Results 4,861-4,880 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: On the advisory group, at today's meeting we intended to invite Professor Crowe, obviously, but also to invite what I would loosely classify as user groups, such as fishers and commercial operators as represented by Wind Energy Ireland. Unfortunately, none of those was able to attend today. In the work that was done in the stakeholder engagement and the advisory group, which was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: I do not want him to speak for them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: I just want to ensure they were listened to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: Fishing can be a difficult and uncertain job much of the time. I can understand what might be perceived as further barriers or further difficulties in what is already a difficult scenario.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: It was very broad. All voices were listened to and heard. Returning to the point Deputy Higgins made, perhaps Professor Crowe would come back to us with the issues he raised. I know he spoke about four weeks in head 9. If there are other things that stick out in the general scheme about where we could improve public consultation and have a proper public consultation, it would be helpful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: A point was raised about stakeholder engagement and the identification or designation. They are two different processes and possibly would have different stakeholders, some of whom might be more concerned about the designation than they are about the identification. Perhaps this is something we could look at.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy McAuliffe. Deputy Ó Broin wishes to come back in. To be helpful in terms of timelines, we have our final meeting on this on Thursday and we will be aiming for completion of our pre-legislative scrutiny report by 21 February. If Professor Crowe were to make suggestions, it would be helpful to get them a couple of days before the deadline. We would appreciate whatever he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry; I will also ask a question. The phrase "up to 30%" to me reads that we can do 30%, but no more. Could we have 35%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (resumed) (31 Jan 2023)

Steven Matthews: Does the Deputy wish to expand on his question on existing authorisations? I do not think we covered that entirely. I have one more question to ask then.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: 106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the rollout of free solar panels to all schools; the timeline for the initiative to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4713/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: 137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a review of the provision of school bus services; if efforts are ongoing to ensure that more students than ever are accommodated for the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4082/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: 276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the school building for a school (details supplied); the efforts that her Department is making to ensure that students will be in the new building for September 2024 as per the original plans; the basis for any changes to this commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4389/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: This morning we will resume our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the marine protected areas Bill 2023. We are joined by Mr. Niall Goodwin, head of policy, Mr. Denis Devane, senior policy analyst, and Ms Patricia Comiskey, member of the offshore consenting committee, Wind Energy Ireland. We are also joined by Ms Attracta Uí Bhroin, environmental law officer, Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will move on to members’ questions and answers. We can explore some of those concerns highlighted by both submissions. I call Senator Fitzpatrick first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: We have been consistently addressing these subjects, including at the two previous meetings. If the representatives do not get time to address each of the points, we will address them in the second round. We can consider them then in a little more detail, so there is no need to rush.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Lyne.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have to move on, but I will bring Mr. Fogarty back in on my questioning. I thank Senator Boyhan and welcome the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to the committee. I think it indicates his commitment and interest that he is in the Public Gallery to listen to our experts. I read quite a lot on marine protected areas before this legislation was produced. When this general scheme was published on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Fogarty. I invite Wind Energy Ireland to speak to the international experience.