Results 421-440 of 6,288 for speaker:Catherine Murphy in 'Committee meetings'

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: When I received notice of this morning's meeting, I asked that the date be changed because, as I have indicated, Tuesday mornings are not convenient for me. I was the only member who had tabled amendments. Clearly, the poor attendance is an indication that Tuesday mornings are not convenient. I would indicate to the clerk that I am not in a position to attend committee meetings on a...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, after line 41, to insert the following:"Establishment and functions of the Office of Radiological Protection 15.(1) The Agency shall establish within its organisational structure an office to be called the Office of Radiological Protection.(2) Management and direction of the Office of Radiological Protection, within the organisational structure of the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: It was my understanding that some of the oversight would be transferred to the Minister. Trust is the big issue. The EPA sometimes, because of its function in dealing with matters, is trying to curtail activities. We will see this with the climate action and low carbon development Bill where we will be changing consumers' habits. We will be dealing with fairly big issues, such as,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: One of the points I would make about the reporting mechanism is that at present the RPII is independent and that is valuable. In fact, that was one of the elements we sought in terms of oversight of the sectoral plans in the climate action and low carbon development Bill. What will happen now is that instead of that independence, the reporting will be done through the CEO and there will be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will be opposing a number of sections on the same basis because I think they would have been more consistent as stand alone legislation. I will speak on certain sections in detail but, in general, sections 16 to 18, inclusive, should be separate. I wonder why they are not. Perhaps at a later stage I will speak about the reasons that certain elements have been left out of the Bill.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The definition of radiological protection has been changed to include "the prevention, limitation, elimination, abatement or reduction of the harmful effects of ionising radiation". Perhaps the Minister of State can explain why that has been decided.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I am opposing this section for the same reason. Most of these sections, until section 35, will be the same.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I understand it is necessary to list the items that are compensable if damage is wrought by a neighbouring country that has a nuclear facility. I question why two specific items have been excluded from this list, namely, climate and atmosphere quality. Why have they been excluded and, if damage occurred under that category, does that leave us excluded from compensation?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: That includes atmosphere quality and climate?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: There is a change in the definition of "nuclear material".

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The Minister of State will revert to me. Sections 36 to 38, inclusive, are the same as what I have said before.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: If I feel an amendment should be tabled, I can do so on Report Stage.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I have some concerns about the Minister's ability to veto certain licensing decisions. I am not referring to a current Minister but we do not know who the Minister will be in future. If a loophole is left without being closed off, it can become an opportunity, albeit an unintended one. Could the Minister veto certain EPA decisions on nuclear material licences? It appears that the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Does the EPA determine that?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: This is something that I may revert to on Report Stage.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I wish to make a number of points on this section. The EPA must produce contingency plans every two years. The legislation states "from time to time" but that is a very open period which needs to be tightened up. Would the Minister of State be willing to do so?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will come back to it on Report Stage and table something specific, or perhaps the Minister of State could table an amendment.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I have other points to raise. Included in the section is a mandatory ministerial consultation on the preparation of the contingency plan, but at what stage does that happen? Does the Minister see it at the end or is there ministerial involvement right through? How is that provision expected to function?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I take the view that good institutions are ones that have separate, independent oversight. I am worried about the possibility of a direction being given on the contingency plan.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Catherine Murphy: An independent function is important.