Results 1,881-1,900 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (2 Jun 2022)

Martin Browne: 78. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a lack of respite foster placements in the south-east; if his attention has been drawn to families being unable to get such placements in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28536/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Act 1986: Discussion (25 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I welcome the witnesses. I have a number of questions. I will ask three and let other members in. The Department published statistics on local authority dog-related activities. Can Ms Nic Aongusa tell us the biggest issue local authorities are faced with? Is it stray, missing or mistreated dogs or illegal breeding? According to the statistics for 2020 on gov.ie, five local authorities...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I welcome everybody to this afternoon's public meeting. We have members present in the committee room. Apologies have been received from Deputies O'Donoghue and Griffin. The Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, and the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, have published a Covid-19 code of conduct for the parliamentary community from March 2022. Face masks should...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I thank Mr. Callanan. Before I call members, I will ask two or three questions briefly. Mr. Callanan stated "It is stipulated that pesticides should not be used in areas used by the public unless a risk assessment has shown that their use is necessary and appropriate risk management measures have been put in place" Does the Department have enough resources to check and enforce this?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Is that enough?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Mr. Callanan stated that the Department was engaged in awareness raising. Will he expand on what the Department does in this regard? Is there a focus on raising awareness before the spraying season opens?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Yes.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Do the witnesses envision the Department directing local authorities to move away from using pesticides and towards more environmentally-friendly solutions? We all know the amount of work that Tidy Towns groups around the country do. Is the Department encouraging local authorities to get in touch with them regularly? They may not be using pesticides, but they are doing some work for councils.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Local authorities will decide whether they use-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I am aware.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Does Senator Buttimer have further questions?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: When the local authorities lay down that pesticides would be used in public areas, they record a risk assessment and these assessments and records are retained for inspection by the Department. Will Mr. Callanan tell us what proportion of local authorities’ records are checked and how much time typically goes by between spraying and when the records are inspected? Does the Department...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Yes. Is the Department not concerned about the wide use of spraying of pesticides? It is taking place widely and some local authorities have told the committee they do it because of the lack of alternatives. Is it not something on which the Department should be taking a lead and recommending they move away from pesticides? If someone does not take a lead on this, nothing is going to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I was referring to Foamstream and different alternatives. There was a man at the committee two weeks ago who gave a couple of different alternatives to what the councils are using. Is it something on which the Department should be taking a lead?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Mr. Callanan is telling us about crops, mainly. Our main worries, and the worries that have been raised with the committee, are that local authorities are spraying footpaths to get rid of weeds, as Deputy Buckley said when he spoke about parks and playgrounds, and that people are using those areas and bringing those agents back into their houses, which is dangerous. Local authorities should...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Will the witnesses explain a little more the proposals coming down the line from Europe in respect of the new sustainable use regulation to replace the sustainable use directive? What changes do the witnesses anticipate from that?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: Finally, are the witnesses happy with the Department's Straight A's for Amenity booklet on the responsible use of pesticides in public amenity areas or do they feel it needs to be updated? Is it in line with legislation and the recommendations from Europe?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I do not see any other members indicating. Do the witnesses have any final statements they want to make?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: I again thank the witnesses. We had a very good meeting two weeks ago when this topic was raised. We appreciate the witnesses coming in to fill us in a bit more. I imagine we will be in contact again down the road. I know from speaking to members that these meetings have been beneficial to them. I thank Mr. Callanan, Ms Dillon and Mr. Moody for coming in today. We will release them early.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Martin Browne: No homework.