Results 2,021-2,040 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. O'Flynn for addressing the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: There are approximately six minutes remaining and three members - Deputies Gerald Nash and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Senator Cáit Keane - wish to ask questions. As a result, I will be grouping the questions and asking Mr. O'Flynn to reply to them together. Our next delegation is due before us at 10.45 a.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I advise members to turn off their mobile phones because they interfere with the broadcasting technology. We will proceed with our consideration of the heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013. Under section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if a witness...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister, and this concludes our considerations. I also thank his officials, Ms Geraldine Tallon and Ms Caroline Lyons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: What is the position on the international climate fund?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We will get our own legal advice next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I will take members' questions in groups of three. The first member to pose his questions will be Senator Mac Conghail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We have a quorum. I remind members of the usual guidance regarding mobile telephone technology. Apologies have been received from Senator Ned O'Sullivan. We will now proceed with our consideration of the outline heads of the climate action and low carbon development Bill. I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, and his officials, Ms...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Deputy very much. I like the way he is thinking.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: That concludes the committee's consideration of the Revised Estimates for Vote 25. I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies O'Dowd and O'Sullivan, and their departmental officials for their attendance. They are free to go.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Message to Dáil (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: In accordance with Standing Order 87, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2013: Vote 25 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.In accordance with Standing...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Briefly.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Deputy Bannon asked a question and the Minister of State has answered for some time. That is it.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Deputy Bannon should not be sorry. I thank the Deputy.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Deputy Bannon. We will move on to the next programme - programme C, environment and waste management - which comprises 2% of the Vote.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: We will move to programme B - water services, which comprises about 28% of the overall Vote. I will allow 30 minutes for this section and ask members to restrict their contributions to questions to make more efficient use of time. I will begin with questions from members and go to the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. I call Deputy Catherine Murphy.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: The ones I pointed to have been vacant for several years, some of them into double figures. All that had to be done was to hand over the key as they were in good condition. This is utterly indefensible, given the economic climate and that someone on the housing list would readily accept these houses. At a policy level, it should be uniform across all local authorities. It might be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: The Deputy should allow the Minister of State to finish.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Michael McCarthy: Before I go to the Minister of State, I have a few points I wish to make myself. I have written to the Minister about a street in the town of Dunmanway on which a number of houses are owned by the local authority. One was purchased in 1999 and was never fitted out or allocated; it was knocked approximately two months ago. Other houses became vacant as tenants moved on. In some cases, the...