Results 6,461-6,480 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank the Taoiseach for his views on Roe v. Wade and jurisprudence but I am more interested in what this Government is going to do to push back against any attempt to roll back abortion. I have no doubt this will embolden anti-abortionists everywhere. Aside from them, we need to know women's rights will be strengthened and not weakened by this Government. That review is hugely important,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: We know that 20,000 people were refused fuel allowance up to February and now more vulnerable people are being kicked off the scheme for being slightly over the income thresholds. Let us consider Angela who is 81 years old. She got an €8 increase from her husband's small private pension. That was enough to kick her off the fuel allowance scheme but it does not take her out of energy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Church-State Relations (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: 21. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [27831/22]

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: People Before Profit objects to the way in which this Bill is being pushed and rushed, to the fact that we were denied pre-legislative scrutiny of it and to the fact that it will be forced through all Stages tomorrow. It is not that that in itself is a bad precedent because it is a regular occurrence and there may be times when emergency legislation needs to be fast-tracked. We have known...

Autism Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I am sharing time with Deputy Barry. I welcome everybody to the Gallery. I always think it sends a powerful message into the House on what democracy means. We can sit here chatting all day in a vacuum but to have people from the outside with real lived experience coming in sends a powerful message and I hope the Minister of State also recognises that. People Before Profit welcomes this...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, after line 37, to insert the following: “(c) place a moratorium on connections to the national grid by high energy users such as data centres,”. I will start by expressing utter disgust at what we heard here yesterday from the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, Deputy Brian Leddin. He accused us, who...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: It seems there has, in effect, been a moratorium on data centres since June 2020. I understand EirGrid approved 1,800 MW of electricity for future data centres but had applications for 2,000 MW and cancelled all that capacity. That may be a fact but we also know restrictions on data centres are applied only to new applicants. This was confirmed to us by officials from the Minister's...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: Does the Minister deny that this State is an outlier in respect of the percentage of generated power used by data centres compared to other states? The average across the globe is 2% to 4% of the national grid. We are looking at a situation in which 30% of the national grid could be used to feed data centres. To echo what Deputy Whitmore said, a recent report by the Irish Academy of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: 440. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views in relation to an incident in Cork harbour recently and the arrival of a foreign warship to the harbour; if he will confirm that all laws and procedures were adhered to in relation to the arrival of such vessels in Ireland's territorial waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33944/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (29 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: 118. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider carrying out a review of the requirements including documentation expected of those applying for a widow and widowers' pension (details supplied); if her Department will consider providing assistance in the procurement of certain documentation for those who are very often struggling to manage as a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (30 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: 212. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will detail the full costs of a doubling of the electricity or gas allowance component of the household benefit package for a full year for those not in receipt of the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31245/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for their presentations this morning. I want to ask the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications about the recent EPA report, which stated our emissions rose by 6%. In that context, we know each sector must reach the upper range to be compatible with the overall 51% reduction. Every shortfall in the first five-year budget makes the second one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: Will Ms Egan directly answer the question I asked about whether each of the sectors have to achieve the upper limit even to begin to try to reach the 51% target, which even then would be difficult?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: If Dr. O'Grady could decide, would she choose electrification of the fleet or public transport delivery?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: Mr. Martin, as part of the submission from the Department of Transport,mentioned that "possible regulatory and financial or taxation measures that could support transport decarbonisation". Can you please elaborate on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for allowing me to go ahead of him as I must go to the Dáil Chamber shortly. I have a question for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Perhaps Ms Egan will take this question. I am not asking the Department to comment on reports in the media at the weekend that tensions are mounting in the coalition over the scale of carbon emission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: Specifically on the targets of 22% or 30%, does Mr. Callanan think the higher target is what is desired and what is necessary? Will it be necessary to cut the herd to achieve that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: The big concern is the rising levels of methane. These were reported on last year by the United Nations, which is very concerned about the matter. Methane is much more dangerous because it traps heat at a much more intense level. From what I have heard today, it does not seem that this matter is being treated with the urgency it deserves. I would be concerned not just about reducing our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Bríd Smith: I have taken up enough time. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan let me speak before him. I thank Mr. Callanan very much for his answers.

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Bríd Smith: Likewise, I think this should have been separate legislation. It is very important legislation. Many of us participated in the committee that looked at repealing the eighth amendment of the Constitution, as did the Minister. The recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly dealt with this issue quite substantially. One thing that we know substantially reduces crisis pregnancies is the...