Results 2,441-2,460 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: Section 17(4) allows for the Minister, when granting a felling licence, to require the replanting of trees at such places and of such species. There is no environmental compensation if a very large tree is knocked down only to be replaced by a little sapling. It would be 25 years before the replacement matures. My amendments seek to ensure felled trees are replaced by suitable sized and...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: No. I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. This is a comprehensive area and the Minister of State has included it.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 14: In page 13, line 7, to delete “6 months” and substitute “1 month”.This amendment deals with the case of a forest being destroyed or removed, which is a very serious matter. We are all agreed in this House that if a forest is removed by any means, including fire or natural causes, the owners should notify the Minister in writing of the...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: The Minister of State is a kindlier man than me, but I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 16: In page 15, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(b) deer;”.This section provides that where the Minister is satisfied that trees in a forest are being or are likely to be damaged by vermin, the owner of the land concerned may be served with a notice stating the trees are likely to be damaged by vermin and directing that the vermin be...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 13: In page 12, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:"(iv) an assessment of the visual impact of woodlands; (v) an assessment of the noise abatement impact of woodlands;".The role of the Minister in safeguarding the environment could nearly be an entire Statute Book in itself, because there are so many duties imposed on him or her. On the visual impact of...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his reply. We are substantially at one on this and I will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 10: In page 11, line 1, after "Minister" to insert "in consultation with the appropriate Oireachtas committee".This amendment was tabled before recent controversies developed. It may be covered by what the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, recently set out. My experience on the transport committee where we chose a chairman for Dublin Bus in...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: The amendment proposes that the Minister would appoint the members of a committee in consultation with the appropriate Oireachtas committee. I await the Minister of State's reply as to whether the amendment is accepted or we go with Deputy Howlin. It is offered in the spirit that the Oireachtas should not get into the kind of trouble that happened recently. I have no indication that the...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his reply.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 7: In page 9, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:“(k) undertake the protection of woodlands on areas less than 0.1 hectares.”.The section to which we are referring to here relates to the specific functions of the Minister. With this amendment, I seek to add that the Minister, in addition to all his other duties - which go right through the...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:" "woodland" means land under trees under 0.1 hectare with a tree crown cover of more than 20 per cent of the total area, or the potential to achieve this cover at maturity.".I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the news about Tree Day. It is also the centenary of Avondale, which I think...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. This an important debate and we had a good discussion on Second Stage also. The amendments I have tabled are entirely in the spirit of the last debate. We can see the role of trees in its full context, including the environment and climate change. We may all be tree-huggers by the time we emerge from this debate. I hope so. An area of 0.1 hectares is 100...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I note that the Irish banks have been in Frankfurt in the last few days to discuss the forthcoming stress tests with the ECB. As noted by John Walsh in the Irish Examinertoday, the last round of stress tests were far too soft. We need to replace zombie banks with working banks and to get a greater level of economic expertise in there. I express the hope that the stress tests in Irish banks...

Seanad: Arts and Culture Sector: Motion (8 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. I was not present for her previous visits, but I served with her on other committees and I congratulate her on her appointment, which I am sure will be highly successful. The terms of the motion acknowledges the contribution of the arts - literature, music, paintings, Nobel prizes, including by Members of this House such as former Senator Yeats, and so on. Ireland...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I again welcome the Minister to the House. The Minister and I were at a seminar yesterday at which we briefly discussed safety issues, fatigue and so on. It is interesting that vehicles are now being developed which will recognise fatigue, and it is hoped that will be the next step forward in improving the safety record on roads of which we are all in favour. What are we to do about the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the announcement this afternoon by the Central Bank that it will be insisting upon a 20% deposit on residential house purchases and the maximum loan being limited to 3.5 times income. We proposed that in No. 33 on the Order Paper in the spring of 2012. It has been on the Order Paper for over two and a half years. I am delighted that it has finally reached the echelons of the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I compliment the Minister, whose dedication to this cause is well known and knows no bounds. Anything that I stated on Committee Stage was meant to strengthen his hand and support him. I wish to express a concern about section 7 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014, which is headed, "Refusal of access to certain information". To draw the Minister's attention to it, the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I would include those in the group's terms of reference. The Europeans seem to operate central banking in ways that appear strange to the Minister, Senators and me. Their secrecy has cost countries like Ireland, Greece, Portugal and so on dearly. The Minister's philosophy of open access and freedom of information is shared, but could he investigate section 7 of the education Bill and ensure...