Results 4,701-4,720 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The EPA is an independent organisation. It is not possible to put this single division on a statutory basis. The Deputy suggested that the figure of €260,000 has jumped out of the air. That figure was arrived at in the Department. The fact is that this will come to €1 million over four years. The Deputy talks here about giving more money to the poor, the vulnerable and...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: That is one issue. We tried to tidy that one up. This is another issue.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: Comprehensive legal advice has been taken in regard to this definition to ensure that it encompasses the full range of radiological protection functions provided for in Irish and European law. The definition has been carefully drafted to this effect and I am reluctant to incorporate any additional elements that may not have been rigorously tested in this way to ensure they are appropriate...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: I can confirm it covers all aspects of environmental damage.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: Not including climate. Climate cannot be affected.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: This new subsection of the Radiological Protection Act 1991, section 30(4E), does not provide the Minister with powers to veto licences. This section is intended to incorporate the terms of Article 2A.4.(a) of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities into Irish law. This article allows states to exempt certain nuclear materials from the...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: In the course of drafting this Bill, the Department, in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, examined the matter of timing of these plans in some detail and concluded that it would not be appropriate or, indeed, advisable to insert any time period for the creation of such contingency plans. The purpose of these plans is to put contingencies in place to protect the...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The point has been covered. I addressed it in my response.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is neither necessary nor possible to accept the amendment. The RPII already has extensive powers to include any conditions it so desires or thinks are necessary in a nuclear material or facilities licence under the new subsection 30(4C) being inserted by this Bill, or using the powers it has under the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000 (SI 125 of 2000)....

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: I would like to clarify for the Deputy what exactly are the purposes of the quality assurance schemes proposed to be introduced by section 40 of the Bill. These quality assurance schemes relate to the individual and bespoke security measures to be put in place by a person or body licensed to hold nuclear materials, transport nuclear materials or operate a nuclear facility. It is a basic...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The creation and implementation of the national radon control strategy, NRCS, is an administrative and managerial issue for the merged organisations and is not appropriate for primary legislation. I remind the Deputy that a comprehensive NRCS is currently in place. Its purpose is to reduce risk to the population generally and to individuals living in areas with high radon concentration....

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: We are bound by international treaties that Ireland has ratified, including the Charter of the United Nations. I do not propose to accept this amendment.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The first proposed amendment to section 44 of the Bill is confusing and not fully understood. The Deputy proposes the deletion of a provision to align the Radiological Protection Act 1991 with the more comprehensive standard international scientific definition of ionising radiation that has been used in all other relevant EU and Irish legislation since 2000. This provision has been...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The planning section of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has responsibility for regulation in light of the Espoo Convention.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: The effect of the Deputy's proposed amendments would be to require the RPII to need licences to have radioactive substances or irradiating apparatus and that these licences would be issued by the Minister. One of the central reasons for the existence of the RPII, and for its predecessor, the Nuclear Energy Board, and the office of radiological protection within the EPA in future, is that the...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: As the Deputies are aware, the primary purpose of the Bill is to provide for the merging of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Bill introduces the necessary statutory provision to enable Ireland ratify the 2005 amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, CPPNM. The CPPNM amendment expands the scope of...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: I move the adjournment; I can move the Bill because we are-----

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is only a minute. I want to move the Bill.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: We can move it. I do.

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (3 Jul 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Catherine Byrne for raising this important topic. I am aware of the recent Ulster Bank announcement in regard to the closure of branches and sub-offices over the next few months. This is a commercial and operational matter for Ulster Bank. Ulster Bank is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group and the bank had previously announced its intention to reduce its network and...