Results 421-440 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: School Closures (18 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am making this reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. At the outset, I thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter and Senator Ulick Burke for his contribution to the debate. The Department of Education and Science fully appreciates the impact and importance this decision has on the local community. I emphasise that Seamount College is a voluntary...

Seanad: School Closures (18 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Obviously, I am willing to take the concerns of both Senators back to the Department of Education and Science. My understanding is that the enrolment of 240 is the accurate figure. I also understand there is capacity for 800 in Gort community school and that its enrolment of 730 allows for further expansion of the number of pupils it can accommodate. That being said, if additional...

Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank all the Deputies who contributed for their constructive input. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Given recent events in North Korea, it is more urgent than ever that the international community does all it can to encourage further signature and ratification of the treaty. The treaty will enter into force...

Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee (19 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Security of energy supply, climate change and improving the energy performance of our building stock are significant issues. They are vital for the future of our planet and the quality of life for future generations, impacting on our potential for sustainable economic growth and social development. The Government has taken major initiatives in this regard. The landmark Government Green...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Emissions in Ireland have been on a downward trend in the last several years and this trend must be judged in the context of sustained economic growth over the past ten years. There are an additional 300,000 people living in Ireland since 2002, bringing our population to 4.2 million, and there has been an increase in industrial production of more than 300% since 1990. House completions are...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The next revision of part L standards for dwellings is due in 2008. In this context, I endorse the initiative of Fingal County Council in using the planning process to impose building energy performance standards in excess of part L of the building regulations in certain areas.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: This practical experience will feed into our upgrading of the regulations which apply at national level. The Private Members' motion is also critical of the continued use of the hollow concrete block method of house construction, an area of interest to Senators O'Toole and Norris. I listened to two very erudite men who, as part of their scientific education——

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——I would have expected to have ascertained all the facts before reaching a conclusion.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: One would have expected their research to have been complete rather than half-baked. One would also have expected their honesty and declared lack of gall, which they would attribute to others, to have divorced them from the sound bite in order to deal with the facts. I wish to set out the facts on the hollow block issue. It is important when one receives information under the Freedom of...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: One would have seen that the other negative impact mentioned, and emphasised so strongly as a saving to the house purchaser, was that it would increase the cost of housing in Dublin owing to the higher labour and material costs associated with solid block in this construction.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer Senator O'Toole——

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——and Senator Norris, in particular, to an august body, namely, University College Dublin. The broadly based Building Regulations Advisory Body commissioned an independent study by the Energy Research Group, UCD. That was published in November 2000.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The results of that study showed that the hollow block construction could be insulated to comply with the proposed higher thermal performance standards.

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: That is a fact. I emphasise that the Government does not have a preference for any particular form of house building. The Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association and the Department are co-operating closely to implement a package of measures to facilitate timber frame construction as recommended in a report on timber frame housing in Ireland commissioned by the Department. We are also...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am not. Without such pragmatic and temporary exemptions, the house building programme would not be running at the current all time record level now approaching 90,000 new dwellings per annum. I wish to clarify the position as regards the timetable for the introduction of building energy rating. The EU energy performance of buildings directive set 1 January 2006 as the deadline for legal...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ireland is one of only two EU member states which are known to have produced an integrated action plan for the implementation of all aspects of the directive. The plan was published on 1 August last. Ireland has made substantial progress in the legal transposition of the directive. Ireland is one of only 11 member states against whom the European Commission is not taking infringement...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for raising this issue again. The Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007, published last December, includes funding for more than 20 water and sewerage schemes throughout Limerick. Rather than leaving Limerick behind, we are looking after it well. Towns and villages such as Adare, Patrickswell, Askeaton, Foynes, Glin, Shanagolden, Kilmallock,...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this issue. The Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007, published in December 2005, includes some 60 major water and sewerage schemes, with a value of more than €451 million, for Galway. The Mountbellew sewerage scheme is being bundled with a number of other schemes in the county for procurement purposes and is scheduled to commence in...

Seanad: Nursing Home Subventions (25 Oct 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to have this opportunity to deal with this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the current position with regard to the nursing home subvention scheme. A nursing home subvention may be paid towards the cost of private nursing...