Results 1,221-1,240 of 2,343 for speaker:Michael Colreavy

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: Is the Lough Melvin study included in that?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I have a copy of the report. My question is whether it came about as a result of the consultancy referred to by the Minister of State.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I wish to recap on subhead D9, expenditure on international organisations and publications. Does that involve working jointly with these organisations? They are listed as International Lead and Zinc Study Group, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, International Union of Geological Sciences, EuroGeoSurveys and the UK Groundwater Forum. Are we talking about joint working with these organisations?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I can understand it all right, but I wondered whether it extended beyond membership fees and whether they were joint working arrangements with any of these organisations.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: Can we get a list of the organisations with which we have joint participative working arrangements?

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: This section deals with consultation with the local community. The section makes clear that consultation is not mandatory because it states that the local authority may decide to consult or hold information meetings. Consultation means different things to different people. If what we are looking at here is the type of consultation initiated by EirGrid in respect of the pylons or Dublin...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: Would the Minister be minded to change the word "may" to "shall"?

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I am representing Deputy Stanley, who had to attend a committee meeting. He asked me to represent him here. I know of his interest in this legislation. I, too, was impressed by the number of amendments to the initial legislation that were accepted and I have no doubt that they will improve the quality of the Bill. We continue to have very serious misgivings not only about the thrust of...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: Sinn Féin welcomes the ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill which is important legislation dealing with the networking of fibre optic cables that will I hope develop an area of infrastructure in which the country has lagged behind. Sinn Féin has already suggested the ESB network be used as a vehicle to carry the fibre optic network. Broadband has become an almost...

Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: The current Fine Gael-Labour Government entered office in 2011 on a raft of promises, most of which have long since been forgotten. One we can all recall clearly, however, is that of a sweeping cull of quangos. After years of Fianna Fáil-appointed quangos and boards, Fine Gael and the Labour Party were happy to offer the public a solution to something it was turning further and further...

Report of Joint Committee on Addressing the Growth of Social Media and Tackling Cyberbullying: Motion (24 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: Social media have grown rapidly in a short number of years. Recent reports suggest that the number of text messages being sent in Ireland is on the decline, with social media becoming the leading mode of electronic communication. Social media changes rapidly, with new forms of technology and new smartphone apps emerging every year. This makes our jobs as legislators difficult. How do we,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Exports (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: 2. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if discussions have begun with the relevant authorities as to the amount Ireland would receive from the export of energy from renewable sources following the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Britain; if so the amount they expect to receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4552/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Exports (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I am troubled that there is so little information on the outworking of the memorandum of understanding with Britain on the export of renewable energy from the midlands. Will the Minister give an update on the current position?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Exports (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I am as wise as before I asked the question and I think the people who are listening are as wise as they were before I asked the question. I see companies buying and leasing land, and paying a good deal of money for it, obviously in the knowledge that whatever about changes to planning guidelines or permissions, those companies are going to make money from generating electricity that will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Exports (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: The fundamental problem is that we simply do not have a national strategy for energy in Ireland, and in the absence of a good national strategy, we have companies who are setting the agenda. I find it extraordinary that after three years of discussions in respect of the memorandum of understanding, the Minister cannot quantify what the benefits will be to this country. I am aware he has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: 5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the effect recent reports that the EU will reduce renewable energy targets post 2020 will have on the development of wind turbines and the extension of pylons here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4553/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I welcome the Minister's intention to produce a Green Paper on energy in Ireland. If this leads to comprehensive policy on energy, I will work enthusiastically with the Minister on it and I look forward to it greatly. The European Union surprised me and many observers by deciding to scale back on the renewable energy targets for 2020. It would be instructive to probe into the reasons this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I am sure the Minister was going to get to the point regarding the question I asked, namely, will this have an impact on the outworking of the memorandum of understanding between ourselves and Britain? I am sure that were I a negotiator on the British side, I would be seeking to ascertain what will happen here after 2020 and how this might have an impact on the cost and financial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: I wholeheartedly endorse the Government's intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a project I wish to see work and the reason I ask these questions, put forward proposals and am constantly talking about the need for a national strategy is precisely because I wish to see this work. However, when I see proposals for 2,500 turbines, the energy from which is to go elsewhere, I...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Michael Colreavy: 7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the studies that have been carried out into the possibilities of undergrounding of electricity pylons here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4295/14]