Results 1,101-1,120 of 2,343 for speaker:Michael Colreavy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Could Mr. O'Connor develop his views on small-scale renewable energy generation? I am aware of a number of projects that offered fairly exciting prospects for renewable energy, but were killed by the cost of connecting to the national grid. Those costs meant it was out of the question for the projects to be pursued. Those who try to develop small generation projects feel they are not taken...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: I would like to ask my second last question. People get really annoyed when self-evident truths are dismissed by spokespersons for energy companies. A spokesperson said on television there is no evidence that a pylon beside a house reduces the market value of the house, but that is evidently nonsense. I would like Mr. O'Connor to develop the point he made about recognising some means of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Okay. I have a series of final questions. I am not sure which is the most important one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: I still need to get an answer to the question I asked about the conflicting evidence regarding the technical and economic aspects of undergrounding and overgrounding. How will that information be gathered, validated and presented?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Mr. O'Connor should ask his spokespersons not to say that there is no evidence that this happens because it undermines any contribution they may make.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Some people are concerned about Mr. O'Connor's previous role vis-à-vis his current role. Can the terms of reference be examined-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: In an effort to be helpful, I ask if the terms of reference for the post could be examined to ensure there is no potential conflict of interest.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: 2. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of his rejection of private sector bids for Bord Gáis Energy, his views on the fact that privatisation is not a viable option and that the optimum strategy for BGE going forward is to retain and develop it in public ownership. [51805/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: I am very disappointed with the Minister's response. When it was first proposed that Bord Gáis Éireann would be sold off I predicted that the venture capitalists, or vulture capitalists as I called them at the time, would be swooping and looking for a basement bargain. I also pointed out that the privatisation of public utilities in the neighbouring island had been nothing short...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: The Minister could say that he is not going to privatise the company.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: The Minister says it is impossible to make me happy, but that is not true. I welcomed the decision not to sell the company off to the bargain basement hunters. However, I am pointing out that privatisation would be detrimental to this company and to the people of Ireland, and there are ample examples - remember Eircom - in which privatisation damaged a utility that the public had enjoyed....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: 5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether this State needs to achieve its targets for renewable energy production and self-sufficiency in electricity generation prior to initiating the large scale export of energy generated from renewable sources. [51806/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: The Minister has previously stated that the export of wind energy will not interfere with achieving our targets, but there is a broader issue. We should aim for self sufficiency before we export energy generated by wind power. In the longer term the export of energy is a valid and potentially beneficial objective, but self sufficiency should come first. Five or six months ago I asked the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: The Minister has not addressed the fact that just yesterday the British Government announced it will reduce subsidies on land-based turbines, while increasing subsidies on offshore turbines. This could be seen as Britain being quite prepared to spoil the Irish environment because it was not permitted to spoil its own one. Britain is also prepared to receive energy supplies from Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: 12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will define the consultation means in the context of overhead pylons, in view of the fact that the decision has been made in many instances. [51672/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: I apologise to our guests for being late. I was late because there were questions to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Dáil at 9.30 a.m. when this meeting began. This is the second time that has happened in two weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: If it happens a third time I will think that it is a strategy not a mistake. I will leave it at that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Most people I speak to agree about the benefits of this project. There are very few who would disagree. Some might argue with it when we are reaching oversupply but I would be much more critical of under supply. The benefits are not the problem. We need to learn from what happened in Rossport. If it taught us anything it is that walking over people’s concerns leads to project...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Will Mr. Slye confirm that the cables that will be used for Grid25 - regardless of whether they run above ground or underground - will not carry current generated through the use of wind energy? Is it a technical limitation or a policy? Is there a possibility that there will have to be parallel lines to carry wind?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Colreavy: Perhaps I am dense but I do not understand this. There is a wire carrying electricity and windmills creating electricity. Is Mr. Slye saying that because the electricity is designated for export that either technology or people have decided it will not be carried on those wires? If it is not to be carried on those wires, will there be a parallel set of wires to carry electricity for...