Results 3,461-3,480 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Coughlan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Coughlan for his assistance in our deliberations on the heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We will continue our discussion on the outline heads of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013. I welcome from the Environmental Protection Agency Mr. Dara Lynott, deputy director general; Dr. Karen Creed, senior inspector, environmental licensing programme; and Dr. Tara Higgins, inspector, environmental licensing programme. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Lynott for his opening statement. I wish to raise the issue of indictable versus summary offences. I can understand the difficulties arising from process of having to involve the DPP, did that act as a deterrent for the EPA to enforce follow up of the offence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Could Mr. Lynott tell us the average number of cases the agency would deal with in a year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: In terms of detections. I understand that the EPA only has the power since 2010, so it is at the embryonic stage of the cycle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: What is the basis for the methodology of detection?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Was it a case of being in the right place at the right time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I should clarify that the EPA is responsible for ensuring dumping at sea does not happen. It is not responsible for the dumping itself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I said that in jest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I would like to ask about the EPA's involvement with industry in the context of the massive pharmachem industry in Cork. Can Mr. Lynott comment on the extent and importance of the EPA's involvement with people in the industry in terms of regulating it and ensuring everything goes according to plan? In some cases, serious discharges have to take place. How important is the EPA's involvement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: That is a good point. Do Dr. Creed or Dr. Higgins want to add anything? No. I sincerely thank the witnesses for their interaction with us on the outline heads of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Táimid ar ais i seisiún poiblí. The next witness who is in attendance as part of our consideration of the outline heads of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013 is Dr. Liam Lysaght, who is the director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. I thank him for being in attendance this afternoon. I would like to draw his attention to the fact that by virtue of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Before I call Deputy Coffey, the point Dr. Lysaght makes in regard to the bridging of the marine and terrestrial is well made. What is the extent of the involvement of the data centre with the Marine Institute?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: It is completely seamless so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Is that done with a staff of six based in WIT?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Before I call on Senator Keane, I want to say that Deputy Coffey reminded me of laethanta scoile siar sna hochtóidí. I remember my second class teacher showing nature slides on an old projector when nature study was part of the curriculum. That was the last time I saw or heard of the pygmy shrew. Nature study was an important part of the curriculum. The comment made with regard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: That concludes our consideration of the Bill with Dr. Lysaght. Thank you for your interaction with us, which was very important. I hope our paths will cross again in the future.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: 97. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm if it is compulsory that social welfare recipients must now receive payments via bank transfer; the reason for same; if there are circumstances in which a person may have payments via An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48577/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (19 Nov 2013)

Michael McCarthy: 425. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when additional funds will be made available for re-distribution to Leader companies that have approved ready-to-go projects; the amount of Leader funding ring-fenced for projects in the areas serviced by WCDP; when he will make an decision on the funding for such projects, including an indication of the additional...