Results 1,921-1,940 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: As the Minister, Deputy Gormley, stated at the outset, the Copenhagen conference is one of the most widely anticipated peace time events. This anticipation reflects the seriousness of the threat presented by climate change and the urgency of reaching agreement on an effective global response. I believe it is timely and useful to hear the views from both sides of the House and I welcome the...

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Of course, a number of other issues will remain, particularly if the number of vehicles we currently use is maintained and there was a complete transfer to that. The failure to put in place a strong public transport system would exacerbate the difficult situation with congestion, parking and other issues. Notwithstanding that, however, a high proportion of the population is rurally based....

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: That is not the case. There are 420 wind-----

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: That is not the case. We will deal with that tomorrow. It is one of the fallacies being floated. It makes it very difficult to advance the agenda on issues relating to climate change when people are so ill-informed they do not know 420 wind turbines have been licensed for five or six years but only seven of them have been built, the last one five years ago. In this debate, being well...

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Unfortunately, sometimes debates are marred by people who have a particular view because they have an interest in advancing the financial interests of a particular promoter or for whatever reason.

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: In those cases, they refuse to accept that there are 420 licences but only seven have been built. There are many other considerations-----

Climate Change: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: There are 420 with foreshore licences and all types of approvals but they are not built. Seven have been built, the last one five years ago. That is a very important point because unless we address the engineering, port facility and connectivity to grid issues, and if we continue to throw out unfounded and ill-conceived ideas, we will not progress this issue. The debate in the House, in...

Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy is ignoring the power of the Minister. It will not do that.

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: He was not allowed to.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill is to transfer certain foreshore functions from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Bill will transfer responsibility for the Dumping at Sea Acts to the Environmental Protection Agency....

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I will be brief so that we can move on to the Committee Stage debate. Some of the issues that have been raised by Deputies can be dealt with in the context of the Committee Stage amendments. Deputy Creed and many others suggested that the Bill represents a missed opportunity. It is important to explain that a number of options were considered as part of the modernisation of foreshore...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: It is difficult to predict.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: It is difficult to predict virtually everything at the moment. A number of Deputies made the point that many of these functions could be best managed by a stand-alone Department of the marine. We have had such a Department on a number of occasions. Two Deputies who are present in the Chamber served in that Department. Interestingly, other European countries with long coastlines have had...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed expressed concern about warfare between Departments. Deputy Sheahan referred to aquaculture and to the operational programme. A number of issues need to be resolved following the European Court of Justice's adverse finding against Ireland at the end of 2007. The subsequent issuing of a reasoned opinion brought us even closer to being fined. The Departments of Agriculture,...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: As the hydroelectric project may be based on land, it will not necessarily have a foreshore element. I am not quite sure about it. A number of the points made by Deputy Higgins would be more relevant to the third, rather than the second, phase of the process, with which we are currently dealing. The process that is under way at present involves the division of responsibilities and powers...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: We are not at the third phase because a number of processes have yet to be completed. Certain people have very strong views in this regard.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Members of this House expressed diametrically opposed views during today's debate. Interestingly, individual Deputies expressed diametrically opposed views within their own speeches about how this issue should be dealt with. A significant amount of work has yet to be done. Everyone who has taken a genuine approach to this matter appreciates that this serious job should be done properly....

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Some of the problems associated with resources will improve when an additional 18 officials and five engineers start to work on infrastructural projects in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, while the current staff continue to work in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, like many other Deputies, spoke about the size of this...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: There are many other reasons.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Barrett may well be right but there are also issues with regard to engineering works of a particular scale that are available in other countries but not here. There are issues concerning port facilities. The Department of the Marine, which no longer exists as such, being part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has a fishery harbour in Killybegs which is currently...