Results 1,441-1,460 of 2,631 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: There is correspondence-----

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 106. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces monitor naval exercises by other countries off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34149/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank Mr. Callanan and the other speakers for the opening statements. Through Ag Climatise and the marginal abatement cost curve, MACC , agriculture is one of the only sectors with a credible roadmap on paper. There is a roadmap to follow. There will be challenges in ensuring that what is in that roadmap achieves the reductions we need but at least it is there and that has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: What has been done to increase the rate of approval of licences for plantation and forestry? That seems to be a huge issue. The felling seems to be smoothing itself out a small bit. There is an increased rate of applications or approvals but that is not happening with plantations. It completely flies in the face of everything we are trying to do through agriculture and climate action.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Just one more question on transport and then I am-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I want to again stress the importance of the afforestation targets and how important this is for sequestration into the future. There is that old saying that the best time to plant a tree is 100 years ago and the next best time to plant a tree is today. We do not seem to be any closer to planting in the near future and we really need to get on top of that. I want to stress that point. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: It is good news that the Department is looking at a differential and, potentially, a taxation strategy to make it more affordable. As I said, it is just out of that affordability range at present but efficiency and reduction emissions could be key. It will bring a whole sector on board as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We will stay with agriculture while we are on that topic. Having researched the technologies a bit, I firmly believe that anaerobic digestion will be a key technology and key tool in decarbonising agriculture, as was just discussed. Mr. Callanan mentioned acclimatising the mean annual temperature curve, and there were references to anaerobic digestion. It seems that we do not really have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: On using gas generated from anaerobic digestion as renewable energy to create electricity, I recently visited an anaerobic digestion plant in Timoleague where it has been estimated that over the ten years it has been there, it has saved about 1 million tonnes of carbon. It also generates enough power for about 1,000 homes. Surely there are emission reduction benefits there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We could reduce costs to the farmers where gate fees are waived regardless of whether it is a pig farm, piggery or chicken farm or even distilleries. I know I am going into another industry sector. Digestate can be used as a much lower-emission and chemical-free fertiliser so there are benefits there. Any emissions reduction from any technology where we also get renewable energy must be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I have a question for the witnesses from the Department of Transport but it also relates to climate action and environment. Regarding the urgency of changing our mode of transport, the Chairman was talking about Connecting Ireland and good public transport and mentioned the journey I took recently from Clonakilty to Kinsale for €8 return. There were students on that same bus who were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: That is very welcome news. That is the type of urgency we need. I am stepping in for the remainder of the meeting as the Chairman has had to pop out for a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The only member we have left for a question is Deputy O'Rourke.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank all the witnesses for attending and the members for their questions. It was a very interesting engagement. Some very difficult, tough and important decisions will have to be made over the coming weeks with regard to sectoral emission ceilings. This was very informative and I thank the witnesses for answering our questions.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: It is really important, at the upcoming European Council meeting, that we discuss with our European counterparts how we approach how missile tests and military tests are carried out in all European waters, not just Irish waters. More urgent, however, is the issue with the French Navy and the fact that, as we speak, looking at data from maps, its ships are within the Irish exclusive economic...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Measures (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 29. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will update on the progress with the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32420/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Reports (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 72. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline progress regarding the recommendations of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report, including implementation of the new Night-Time Economy pilot programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32421/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the allowances that can be made for families who, due to the delay in finalising their Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland grant application, no longer fall into the warmer homes energy upgrade categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32044/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 554. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed special needs unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32040/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 555. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider amending the bus route to a school (details supplied) for a family in advance of the usual concessionary timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32041/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inshore Fisheries (16 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 38. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures will be introduced to allow inshore fishers who only have the option for petrol-fuelled outboard engines to avail of the scheme under which they can claim VAT back on the petrol, as is the case with diesel engines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26777/22]