Results 261-280 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, line 34, after "2000" to insert ", provided that an environmental impact statement for the purposes of this Act shall be carried out by a person who does not benefit financially from the approval of the project to which it relates".

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 2: In page 15, line 4, after "section" to insert "3B or". Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 would have a similar effect. As it stands, section 3B would allow the Minister to amend the Act in certain circumstances. The language used in the section confers considerable power on the Minister. The amendment proposes that the approval of the Oireachtas be required before he or she...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 4: In page 34, lines 42 and 43, to delete "shall have an absolute discretion to" and substitute "may". This amendment is self-explanatory. The section confers considerable powers on the Minister. It is not suitable to use the words "absolute discretion" in that regard, nor is it suitable in terms of the Environmental Protection Agency. Putting the concept of absolute...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Without reference to the Oxford English Dictionary, I would have thought there is considerable difference between "shall" and "may", particularly in the context of legislation. On more than one occasion in this House I have heard long discussions on Committee and Report Stages about the difference between "shall" and "may". I accept the Minister has the Attorney General's advice in that...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his positive response on this issue. Those who are familiar with Labour Party amendments to legislation will be aware that this issue comes up frequently. It is almost a standard amendment on our part and I cannot think of any Minister who has not accepted the principle of it. I ask the Minister to say to his colleagues that this principle should be adopted on a broad...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his response to what he called genuine concerns raised on Committee Stage. The object of our amendments was to keep legal costs down by giving the Circuit Court a jurisdiction in cases of unlicensed activity. From the point of view of groups which would take it upon themselves to go to court in the event of unlicensed activity or in the event of concerns they might...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 15: In page 62, to delete lines 29 to 33. This amendment returns to the thorny issue of bin charges and the refusal by councils to collect refuse from people whose charges are overdue. The response to that problem in the Bill borders on the draconian. The council should be limited. We are not saying it should not have power to take action against someone who refuses to...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: If the position was the same throughout the State the Minister's argument would hold up, but there are differences between local authority areas where waste collection has been tendered to private companies and those that are still collecting waste. The principle remains the same but different circumstances are involved. In some parts of Dublin there have been non-payment campaigns.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 16: In page 73, line 14, to delete "may" and substitute "shall".

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I was referring to people telling me they were returning their wheeled bins because they could not afford them. At the same time, many people are genuinely attempting to reduce the amount of household waste generated, not only because of the costs involved, but also for environmental reasons. I prefer to see a positive incentive towards reducing household waste and one which does not...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Bannon's amendment. It may seem innocuous but it is also a useful one.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment. Question "That the figure and words proposed to be deleted stand," put and declared carried. Amendment declared lost.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand," put and declared carried. Amendment declared lost. Bill, as amended, received for final consideration. Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister and his officials for the considerable amount of work that has gone into this legislation. It contains much technical detail which is obviously of huge importance to many people, as Senator Bannon pointed out. The commitment of the Minister in this regard is not questioned. Certainly, his openness to good ideas is not in question either. I certainly hope our position on...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Mining Leases. (9 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to this important matter, namely, the urgent need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to expedite clause K of the State mining lease which would require the lessee, Mogul Ireland, to remediate a number of mining related sites at Silvermines outside Nenagh in County Tipperary. There have been mining...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Mining Leases. (9 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I very much welcome the Minister of State's remarks. My understanding is that legislation will not be required to implement the SRK report and expedite clause K. Will the Minister of State clarify the matter for me, please?

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Mining Leases. (9 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State. The Seanad adjourned at 8 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 10 April 2003.