Results 1,001-1,020 of 4,664 for speaker:Seán Canney

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ministerial Meetings (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Oversight and Assurance Agreement between my Department and the Charities Regulator specifies that the Minister may meet annually with the Chair and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Charities Regulator. The last such meeting took place on 21 June 2018. There is currently a vacancy at CEO level in the Regulator which is in the process of being filled by way of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 and took over responsibility for the Dormant Account Fund at that time. The Comptroller and Auditor General examined the operation of the Fund as part of its 2016 work programme and published its findings in September 2017. The findings focused in particular on the administration of the fund, the low level of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.  The Act provides for guidelines to be put in place for the management and operation of Dog Breeding Establishments. Following a public consultation process, my Department published new Guidelines in July of last year. The revised Guidelines came into effect on 1 January this year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (23 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. Responsibility for the oversight of the Regulator transferred to my Department on its establishment in July 2017. The general function of the Regulator is to regulate charitable organisations operating in Ireland, in order to increase public trust and confidence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Observations show that Ireland’s climate is changing in terms of sea level rise, increases in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns and weather extremes. The observed scale and rate of change is consistent with regional and global trends, and these changes are projected to continue and increase over the coming decades. Climate change will have diverse and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Project Ireland 2040 which was launched in February 2018 consists of the national planning framework which sets out a spatial strategy for the country. It also sets out the expenditure on the national policy position, a planned €21.8 billion investment including €14 billion to be invested by semi-State companies and private sectors in the national strategic low carbon and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Project Ireland 2040 is the lifespan of the plan. The Minister has already announced that seven major climate action projects will share €77 million in funding, leveraging a total investment of €300 million in the first round of applications for the climate action fund. These projects will support decarbonisation of transport, heating, electricity and agriculture and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Consistent with European energy policy, gas markets across Europe are commercial, liberalised and competitive. Europe is currently importing approximately 70% of its gas needs, with this share expected to increase. The diversification of sources is important for security of supply purposes. The involvement of US or other companies or corporations in the European gas industry is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I have listened intently to what the Deputy has been saying. I would like to explain what we have to do right now in terms of our supply. We have to transition to cleaner sources of fuels. In the meantime, we need to have a transitionary period. We cannot say we are not doing this or that. The Shannon project is a private enterprise that is governed by EU regulations. This means it can...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Gas Imports (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy that we have to get to a stage where we will be using more renewables. That is part of the whole-of-Government action plan on climate change. As I said earlier when we spoke about the warming of our fisheries, this is happening and we have to face up to it as a reality. We need to have an adult conversation about it. We have to make sure whatever we do is done in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mining Industry (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I am familiar with the site and the area. Gyproc, part of the Saint Gobain construction materials provider, operates a gypsum mine in Drummond, County Monaghan, and has a factory in Kingscourt, County Cavan. The company employs more than 160 people in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Mining operations have been taking place in the area since 1936. On 19 December 2018, a crown hole, often...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mining Industry (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: To clarify, the first collapse in the ground was as a result of pillars that collapsed. The second was the result of what they technically call a roof collapse, where the surface went down in a circle. Both of these are being investigated, and that includes independent auditors looking at the results. Gyproc has undertaken to produce all maps to the residents. It will also produce all of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mining Industry (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Deputy correctly points out that water was pumped into the mines and that changed the whole dynamic. That is something my Department will be looking at. Ireland has a mining heritage that extends back to the Bronze Age. It has occurred at hundreds of sites, the majority of which are not the legal responsibility of the State. The Department maintains an inventory of sites at which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Section 10A of the Electricity Regulation Act sets out the procedure under which a policy direction may be issued to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. The legislation sets out details of the tasks and, inter alia, restrictions, timelines and consultation requirements with the independent regulator and the Oireachtas. Energy markets in Ireland operate within a European...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I would not like to see a return to price fixing. Long-standing Government energy policy since 1999, aligned with the thrust of the European policy, has focused on the importance of increasing retail market competition, which results in a choice for consumers. Government policy has supported competition to drive down prices. Data from approved price comparison websites such as bonkers.ieor...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I reiterate that EU restrictions are the main reason such a policy direction is not being considered. In addition, it is clear that such a move would run counter to the thrust of long-standing Government policy on energy, which favours competition. Moreover, the CRU has carried out investigations of energy market competition in recent years and recommended a range of new measures which are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: There is no reason not to switch.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Under the national waste enforcement steering committee, a network of regulatory bodies work together to target illegal dumping. In 2019 specific priorities are the enforcement of large-scale illegal activity requiring multi-agency responses; identification of sites where illegal dumping occurs for enforcement; and creating regional multi-agency fora with An Garda Síochána in each...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Illegal dumping is rife. It is a particular problem in my area of Galway East, but it is rife throughout the country and we need to do something about it. The review that is ongoing will inform us on enforcement and helping local authorities and how effective enforcement and prosecutions have been. I do not actually have the number of prosecutions to hand. That is part of the overall...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (24 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy, that for large-scale items which were previously collected or delivered free of charge, some of the grant money of €2 million that I mentioned has been used to do exactly what he is saying. I agree that we need to incentivise people to dispose of what they have in a legal way. We also need to have an awareness campaign to highlight the issue of prosecution....