Results 1,541-1,560 of 3,706 for speaker:Michael Lowry

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol: Motion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I have no problem in supporting the Kigali amendment and facilitating the passage of this motion as quickly as possible. I know a small bit about CFCs because it is my business. This has been successful but it is very expensive. Arrangements are in place for the recycling of HFCs. In terms of the cost of this, is there a ballpark figure? The Minister said it would be double the cost....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I welcome the clarity the Minister has given us on a number of issues in the past two days, both in the Houses and here today. I do not see any merit in putting a roadblock in the way of this process at this late stage. I accept there is sufficient oversight and that each milestone has to be approved by the Department officials, the Minister and the Government on the recommendation of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Is it possible for one of the officials to tell us if the remaining bidder is tied into a pricing structure? Is there a danger that, with a sole bidder, the price will escalate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Are the officials in a position to give an answer to the questions?

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I ask this question in the context of the national procurement framework. I refer to how this is impacting on small to medium sized enterprises, SMEs, by using the example of Templemore Garda College. There are 600 people on-site serving 2,000 meals a day. Up to now, purchases were made from local suppliers. There are 31 local suppliers from across Tipperary, in places such as Templemore,...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Arising from this episode, changes have been introduced, in particular to the procurement policy of purchasing goods and services. All decisions regarding the purchasing of supply items to the college have been removed from local management. They will now be under the control of the Office of Government Procurement. This is a significant and alarming development for the small businesses in...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: This does not just affect Templemore. The tender documents from the Office of Government Procurement are complex, complicated and impossible for the normal business manager to comprehend or understand. The process is absolutely loaded in favour of the big players in the market.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: The small to medium sized enterprise has no chance under this new system.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Contracts from the Government and State agencies are gobbled up by the multinational groups. This is not just happening with food and essential items. It is happening across every sector of demand and supply in the public sector. It includes printing, stationery, mechanical, electrical, engineering, medical, marketing and legal services. The powerful are getting all the business. They...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Government policy is supposed to encourage and increase activity outside the cities and promote regional development and jobs. This procurement framework, which was used for Templemore, does the opposite. It centralises purchases. It makes the rich companies richer and stronger. It is gradually creating an elite number of companies that have dominance and control of the supply chain. The...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: However, when it comes to accessing the lucrative public sector supply chain, they are snuffed out and excluded. Tender qualification criteria need to be reviewed.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: The rules, criteria, regulations and thresholds governing the competitions make it impossible for a small organisation to be successful in trying to get into the supply chain.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Michael Lowry: No, later.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Michael Lowry: The Minister referred to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The Littleton briquette factory has been a victim of that particular policy, which I understand. Today is a very sad and difficult day because it is the last day of production at the plant. It closes this evening. It has been a very traumatic experience for the 120 people who have lost their jobs in Littleton. I...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Michael Lowry: The Minister of State refers to funding for continued remediation at Silvermines. He had sufficient interest to visit the local area in Silvermines and meet with members of the community, who conveyed to him their concerns, anxieties and fears, and the impact that historical mining had on the environment in Silvermines, the risk to public health and the safety concerns emanating from mining...

Death of former Ceann Comhairle: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Mar 2018)

Michael Lowry: On behalf of the Tipperary Members of the House, I wish to be associated with the tributes to Seán Treacy and the condolences to his family and many friends in Tipperary. When I came into the House first, in 1987, I found Seán to be very helpful and obliging. As a Tipperary man, he often gave us the nod when we least expected it. The one thing that stood out about Seán...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (29 Mar 2018)

Michael Lowry: 449. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the official information booklet and website published for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan does not state information (details supplied) in connection to the deposit criteria of the home loan application process. [14556/18]

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2018)

Michael Lowry: I am sorry to trouble the Taoiseach with mundane and practical matters but some city representatives and those from urban centres would not recognise or realise the huge problem we have with rural and county roads. An elected representative living in rural Ireland meets people every other day describing the shocking, appalling and atrocious conditions of these roads. People living on these...

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2018)

Michael Lowry: With respect, the problem is they do not have the resources to do the work. Our roads have become virtually undriveable. They are not fit for purpose. They are hazardous. They are dangerous. In fact, they are obstacle courses. The situation is impacting on school buses, dairy collection services, An Post deliveries, bin collection and ambulance services. I am aware of a case last week...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (17 Apr 2018)

Michael Lowry: 1148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the €75 allowance for households with medical waste will come into effect; the way in which persons will apply for the allowance; the documentation that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/18]