Results 3,421-3,440 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment. I am somewhat confused. The Minister of State is suggesting that ISIF is doing all this anyway and so there is no need for legislation. By the same token, he is suggesting the legislation will have no impact on what ISIF is doing already.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Earlier, the Minister of State cited the example of a small company involved in geological survey and how it has no connection to the fossil fuel industry and employs 12 people. How would such a company be affected by it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: With respect, in his example earlier, the Minister of State cited no involvement. He said the company had no involvement in fossil fuel companies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: That is fair enough. There is a provision that is accepted in international investment to the effect that small and medium-sized enterprises can be exempted from what is called the environmental social and governance aspects of investment. Basically, this is to overcome the specific problem that the Minister of State has adverted to. It is perfectly reasonable for the Bill to be amended to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: That is the idea of unintended consequences. The other example the Minister of State gave related to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: The Minister of State gave examples involving ESB and Bord na Móna. As part of their transition plan from fossil fuels, ISIF could fund those companies for transition projects. I do not believe ISIF could continue to fund them to build peat-burning power stations or coal-burning power stations. However, funding could be allocated as part of their transition plans. Does the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Does the Minister of State envisage ISIF getting involved in such funding? Does he believe that would be too restrictive? Does he believe the fund should still be able to invest in an upgraded Moneypoint plant for ESB?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: To deal with which?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: How?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Is the Minister of State referring to an anti-peat-burning Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Can this Bill not do that? Can it not achieve that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Would the Department be willing to work with the committee to arrive at a definition that would meet the intentions and aspirations of the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Could we submit some additional evidence in written form?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (28 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding programme under which the renovation of two bridges (details supplied) in County Donegal has been approved; the timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30144/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (28 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the non national road specific improvement grants programme; the way in which local authority prioritisation of projects influences funding decisions; the criteria used to fund projects without local authority prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30145/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (28 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 162. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a school (details supplied) was not successfully awarded CLÁR funding despite meeting the necessary requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30211/17]

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: It has been baffling and quite embarrassing the way issues relating to this Bill have been played out both inside and outside this House. I stress that if there is such a sense of urgency to reform the judicial appointments system, why has it only taken place after the Taoiseach and the Government appointed the former Attorney General to the Court of Appeal? Much has been made of the fact...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (4 Jul 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 483. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will allow an extension of time for persons that have been unable to plant native hedging as part of their GLAS measures due to a shortage of native hedging plants with horticultural suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31323/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Institute (4 Jul 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 484. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Marine Institute plans to recommence the blue fin tuna tag and release scientific scheme off County Donegal; the results to date; his views on the possibility of applying for a quota to allow the development of a recreational fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31324/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Grievance Procedures (11 Jul 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's role in disputes between parents and the boards of management in schools; his plans to provide mediation supports in view of the fact that the only recourse available to parents when there is no solution to a dispute is via the courts or the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32085/17]