Results 4,761-4,780 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

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.

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: My point is that it is too central a role. It may be that I can put something more targeted in an amendment 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 want to raise a number of other points. There is no option for outside organisations like environmental bodies. Some of those bodies have played quite an important role. I found them useful. We had some of them in at the pre-legislative stage of the climate change Bill. We received fascinating insights and information from people. One that sticks out was Board Watch, which was 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: Yes.

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 could be valuable inputs.

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 difference between being there as a right, or not.

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: As the Minister of State says, however, there are people on the advisory committee. I will examine that committee and match it against the point I am making. I have a couple of other points to make on this section. If somebody does not co-operate when making the contingency plan, where they have a permit, there should be some sanction such as revoking a licence. It changes culture if...

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: Is there a provision to revoke the licence or is one needed?

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: Section 40 might include some strengthened language to allow the institute to consult other Ministers. It seems to be just the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, but as we know, many things go across several Ministries. Is that implicit in this or is 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: Specifically in regard to theft or sabotage. It must be wide enough.

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 looking for stronger language in regard to broader public participation in and access to information on the licensing process. For example, we saw what happened with the deficient process in respect of wind farms. Process is incredibly important in terms of how one deals with the public. The public must be party to it. We talked about this in some detail when we dealt with the...