Results 2,461-2,480 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 126 of 24 November 2010 which sets out the position in this matter.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Statements (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I apologise for the delay in getting to the House. The threat of climate change will have implications for this and future generations. Ireland must play its part in tackling this threat. We must continue to do our part to help reduce global emissions and, by doing so, create a viable and climate resilient society and economy at home. By achieving firm targets to increase the use of...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Statements (25 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: It was a reference to the rate of forestry cover.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. Article 80(1)(k) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 states that any development other than those specified in paragraphs (a) to (j), the estimated cost of which exceeds €126,000 and which development does not consist of the laying underground of sewers, mains, pipes or other apparatus, is deemed to be prescribed as...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (30 Nov 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Under section 7(2)(tt) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended by section 7 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, a local authority is required to enter in the register particulars of any development referred to in section 179(4)(b) which relates to the decision whether to carry out development under Part 8, either as recommended in the manager's...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (2 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 contains a number of substantial amendments to the 2000 Act, including: provision for a new "substitute consent" procedure to allow projects that would have required environmental impact assessment to be retrospectively regularized in exceptional and very limited circumstances by way of a "substitute consent" procedure; the incorporation of...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department enjoys a close working relationship with Northern Ireland's Department of Regional Development on cross-border areas of common interest, including in particular on joint initiatives which can help to inform and frame development and investment opportunities within a broader spatial planning context which can benefit the economies and citizens of both jurisdictions. For example,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, on application, the duration of a planning permission (normally 5 years) shall be extended, subject to certain requirements being complied with, including that substantial works have been carried out before the expiration of the original permission. Section 23 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 has amended...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 which insert the words "in weight" after "kilograms" are being made for clarification purposes and to improve the text of the Bill. During last week's debate Senator O'Toole questioned the amendments, suggesting the inclusion of the words "in weight" would create legal uncertainty about legislation which referred to weight but did not include the words "in weight"....

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I am always keen to learn from the deliberations of the Seanad. It is news to me that a kilogram is defined by reference to the international prototype. Whenever I come to the Seanad, I am impressed by Members' knowledge. However, I must defer to the Parliamentary Counsel, with whom my officials communicated following the debate on this matter last week. The Parliamentary Counsel has...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is not proposed to accept the amendments. I have, however, given further consideration to amendment No. 14 and, following consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, have tabled amendment No. 16a to give effect to the spirit of that amendment.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: What I found disappointing about the contributions to the debate on these amendments is that there has been no mention of the seismic shift that has occurred over the past decade on foot of the advent of the Internet and electronic mail. It is disappointing that Members' contributions did not mention the way in which the world has changed over the last ten or 20 years. The seven-year...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: There has been a series of good contributions to the debate at this stage. Senator O'Reilly mentioned that costs are prohibitive in some jurisdictions. If he has examples of that, I ask him to bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Ryan.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: If there are examples of prohibitive costs, let us look at them and tease out where things went wrong and learn from the experience. The Senator wondered whether I accept IT is very important. I think it is very important and I think it will be even more important in the years ahead. That is why An Post must be adaptable and innovative in the same way as other institutions, and must look...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I use a mobile telephone.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I do not use it.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is called mobile.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: As an example, the Senator and other Members know we communicate with those we represent by post. I am looking for quality, cost and a service that responds to the needs of the user. When it comes to delivering communications to the people of Dún Laoghaire, I look to a company that can provide a layer of sophistication on delivery. I would love to think An Post can compete on cost,...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: We must come back to the issue of designation; it is not a monopoly and does not preclude market entry. What it does, in effect, is place an obligation on An Post. There is an issue with the protection of consumer interests which must be addressed and we must be careful not to err on one side or another. I also reiterate the point that this proposal has not come out of the blue. We have...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: We are introducing a very similar amendment.