Results 5,841-5,860 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: We are treating workers with disdain and disgust. That statutory instrument should have been signed off earlier this year and it needs to be done as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Electric Vehicles: Discussion (30 Nov 2021)

Bríd Smith: I am sorry I asked a second question. It is obviously Ms Sayers who takes it. I asked if there has been any contact with the National Transport Authority or Transport for Ireland on electrifying the bus fleet and how that compares on balance in terms of the pressure it puts on the national grid? Has the ESB looked at that? Might the proliferation of public transport be much easier on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Engagement with the Climate Change Advisory Council (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I thank Ms Donnelly for appearing and answering our numerous questions. On just transition and the role the Climate Change Advisory Council plays in Government policy, Ms Donnelly indicated the council does not make Government policy but reviews it to see if it is in line with the climate action plan. Ms Donnelly stated that all voices needed to be heard, we must listen to everyone and a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I have a few questions, the first of which relates to the timeline involved. There is much anxiety that the timeline for the review is poor because the Act states a review shall take place within three years. Therefore, on 1 January 2022 we should have been looking at the review of it. Given that will not be taken place for some time, starting with the process today, advertising for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I ask the Chair to bear with me for another few questions. The issue of whether a chairperson can have access to the expertise or, alternatively, an expert panel is appointed and we know who they are, their background and contribution to this process matters to service providers and users. We need to review that and consider the appointment of an expert panel. I am totally dissatisfied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: Chair, I have a point of order on this. May I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: May I raise a point of order on this, please, Chair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I have just checked the e-tender on the Department's website and what the Department is actually tendering for, unless it is going to do a separate tendering process for a chair, is "qualitative research ... to inform the review of the operation of the ... Act". The e-tender states: "An appropriately skilled person or team is sought." Obviously, the Department could pay a lot of money for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: The Minister has said the aim is to appoint a chair but what we have is an advertisement for a research team. That could cost in excess of €100,000. I have to agree with Senator Kyne that it is baffling that the Department has to e-tender for a chairperson.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I want clarity on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: When will that go up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: This morning, I thought we were told that the e-tender for the chairperson would go up today. That does not seem to be the case. Will the Minister tell us exactly when it will go up? If, in the course of the review, we find barriers to equal access for all as identified by Senator Black this morning, including in the questions on fatal foetal abnormality, as identified by the chair, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: That was not really an answer to my question. If we identify barriers to free and equal access, can we get amendments to the legislation? The intent of the legislation and of many clauses in the Act was to provide equal access in the case of fatal foetal abnormality and serious risk to health. I am using them as examples. It is not clear whether the purpose of this review is to say that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: Is the advertisement on eTenders the only one or will there be a separate advertisement for a chairperson?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I confirm I am on the Leinster House campus. I thank all our guests for coming to the meeting and giving us an interesting session. I found today's discussion much more about the urgency of the situation we are facing than the discussion yesterday, which I was unable to participate in. I do not criticise the committee for a lack of urgency yesterday. The problem is the framework under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I will wind up shortly. Despite the Covid restrictions, public transport should be an absolute priority. My final question is for Professor Sweeney. He mentioned the €2.4 billion in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. Most people would be quite shocked to learn that figure. Will he quickly explain to us how that figure breaks down? I do not want a big mathematical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: Yes, if anybody wants to take that. It was in respect of what Professor Anderson said about how most people do not create most emissions and how we deal with that. The committee has discussed this. Even in Covid times, we could start planning for proper, frequent and, ultimately, free public transport across this tiny island.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank Professor Anderson.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. The submission states that we need to focus on how climate action on transition is understood in the sector. The submission also states that we require early policy and practice in Ireland. We have to get in there early and be inclusive and engage with those potentially impacted by decarbonisation. If I may, I want to ask questions about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. There is a lot going on today. I will ask a few questions of the IFA and Mr. Rushe. We had the scientists in yesterday who put a large dose of reality into the conversation. One of the things Professor Kevin Anderson said was there was no such thing as a universal "we" and that most people were not responsible for most emissions. I suspect...