Results 8,901-8,920 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I am sorry to interrupt, but we did discuss that issue earlier in private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, we did.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: We will have to suspend the sitting because there is a division in the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: We are resuming in public session. Senator O'Reilly was finishing his question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I apologise for the suspension. I ask witnesses to be as concise as possible in their responses for fear another vote may be called in the Dáil. We also have another panel coming up in our own committee meeting. I invite witnesses to respond to Deputy Stanley's, Deputy Bríd Smith's and Senator Reilly's questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: On behalf of the committee I would like to thank the witnesses for coming before us today and for their very worthwhile engagement. We will be closely engaged as we progress work on the climate issue, which we hope to do in response to the Citizens' Assembly report. The committee will publish the opening statements and submissions received to the committee web page. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the officials to the discussion on the development at Hinkley Point C power plant. I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Mr. McDonald and I invite Dr. Lehane to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: Thank you, Mr. McDonald. Unfortunately, a vote has been called in the Dáil, so I am going to have to suspend the meeting. If it is not too inconvenient, I hope you will be able to come back straight after the vote. I have some quick questions I want to ask. I am sorry for the inconvenience and the long delay. We will suspend briefly for the Dáil vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: We are back in public session. I apologise to the officials, we have had a difficult day with votes in the Dáil and an over run on an earlier session. I want to ask short, concise questions one at a time. In Mr. McDonald's presentation, on the second page you said that back in 2009 the UK's assessment considered that there was no significant transboundary effects for Ireland on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: If you could you send us that as well. That memo to Government was on 17 January 2011.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: However, there would have been as assessment carried out in 2009 or 2010.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: Perhaps Mr. McDonald could send it all, including the memo. I was a member of that Cabinet and I cannot say that I remember much from 17 January 2011 other than that we were in something of a crisis at the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I would appreciate it if Mr. McDonald could send all the background documentation to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: Subsequent to that meeting on 17 January 2011, a letter went from the then Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, to his counterpart on 24 January. Deputy Ó Cuív had only been in office a day. He was holding down three portfolios at the time, which was quite a feat. The letter stated that, having regard to the relevant considerations, the Government was of the view that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: The impression that was created in Mr. McDonald's presentation was that we would not be seeking a formal transboundary consultation. However, the letter to which I refer said that we would be doing so in respect of specific projects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: On page 3 of his presentation, Mr. McDonald cites the fact that the UK Government again wrote a letter in December 2016. The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reiterated its view that Hinckley was not likely to cause a significantly adverse impact and that it was not required to undertake transboundary consultation under the Espoo Convention. Mr. McDonald also says that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the Espoo Convention. There was a complaint by an Irish NGO to the convention implementation committee about the lack of consultation with the Irish public on Hinkley. Ireland received a letter from the committee on 14 October 2013 asking if we thought the proposed nuclear plant was likely to cause significant transboundary effect. The UN committee asked specifically whether the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: There may be confusion about the various letters to which I am referring. Surely the letter concerning the Espoo Convention that was sent by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in December 2016 resulted from the Espoo Convention implementation committee's finding that the UK was in breach of the convention. Was that not what gave rise to the letter being issued?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Developments at Hinkley Point C Power Plant: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Eamon Ryan: The Espoo Convention implementation committee has found that the risk of an accidental or unplanned release of radioactive material from Hinkley Point is covered by the convention, regardless of however small the UK assesses that risk to be. Does the Department agree with that finding?