Results 3,241-3,260 of 5,948 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: It is interesting that the conversation has been all about the operational issues, rather than the accounts before us. It shows, therefore, the strength of demand and the level of complexity in this area. I must acknowledge there are so many different schemes available to so many different people in different circumstances that it is inevitable we will have many of these clarification...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I accept that. I am just talking about people who this week and next week will have to replace their boilers. It would appear they have two options. They will either have to spend up to €2,500 to get a new gas boiler or they will have to come up with a significant amount of money, and in some cases this could be €10,000 to €15,000, to go for the retrofitting option....

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We always talk about middle Ireland, the squeezed middle, etc. It is very difficult for people who are out there working and who do not qualify for fuel allowance. They have a little bit more disposable income, but not much. They would have nowhere near the requirement to try to have a deep retrofit undertaken. There is just no option for them in this regard. We are trying to encourage...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We have done extensive work with the local authority in our area. The pilot scheme in Fingal was mentioned earlier. A contractor comes into a cul-de-sac and everybody who is eligible and is a council tenant will be converted. Other people in that same cul-de-sac who would love to be able to do the same conversion, and who could perhaps contribute a small amount towards it, just have no...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Does Dr. Byrne accept that sometimes, between childcare costs and all the other issues involved, there is not that much of a difference in terms of disposable income? Despite that, we are asking one sector to either take on a significant level of borrowing or seek to make savings in order to try and reach the same climate target. We are not doing enough for that group of people.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Perhaps it is a matter for my Government colleagues in Cabinet. There is talk of conversion of gas boilers to low-carbon and no-carbon options. There seems to be a reluctance to lean into that as an interim measure for the group I am talking about. Why is that the case?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I am talking about non-carbon oils, for example. The conversion of gas boilers to non-carbon oils.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Given the conversation we have just had about the huge gap both in technology and costs, does Ms McCarthy accept that converting boilers to use non-carbon oils could happen this year, next year and the year after? The measure she is talking about are at least five or ten years away.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Is it the SEAI's view that non-carbon oil conversions are not a medium- or long-term priority?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Many people will wonder why that is the case given that it is an non-carbon option.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Sometimes perfection is the enemy of the good.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: In the scenario where people replace their gas boilers next week, is Ms McCarthy saying that they should not be carrying the carbon guilt because it is better for them to wait until the support and technology are in place?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: A lot of people are being left out of the just transition.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the recent Council of Europe decision on Northern Ireland legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13508/23]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: With regard to Beaumont Hospital, it might be worthwhile to have the Comptroller and Auditor General look at the matter again, having regard to the purchase of the site adjoining the hospital and the value. That is something that the Comptroller and Auditor General might examine. If he feels it is appropriate, it is something we could explore at a future date.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: There was some newspaper coverage.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I would support that. That would also be my experience. The capital has to be spent in a certain way and often within a very specific geographic distance.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Yes. My only worry is that this relates to local authorities, which do not necessarily fall within our remit. Also, it is probably a policy issue for the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Deputy Catherine Murphy's point is very valid because I have seen it for myself in Dublin City Council.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Some of it was to ensure that local authorities did not get hooked on development either. There was an effort to ensure they were not giving development that might otherwise not be appropriate on the basis that they were getting income from it. I think some of the restrictions were there for a good reason as well.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Mar 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As the board reaches the point where it tries to buy out responsibility, that process might be rushed. Will value for money be obtained in the rush to get that security? There is a great deal of pressure to get the hospital delivered on time. I am concerned that, in this final period, value for money issues could arise due to seeking to buy out options, inflation and other matters. We...