Results 3,841-3,860 of 4,573 for speaker:Brian Leddin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: It is not unusual for the committee to go way over time because we are dealing with very serious issues and have very committed members. It is also because we have guests today who are so passionate and serious about trying to find solutions to biodiversity loss. They are to be immensely commended on the work they do and have done, as are their colleagues. There was some disappointment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: That was helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: I will go to Deputy O'Rourke.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Yes, go ahead.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (23 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: 22. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress of the National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51532/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (23 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: 85. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will request that his Department undertake a vehicle taxation report considering the introduction of weight and size-based taxes on private vehicles in Ireland to incentivise a switch to smaller and lighter vehicles, similar to the weight tax in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51579/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Good morning everyone. The purpose of today's meeting is to have a discussion in advance of COP28 which is taking place in Dubai. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Simon Murtagh, senior policy and research co-ordinator with Oxfam Ireland. Joining us online are Ms Fati N’Zi-Hassane, the Oxfam in Africa director, and Ms Ayan Harare, who is Oxfam in Africa's climate policy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: I thank Ms N’Zi-Hassane for her opening statement. I call Mr. O'Brien of Trócaire to deliver his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: I thank Mr. MacEvilly for his opening statement. We had five incredibly thorough and well-articulated opening statements there. It is hard to know where to begin as there is so much in each of them. We probably do not have enough time today to go through the detail in all of them as much as we would like. I thank the witnesses for putting so much effort into the opening statements and for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: If anyone else wants to speak on these questions, since the first question is quite general, please indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: I thank Mr. MacEvilly for that and thank Senator Boylan. Have the witnesses done any work on the advertising issue? It is something we discussed here about a year ago. It seems to be a fundamental challenge. Every psychological trick in the book is being used to persuade people to consume more and buy things they often do not need. Advertising tries to persuade them they need things like...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: There is general agreement on the committee that it is something that needs to be tackled but there is a lack of good analysis and research out there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: That is a very good point. We have time if members want to ask further questions. I want to home in on aviation and maritime emissions a little. We hope to get good news in the next week or two from the COP and international agreement in that area. Ireland has indicated it wants to make progress there. The politics of this are really important because from an economic justice or equity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Not the superyachts and the private jets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Of aviation emissions? I do not think they are anything like that. My problem is what if we focus on this and target these guys and then we do not achieve anything. We need to look at the sectors generally but it is politically very difficult to look at the sectors in a broad way and it is politically very easy to say let us target the private jets and superyachts, which we absolutely must do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Yes, which is tiny compared with the aviation movements-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: We should do it but if we focus on that, we will not achieve what we need to achieve, namely, radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP28: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Anyone who is flying is in the 10%.