Results 3,081-3,100 of 6,044 for speaker:John O'Mahony
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: The purpose of the meeting is to engage with regional anti-pylon community groups in respect of EirGrid's proposal to install overhead power lines when upgrading the electricity transmission network and the impact this might have on communities. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the witnesses. One grouping comprises Ms Helena Fitzgerald of Save Our Heartland, Carlow, Mr. John McCusker...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Thank you. We will take all the presentations before going to members for their comments. I now call on the spokesperson for the Monaghan group, Ms Marron.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: I apologise for interrupting, but someone's mobile phone appears to have been placed near a microphone and is causing interference with the sound and recording equipment.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: We are restricted from commenting on future appointees.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: We discussed this matter in private session. On the day of the interview, all members of the committee and other Members of the Houses will have an opportunity to question the nominee. We were contacted by the Minister only yesterday in respect of this matter. That is the current position.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: I thank the representatives from all three groups for their opening statements. As they can see, there is a huge amount of interest in this matter among the members of the committee and other Members of the Oireachtas. I will try to give everyone an opportunity to contribute, but we will have to proceed in a very structured and constructive way if we are to be successful in that regard....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Is it the case that EirGrid does not attend large public meetings?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: I thank Mr. Brannigan for his contribution. The reason the witnesses have been invited to meet us is because we had originally considered inviting EirGrid first, but after a discussion at committee level, we decided it was important to hear the concerns emerging locally. We invited the witnesses to speak to us in order that we could put their questions to EirGrid when its representatives...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Before the Deputy continues, I remind her that I want to allow everybody to contribute and ask her to confine her contribution to questions if she can. I also ask the witnesses to confine their responses to dealing with the questions asked to allow fairness to everybody.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: It is not in the remit of this committee to stop the project.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: We will bring the discussion and debates we have here to the Minister and the-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: The committee cannot state here some power we do not have.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Of course, and it is a long process. What is happening this morning will feed into the process and allow everybody on the committee to digest what is being said here and reflect that in our deliberations later and in what we put to the Minister.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: I agree that different groups are at a different stage, but we felt that this was important at this stage of the process. Of course this is a long process. There will be other meetings, but we felt that in advance of meeting representatives from EirGrid, we needed to hear about the stages that the different groups are at in different areas of the country. This will not be concluded at this...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: All of those issues must be discussed here at the committee, following the hearings and feedback, and all opinions considered.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Has the Deputy a question?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: As there is a vote in the Seanad, I will let Senator Landy come in next.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: Obviously all of those issues will be considered after we-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)
John O'Mahony: I cannot speak for the committee because it will be discussed by the committee afterwards.