Results 1,821-1,840 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Before I call on Senator Keane, I want to say that Deputy Coffey reminded me of laethanta scoile siar sna hochtóidí. I remember my second class teacher showing nature slides on an old projector when nature study was part of the curriculum. That was the last time I saw or heard of the pygmy shrew. Nature study was an important part of the curriculum. The comment made with regard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I should clarify that the EPA is responsible for ensuring dumping at sea does not happen. It is not responsible for the dumping itself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I said that in jest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I would like to ask about the EPA's involvement with industry in the context of the massive pharmachem industry in Cork. Can Mr. Lynott comment on the extent and importance of the EPA's involvement with people in the industry in terms of regulating it and ensuring everything goes according to plan? In some cases, serious discharges have to take place. How important is the EPA's involvement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: That is a good point. Do Dr. Creed or Dr. Higgins want to add anything? No. I sincerely thank the witnesses for their interaction with us on the outline heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Táimid ar ais i seisiún poiblí. The next witness who is in attendance as part of our consideration of the outline heads of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013 is Dr. Liam Lysaght, who is the director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. I thank him for being in attendance this afternoon. I would like to draw his attention to the fact that by virtue of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Lynott for his opening statement. I wish to raise the issue of indictable versus summary offences. I can understand the difficulties arising from process of having to involve the DPP, did that act as a deterrent for the EPA to enforce follow up of the offence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Could Mr. Lynott tell us the average number of cases the agency would deal with in a year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: In terms of detections. I understand that the EPA only has the power since 2010, so it is at the embryonic stage of the cycle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: What is the basis for the methodology of detection?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Was it a case of being in the right place at the right time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We will continue our discussion on the outline heads of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013. I welcome from the Environmental Protection Agency Mr. Dara Lynott, deputy director general; Dr. Karen Creed, senior inspector, environmental licensing programme; and Dr. Tara Higgins, inspector, environmental licensing programme. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Coughlan for his assistance in our deliberations on the heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We are about five minutes ahead of schedule. Táimid arís i seisiún poiblí. I welcome Mr. Tom Coughlan, County Manager, Clare County Council and thank him for his attendance. I shall read out the technicalities on privilege and witness testimony. I wish to draw attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Coughlan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Gault and Dr. O'Hagan for assisting us with our deliberations. When one comes from a maritime constituency one understands the complexities involved. I served in a local authority and on its coastal management committee. I was also a spokesperson on the marine and dealt with the issue of aquaculture licences. I consistently point out that this is an island nation, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We are in public session and will continue our discussion on the outline heads of the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill 2013. I pay a special welcome to Mr. Jeremy Gault, director, and Dr. Anne Marie O'Hagan of the Coastal and Marine Research Centre, CMRC. I thank them for their attendance. I will get a little technical and mention privilege for witnesses, so they should bear...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: The purpose of this meeting is to consider the heads of the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill 2013. The Deputy has raised pertinent issues with regard to planning, and perhaps in our 2014 work plan we will invite An Bord Pleanála before the committee to discuss those specific issues, if the Deputy agrees.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the witnesses. We will suspend for a few minutes and resume with the next set of witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Will the Deputy put a question?