Results 3,281-3,300 of 4,154 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: An issue I raised previously is that of offshore wind and the delays in that regard. It is seen as being the golden ticket if we can get it right and get it done. Where are we at in that regard? How much more frustration will there be? The various companies have told us they feel frustrated in trying to get this moving along.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: The Minister mentioned that one of the biggest challenges we have is the upgrading of the grid. Is that because we are putting so much emphasis on large-scale renewables as opposed to other options? Solar is an option. Many people are trying to get in on that and are using it in their homes. Smaller businesses are using it as well. Do we need to have as many grid upgrades if we push more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Will the grid capacity delay the delivery of the big wind turbines?

Renters: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: The reality is that across the whole State, rents are rising all the time. The latest report from last week shows us that even in my counties of Leitrim and Sligo, rents are up again; they are up everywhere. People cannot afford to continue this and the only solution we can come up with that will solve this issue is to have a freeze on rents. The Minister says that would put people out of...

Renters: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: That is the reality for many people around the country. The Government comes up with these schemes but it puts so many different problems, issues and conditions on them that they are unavailable to many people. The Minister needs to recognise that this has been a failure and put a ban on rent increases in place.

Immigration: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: The majority of people who come to Ireland come on work permits to work in industries and services across the length and breadth of the country and they do so legally. People from the European Union or Britain come here without even a work permit. Over recent years, large numbers of people have come to Ireland from Ukraine, which has put pressure on our system. We need to acknowledge that....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: 358. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ask her Department to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. He mentioned that 45% of the emissions in the industrial sector come from concrete, construction and that whole area-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: There is an opportunity to pivot away from that, and we need to examine that more and more. While concrete will always be required for some part of the building materials we use, the difficulty is that a lot of the alternatives are also oil-based or industry-based products that are coming forward and that is an issue as well. Many years ago, I worked on a number of eco-projects and we used...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: They have been let down badly in the past and they are very nervous about it. I think the only way that can be resolved is if the State takes a lead role whereby people will have confidence, given it has deep pockets, that it will be able to establish a sector, which is what we are talking about here. It is not just about establishing something that is small or niche but rather a new sector...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: The other side of that, which the Minister mentioned, is working with Skillnet and other organisations on the issue of skilled labour as we move to alternative methods of doing things. Many of the skills and methods of construction that have been developed in the past may not be appropriate in the future. How much emphasis is being placed on that by the Department and agencies to ensure we...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: 89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he can outline what measures his Department will be putting in place with Uisce Éireann to reduce the levels of raw sewage entering into local waterways across the Sligo and Leitrim area. [54234/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: 191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene and provide funding for a school bus (details supplied) and ensure that the service continues for the rest of the school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54245/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: 342. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding for women's sheds; if so, when the scheme will be open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54250/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: Mr. Strachan is welcome to his new role. I thank him for his opening statement. His role is not so much hands-on as it is about policy, direction, steering the ship and keeping it on an even keel. We need to establish our priorities and Mr. Strachan mentioned a number of them. I would like more detail on the priority being given to metro north, which has been a bugbear around this place...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: I cannot remember either.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: I wanted to ask another question about rail, but go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: The point I was coming to in my previous contribution was how to get the balance right between the fares charged and number of people travelling. It brings us back to people living in sparsely populated, spread-out rural areas where it is much more difficult to provide an adequate service because they do not have the numbers using the service. The big issue for me, coming from the west, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: The edge we have, in my understanding, is that there is enhanced funding if you go with electrification and moving freight. There are opportunities in that regard that need to be looked at in the context of the longevity of the investment. I am not saying just because funding is available, we should build railways everywhere. It clearly must be planned and done correctly. However, if the...