Results 2,341-2,360 of 6,623 for speaker:Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: We are happy to accommodate a debate on Thursday. We are dealing with the Finance Bill, which may conclude Second Stage on Wednesday. We have set aside an extra hour, to start at 9.30 a.m., on Thursday. Hopefully, that will conclude. The IDA Bill is a Brexit-related Bill. We have three hours set aside for that, which based on what happened last week I expect to conclude more quickly than...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Senators for putting forward this amendment. Government amendment No. 11 provides that the purposes of a review of natural heritage areas would take into account the "carbon sequestration potential of bog habitats and to actions, relevant to bog habitats, contained in a national plan or, as the case may be, plan for the island of Ireland for the time being concerning the reversal...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: It had been intended to restore all designated raised bogs, including raised bog NHAs, within three cycles, with the first operating for the duration of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, which was approved by the Government and published in December 2017. This restoration programme links with the peatlands actions contained in the Government's...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: This Bill has had a long gestation and we are in the process of selecting the most suitable bog habitats to be designated, or to cease to be designated, as NHAs. The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is bound to have regard to any strategic environmental assessment or any other environmental assessment that is undertaken, as well as to observations or submissions received...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: Any NHA review would fit in the national peatlands strategy and the focus of any review would be on nature conservation, in terms of maintaining or restoring bog habitat. Public consultation will be an essential part of any such review. Any Government will be cognisant of changes in policy and recommendations that come through the Oireachtas and I cannot speak for what changes any future...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Senators for their comments and passion. Regarding amendment No. 19, Government amendment No. 11 provides that within the context of a review of natural heritage areas and selecting the most suitable bog habitats to be designated or to cease to be designated, regard would be had to recreational sporting needs, including greenways, appropriate to bog habitats as well as to...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: That is certainly not my intention. As I said, the definition has been included on the advice of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. It is taken from the Lille declaration and is also set out in Ireland’s greenway strategy. In my mind it would not include those. It would include motorbikes and motor vehicles but in terms of e-scooters, which are currently the subject of...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: This group comprises amendments Nos. 29 to 31, 31a and 32. It is proposed that when a natural heritage area is de-designated, domestic turf cutting may continue on the site while larger scale or commercial turf cutting will continue to be regulated through other consent systems, such as through the planning system and integrated pollution control licensing by the Environmental Protection...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The non-designated sites are not within the remit of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It may be regrettable that this sits with another Department but we are in charge of designated sites.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The de-designated sites fall within the remit of another Minister. We can contact the Minister regarding our protocol relating to relocation and the non-sale of harvested turf. We could advise the Minister that this could be the way to go with his or her amendments for legislation relating to small-scale peat extraction. It would also not be appropriate to regulate for turf cutting in...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: I understand this amendment seeks to exclude special a1reas of conservation, SACs, from the definition of "bog habitat" in the Bill. The Bill takes into account that, for the 2014 natural heritage area, NHA, raised bog review, more than 270 individual raised bogs were examined. The individual raised bogs examined comprised the 53 raised bog SACs, the existing 75 NHA raised bogs and more...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: Any comparison must take account of the national conservation objective target for SACs and NHAs. It would be an overall review of the terms of this target, similar to the 2014 NHA review.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The Senator queried the definition of “environmental criteria” as it relates to raised bog. This definition was not drafted by me, as I am sure the Senator will accept. It was drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, OPC, in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. I do not think the Senator can question its bona fides in respect of the...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The definition is of the environmental criteria.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The various attributes set out within the definition link to national conservation objectives, favourable conservation status for bog habitats and the selection criteria set out in annex III of the habitats directive regarding the degree of representativity of the natural habitat type, the area of the site covered by the natural habitat type, the degree of conservation of the structure and...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: This amendment relates to page 5, line 30-----

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: -----and the definition of "environmental criteria".

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: It relates to the topic of environmental criteria which is referenced prior to the line of the Bill the Senator seeks to amend.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: Any comparison must take into account the national conservation objective of the target SACs. It would be an overall review with regard to the 2014 review. The purpose of the NHA review includes contributing to the achievement of nature conservation objectives for the habitats. This is an overall aim; it is not just a bog-by-bog comparison. That is made clear in the definition.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Seán Kyne: The Senator makes valid points on this. There has been a great deal of consultation between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, OPC, on the drafting of this definition and the use of words. I cannot accept the Senator's amendment but I am happy to refer back to the OPC and engage again with the NPWS to see if there is a better phrase...