can plan. The Minister is discussing the matter with his officials and he will make his decision as soon as possible in the coming months. While on the subject, it is important to acknowledge that SuperValu has been involved in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Services Provision (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016, arising from a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to identify solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits. An Implementation Group, which I currently chair, oversees the delivery of all of the actions arising from the Taskforce’s 2016 report. The Implementation Group has...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to create an economic area of scale along the western seaboard, from Donegal to Kerry. The initiative aims to maximise the assets of the region and to better utilise the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the area to attract...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. Responsibility for the oversight of the Regulator transferred to my Department on its establishment in July 2017. The general function of the Regulator is to regulate charitable organisations operating in Ireland, in order to increase public trust and confidence in their management...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector (SSNO) is a key element of my Department's support for the role of the sector in contributing to the development of strong and vibrant civil society and in improving outcomes for those most disadvantaged. The scheme provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations in the sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The general function of the Regulator is to regulate charitable organisations operating in Ireland, in order to increase public trust and confidence in their management and administration. Under the 2009 Act, the Charities Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: In 2018, my Department introduced a new Digital Innovation Programme to encourage Local Authorities to use digital technologies to address issues for the benefit of local communities. A total of €700,000 was allocated to 21 projects arising from two calls for proposals under the Digital Innovation Programme in the second half of 2018. Under the Programme, €8,000 was awarded to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 and took over responsibility for the Dormant Account Fund at that time. The Comptroller and Auditor General examined the operation of the Fund as part of its 2016 work programme and published its findings in September 2017. The findings focused in particular on the administration of the fund, the low level of...