Results 2,241-2,260 of 4,573 for speaker:Brian Leddin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: There is no national cull proposed. That is quite inflammatory language. There is no national cull proposal.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: A reduction in stocking rate, certainly.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I have a great deal of sympathy for all our guests because officials from the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been set a huge challenge. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage wants to see clean water and a return to pristine conditions. That is not easy. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Yes, and likewise as regards the statement I was looking at. There might have been a page missing from it. It might just be a clerical error.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I think a page was accidentally omitted. Was the statement of the officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as submitted?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Was it spot on?.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: My first question is for the officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. At the previous session, a very strong claim was made about wastewater. It has been addressed already but I will give the officials an opportunity to address it again. It was claimed that urban wastewater might be significantly contributing to the water quality issues we have. I am...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Can it be quicker?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Is it that the greater risk for the sector lies in the fact that it could lose the derogation if there is not compliance?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: It is a very difficult situation in negotiations if compliance is not as it was said it would be. It is not good for Ireland to go to the European Commission and ask for another derogation if we have not met our own programme.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I welcome our guests. I read through their opening statement, in which they say that the ICMSA is confident that water quality trends will move in the right direction in the near future. As committee members, we have the benefit of seeing in advance the statements from departmental officials who will be before the committee later and they say quite the opposite. They say that we are going...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: That terminology, "the family farm", is peppered throughout the opening statement. The ICMSA has strongly given the impression the average family farm is going to be severely impacted by the fifth nitrates action programme and the derogation but is it not true that just 5% of holdings are derogation farmers, or some 6,000 farms?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Most of those are in the north, west and midlands.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I am just wondering when the exam is. I feel we should perhaps be conferred with a qualification in agricultural science after this session. It has been very interesting. On the derogation, which is going to be reviewed in two years, as I understand it, is it the case that whether Ireland gets a further derogation depends on the compliance with the fifth nitrates action programme?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the sectoral emissions ceilings. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his officials. Before we begin, I will read the note on privilege. I remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Thank you for your opening statement. Before I open the meeting to questions, I would like to let members know that the Minister is available until 3 p.m. I think that should be sufficient time for him to answer questions. As usual, I propose that each member is given two minutes to address their question to the Minister. That is to ensure everybody gets a chance, but of course we will go...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Perhaps I might jump in there. For the benefit of the Minister, we have discussed, as a committee in private session, the fact that the resources of the committee are limited enough and it is an incredibly technical subject. I did bring the issue up with the working group committee. The Taoiseach was in before the summer and he gave his informal approval that there would be some kind of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I defer to the Minister's vast experience in the matter. I think it is something that we should probably discuss, as a committee, and push for as a priority. I believe Deputy Bríd Smith has joined us virtually from her office.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: Can we let the Minister answer?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)
Brian Leddin: I am not allowing a back and forth on this. The Senator can come back in for the second round.