Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I endorse the amendments. I welcome the Minister. He has always been a great servant of children. The children of Ireland are well served by him. When he was Minister for Health he took steps to ban smoking by adults where children were present in cars. He listened most attentively on Committee Stage to what Members said. I was in his company on that sad occasion last Thursday....

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Mrs. Kay Boland to the Visitors Gallery. I had not seen her before I spoke earlier. Schools are so much happier places since the late John Boland banned corporal punishment in them. The entire country will be happier because of what the Minister has done today with the unanimous support of the Seanad. This is really a great day for children.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senator Cullinane. We want this to happen. It has to be quantified so that we can measure the progress. Senator Bacik introduced a Bill on the environment in 2007 and the last Government introduced one in 2010. There have been many delays in bringing in this Bill. We should know what the goal is and whether we are making any progress. I have spent many hours and days in the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, line 35, to delete "have regard to" and substitute "be consistent with". The purpose of this amendment is to substitute the words "have regard to" with "be consistent with". In a dispute I could "have regard to" what person X says and then ignore it and decide in favour of person Y. Are the words "have regard to" strong enough in the promotion of the goal...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State for her response. Many people would say we should have strict compliance and prioritise the climate change goals over some other considerations. I will withdraw the amendment, but it is important that we comply with the targets set, lest we are faced with the same crisis in the environment sector as occurred in the banking sector, the hearings on which I...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 7:In page 6, line 11, to delete "18 months" and substitute "6 months". Section 4, as drafted, reads:(1) The Minister shall—(a) not later than 18 months after the passing of this Act, and (b) not less than once in every period of 5 years,make, and submit to the Government for approval, a plan, which shall be known as a national low carbon transition and mitigation...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: In 2010, Mr. Gormley, in his carbon Budget Statement, stated his Bill would provide "a strong legislative framework [to support the] transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable [economy]". Consequently, there are papers over in the Custom House that presumably have been gathering dust for the past five years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: It is probably redundant at this stage, as the Minister of State has replied on quantification. While I remain a supporter of quantification, there is no point in going through the same debate twice. That is what I was seeking to do there and consequently, with the permission of the Chair, I will not move amendment No. 8

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 9:In page 7, line 39, to delete “to have regard to” and substitute “comply”. At present, section 4(7)(a) refers to the need to have regard to existing obligations "under the law of the European Union". I believe we should comply with our existing obligations under the law of the European Union and that is why I tabled this amendment. While I...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I again thank the Minister of State. If a Member of this House is stopped by a member of An Garda Síochána, he or she is required to comply with speed limits; not just to state he or she had regard to them, saw the sign but just kept on going. A culture of compliance is needed in this area and as I stated, probably prematurely the last time, I will not seek a division on this...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 11:In page 9, line 1, to delete “laid before Dáil Éireann” and substitute “adopted by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas”. I seek to amend section 4(10), which states, "A national mitigation plan shall be laid before Dáil Éireann as soon as may be after it is approved by the Government." As I wish to involve the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I echo the observations of Senator Cullinane. We have a parliamentary democracy and citizens have serious concerns about what is happening to our environment but we have a serious non-response from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government which does not want to be called to account. I am so proud to be a member of this Oireachtas. We will leave office shortly and...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 12:In page 9, line 13, to delete "24 months" and substitute "6 months". The purpose this amendment is to substitute the timeframe of "6 months" for "24 months". The 24 months timeframe refers to the time that can be taken from the passing of the Act for the submission to Government of a plan to be known as the national climate change adaptation framework. The question...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I note that page 2 of a recent document entitled "Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers" states:Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and the ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow [...] have diminished, and [the] sea level has risen. It should not...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: No. We have discussed the role of the Oireachtas. I disagree with what the Minister of State said the last time but I do not require her to say it repeatedly. Both Houses should be involved but we have already had that discussion so I do not wish to move the amendment.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 14:In page 10, line 11, to delete “Dáil Éireann” and substitute “both Houses of the Oireachtas”. It is the same principle. I believe the Oireachtas should be involved. We have had the debate and the vote on it so I do not wish to press these two amendments.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 17:In page 12, line 6, after “relevant” to insert “published”. The subsection refers to "relevant scientific or technical advice". It is under the heading to the section which states, "Matters of which account is to be taken, and consultation, for the purposes ofsections5and 6." It is a matter that, as I have said, has wide implications for...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 18:In page 12, line 15, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. The Government "may" consult with the advisory council. This is a kind of "shrug your shoulders" concept. What is the point of having an advisory council if the Government will not consult it? That is what it is there for. A view has been expressed in this debate that policy...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Sean Barrett: It is. We were assured this body would have parity with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, which the Minister, Deputy Noonan, quite happily consults with. There is dialogue between them but it does not diminish the very high standing of the Minister, Deputy Noonan, in the Oireachtas or in the country. This is why we have advisory bodies. The dialogue could be creative and, obviously, the...