Results 1,601-1,620 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I seek everyone's co-operation in returning at 12 noon sharp to continue the hearings. I thank the witnesses for their contributions and for appearing at such short notice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I will skip over the expert advisory body issue as it is obvious that there is a best practice model and we should be considering that in more detail. I have done some work outside the Oireachtas in that regard. Science is changing quickly and already there is an outline for 2050. It has already been mentioned that the 2020 target will be very difficult for us to hit, although we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I have a supplementary question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Interestingly, bogs are not counted. If we fire ahead before the 2015 negotiations, will we not undermine our own interests? We need everything to be counted. What sounds like an unreasonable target now could be a reasonable one within a full count.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: We are just using the bogs as an example, as quite a great deal, including grasslands, is not accounted for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: What is Scotland's current record in meeting the targets that require to be met by 2020? What elements within that target are measured internationally? Does Scotland measure how its forests operate as sinks, etc., when it considers that target?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I would like Mr. Stevenson to elaborate on another element of this matter. I have noticed that some countries have banned the burning of certain fuels in ports and places like that. Are all forms of shipping, including tourist shipping and commercial shipping, counted in this context when they call to Scottish ports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Mr. Stevenson mentioned a 50% increase in agriculture, food and drink exports. Did that element of it have an effect on emissions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Mr. Nix has just hit on the problem. There are tensions regardless of which way we go on this issue. If we want bigger urban density there are tensions over the height of the build, the number of units to the acre, etc. There are tensions also when we talk about climate change targets. As Deputy Stanley said, it will be extremely difficult to hit the 2020 targets. I ask Mr. Nix to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: To give-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: We are bringing in climate change legislation and a power plant is being built in Foynes. At that stage it will be in breach of the climate change legislation. Obviously, An Taisce would go to court at that stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I have very few questions, surprisingly, because the paper was very detailed. Professor Bates is one of the few who have been arguing that the targets outlined in the heads of the Bill are sufficient. What is our strongest argument for appealing to the European Union to grant Ireland a special exemption regarding the EU target? We seem to be using the phrase "food security" constantly....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Some of the climate models I have looked at suggest that the mixture of agricultural practices on the island will change. There will be less rainfall on the eastern coast and more monster rain events. In terms of what Food Harvest 2020 proposes, there will be a different model of agriculture. If we are to move towards wheat and barley production, our landmass will not be sufficient to feed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It might be a recommendation of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: There is a consensus emerging on the template of the IFAC and the reporting structure, including to Committee Stage. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and the IFAC appears before it regularly. There is a crossover of information. Will Mr. Coghlan give some practical examples with regard to the Action Plan for Jobs, as I am interested in that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: The witness is skipping over that. When the line Ministers come in, they will have to explain whether they are hitting the 2020 or 2030 target. That will happen on an annual basis if the Bill stays in its current form, with the framework operating to the 2050 targets. One can consider what happens in the last 14 or 15 years and if something is pushed far down the road it may not seem to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Visitors Book (9 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 117. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a copy of the attendance record book for his Department on 29 September 2008 and 30 September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32862/13]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Visitors Book (9 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 118. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a copy of the attendance record book for his Department for the month of September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32863/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (9 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 159. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of safety deposit boxes remaining in Irish Bank Resolution Corporation on the night the bank was liquidated; if any such deposit boxes remain unclaimed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33060/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (9 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 355. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a person in receipt of UK fuel allowance through a UK pension is entitled to apply for a better energy warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32940/13]